Training Log Archive: BrandNewMe

Mike Hamilton really should be a politician. I don't know Selwyn Wright of LOC but his focus letter raised many vital questions for the future of our sport, all of which Mike failed to address in his v patronising reply published in Focus. Selwyn raised the likes of the failure of Xplorer to get people doing actual orienteering. The disillusionment of lots of juniors with the perplexing junior selection process. The employment of staff that have no experience of the sport at all, and certainly no interest in it. The divergence of the priorities of BOF and the priorities of its membership. Lots of staff that are employed doing...what? (Don't worry Mike tells us, very few of them are funded my membership, the rest by the government - which is funded by... oh, people such as BOF members). Staff couldn't go to WOC as there wasn't the budget he tells us. The budget must have been blown by all of those bof members that were there then - wait a minute, maybe they went cause they were interested in the sport and thought it might be fun, and looked forward to getting out in the terrain themselves - Xplorer, or no Xplorer!

I think bof is diverging from the orienteering membership at such an angle right now that they will soon have disappeared from sight completely, and we can all get back to going orienteering! I really must bin focus immediately on receipt in future, just to prevent myself from getting so pissed off.

Laurence was off sick today. To those without kids, having a kid off sick is like lobbing a hand grenade into the carefully constructed logistics that allow you to run and work and parent. So I was looking after him until Ray got home at 8:30, and at 9 I went to sleep.

C • Parallel Universe Merry-go-round 10

Good nights sleep but wiped out this morning. Total brain fug. Ray thought it would be nice if we ran together. I agreed, but regretted it. In a grump, and he drags me up some of the steepest hills on Arthur's Seat, and it winds my calf up. Now I am in a bigger grump. I don't think Ray will go running with me again anytime soon!

Not sure whether to orienteer tomorrow. I might just go on a long road run to cheer myself up, or just lie in bed....

Good nights sleep last night, and only woken up by the mini dictator twice. Felt good and not at all fuggy first thing, but got a bit tired later.

Dropped Laurence off at bonaly cub camp, and ran up capelaw, then wedding stile, Allermuir and back, then back to bonaly. Nice, and calves didn't tighten up on the hills. Muddy, and tricky to run with a head torch but good.

Also ran about a mile each way to Lucy's dance class as they cycled, then Lozza and I played about on the climbing wall while she was in her class. I don't think I'll ever be a climber. I think my arms will be killing tomorrow. Fun.

After another accidentally long lunchtime nap in the work car park (90mins) I think it is probably sensible to put running on hold until I am a bit less exhausted.

Ah, shite day! No sleep last night, crap logistics, unbelievably tired. Slept in the van in the work car park at lunch. Slept in (90mins!) so rushed back into work feeling gah all afternoon. No swimming lesson running as Lozza was ill, so led the trotettes run round the kb 5 route then hosted with megan, with a lot of wine easing the trauma of the day.

Tough day. All day intense course at work followed by a 3rd interview, I got in at 7 v frazzled and feeling nauseous again today. After a toast dinner and putting the kids to bed I had perked up a bit so ventured out. Blackford and braids. Fun but dark and muddy. Back via kb and tesco for bread. Tight right calf again. Had to stop to stretch it at one point.

Foam rollering. For the length of time "Walk this Way" lasted on the radio. An unexpected bit of Aerosmith livens up anything. Then I got bored...