Training Log Archive: simon

Applecross by the road, with new landscapes at every roadturns. Lunch at the pub (very good), a little walk in a wood which woold have been charming if the rhododendrons had not been all cut (but apparently rhododendron is an invading species in Scotland). Then the road to Skye Island with a rainy halt at Plockton.

Scottish Day 6 - Loch Ordie

Last day in a magnificent area, in particular climbing up to the start. Then the course was so technical that I unfortunately didn't take care of sightseeing the terrain. Up and down: felt sometimes totally sluggish and suffering the terrain (both physically and mentally), sometimes insecure about my orienteering, then managing in reviving myself and running good and secure - so it was a great feeling to be able to restart myself again. The course would have been excellent if for a dumb mistake in a classical trap towards the end (went too low down the hill back to finish, cost me 2 ranks). Again too much haste instead of anticipation.

15th out of 70, woohoo! Best rank of the week, it feels like a good reward for my fighting spirit on the terrain.

Overall: 18th out of 84 (sum of 4 best ranks 16+17+17+15=65), in line with my ranks and a good thing for my steadily improving performance (on the last 3 days). I dont think this scoring system favor steady performance (since you can have two very bad days which dont count and one very good, some average) but anyway...

Roadtrip in the Highlands through Inverness, up to Torridon. Bivouac on a mountain road, between clouds and midges at morning.

Scottish Day 5 - Barry Buddon

Second day in dunes, yet this time terrain was almost always opened and more technical. Weather still gorgeous. Only one big mistake, still because of a bad exit. Other legs were good.

18th out of 68. Best race with previous day, although I must say I was deceived by my rank, thinking that more people would fail in the technical terrain.

abdo, stretching

Scottish Day 4 - Tentsmuir

Different terrain, Landes-like forest near the sea with dune relief and pine forest. Better approach of the race, better control exit and better anticipation. Much better race, always in control except for one where I went too fast an exit and made a parallel mistake (2 min lost). Special finish in the green where you had to follow straight lines with nothing else.

The common word on this day was 'I did very well, but so did the others' so in the end, the result is good but not extraordinary.

17th out of 70. Best race of the week with day 5. Taking my time when exiting a control, that was the key to gain back my technique!

stretching

On the road to Arbroath, another beautiful city. Best food of the trip with a fresh smoked haddock at the local pub. Bivouac near the cliffs.

Rest day, road trip through Loch Katrine, Stirling (good food at the 2nd Baker Street pub but unfortunately, didnt have time to visit the castle), then a magnificent visit in Saint Andrews by sunset. Bivouac between the beach and the famous Old Course (just disturbed by RAF :))

Scottish Day 3 - Tullochroisk

Mountain weather for mountain course, wind and rain, but a fighting spirit which served well and I thought the weather fitted perfectly the race (although it would have been gorgeous with a beautiful sun). Legs already a bit heavy uphill. Average to bad in the first part, with forest (lost map contact on the way to 2nd and 5th controls, very bad), then much better in the open ground and very pleasant.

17th out of 61. Now, all those errors of lost contacts began to annoy me, so decided to work this out for the next races.

Back trip to Perth through Pitlochry and its famous Moulin Inn. Good food.

Scottish Day 2 - Kinnoull and Deuchny

Much better, very runnable but traps. And I fell in traps despite anticipation. Spectacular finish area on hills.

16th out of 67. Still a bit deceived by my technic.

abdo, stretching

Event: Scottish Six Days Tay 2009
 

Scottish Day 1 - Dalrulzion

Some good and some disastrous. Good first control then alternating between the good (2, 5...) and the terrible (3, 6, 7...) Rusted technique in a difficult terrain, not a good mix. Some controls just felt not right (7).

33th out of 70, worst race of the week. I was technically well behind my standard, with up and some serious down - unfortunately too often this year.

20x abdo

OK, bag ready, I'm good to go. Tomorrow up at 6:30, it's gonna be a looooong day...

The trip. Sun rain road, nothing else. Bivouac in the truck as we were too late at the camp site. Lots of time lost in traffic jam around London.