Training Log Archive: KingTim

Eridge Old Park. JK Trophy. First Leg.

I consider myself pretty lucky that BOK were still happy to have me on their A team after my dismal performance so far this weekend. So I was determined to show them that I can bring in a good result once in a while.

As usual an absolutely manic first leg, being dragged by a good handful of proper elite runners. I was quite slow to 1, wanting to make sure I was in touch with the map and not being dragged to the wrong one. After 3 I was settled into my pace and was running well. Thankfully the navigation was fairly easy, and there was a good number of head-down-and-run legs through fields. Couldn't work out who exactly was on my gaffle; there didn't seem to be a solid group of us doing exactly the same. By 9 I was running with a group of 2 Norwegians, an EUOC guy, and one other. I finally overtook them on the run-in, finishing in 8th position (5th on my gaffle).

What a good birthday run that was.

C • I win 1

C • Awesome effort!!! 3

Ashdown Forest.

Set off feeling all positive that this would be a good one and I'd make up for yesterday's crapness. Nah ah. Not today.

For starters I couldn't make my feet stay where I put them - they were slipping and sliding all over the place in the snowy mud and brashings. Missed the first 3 controls through bad compass work, then lost 4 for ages, wandering around a patch of vague mid and light green forest. Tried to make up the time loss by stepping up a gear, but inevitably this resulted in me navigating even worse than I already was.

Rhys Manning, who started 6 mins behind me, appeared up ahead of me on my way to 13. I soon caught him up and we ran into 13 together. I took the lead on the way to 14, only to miss it, and be led into by Rhys as he was running out of it. This continued for pretty much the rest of the course. Reminiscent of the hare and the tortoise me thinks.

Angry with myself for being incapable of orienteering this weekend I totally beasted myself up the lovely uphill run-in. It paid off. Fastest split.

C • Early start 1

Leith Hill.

Started off well after a nice 3km warm up jog to the start. Fairly clean with good control flow, and was running strong. Until I hit the first bit of technical terrain. From within 30m of no12 I lost it, and got totally lost. Spent nigh-on 13 minutes trying to relocate and kept reapperaing at the same wrong control every time. Was getting in a right boo knowing that I'd already lost any hope of being competitive and if I wasn't at the furthest point from the finish I'd have given up then and there.

Eventually found no12, and carried on, but had lost all momentum and lost my will to do well, not to mention getting cold and wet. Had another mare at 17, and after about 5 mins walking around what I still believe to be the right place, I gave up and jogged back.

A real disappointment cos I could have got a devent result going by my first 11 controls.

Event: JK 2008
 

The University of Surrey, Guildford.

Fairly good run, but lost about 2 mins on 4, and was too hesitant a few times. Otherwise, nice and fast. I really enjoyed it. Need more practice at sprints though. Doing one once a year doesn't really help much.

Run on my own. Lovely sunny evening. Across Downs, over bridge, Ashton Court, quarry, Timberland Trail, back the way I came.