Training Log Archive: AlistairH

Misc warm up/down at Glasgow Parks Champs

STAG 3 Parks no. 1. Dawsholm. 8/16 Men's Open +19.4% to Rosco. Had hoped for a bit faster - being first starter didn't help - first finisher too. About 15" lost at 2 (hesitation), 15" at 3 (safe route) and 15" at 6 (missed it). Running well but lacking in orienteering confidence.

Round 2, Pollok Country Park. 10/16. +35% to PaulL of GUOC. Again, quite frustrating. Blew 2 mins at no. 4. No splits better than 7th place. Just not getting it together.

Final part, Linn Park. Would have pulled up from 10th to 6th if I'd not mispunched and had 3rd fastest time on this leg, +7.9% to PaulL and a useful +6.7% to Rosco who was second. Swapped from Orocs (with dobbs) to Mudrocs (without) - not a good choice - quite a bit of slipping and...

Anyway, started off 30 and 45 seconds behind ThomasW and AlastairD - caught Alastair from 4 to 5 and was surprised to catch CraigN and AlexC who had about 70-80 seconds start at 5 - they must have made an error. Next few controls were flat out, AlexC zooming off down the hill to 6, Craig passed me but I got back on the hill to 7. About 50m behind AlexC half way to 8 when he made a mistake and took someone with him. I got the fastest split to 8 and then ran cleanly to 12, with Craig just behind.

Approaching 13 I had worked out where the control would be but was a bit uncertain (lack of confidence again?) and went left to another control I could see. Ran out of it. It went through my head that the code might be wrong and that I might not actually be on a path (was that a 4 or a 5? The ground is kind of flat, being a green...) Looked down at my control descriptions to check and went flying on the ice. Craig asked if I was OK as he went past - he had punched the control too - and I never checked the code and just ran after Craig. I figured that to beat him I needed to get into 14 first but slightly fluffed it and finished behind. And had mispunched 13... Damn, damn, damn. Mispunched a path junction control. Still, at least I was running well on this one.

Lunchtime run up Arthur's Seat in the freezing cold but sunny weather, for general joie de vivre, then some sprints on the Meadows.

Unintended rest day. Not necessarily a bad thing.

Easy run, short of time.

Martin's Intervals. Not quite as fast this week, 4'29, 4'27, 4'27, 4'31, 4'29 (av. 4'28.6 = 3'34/km. That's fine though as 2 x 35 mile weeks. Felt good.

Knee a bit sore throughout day. OK for session. Careful though.

Tired.