Training Log Archive: mattp

Southern Champs

Day 2 of the camp. Another big race, which we have all been anticipating for a long time.

Phil was there to greet us in the car park and with a smile on our faces pulled on our shoes ready for the Forest of Dean slop.

Seemed to be going fine around the first loop but looking at the splits was going quite slowly. Saw Duncan steaming past on the way to 7 and hoped that he wouldn't catch me before the end. A little ahead of Nick as the road crossing before the long leg.

Considered quite carefully that executing the long leg would be a good idea but did not follow up with quite a poor route to the left. Path to right or straight would have been surely better. Further time loss on 15 before the big bonk after 21.

Had a nice tow from Duncan again for the last few controls but couldn't stick with him as long as yesterday.

All in all, another quality day in the forest.

Southern Night Champs

Day 1 of the training camp. Tamsin, Rob and Nick met at my house before we moved into my car and headed to Caerwent for the first event of the weekend.

Quite a unique area with a mixture of grassland, buildings, slopes, woods and big uncrossable fences constructed in the middle of open fields. It was clear that fast running was required but as always, clear thinking as well.

With my husband's mantra in mind - steady to number 1 - I was out of the start gate and navigated to the correct ditch without ceremony. No issues around the first loop but then drifted left after leaving 6. Then ended up quite a long way left. My rediversion attempt was a failure and I ended up finding a big fire which I thought was probably in the out of bounds area. So back out around and then down the road into the woods for a 2 mins lost.

From then on a few more encounters with uncrossable fences before a good burn up with Duncan from half way from control 15 to the finish.

All in all, good fun, and I beat Rob and Nick who were only interested in the Wessex Night League anyway.

In

Easy back from the bike shop. The mechanic was not very impressed with the state of my bike, looking to be an expensive one. McDonalds busier than could be imagined

Wet wet

Very rogue hybrid route on the way back but it has some potential with some tweaks.

Easy easy industrial estates and roads. Got very confused about the direction of the cycle path and ran down it the wrong way for 700m. Looks like the vegan takeaway is closed and the new McDonalds is open.

Too hot with 4 layers.

Return to Eastville slopes, quite swampy at the moment, good decision to wear trail shoes. Had to get back to get my butternut squash out of the oven.