Training Log Archive: BecksIn the 30 days ending Sep 30, 2011:
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Friday Sep 30, 2011 #
7 AM
Running 27:53 4.85 km (5:45 / km) +44m 5:30 / km
ahr:147 max:168 shoes: Grey Saucony Excursion
Set my monitor for 75% of max today and ran into work again. Felt tons better this morning, as pace was good for that HR even though I was carrying a pretty heavy bag. Good. For this first time this year my hands were chilly, and it really felt like autumn. Yey!
Thursday Sep 29, 2011 #
Note
Still tired, and also fighting Rob's cold from last week. Should have gone straight to bed last night, don't know why I didn't.
9 AM
Running 25:26 3.59 km (7:05 / km) +33m 6:47 / km
ahr:142 max:155 shoes: Grey Saucony Excursion
Very easy jog towards the lab to try and wake myself up. Then I bought a Pumpkin Spiced Latte in honour of Sam, and one of those two things appears to have done the trick! It's drizzly and damp but still very warm out there, sweaty even in shorts and a vest top. I should have done this session on Monday, will probably do the same tomorrow then try and do some O' at the weekend. Boris?
Wednesday Sep 28, 2011 #
Note
Still stupid tired today, going to jog home from work and get an earlier night after some Boris and Kat fun. Think it's just the old re-establishing a routine problem, should right itself soon.
Tuesday Sep 27, 2011 #
8 AM
Running 44:02 7.71 km (5:43 / km) +157m 5:11 / km
ahr:164 max:183 shoes: Grey Saucony Excursion
Easy run with Boris that didn't feel easy. It was very humid and my legs were tired. But it was really good to see Boris!
Monday Sep 26, 2011 #
Note
Today I am whacked and a bit headachey, but nonetheless, it's actually nice to be back at work. I have had more positive interactions with people today than I used to get over the course of a month.
Onwards and upwards!
Onwards and upwards!
Sunday Sep 25, 2011 #
Event: WCOC Tarrywile Park
7 AM
Orienteering 1:46:58 7.38 km (14:29 / km) +342m 11:46 / km
ahr:148 max:176 shoes: Inov8s
Putting out most of the other controls, with a nice run up to box 147. Grrr. I don't like putting out controls, it's very slow.
1 PM
Running 1:00:44 5.29 km (11:28 / km) +347m 8:38 / km
ahr:158 max:177
The problem with setting an uber tough and hilly course is that no one is up to collecting controls in. Donna and Lyn did a wonderful job of the middle bunch, and it was back to the hill for me. Tired, sunburned and dehydrated. Didn't need the map either, so this counts as 'running' instead of O'.
Running 20:23 1.7 km (11:59 / km) +85m 9:35 / km
ahr:160 max:175
Collecting the final loop. I was done by the end. I think people enjoyed the courses, but red could maybe have done with one less loop. I also forgot to plan a brown, which was silly.
I don't like planning whites and yellows for these meets. They take up a ton of controls that are useless for other courses, and today I had four runs between them. Three runs were Clint's boy Hayden. A lot of effort for very little return.
I am also annoyed that after e mailingme with awkward questions every day this week and asking for extra maps to be printed, the ROTC students never turned up. Pretty poor show.
All in all though, a pretty good day. And one person beat Ali up the hill! Nice one, Sergey G!
I don't like planning whites and yellows for these meets. They take up a ton of controls that are useless for other courses, and today I had four runs between them. Three runs were Clint's boy Hayden. A lot of effort for very little return.
I am also annoyed that after e mailingme with awkward questions every day this week and asking for extra maps to be printed, the ROTC students never turned up. Pretty poor show.
All in all though, a pretty good day. And one person beat Ali up the hill! Nice one, Sergey G!
Saturday Sep 24, 2011 #
4 PM
Orienteering 1:36:33 [3] 6.92 km (13:58 / km)
ahr:149 max:169 shoes: Inov8s
Putting out the furthest and highest controls for the meet. Of course I forgot to take one box, and by the time I had finished it was dark, leaving me with a quick sprint up the hill on the morning of the meet. Grrr.
Friday Sep 23, 2011 #
Running 23:00 [2] 2.3 mi (10:00 / mi)
I wasn't allowed outside because it was dark, so I ran on a random program on the treadmill until my stomach complained enough to stop. Bit of a token effort, but I hate treadmills.
Thursday Sep 22, 2011 #
Note
In the white mountains with rob's family, totally exhausted.will be in boston tomorrow and needing to print maps for tarrywile.any ideas people?
Tuesday Sep 20, 2011 #
5 AM
Orienteering 1:03:54 12.48 km (5:07 / km) +140m 4:51 / km
ahr:176 max:184 shoes: Grey Saucony Excursion
I ran the London City Race! And really, really messed it up! Legs were seriously tired which didn't help, but took an absolute pile of poor route choices and had to stop completely on multiple occasions to scratch my head. Tired legs and tired brain, especially by the end, but it was still a lot of fun. The roads were very busy and I kept running through hoards of people on fag breaks. The map will appear when I haven't been awake for 21 hours. Back in New Haven now!
Map: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Map: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Monday Sep 19, 2011 #
4 AM
Running 53:00 8.42 km (6:17 / km) +266m 5:26 / km
ahr:158 max:176 shoes: Grey Saucony Excursion
A lovely rolling run in the sunshine before getting on the train to London. This run was probably a bit hillier than was ideal, but it was a good route so stuff it. Legs feeling a bit tired, but easier than I thought it would be.
Sunday Sep 18, 2011 #
4 PM
Orienteering 51:51 6.5 km (7:59 / km) +149m 7:09 / km
ahr:163 max:177 spiked:20/22c
Another session from home, this time an old Middle race from the Moor. I was much better today, although I had a serious wobble mid my Part 2 (their part 1, started with part 2 as that was closest to home). Was visualising well (obviously easier when you know what things look like already!) and planning ahead okay. Stopped still once when I didn't have a picture of what was going on, and got it straight. Legs were tired today, it's been a bumper year for heather and some of the stuff was thigh high. Haven't had time to re-perfect the heather lope while I've been here! Just an easy loosener tomorrow before heading down to London I think.
My part 1: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
My part 2: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Control count: 179/2000
My part 1: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
My part 2: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Control count: 179/2000
Saturday Sep 17, 2011 #
Note
Did some orienteering on the two maps at home, but Garmin dump will probably have to wait until I'm back in New Haven now. Almost time!
4 PM
Orienteering 55:16 7.61 km (7:16 / km) +241m 6:16 / km
ahr:163 max:179 spiked:10/16c
Spent the whole day cooped up in the back of Jen's Ford Ka, and when we got home at just past 4 decided I had time to get out. Grabbed a map from a recent event and did the first part of the course, till it ended just past the end of our street. Surprisingly tricky for an area I know so well! Most of my failings were confidence, though number one I just never saw the junction despite being in the right place. Number two there was lots of new rhodo, so difficult to pick on that particular mapped blob. After that I warmed up, although there were a few places where new rhodo growth got in the way of my flow. Glad to get out, it's been ages since I ran here on a map so it actually felt new enough to be useful!
Map: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
My house used to be on both of these maps, but they've cut it off recently. Boo!
Map: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
My house used to be on both of these maps, but they've cut it off recently. Boo!
Friday Sep 16, 2011 #
Note
I wanted to orienteer today, but I am super tired and life is about to get hectic again, so I think I will play it safe. Sorry Brooner! In good news, my Visa should be landing at CJ's on Monday, with one day to spare before I head back to the USA.
I also noticed when looking at Mum's photos that despite having lost a lot of weight, mostly visible around my shoulders, there is still weight to lose around my core. I think that getting back into the gym will help this, but might have to be careful about what I eat again for a while too.
I also noticed when looking at Mum's photos that despite having lost a lot of weight, mostly visible around my shoulders, there is still weight to lose around my core. I think that getting back into the gym will help this, but might have to be careful about what I eat again for a while too.
C • eating 16
Note
We ended up walking a long way today anyway, am shattered! Being outside is hard work. But it's been a great week.
Thursday Sep 15, 2011 #
11 AM
Running 53:42 9.3 km (5:47 / km) +14m 5:44 / km
ahr:156 max:178 shoes: Grey Saucony Excursion
Another mostly fantastic run! Down from the top of the Bealach Na Ba (very steep in places, making down quite hard work), then dropped off into the woods. Dropped off too early though, and ploughed through knee deep mud a lot of the way (that was the not fantastic bit of the run) through the woods, going down a few dead ends with storm destroyed patches of forest at the end. Then onto the vehicle tracks and bumped into the family just south of Applecross. Stunningly clear day with views in every direction for miles. The Cuillin looked splendid. Hopefully, yet again, my Mum's photos will do it more justice than mine.
After running and lunch at the Applecross Inn, I failed to go swimming in the sea at a gorgeous coral beach. I made it to almost waist height, but I really needed a half naked Grassie running towards me yelling to make me go for it!
After running and lunch at the Applecross Inn, I failed to go swimming in the sea at a gorgeous coral beach. I made it to almost waist height, but I really needed a half naked Grassie running towards me yelling to make me go for it!
Wednesday Sep 14, 2011 #
12 PM
Running 46:57 6.16 km (7:37 / km) +434m 5:38 / km
ahr:164 max:182 shoes: Grey Saucony Excursion
Really fun run on the north end of Skye. It was more like a slow intervals session, as I had to keep stopping to take photos. I started by running to the top of a ridge opposite the Quiraing, then back down to the road, where I picked up lots of styrofoam cups and plates, then along the Quiraing path to meet up with Mum and Dad. Great place to be, fantastic scenery, very changeable weather as you'll see from the photos that are currently uploading! We walked for about another two hours after I met Mum & Dad, including a very steep ascent to "The Table" - a flat piece on top of huge square shaped slab of rock, that is almost smooth enough to play bowls on. Fantastic day!
Tuesday Sep 13, 2011 #
11 AM
Running 1:00:01 9.16 km (6:33 / km) +233m 5:49 / km
ahr:165 max:180 shoes: Inov8s
Yey! Jen and Pete headed over to Kyle, so I went with them and ran back. There was sooo much water everywhere but it was brilliant fun splashing through the bogs and at one point, running through the lake the path had disappeared into. Legs felt tired but it's ages since my body felt so alive. The first bit was really fun, and the second bit down the hill on the road was weird, because I ran into a Dutch Porsche Rally. No kidding.
Monday Sep 12, 2011 #
Note
(rest day)
Well deserved rest day, sleep in, a bit of shopping and sitting around waiting for Katia to pass. Luckily she's travelled further south, so we're not expecting the weather to be quite as bad as they were saying a few days ago. Fantastic to be with the family (including twenty year old Buddy the cat, and a lovely train ride last night including some traditional music played by some local teenagers.
I will take some photos when I get some better light, promise! I forgot my proper camera and my phone camera is no good in this gloom.
I will take some photos when I get some better light, promise! I forgot my proper camera and my phone camera is no good in this gloom.
Note
For those Western Connecticut softies who think the ferns were bad at Sessions Woods, look at what I've been facing up to for the past week!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/faintgirl/6141689878/...
More photos from the short time when it wasn't raining here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/faintgirl/sets/721576...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/faintgirl/6141689878/...
More photos from the short time when it wasn't raining here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/faintgirl/sets/721576...
Sunday Sep 11, 2011 #
Event: SOL5
10 AM
Orienteering 1:08:19 [3] 8.68 km (7:52 / km) +165m 7:11 / km
spiked:18/22c
More details later, but today was really fun. Cambus O' May did not defeat me, although the Straiminator got me by about a minute. Was a bit slow the whole way but the was on the top form till the final few controls, when a couple of silly errors crept in. Loved it though.
I imagine this will probably be a WOC training area so will try and Quickroute tomorrow when I have better light for a photo.
Map of part 1: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Part 2: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Start - 1: No probs, left the track across the wide hill and dropped in, slowed slightly by bracken in the re-entrant.
1-2: Maybe not the quickest route but the safest with my current level of confidence. Came in after the ridge on fine compass, was a bit slow in as the site didn't look exactly as I visualised.
2-3: Now it gets tricky. Across the flat bit, over the bottom of the wide rocky re-entrant, up onto the plateau and drop in. Spike. Yes.
3-4: Aimed to go straight but drifted on my rough compass and so stuck to the paths. Not the fastest but easy.
4-5: One re-entrant, one spur, one re-entrant, up onto the next spur, bang. nice flow.
5-6: Stuck to the ridges then dropped off at the end. Nice.
6-7: Up re-entrant, across some flattish stuff, the other side of nice think re-entrant. Bang.
7-8: Very slow across the open, need to remind myself how to pick my feet up when running. Then did some bonus climb - should have done an extra compass check.
8-9 To the road, should have gone higher where it was less rocky. Then decided on a very silly half and half route from the road that in trying to avoid climb in two places ended up doing the most climb. Silly. Should have gone higher the whole way and dropped into the wide rentrant.
9-10: Slog up the slope, but navigationally no problem.
10-11: Dropped too low for ease of navigation, but not feeling physically strong enoough for that kind of lazy decision.
11-12: Nice route through the valleys, bang.
12-13: Came in from the ridge, extra climb but simpler.
13:14: Another ridge run, then over the ride and in, no problem.
14-15: Was pushed too far north, went round the hill with the boulder, but then over corrected when coming off it, dropping into the eastern re-entrant. Again, extra compass check would have helped here.
15-16: Bearing across wide re-entrant, control very visible.
16-17: I have run across these hills many a time, knew where I was going here.
17-18: Brain and legs tired, out to the road. Good route, except was lazy on leaving the road and dropped into the wrong re-entrant. Lots of bracken in the way of my correction. Boo.
18-19: Path route, easy. Maybe lower paths with bit on ridges across marsh would have been faster.
19-20: Nae probs, over the hill and drop in.
20-21: Straight on compass, nae probs.
21-22: Silly, read the north round the pond route as more complicated, when actually it was easier with less climb. Definitely tired.
So, all in all, I was very encouraged yesterday, and now I've done the analysis, am even more encouraged. Was up with the locals no problem, but there are a lot of finer bits of technique that I was less good on out there that would have shaved me some significant time. More compass routine (not more compass in general, just ensuring I use it at those key turning points), better planning ahead, and more physical fitness to avoid silly decisions in the final stages. So yey! I reckon I could shave at least five minutes off that time, which is very encouraging. Yey!
Control count: 141/2000
I imagine this will probably be a WOC training area so will try and Quickroute tomorrow when I have better light for a photo.
Map of part 1: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Part 2: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Start - 1: No probs, left the track across the wide hill and dropped in, slowed slightly by bracken in the re-entrant.
1-2: Maybe not the quickest route but the safest with my current level of confidence. Came in after the ridge on fine compass, was a bit slow in as the site didn't look exactly as I visualised.
2-3: Now it gets tricky. Across the flat bit, over the bottom of the wide rocky re-entrant, up onto the plateau and drop in. Spike. Yes.
3-4: Aimed to go straight but drifted on my rough compass and so stuck to the paths. Not the fastest but easy.
4-5: One re-entrant, one spur, one re-entrant, up onto the next spur, bang. nice flow.
5-6: Stuck to the ridges then dropped off at the end. Nice.
6-7: Up re-entrant, across some flattish stuff, the other side of nice think re-entrant. Bang.
7-8: Very slow across the open, need to remind myself how to pick my feet up when running. Then did some bonus climb - should have done an extra compass check.
8-9 To the road, should have gone higher where it was less rocky. Then decided on a very silly half and half route from the road that in trying to avoid climb in two places ended up doing the most climb. Silly. Should have gone higher the whole way and dropped into the wide rentrant.
9-10: Slog up the slope, but navigationally no problem.
10-11: Dropped too low for ease of navigation, but not feeling physically strong enoough for that kind of lazy decision.
11-12: Nice route through the valleys, bang.
12-13: Came in from the ridge, extra climb but simpler.
13:14: Another ridge run, then over the ride and in, no problem.
14-15: Was pushed too far north, went round the hill with the boulder, but then over corrected when coming off it, dropping into the eastern re-entrant. Again, extra compass check would have helped here.
15-16: Bearing across wide re-entrant, control very visible.
16-17: I have run across these hills many a time, knew where I was going here.
17-18: Brain and legs tired, out to the road. Good route, except was lazy on leaving the road and dropped into the wrong re-entrant. Lots of bracken in the way of my correction. Boo.
18-19: Path route, easy. Maybe lower paths with bit on ridges across marsh would have been faster.
19-20: Nae probs, over the hill and drop in.
20-21: Straight on compass, nae probs.
21-22: Silly, read the north round the pond route as more complicated, when actually it was easier with less climb. Definitely tired.
So, all in all, I was very encouraged yesterday, and now I've done the analysis, am even more encouraged. Was up with the locals no problem, but there are a lot of finer bits of technique that I was less good on out there that would have shaved me some significant time. More compass routine (not more compass in general, just ensuring I use it at those key turning points), better planning ahead, and more physical fitness to avoid silly decisions in the final stages. So yey! I reckon I could shave at least five minutes off that time, which is very encouraging. Yey!
Control count: 141/2000
Saturday Sep 10, 2011 #
Note
Having a wonderful time at home, trained as planned but no ability to download garmin.all very hectic but a huge amount of fun.early bed now though!
10 AM
Orienteering 24:59 2.35 km (10:39 / km) +73m 9:13 / km
ahr:162 max:180 spiked:6/9c shoes: Inov8s
FVO Training at Sluie. A soggy morning in Deeside, and very tired after a 4.30am start and many hours on the train and bus. I was definitely rusty in Scottish stuff, but my major stumbling block was a lack of confidence deriving from this. I think 2 was on the wrong crag, but after that I pulled it together. Reminded that I needed to plan ahead well and anticipate - need to banish these bad ground to map habits I've gained!
Map: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Map: http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Orienteering 31:25 2.9 km (10:50 / km) +97m 9:17 / km
ahr:158 max:176 spiked:6/10c shoes: Inov8s
Course two practised slope orienteering, but there was a lot of bracken and it wasn't easy to see point features. Missed four entirely but it was wet and cold and didn't want to hang around to find it. Otherwise generally improving on visualising. Still less good in the grotty stuff than the nice stuff. Also working on looking at my compass at the critical moments, something I don't tend to do enough. It worked alright.
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Orienteering 18:16 2.05 km (8:54 / km) +92m 7:16 / km
ahr:160 max:178 spiked:3/5c shoes: Inov8s
A zip round the nice controls on the nicest course. Orienteering much better, a bit of a wobble going to 7 but corrected pretty quickly.
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
2 PM
Orienteering 25:16 2.24 km (11:17 / km) +27m 10:39 / km
ahr:153 max:176 spiked:6/8c
A downhill slope course at Shooting Greens. Really fun, gorgeous forest, and nailed everything until the end, where I stopped too soon on an early clump of rock and made an exciting parallel error of a magnitude not made in a while. Then it started to really rain.
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Orienteering 18:54 1.56 km (12:09 / km) +59m 10:13 / km
ahr:166 max:179 spiked:7/8c
Aside from standing on top of the right boulder having a confidence crisis for about a minute (ridiculous) at number one, showed a definite improvement this afternoon despite getting tired. Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead!
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Orienteering 30:11 2.15 km (14:04 / km) +101m 11:23 / km
ahr:152 max:169 spiked:5/7c
Contorl collecting, By now it was really raining, and I was tired and getting sloppy.
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Friday Sep 9, 2011 #
Ceilidh! 10:00 [3]
A disastrous Strip The Willow (Londoners not good at Stripping, it seems), and a slightly more successful Dashing White Sergeant with the groom. A lovely wedding for wonderful people.
9 AM
Running 39:28 [3] 7.66 km (5:09 / km)
ahr:153 max:178
A very silly run into Princes Street to try and find a white bra for my dress for the wedding. There were no bras my size. This was irritating. It was also very wet and thus not a particularly enjoyable shopping excursion.
Thursday Sep 8, 2011 #
Note
Slept for about half an hour on the plane as they took the quick route having been delayed for two hours at JFK. Was a physical mess yesterday and decided shopping was far wiser than training. Had a lovely evening with Ceej, Eleanor and Brooner, and slept amazingly well last night. Now just waiting for the Embassy courier to arrive "between 9 and 12," hopefully closer to 9 then I can get out for a run and get back on track.
It is amazing being back home. If there's one thing that living in New Haven has made me realise, it's that I would be totally happy living in London.
Edinburgh tonight - come and say hello! Probably at the Villager on George IVth sometime after 7.
It is amazing being back home. If there's one thing that living in New Haven has made me realise, it's that I would be totally happy living in London.
Edinburgh tonight - come and say hello! Probably at the Villager on George IVth sometime after 7.
Note
Come on stupid courier man...
11 AM
Running 36:01 [3] 6.5 km (5:32 / km)
ahr:164 max:180 shoes: Grey Saucony Excursion
I jumped out of CJ's at the last possible minute for my run, and zoomed over to St James Park. Ran past the palace to wave at the Queen especially for Ian, but there were lots of tourists to get in the way. Running in the lack of humidity is lots easier! It's great!
Tuesday Sep 6, 2011 #
Note
Was going to train today and rest tomorrow but the stupid Secure document collection system from the Embassy tried to call me to arrange payment at 8.30am BST. Except for some reason my UK phone is going straight to voicemail, so I spent a frustrating half half on the phone to Vodafone (at 3.30am) trying to get it to work, which ended in technical support cutting me off because she didn't like the line. So I call the Embassy, and they agree to let my Mum & Dad pay for the document collection, and say they will call them immediately. I watch a Mad Men and eventually get some kind of fitful sleep, only to get up at 9am and find they haven't called my poor Dad yet who has spent all day sitting next to the phone.
a) Why on earth can't the US Embassy bit of DX Secure call US phones? Surely this is a problem they encounter all the time?
b) How can an agency that's been told multiple times I'm in the US justify calling me at 3.30am?
c) I am now thoroughly exhausted and at least hoping that this means I manage to sleep on the flight over. Hopefully normal service will resume, and my documents will be collected tomorrow, enabling me to get back to this place on time.
Grrr. Mad.
a) Why on earth can't the US Embassy bit of DX Secure call US phones? Surely this is a problem they encounter all the time?
b) How can an agency that's been told multiple times I'm in the US justify calling me at 3.30am?
c) I am now thoroughly exhausted and at least hoping that this means I manage to sleep on the flight over. Hopefully normal service will resume, and my documents will be collected tomorrow, enabling me to get back to this place on time.
Grrr. Mad.
Monday Sep 5, 2011 #
11 AM
Orienteering 1:09:41 7.98 km (8:44 / km) +233m 7:37 / km
ahr:166 max:179 spiked:19/28c shoes: Inov8s
More later - Becky's Awesome at Brainard.
Okay, up now at : http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
I was tired when I started today and struggled a bit with concentration. Missed the path I wanted at 1 and did a nice banana, then really struggled with finding the correct boulder for number 2.
Number 5 direction was just totally off, and couldn't figure out whether I was supposed to go up or down. Decided to pull myself together after that.
The technical bits that followed were a delight, gorgeous woods and great mapping. Got most things spot on, aside from 9 where I drifted on the flat and thought I'd arrived a few crags too early. Quickly realised my crag wasn't opposite a hill and figured it out though.
12 was tricky, and as I suspected I did go past the site and dropped into the steeper re-entrant. I did go right over the control though, so my line was good, and would have been fine with a flag there.
At 16 I ran over the feature, but realised pretty quickly and corrected.
18 I had no plan and it showed - took the easy way out of the control, not realising that I needed to climb. Never saw the path, but realised very quickly I was too low. Not a fun climb up!
Then came the road running, and my legs finally came alive again! Garmin reckoned I was running just over 4 minute kms and it felt strong and easy, not tough and ridiculous. Just had to beat the body into submission, clearly!
Too far right of the line on 25 - hit the hilltops nicely but should have done a quick compass check. Misinterpreted the re-entrant the boulder was in as starting lower down, and thus headed to the wrong bit of the hill.
Silly route down from the final control, but it looked rocky the right way and I was being a pansy.
So all in all, maybe today should have been called Becky's sometimes awesome, but she's definitely rusty and needs to focus more in vague bits where the orienteering is less fun. Managed to stay ahead of the Ali though after she almost caught me at 12 (giving a motivating toot toot!). It's not like she was running without a compass or anything.
Oh, wait... :)
Okay, up now at : http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
I was tired when I started today and struggled a bit with concentration. Missed the path I wanted at 1 and did a nice banana, then really struggled with finding the correct boulder for number 2.
Number 5 direction was just totally off, and couldn't figure out whether I was supposed to go up or down. Decided to pull myself together after that.
The technical bits that followed were a delight, gorgeous woods and great mapping. Got most things spot on, aside from 9 where I drifted on the flat and thought I'd arrived a few crags too early. Quickly realised my crag wasn't opposite a hill and figured it out though.
12 was tricky, and as I suspected I did go past the site and dropped into the steeper re-entrant. I did go right over the control though, so my line was good, and would have been fine with a flag there.
At 16 I ran over the feature, but realised pretty quickly and corrected.
18 I had no plan and it showed - took the easy way out of the control, not realising that I needed to climb. Never saw the path, but realised very quickly I was too low. Not a fun climb up!
Then came the road running, and my legs finally came alive again! Garmin reckoned I was running just over 4 minute kms and it felt strong and easy, not tough and ridiculous. Just had to beat the body into submission, clearly!
Too far right of the line on 25 - hit the hilltops nicely but should have done a quick compass check. Misinterpreted the re-entrant the boulder was in as starting lower down, and thus headed to the wrong bit of the hill.
Silly route down from the final control, but it looked rocky the right way and I was being a pansy.
So all in all, maybe today should have been called Becky's sometimes awesome, but she's definitely rusty and needs to focus more in vague bits where the orienteering is less fun. Managed to stay ahead of the Ali though after she almost caught me at 12 (giving a motivating toot toot!). It's not like she was running without a compass or anything.
Oh, wait... :)
Sunday Sep 4, 2011 #
Event: WCOC - Sessions Woods
10 AM
Orienteering 51:59 7.32 km (7:06 / km) +148m 6:27 / km
ahr:175 max:184 spiked:19/24c shoes: Inov8s
Yey! The orienteering thing! George planned a really fun course at Sessions Woods, making the most of the fun and interesting bit by interspersing path runs with short technical pick sections. Lungs felt better than they have done previously, legs a bit tired uphill but it was really fun. Analysis later as I had to hand in my map, as loads of people turned up. Yey!
DOMA is down for now, so here's the map:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/faintgirl/6114771114/...
Set off dead confident to 1, but then I hit the col and the control wasn't where I expected. Head scratched for a bit and then found it, but a good few seconds lost there.
2, 3 and 4 were all spiky goodness. 5 I stopped way too short, in fact, I had to stop myself from doing this again at multiple times in the course. Confidence? Just running too slow?!
6-16 navigating really well, good flow, but tired on the uphill bits of the tracks.
17 was my biggest error. I took the water I could see as the marsh, and it wasn't, the whole area was just soggy. Ended up drifting too far to the left, thought I might have gone over the bobbly hill but wasn't sure, just kind of carried on, then I saw no trees ahead, and realised that was the small pond. Corrected and found the control pretty quickly after that. My compass is not good in the thicker stuff, need to work on that.
20 was further to the right than I expected it to be - came off the hill pointing straight at it and it wasn't there. A bit of confused looking around and I spotted the control way further than I expected.
23 bobble not an error as such, but that looked to be the path of least resistance through the green.
All in all not bad, planning ahead well and attacking in the right places. But it would be nice to feel springy instead of whatever my legs were today!
DOMA is down for now, so here's the map:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/faintgirl/6114771114/...
Set off dead confident to 1, but then I hit the col and the control wasn't where I expected. Head scratched for a bit and then found it, but a good few seconds lost there.
2, 3 and 4 were all spiky goodness. 5 I stopped way too short, in fact, I had to stop myself from doing this again at multiple times in the course. Confidence? Just running too slow?!
6-16 navigating really well, good flow, but tired on the uphill bits of the tracks.
17 was my biggest error. I took the water I could see as the marsh, and it wasn't, the whole area was just soggy. Ended up drifting too far to the left, thought I might have gone over the bobbly hill but wasn't sure, just kind of carried on, then I saw no trees ahead, and realised that was the small pond. Corrected and found the control pretty quickly after that. My compass is not good in the thicker stuff, need to work on that.
20 was further to the right than I expected it to be - came off the hill pointing straight at it and it wasn't there. A bit of confused looking around and I spotted the control way further than I expected.
23 bobble not an error as such, but that looked to be the path of least resistance through the green.
All in all not bad, planning ahead well and attacking in the right places. But it would be nice to feel springy instead of whatever my legs were today!
Saturday Sep 3, 2011 #
9 AM
Orienteering 1:50:55 9.47 km (11:43 / km) +471m 9:23 / km
ahr:155 max:176 shoes: Inov8s
A highly inaccurate timing for taping the controls at Tarrywile, kept forgetting to restart my watch and didn't stop it every time I stopped. I felt crappy out there. My legs feel strong and springy by my lungs are not right. I don't know whether it's allergies or illness, but at least going home next week will enable me to determine which of the two it is. Slightly refined my courses, got a bit stuck in some brash trying to cut from full TD courses across to where the kiddies ones went, and saw a ton of seriously cute deer. Really enjoyed the control picky legs on top of hills, physically felt better on those and was navigating well. I should have taken water.
Also, there was a car in the middle of the forest, miles from a road, and up a very rocky path. It was a very old car, so maybe the trail used to be bigger. Whoever drove it up there had some guts!
Also, there was a car in the middle of the forest, miles from a road, and up a very rocky path. It was a very old car, so maybe the trail used to be bigger. Whoever drove it up there had some guts!
C • so 4
Friday Sep 2, 2011 #
8 AM
Orienteering 31:12 *** 6.02 km (5:11 / km) +65m 4:55 / km
ahr:169 max:187 spiked:8/10c shoes: Grey Saucony Excursion
Jog to Science Hill and then an adaptation of Graeme's sprint course, just missing out going inside the Divinity School, as I've done that a bajillion times. Mentally okay, but need to be planning further ahead, physically, I feel about 60. It feels like lungs rather than legs, which is not a problem I've had before. Surprisingly tricky course with lots of stairs. Wobbled a bit physically on 6 and took the wrong route choice for 9, having to climb some extra stairs.
QR on my DOMA (Cristina rocks!)
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Obviously didn't screw up like that at 10, the track bears no relevance to the ground there at all - too low down.
QR on my DOMA (Cristina rocks!)
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=bec...
Obviously didn't screw up like that at 10, the track bears no relevance to the ground there at all - too low down.
Thursday Sep 1, 2011 #
Note
I have no idea why, but today I am thoroughly pooped. Lots of time on my feet at work I guess.
Note
Incredibly convoluted plans for going home part two complete! Visa pick up booked, trains booked. Now I just have to make sure I get up at 5am the day after a wedding to be on a train to Aberdeen for Deeside training fun with FVO! :s
It'll be great to see people, but it'll also be great to get to Duirinish and not have to do anything for a week afterwards :)
It'll be great to see people, but it'll also be great to get to Duirinish and not have to do anything for a week afterwards :)
5 PM
Running 27:01 3.38 mi (7:59 / mi) +75m 7:29 / mi
ahr:165 max:181 shoes: Red Saucony Cohesion
Last day at 27 minutes. Was back to humid again and it didn't feel particularly good. Legs are tight. The first two weeks are always the worst though.