Training Log Archive: acejase

Warm up mostly up and down road.

ACT Champs. Started well with good focus and nailed first one. Unfortunately wrong control number. Was so sure in wrong spot checked map descriptions and worked out I'd been given wrong course map (C4 instead of my C3). Sorta relieved to realise not my fault as C3 was written on back of map even though was a C4 course.

Trotting round while start team worked out what had happened and then gave me new start. Focussed on re-setting my head! Start team found more C4 maps in C3 box. I knew I was last starter in may age class so seemed possible others same problem.

Off again trying to focus on course and not worry about map problem. 1st control close to one I had been to before which was a little distracting but after that ok. Running well and nailing them in the yellow and then we hit the green on other side of river. Different kettle of fish there as I struggled to hold a line and read map. Scrappy with main problem my inability to run compass well. Few errors worth a min here and min there. High on 10 and probably lost 2 mins.
11 was longish down and across leg to single boulder in a watercourse. Ran it fairly straight I thought but hit gully and heaps of rock everywhere. Big boulders, grey, lots. But nothing on the map where I should be. Checked a few rocks I thought might be right but then stopped looking as so much rock compared to the 1 or 2 boulders I thought would be there. In hindsight really much of rock was mapped "minimally" and shouldve taken that into account. Eventually decided I was way way way lower down the gully where there was some rock and started to head back up. Probably ran 25m when saw a control and having been so bamboozled thought I'd check code thinking it could be my no 5 to confirm relocation. It was no 11 the one I was looking for. Ah dear.
That was last one in green and zoomed off from there.
Crossed river again and felt great being able to run in yellow. Pretty much nailed rest of course running 4 min ks. Such a contrast compared with green side of river.
Pretty annoyed with my big error at 11 but otherwise enjoyed myself which is saying something given tough nature of area and problems at start. Thanks to Craney the course setter for his efforts - such a tough area to course set in. Did a sterling job.

C • Shame about the map mix-up 2

Cool down, some with Rob and Andy. Turned out at least 2 other guys on my course got wrong map. They only worked it out half way round Course 4 and pressed on doing C4 (fair enough - I wouldve done same if had only worked out then). The twist was when they got back they both went out and did C3! I think in end course wasn't cancelled as noone protested but for me it was cancelled.

Realised crab walks for glutes have dropped off radar last few weeks and starting to notice the difference. Need to get them back in rotation.