Training Log Archive: Crawford

Dry but breezy. Social from Martin's flat in the New Town. Several controls out each with a playing card to write down. Onb=ce back you had to make the best poker hand. I had K Q J 10 9 of Hearts but Andrew D who had been everywhere had Ace etc as did Mehmet and Gemma; they won. Martin had drawn the map on a package at work; it was clear except for the subway at Fettes Row.

Cool and cloudy early then bright warm when sun out but chill when not. Ran third leg of M40 relay with Ronnie and Dave K. Ronnie got a bit lost in Rhoderdendrons near the start but not too bad a time. Dave and I had about the same time and we came 24th out of 33. Enjoyed it and much less wet than yesterday.

Event: British Orienteering Champs
 

Cloudy bright, mild and very little wind. This was not a technical area and most of it was out in the open. Some forest but quite open and also some gorse most of it quite easy to get through. However it was very wet in places; I went up to above my knees between 3 and 4 and was on floating vegetation between 5 and 6, which was very alarming. I also helped rescue a guy at 13; he was coming from the south , me from the west and someone else from the east. He lost his footing when turning his hand around to punch and went in over his waist almost instantly. He seemed less worried than the other guy and me. We each grabbed a hand and pulled him out and then he found his brikke had stopped working. The sad thing is I shouldn't have been there as I had allowed myself to be pulled to a different control and lost time. I then had a good run to 16 when I failed to notice 17 and went straight to 18 a long leg. What a balloon. The rest was easy with 19 visible from 18! an orange control. The gorse was wrong near the penultimate control and a few of us overshot. I'd have had an above average time with a silver standard. I never get anywhere near usually so was disappointed. I only seem to mis punch with Emit even though it had nothing to do with it.

Cool and windy. Richard had devised a chasing start based on theoretical pace so the slowest went off first. The idea was we all finish at the same time. Janet went off first and Martin last. I was in front of Rona and Andrew but they both overtook me. I went from 1 to 3 ( a forerunner for Saturday!) so the had to go to 2 and back. I enjoyed the course but wish I could see the map at night.