Training Log Archive: simmo

Event: Spice Brook
 

H3 course at Spice Brook, gps reading 8.2km. Tendency to drift right, and lose a bit of concentration around controls, will have to improve for State Champs! Start to 1 was a long leg across rather vague territory, wasn't sure if I would pick up a small track 200m before the control, but it turned out to be very obvious - DEC really should do more to keep trail-bikes out of their forests! Drifted wide right on 2, then the same on 3, but both times managed to recognise something to pull me back - probably lost 30 secs on 2, 1 min on 3. 3-4 was much thicker than shown, across a vague hillside but spiked it. 4-5 showed 100m of thick green to cross, but there was virtually nothing there (I said after last year's SB event that the green in the gullies needed to be remapped). After crossing the green, hesitated a bit to ensure I was in the right gully, then used a brown dot to pick the correct side gully. The first part of 5-6 was good until I hit the expected track. As it deviated up a steep spur I stayed low but then got confused when the track crossed again (seemed to be several more deviations than shown on the map) and went up the wrong gully (3 min). Found a few more motor cycle trails going up and down the gully slopes, and used one to get into the correct gully. Went wrong again in the second half of the next leg (6-7), where I should have gone up to the head of a gully then reset compass instead of crossing it lower down and relying on my original bearing (2-3 min). Pretty good for the next few long legs, slight hesitation at the top of the gully above 11, then a slog to 13 through rather unpleasant knee-high stuff (not prickly though). Was expecting a large granite boulder as mapped, hadn't looked at description which I now see is 0.9! (1 min). Only 2 mins behind Bill M, at first I thought he must have made some big mistakes but splits show he lost 3 mins at 1 and then just minor time losses - couldn't have been trying!

C • Large boulders 4

H3 - Splits

Reabold hills run, starting and finishing at different point because my usual car park was full. Looked like a duathlon taking place - all the bikes (about 20) lined up on a rack waiting for runners to arrive.

Bridges-Heirisson run, about the same pace as last week. Didn't see any kangaroos until 2/3 way round the Island there was a flash in the corner of my eye, and I glanced around to see a tourist about 50m away near a solitary kangaroo. The others may have been shy and hiding in the bush.

Kings Park run, thought it was going to be another wet one, but the drizzle stopped after the first km. Had late lunch, which was weighing heavily and causing stitch around the 5km mark. Still managed a little bit quicker than last week's really slow time.