Training Log Archive: OJ

Evening jog. Eccy woods has turned blue.

C • Blue 1

Y'know, maybe this whole no results thing has been good for us. Maybe we are all just a bit too fixated on how we have done compared to other people. What difference does it really make if Chris beats Will by a few seconds? They've both done well, which is lovely! So long as we have all enjoyed ourselves and done our best, that's the main thing. Results, split times, disqualifications, beating one another, getting beaten, prizes, nopesport; it's just all so stressful. Why do we need to have these artificial hierarchies of attainment imposed on us? Surely there is a better way?

So my proposal for next year's JK is: no timing system at all. Even watches should be banned. That way, we can just get on and enjoy the orienteering in a properly intrinsic way. I think this would enrich our sport and strengthen our sense of personal accomplishment. The trophies can be melted down and used to fund junior tours to nice places. And we can all run happily in sunlit forests, free from the heavy burden of competition and rivalry. It could be beautiful.

C • One issue... 7

DP run out to Burbage including some rougher stuff and a few hills. Nice evening for it with stormy skies all around, but stayed dry. Good group out! Pretty tired still.

Steady and clunky. Not too bad though all told.

JK Relay, Minley, 1st 120+, not sure where we ended up on the men's open. Legs were fine today, which was a nice surprise, and enjoyed the blast around another easy area catching a few stragglers from the open, already well up on the 120+ teams thanks to good runs from Andy and Nick. Once again didn't get too bored despite the fast and not overly taxing course. This weekend has been right on my technical level of orienteering!

Based on all the things that were in the control of the local clubs and volunteers, this was a fantastic JK. Based on certain things that were in the control of BOF/outsourced, this was an embarrassingly dire JK. But it was a good weekend of orienteering. Who needs results, anyway? Let's call it a draw.

JK Long, Cold Ash, 9th. Much better race strategy today. Just took it nice and steady and avoided slipping into the red and overheating. Pretty much no mistakes (over 41 controls, it really was that easy) and got well into the zone, running mostly straight through the nice forest. Caught a few folk towards the end, which helped with the motivation and pleasantly surprised to be leading when I finished. Enjoyed this much more than I expected to!

JK Middle, Windmill Hill, 16th. Set off hard and was loving the twisty course and the short sharp ups and downs. Hit everything to about no. 10 and decided that I was invincible. Then reality caught up with me, I got tired and started to make lots of small mistakes, just hanging on from there to the end. Oh well, the feeling was great while it lasted! No way I could have matched the pace at the front today.

Bakery jog, feeling pretty rubbish.