Training Log Archive: Billenicus

Day 6 - Affric North - 7.42Km 340m

Wonderful area, if physical. Very enjoyable, though not actually too difficult.

Finally had a good run. Apart from route choices, only lost a few seconds at 14 after having to change route to avoid fallen trees.

However lost about 1.5 mins 3-4 on an unlucky route that no-one else had chosen. Very rough and tussocky. Probably also 15 sec 19-20 where I went for the wrong crossing point.

Physically pretty good. Started steadily, deliberately not racing too hard until the last few controls and concentrating on running smoothly instead. Probably should have run harder though, as wasn't particularly tired afterwards. Heel sore beforehand, but pretty much OK during the race.

Well, that's that for serious orienteering for several months. First decent break for ages. Just going to be ticking over for a while.

Largely very enjoyable 6-days, though Day 2 was horrible, and missing Day 5 was a good decision. Very competitive M45 class. 7th wasn't too bad in the circumstances, but would have liked to have been able to race properly without the heel injury.

S6D - Day 6 Glen Affric - C37 - Splits

Golf at Covesea with Marky and Jubby. Played better than last time, but with worse results - 50. Great fun, but harshly punishing at times.

Heel still quite sore but a bit better than yesterday. Decided not to risk it on a potentially much rougher area, a decision helped by the probability of parking problems.

Day 4 - Darnaway West - 7.715 Km 230m

Another really enjoyable event.

Heel was very sore in the morning, quite sore before the start, but pretty much OK during the race. Felt it at times, but it wasn't the distraction it was yesterday.

However, a frustrating run, as one 2.15 min mistake at 8 cost a possible win. Also, unbelievably, lost time at 12, the easiest control on the course. Just ran past without seeing it. 20 sec? Otherwise very good, spiking most other controls.

Physically, good start, but struggles after the mistake and was slow until speeding up a bit through the last few controls.

C • #12 2

S6D - Day 4 Darnaway - C37 - Splits

Day 3 - Darnaway East - 4.5Km 135m

From the ridiculous back to the sublime. Very enjoyable and reasonably tricky course.

Heel a bit sore all the way. Fortunately very soft underfoot so not too painful, but stepped on a rock between 7 and 8 and was in agony for a few minutes. Difficult to tell just how much it afected me but noticeable that my good splits were further down than the past 2 days. Obviously affected me mentally - was not concentrating properly on navigation in the first half of the course and lost time on nearly every leg (1,2,3,4,6,8,9). Worst was 1.5 mins at 1, where the map was dubious. Probably lost about 4 mins in total, mostly through just not concentrating.

S6D - Day 3 Darnaway - C37 - Splits

Golf at Forres with Charlie, Dave and Arun.
101. Not too bad after a poor start. Nice course, but windy.

Heel still sore. Hurts with every footstep, but might be able to run through the pain.

Day 2 - Strathfarrar 6.2Km 260m

Horrible day all round. Huge queue into car park so nearly everyone using punching starts which meant a 20 min queue at the start and no chance to warm up. Then the area was ridiculous. Should never have been used in Summer - you just had to pick your elephant track and hope it was the right one. Would not have run if I'd had an early start. Also, a control in the wrong place, which I don't remember ever happening at the 6-days before.

Poor run. Not in the right state of mind at the start. Lost 30 sec to 1 as confused innthe middle of the leg. Lost 1 min at 3 which was on the wrong crag. Lost contact to 4 (30 sec). Missed elephant track to 7. Route OK, but probably cost 45 sec. -10 sec on 8 (stopped just before it) -30 sec on 9.

Then, on the way to 13 fell over really badly. Injured heel - don't know quite how. Cost 1-2 mins over that leg and the next couple.

Physically pretty awful. Really struggling to run and absolutely knackered at the end. Not fun.

Heel very sore in the evening. Not sure I'll be able to run again this week.

C • Hope not 1

S6D - Day 2 Strathfarrar - C37 - Splits

6-days Day 1 - Achagour 8.02Km 160m

Fun course, good area, though fairly physical.

Didn't push too hard as the earliest start of the week and unlikely to count.

Orienteering rusty - lost 3-4 mins.

Golf at Covesea with Charlie and Dave.
Awful start, but got much better. 49. Great fun.

S6D - Day 1 Achagour - C37 - Splits