Training Log Archive: Tullster

Well...interesting day! Started out feeling pretty tired and it was hot. Had a feeling it was going to be tough. Went straight out and screwed up no. 1. I reflection I attacked the control pretty blindly, but once missed relocating was pretty difficult as I struggled to fit anything on the map to what was on the ground (thought the map in general was baws tbh...). That kind of set the tone for my orienteering around the techinical bit which also happened to be very tough. However, others were losing more time as I caught Rich Guillaime 6mins at no. 8. We cocked up no.10 a bit and I got a little bit ahead but he caught me back up along the track. Going up the hill to 13 I did feel like jacking it as the most interesting bit was over and I hadn't enjoyed that all that much. But, I was running with Rich and he wasn't jacking it in so decided I'd better man up and keep going. Had just settled into a comfortable pace at this point so stuck at that up the hill. Had a drink and some energy gel and was feeling fine really. Sped up a bit and dropped Rich on the way to 15, then to my suprise caught Mercer at 16. He was really having an off day and this maybe made be speed up more, but either way I left him behind too. Then proceeded to royally screw up 19. Took a crap route to it then got really confused and couldn't work out the map but was just far too hesitant anyway, so Joe overtook me without me seeing him and Rich caught me again. We then overshot 20 then I ran quite hard up the hill to 21 and got away from Rich again. Caught Joe again then Dan who had been pottering about and we ran together. Missed 27 - veg boundary my arse! Finished 15th in the end which was surprising considering I made several mistakes and felt like I was puntering along for a lot of it. So, I reckon this shows I've got a decent base to train hard over the summer which is what i plan to do and in the long term I reckon classic is my best distance.

WOC selection/uk Cup final sprint. Early morning around Shrewasbury Town. A nice setting with some nice weather. Course not all that tricky and I just don't have the pace for this at the moment. Main mistake was running down the dead end ally that others ran down but in my plan to make sure I looked ahead in the leg so as to not get caught out like I did at the Scottish SPrints, I actually realised 20m down the ally so the damaged was minimised. Finished at the back of the pack really so not a result to write home about. Although admitedly I did phone home.

Worst race I've ran in quite a while. Absolute mince. Totally screwed up no. 2. Admitedly, on reflection, running down the hill seem to remember plan on nearing the control changed to follow this track through the bracken, the control must be down here. Not good orienteering... Not that impressed with the map hear though, I didn't notice the reentrant I ran down because it was mapped so small on the map. Really did feel like giving up here, had been caught by 2min man Alex Rothman and we ran round bits of it together. Not worth disecting the rest but basically I orienteered poorly, made a few more mistakes and jogged the last bit through the fields.

C • No 2 1

Ran down the road to the flat in the morning. Feeling not too bad considering late night and cheap wine the night before. Ideal prep for the weekends races.

Had been feeling crap for a few days so rested. Feeling a bit better last night but felt like a jobby today. Hopefully it's just rustiness!

C • Have a pie 1

Run at home with Dad roun his hily route of Bowanhill. Feeling a bit crap but was good to get out.