Training Log Archive: Rhesus

Swapped with Nathan to do 2nd leg, so I didn't push too hard with this cold. Probablky just shouldn't have run.

Went out in 5th, tried to run steady the whole way but tis not always that easy. Bit of a long route to 1 (really got to sort out my relay starts!), clean then an unnecessarily direct route to 4 was quite slow.

Fell over on the way to 7, ripping my trousers and leg and in my distraction forgot to check my code. I was on the wrong hill - MP! Can't remember the last time I MP'd. Rather now, in a NC team, than at Jukola!

Clean round the rest, really fun just a shame I felt so terrible physically.
Fun race, came in 4th (but obviously I'd MPd). Gaffling was a bit ridiculous though - there shouldn'r be 3-400m difference in legs!

Great weekend, now to shif tthis cold - felt grim travelling home.

Some illegal jogging past the ponies. This wasn't intentional, I just misunderstood the signage. Whoops.

Was really looking forward to this. Had a solid plan and was quietly focused before the start. Bit of a different approach.

Really steady out the start, focus on 3 controls at a time, save energy for later, straight is great. Possibly overreading the map for the first 8/9 but hit everything cleanly (bit over cautious at times, 5 was pretty lucky as couldn't make sense of the map after halfway but compass was solid). Minor deviation en route to 10, wasn't 100% of my position so checked a control on the boulder to the SE (wasn't mine) but knew then I was too far right and got it ok. Had caught Malley 6 minutes here.

At this point I was in 4th, 90 seconds down on the best time. This is pleasing, as I hadn't gone anywhere near top gears.

Leaving 11 I could see my 3 min man Ali Masson going R. I had already stubbornly decided to go straight (This was the wrong RC). I should probably have stuck to the path after the climb and come in from the wall corner to the W of 12 rather than S the line. Or just gone the better route.
As it was, I hit what seemed to be the ride (it wasn't) and came in from there. I was wrong and was far too low and East. Took a little while to realise and climb back up. 3/4 minutes binned. Down to 14th.

Went L on 14, executed fine but starting to tire already. Clean round the next section bar a little wobble on 17 (30 seconds). Took my time coming out of 19 to plan 22, but missed 20 by climbing too far (GPS doesn't show this - 1 minute). Had clawed back to 12th by 21, and saw Ali Masson again leaving it.
Was really tired now, I was a bit surprised given my lack of effort thus far. Gel went in, but I was sloppy going over the top and descended too far R down a crap slope, fy fan. Another couple of needless minutes pissed up the wall.

Clean but tired through to 26, recaught Ali for the 3rd time (sigh) but was really struggling over the top to 27, sweat was getting in my eyes affecting my lenses, falling over a lot and just generally having a shit time. Ended up too left and had to swing in. 90 seconds.

Happy to just finish by the end. Felt terrible afterwards, was a little surprised by my deterioration. Turned out I'd been harbouring a cold which reared its ugly head later that evening. Oh well.

Bar the poor execution of the long legs and a few minor slips and a swift drop in energy, this was a pretty good technical performance by my recent standards so a lot of positives. Enjoyed it a lot.

14th in the end. Pretty much an average result/performance overall.


http://www.soa.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#71&course=1&...

Easy jogging along the river in Ballater after a long drive (or sit, for me)

Hot footed it up Walla and back

Second of the Warrior Battleaxe series. Showdown with The Elk after he beat me by a few seconds last week. Nice new area - Sunnythwaite and Esthwaite Intake.

Stable run, pleased with it. One or two hesitations when it didnt quite fit but nothing major. Took a couple of minutes out of Matt to win the famous Battleaxe trophy.

All the greats have won this one - Ed Nash, Brendan Bolland, Mike McIver, Jack Wright....

C • Welcome to the cream of the crop 4

Just looked at BOC maps, distances etc - looks like a proper classic, bloody ace. 29 controls in 14km, YES! Might actually get some long legs. Just need to find that 3rd relay runner now FOUND ONE

C • Nice one!! 3

Classic SOSB with MMB. Moving well!

Latirgg race route. Swallowed a large fly and choked most of the way.