Training Log Archive: Jon X

Managed to free up 20mins for a short leg stretch before the meal/film.
It felt surprisingly easy - not sure that is why my HRM failed to detect a heartbeat at any point though...

British Relays, Cragg Estate and Chesterhope Common.
M40+ relay, 2nd place (team Jon-Ben-Roger)
Winners SYO (Colin S-Dave P-Nick B) were 23secs ahead.

First leg for me - in the team ahead of Jase so a bit of pressure to perform, plus conscious of the need for me and Ben to try and give Rog a lead over Nick for last leg.

Race went well - always near the front, slightly different route got me the lead at #9, stayed ahead through the spectator at #12 and until heading up the hill to #14. Paul Gebbett and Dave Robertson for company the whole time and Paul passed me on the uphill to #14. He tried to miss #16 out though and so I was briefly leading again until Dave took me apart on the downhill run to the final two controls and along the run in.

Ben extended lead to three mins but Nick had the shorter gaffle that I had had at #5 and #10, had Rog in sight by the spectator and caught him on the uphill drag to #14. Great effort by Rog who was v quick round the final loop, but fair play - top work by Nick to close the gap and run three mins quicker than anyone else (25:25).

Good race and tantalisingly close - next year......

Got my legs going gradually, actually surprised not to feel a bit more battered after yesterday...

Event: British Orienteering Championships
 

British Champs, Thrunton Wood and Callaly
M45L, 3rd place
Winner Ben Stansfield 82:02, second Dave Peel 82:05

Rough tough area with a bit of everything, lots of variety of terrain and plenty of technical challenge.

Pleased to be on the podium but frustrated not to take the chance that was there to be two steps higher on it.....

Started strong and well, got Martin (4mins ahead) in sight early and passed him going to #5. Swapped the lead a couple of times and my route to #9 was not great, probably cost nearly a minute.
I was in the lead on the course at #9, after approx 27mins.

Big long leg to #10, decided to take a (possibly not optimal) route to the right. Worried it wasn't best, I put my head down and pushed hard to get to the crossing point three-quarters of the way along the leg.
This would have worked better if I had taken the crucial turn.....instead I popped out on a track junction 750m (!!!) from where I was supposed to be. Ouch. Realised immediately what I had done and put my head down along the track. Probably ended up running an extra 500-600m, so 2-3mins lost.
Emerged into the open, could see Martin a good 2mins ahead heading across the moor to #10.

Got #10 okay but then aware of the massive mistake and forcing things too much, hurried into the detail without sufficient care and binned 90s at #11 and another 40s at #12.

Got it back together after that and good through #13, #14 and on the climb up to the ridge for the long leg to #15.
Largely a control pick home from there - and pretty good through 15-16-17. Ran hard up the hill to #18 but misunderstood map at end, went to wrong flag (crag facing the other way), maybe lucky to lose only 45s.
Leaving 18 on 75mins, knew Dave had done 82mins - hmmm could still be doable?
So to #19 - knew where I was half way, passed our #3 en route, then suddenly I didn't know whether I had crossed the last ride or not. Started looking too low, rock everywhere, in the end had to go out and relocate. Horribly foolish 2:15 lost.

So mixed feelings - happy to take third but plenty of thought in the evening on the maybe 8mins left out there.....
However, delighted to be part of such a hugely successful FVO day - multiple winners and medallists and very visible at the prizegiving!

C • No wonder... 9

Proper to the start and at the start, lots of stretching and some drills etc.
A least a semblance of a warm down, dragged Rosco for a lap of the field.

Busy at work. Home late. Managed to fit in a short trot.
All seems to be in working order ready for the weekend. Looking forward to it!

FVO WEE, Laighills.
Except actually only one control on Laighills and the rest an urban race round Dunblane on wet roads.....so fell shoes not the best footwear!

Good fun though and managed to drop some seconds on the route to #3, then turning down a deadend into olive green on route to #4. Perhaps not best route to #4 either.

Rosco just behind by #5 and overtook at #7, pulled away gradually. Out of sight by #11. Slight error on route leaving #11 so adapted it to take a different road to river crossing.

Only afterwards did I realise there was a control between #11 and the river crossing going to #13 and the finish, d'oh!

Ross 24, Will 26, Rog 27, Jase on bike 29!

Short round Watson House and back through the village.
Had sports massage today and didn't want to join RashRoute and Chas in that leading immediately to injury, so took it nice and easy....