Training Log Archive: Alibongo

Scottish Orienteering Championship Relays. Was unexpectedly promoted to one of the FVO womens open teams - thankfully the (not quite as fast) team with Cathy and Rona, otherwise I would really have panicked! Was very flattered to be asked. Thought I'd better do my best but despite getting all the controls in a pretty good orderly fashion, I might as well have been a snail for the day... I ran pretty much the whole way round and hardly saw a soul - where were the people to run with, relays were supposed to be fun, I thought - but perhaps not on third legs... Rona welcomed me at the finish, which was lovely but was astonished when our team were called to the podium for third place behind FVO and EUOC - fantastic! Perfect end to a fabulous weekend.

http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/routegadget/r...

Event: Scottish Championships
 

Scottish Championships 2008. Stunning location with perfect weather, what else could you ask for - a perfect run to win - hmm, a very tall order indeed. Felt ghastly on the way to the start, my cold had not gone away and my body temperature and heart rate went a bit haywire, fluctuating in the sunshine and cooler shady bits, but told myself that it was probably down to pre-race nerves and would go away - it did. I was worried about being late for my start and had set off wearing my shades - oh dear! Met Becks coming down from the start having decided she wasn't well enough to run (very wise - she was wearing her hrm), she kindly took my shades away with her.

Arrived at the start just in time -4 mins! Had a quick glance at the map in the box, stretched a bit and then I was off into the woods... went incredibly cautiously to #1, was lucky with #2 as I wasn't entirely sure where I had crossed the stream but picked up the re-entrant next to the crag - phew! Didn't go far enough for #3 and wasted time standing still (scratching my head in a Stan Laurel sort of a way) about 100m NE of the control, relocated on the open further to the NE and raced to the control. Decided on a very safe route around the ride/veg boundary to #4 but probably lost a minute on others here. Helena Nolan caught me at the fence crossing, I took a more direct route to #5 but she pulled away from me between #6 and #7 as I faffed a bit over the marshy bits and then mis-read the code at #7 and did a U turn to dib it - oops! Saw her again up the horrific mountaineering section to #8 before I got buried in the heather and blaeberries on the ridge section when my legs turned to jelly. Couldn't believe that I still had 5 controls still to go and didn't like the look of the brown squoosh of contours between #9 and #10 but somehow found my legs again on the downhill and trundled uneventfully round the last wee loop. All in all it was a skoosh navigationally (apart from #3) but I guess I didn't run fast enough through the rough stuff to get a better time. Thoroughly delighted to get a podium place next to team mates Beccy O (1st) and Jen L (2nd) but at least I won't have to polish that big trophy... I'm sure Brad will have a spare duster - just the job for Beccy!

http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/routegadget/r...

Easy day and having my hair cut so that I'll be able to see where I'm going tomorrow.

As suggested by Lard, unfortunately it wasn't stress free at work :(

WEE at Callendar Park. Was going quite well until I went on a magical mystery tour on the way to #5 and then later on found myself amongst the roddys near #11... it's amazing how much time you can lose whilst lost in the undergrowth. Infinitely better and more enjoyable than last week's epic - thank you Gary, Louise and Abi!

Midges are out - remember to pack Avon spray oil repellant and midge nets for the weekend.