Training Log Archive: skyhigh

JK Day 2 Llangynidr W35L 7.2km 135m
All I had to do was have a steady run to guarantee 1st or 2nd overall. Arriving at the start at 10am with visibility in the mist <100m, I knew I could still do it even having to slow down to be more careful. Bearings all off to the left as couldn't sight anything more than a clump of heather/tussocks ~75m ahead but had no problem adjusting techniques.
Until no 7 168 - small depression on the side of a form line hill. Attackpoint 100m away yet could I find the control? Mist really bad - couldn't make out proper hill to the south to help my direction. Form line hill, hmmmm. Binned -7min 20 secs. Owch. Still, might just get away with it given my winning margin yesterday.....
Until no 10 171 - pit. Lovely bearing, path on the way, short grass to bounce off if overshoot. Mist. Paths not feeling right. Keep going. Check all the pits. Lost. Try to find path higher up to relocate. Not feeling right. Relocate back near no 9, but looking at the GPS looks like I mistook a control for the gully I'd previously bounced off on the way to 9... so relocated wrong. Back to the same area anyhow. Slope around the control still seeming too flat on the ground, looks steep on the map. So misty. So don't know what else to do. Resorted to run about and visit all the controls in the area and eventually found it. -9 min 51 according to splitsbrowser. Bye bye trophy.
Would like to think I could have done considerably quicker if I'd had a later start when the mist had cleared a bit - being able to pick out the ground shapes and so travel faster - but definitely couldn't have done Pippa's time. Not a day for doing the early split start.
http://www.splitsbrowser.org.uk/splitsgraphjs.php?...
http://www.jk.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#49 - course 6

Unbelievable came 3rd overall though - lots of people making whoppers.

JK Day 1 Merthyr Common W35L 8km 210m
Bit nervous before the race as knew this was a tricky area. But got right into the map straight away (good job as no 1 was only ~100m). Feeling fit and navigating/compass/pacing well. Only a couple of small wobbles, until no 14 when I was busy overtaking two W40s and lost focus. -1min 45secs.

Very happy with my race and fitness and as a bonus, won by 2min 20sec with 10 mins to 3rd. It's been a while since I was at the top - nice!!

http://www.splitsbrowser.org.uk/splitsgraphjs.php?...
http://www.jk.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#48 - Course 6

Loop round Cranham Woods from Andy's house. Legs good. Great area for mtbo!

Pine woods - Birk Crag loop extremely steadily. 3 days of painting etc is totally knackering, so this was a lovely sunny break.