Training Log Archive: BrandNewMe

Started another jigsaw last night. Oh dear - totally Addictive so got to bed way too late.

Craig a Barnes sol, brown.

I'm not much of a fan of the whistle rule, so was a bit embarrassed by being on whistle checking. Even more embarrassing was that the Swedish team were there. They had been forewarned, so had them, but Lillian told me they all found it totally hilarious.

So I was trying to stop at each control and decide on a plan before moving off, not looking ahead. It was really tough to force myself to do it. To 1 I took the path (Nick) route, cut to the marsh slightly. Took the long way around the rhodis so 15 secs here. Plan to 2 was to go over the tops of the spurs to try to avoid getting stuck in the shit under the crags. Went well. 3 ended up too far right, knew I must have been too far right, but dropped 45 secs prob. 4 I went up the track, to attack the open from above, crunching achillies. All the way around the green, and down.

Straightish to 5. Couldn't see it. Totally hidden. I was in the right place, it was just tucked away, at my feet. 30secs +.

To 6 I was going along well with the plan. The clearing was on a knoll though, and was marked as flat on the map. Kept coming up to it thinking it must be at the crags, until I came in from another direction and saw the flag. 2 mins. Bummer.

7 not great direction out of the control (bearings in green need more respect than I give them) but got onto a track. Felt ok up the hill. Easy. To 8 I backtracked towards 3, then over and along a ridge near a marsh, crunching Achilles again. Damn. Not definitely the best line, but I hit some lovely terrain, so who cares! I could have been a good 30secs at least herewith a better line at the end, and another 30secs with a better line at the beginning. Control was on the west more than the south of the thicket, which is annoying as for once I had actually checked the description. Down to 9 trying to pick a good visual line, as the map is a bit unreliable here anyway. Was a bit too far offline, 30secs. To 10 I get stuck in shit coming out of 9 and lose another 20-ish secs.

Nice to have so few controls. Great planning, the type of which we see too little of in GB.

A bit too scrappy to be a 100% great run, but always fun to be in such a classic scottish area.

The geeking was really useful. I had decided that in the area around 6 it was essential to stick carefully to bearings, and I didn't do this, but otherwise I was careful in the bits I needed to be, and fast in the bits I needed to be, and had a good plan made at the start of each leg. Execution needs to be stuck to more.

http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/doma/show_map...

http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/en/d...

Jog up the hill to the start.

C • Mike Stewart 3

8 man relay. Last leg. Good lead, but with Alex Carcas setting off sometime after me I couldn't!5 hang around. It was brambly and heathery and hot and humid. Low vis. Map not the best in places. So I was scrappy, and felt like a mother of two in her late 30's ought to feel - pretty crap.

Tomorrow will be more fun. Definitely going to take it as training rather than racing though, and practice some of Nick's stuff. The technique is not there just now to want to push it.

http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/doma/show_map...

http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/documents/res...

C • Alex 5

W/up with Helen Bridle. Great to see her. Dragged off to the play park directly after.

Insomnia. Just got up and went to work in the end. Must remember to sort my bike lights. Nicked the kids light again today, and they are v feeble.

Planned rest day today. Sciatica playing up a bit. Need to get back on the drills.

Catching features and looking at the course Nick did for me and looking at the Falkirk wheel map

I was not feeling inspired so was pleased with the pace.

7:29, 7:09, 7:10, 7:04, 7:09 36:01
7:00, 7:06, 7:10, 7:04, 7:09 35:29

I didn't look at my watch, so went out faster than I would usually, and had to push home to ensure the quicker second half I wanted. Felt good except for a tight top of R hamstring, that has been the same for the past few days without getting worse, slightly painful right lower fibula on the outside, and chafing - our scales are broken so I don't know, but chafing is God's subtle way of telling you that you are getting too fat.

C • chafing 5

Catching features, then studying the Craig a Barnes maps. Interesting. I am doing so much Craig a Barnes prep as I am practicing geeking techniques. Maybe I need to look at the Falkirk wheel map too, as we have a bit if an esoc dream team and the pressure will be on...

Early start. Need to sort out bike lights soon. Nice fresh morning and feeling strong.

HW loop. I was going to do some compass practice tonight instead, but logisitcs got in the way. Hot today.

Looking at SPAS and running wild, and looking at the first half of route to christmas 2008

Ray was busy last night, so I went to bed after the kids at 8. Nice. Did me lots of good. Nice cycle this morning too.

10 x 2mins w 45secs. 10mins warm up, 10 mins warm down. Intervals are a bit like making pancakes. The first few are crap, and then they get better and better until you run out. Feeling so much better today. I think I need to factor in an 8pm bed time every week.

Did some route choice stuff with Ray on Craig a Barnes. I'm not sure he's as up for it as I am. 'I remember that bit of forest - it's shit. But so's that bit. And that bit. And that bit...'. I don't recall any shit bits at all. Then some catching features, taking no bearings on purpose.

Tired. Run home over the Pentlands, less hilly route. Nice weather. Feeling a bit shit (tired, inexplicably miserable, sore stomach, irritating x talons). But the run went some way to cheering me up, i have an early night planned, and I am about to bin my x talons. Revenge.