Training Log Archive: Rosco

JK Relay - Pwll Du

Really enjoyed this even allowing for the fact that certain team mates (not naming any names Daniel Stansfield) had managed to mispunch the first control...

Looking at the map in assembly it looked complex and intricate, but out in the field the features were obvious so it was a joy to confidently predict where I was. Well done Dave Peel mapping. This may have been aided by having a Marcus to guide me.... And I had a Marcus to guide me because the changeover was somewhat comedy. Ben stormed in on the lead on 120+, but Marcus was nowhere to be seen, still, in fact, looking for Ben at the last control. Then I was too busy calling Marcus and nearly missed Jon coming in too...

Outcome; we set off together. Since I already knew my run was for nothing I resolved to stick with Marcus, keep him going, try not to put him off, help out if needed. I wasn't needed. But I enjoyed our wee race round different gaffles - a couple of times I even had to find my own flags.

Oh yes, awesome that the codes were printed next to the controls on the map! Have been saying this should be done for years - well done.

JK Day 3 Mynydd Llangynidr

That's easy for you to say.

I thought this might have been ok, but in actual fact it was the same mediocre rubbish; only this time I both made mistakes and was slow of pace too. Major issues were getting distracted by Andy Simpson on a different course heading down the hill to 7 and not being able to take a simple bearing and run to the appropriate place at 16. Both, basically, being distracted by others.

JK Day 2 Birthday Orienteering, Merthyr Common.

Very tricky area, clear memories of stressful not finding pits Harvester last leg a few years back. Resolved to take care and make sure the orienteering was controlled with good compass, map contact and safe strategies. Managed this fairly well for the first part, although was slightly off line on 4, ran to the wrong hill at 8 and 12 was very confusing so was tentative, but managed, at least, to hold it on line.

It then all went Pete Tong. It got harder, but I fear that, as I tired, I reverted to my standard technique of run in the general direction, pick something up, iterate my way to the flag. Not effective at the best of times, certainly not effective here. 14, the long leg was vaguely on track, but as I crossed the big re-entrant I was uncertain of height and from there on in, unsurprisingly, I was uncertain of height. I meandered about and luckily happened upon it. Confidence hit, 15 was a mess as I was dragged to a control that was clearly not mine, then adjusted (or not) badly. 16 was really bad, more general running in the wrong direction, inability to tell one pit from many others and similar incompetence before the final nail of 17 where I ran right next to the control but didn't spot the scrunched up kite and ended up at 18.... After that I was fine again. There were hill shapes you could see, you see.

Again, plenty of pace for 2nd but then everyone else (apart from Duncan Archer) was rubbish too.

Event: JK 2014
 

JK Sprint, Swansea university.

Beautiful day but very disappointing race from me. Bad traffic on the way into town meant I only just made the start. Not properly warmed up or in any kind of zone apart from a bizarre slightly frazzled holiday one.

As well as various hesitations, lost time on 1, unmarked gate, 3 bad right round the wood route and 16 where I ran to the wrong tree in an open park... Worst though was that I completely missed out 11. And in fact the direct route I chose to 12 was slower than the route via 11... What a donkey. 3rd race this year with a similar issue.

Pace would have been enough for 2nd which just shows that everyone else in M35 is similarly slow, past it, injured and/or unfocused.

Tried to sit in a boo on some steps for a bit but random and then not so random people kept coming to speak to me. Couldn't they see I was trying to sit on my own in a strop!?! Clearly not, must work on being more effectively grumpy.

Run from cottage to the Harvester to pick up our motor, along the Usk.

Easy run from our cottage near Abergavenny, round Bettws Newydd. Not Aberystwyth. Slow run as we had to keep checking our map at every junction, of which there were many. Very pleasant countryside, more like England to be honest.