Training Log Archive: Craney

Ouch! Brutally fast course round MOD Stafford. Really enjoyed it though as it was a good hard run out, there were a few things to look at/think about, and there was no pressure. Murray stamped down some authority and was almost 2mins ahead of me (impressive stuff), and it was good to see Joe running well too. Just snuck ahead of a mini pack behind. The results would have probably been much the same in a ~11km road race! I do still need to get my speed up a bit, but I'm going the right way I think and I was pleased with how I felt after the last couple of days.

6th place in the end. I ran last leg and picked up a couple of places - all 3 of us had good runs so it would've been a big ask to finish much higher. It was really nice runnable forest but quite straightforward so a lot of teams ran well today. I felt really tired but relaxed into a decent pace and was pretty happy with my run (a couple of minor silly wobbles but nothing much). Caught sight of Sprotty just before the spectator control (where I stacked it) and had just about enough energy to sneak past him before the finish. Good to see the BOK women get 3rd though.

Not much warming up and a bit of a cool down jog with Gracie.

Event: British Long Distance Orienteering Champs
 

Winner :o) A really good day for me - everything went exactly how I wanted it to. I'd always been really up for this ever since I first saw that BEOC was going to be on Cannock Chase. The last few weeks (studying etc.) didn't feel ideal at the time, but probably gave my legs a bit of a much needed rest. So I was probably in the best shape I could be in on the start line. And I was excited and confident because I love running on Cannock Chase - the terrain and hillyness suit me perfectly (as a cause rather than an effect!) and I have so many good memories and I felt at home (especially in my musty moth-eaten WCH o-top). To get my best ever domestic result was the icing on the cake. The run itself was pretty much perfect. I relaxed and got into a good rhythm early on and concentrated hard the whole time - judging my pace, spotting potentially tricky sections and picking route choices well. Survived the tricky quarry section without dropping much time and hung on to the finish. Knew I'd had a good run coming down to the last control, but was really relieved and delighted to hear over the tannoy that I was going to take the win. I love Cannock Chase!

A reasonable warm-up and a good warm down jog with OJ and Murray. Interestingly, I now have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th (and 20-somethingth) in the UK cup so far. Hopefully won't be 8th on Monday though.

C • Woohoo 10

Lunchtime run round the Harbourside, up to Leigh Woods, over the Bridge and back down through Clifton. Good to stretch the legs a bit before tomorrow.

Drizzly run round Blaise. Still feeling tired and a bit worn down so was glad just to get out really. Spent a bit of time hunting around in the bushes for the previously mentioned trig. Almost gave up after picking up lots of nettle stings and scratches, but percevered and sure enough found it in the end :o) Strange place for one, but a nice pillar nonetheless. Feel a bit more at ease now.

2x orienteering loops in the FoD planned by coach Saunders. Relay simulation training with gaffled loops, printed maps and tapes hung - great training. Enjoyed the old slag heap especially. Nav was good and I tried to push but I was feeling really tired - my last exam (for now) was this morning and I think the study's taken a fair bit out of me.

Various running - home to Filton to get picked up by Keith (although someone has beaten me to that), then jog to start of o, collecting tapes in, jog back from start to car.

C • I have no problem 2

Cramming on the study, but a physical rest was no bad thing for my legs either.