Training Log Archive: rcro

How come its supposedly now a British Orienteering requirement (and not just a BOK one) to submit next of kin details on entry for each race? Have BOF actually said this, told all clubs, and offered a centralised system/support for storing the info, or is it just BOK's own rules being mis-attributed to BOF because of all the extra volunteer hassle it causes?

Happy to supply the details, just not happy letting BOK hold on to it indefinitely...

C • Clubmark/Insurance/BOF/Whitehall... 1

Summer again so another [slow] summer run. Today's problem was more a lack of signage rather than crap map.

Parked at Machen. Over to Rudry Mountain by footpath - fine to Waterloo but then footpath went into nasty wet, ankle turning rough, and smelly fields - ruined by horses - and just ended without a trace. 2.7k into run and didn't see a single footpath sign again until 10k. Managed to find a way out onto road but this 600m has to be the lowest point of my running career for some time.

Easier on Rudry mountain, and from soaked fields, Rudry was rather "scorched". Not very quick. From here onto Ridgeway - or so was the plan. Given the Ridgeway crossed the road, had hoped to see a sign, or a stile, or something when I got there - nothing. Same for the supposed path at bottom of hill too. Unfortunately both "junctions" just off the bottom of my map. Carried on - up an extra hill until got to what I determined had to be the turn for Craig Llysfaen trig - also unsigned.

Did well in woods after to get back onto the map - and know where I was. Took a footpath shortcut until it ended, impassable, under fallen trees. Across the valley and just before getting back onto Ridgeway, finally, a sign! Fairly straightforward back through the Draethen woods and didn't need a map.

Can't say I really enjoyed myself much, not helped by track yesterday making me very slow - definitely doesn't do me any good. Positives, was a nice day, saw lots more bluebells (novelty well gone now) and a baby bird, and good to have plenty of options for running not far from home - next time will have better idea where the unsigned paths actually go!

https://www.strava.com/activities/574053245

Worst week yet for trains - fully prepared for a second trip up to Cheltenham. Got lucky in the train an hour ahead being uncancelled and probably being last one of the day. Less lucky in that it takes away brilliant excuse to skip the track session. We'll see...

Short efforts on track so dropped down to group 3 as just don't have sprint pace for group 1, nor did I want to be sprinting in lane 1.

Group 3 supposed to be doing 8x300 with 100m "moving" recovery. Of course, I wasn't getting away from them on the effort - but my slower than walking pace jog seemed enough to drop them after 2 efforts with just Brian sticking with me for another 3 until he dropped back.

Seems we miscounted how many we'd done quite early on, and I added an extra one on the end as was still lapping people - but seem to have done 10, same as group 1, but without being forced to go at injury pace.

Times all in range 1:05 to 1:08 with the slower ones being where I was lapping and dodging. Finished under blue skies - but incredibly humid still.

https://www.strava.com/activities/572949215/laps

https://www.strava.com/activities/572949215/laps

MDC run from Penderyn.

Very few out tonight - put off by weather although it didn't rain on us.

Going slowly - right calf not totally happy and the tracks were incredibly rough and rocky - far worse than we normally encounter. Stops off for mine and waterfall made it quite a nice loop.

https://www.strava.com/activities/571983485/overvi...

Food took a while to come but battered portions were massive. Between 3 of us couldn't eat all of John's scorpion.

Exploring the silica mine with just 1 torch between 7 people. Got to a roof-fall and turned back. All seemed to be an elaborate plan to get John's new shoes soaked, but fun all the same.

Spent most of last two evenings in bed - clearly something not right, possibly weather related?

Too fast and too flat for me. Started out at about 4 min/k and couldn't keep up with everyone else.

Shoe choice went from being 100% definitely trainers yesterday to needing fell shoes for the wooded ascents today and course diverted onto rocky beach because of flooding.

Did manage to gain a few places on ascents but there really wasn't much grip so couldn't maintain a pace. Lost most places again on road descent - and tarmac was quite greasy. Seemingly against the wind (coming from east today) most of the time - sheltered when going west, but it at least made the 22C temperature less noticeable. Horrible long flat straight finish.

Can't say it's my idea of fun, but at least got a not-awful result. Would have thought conditions pretty bad compared to previous years with diversion, lack of grip, wind and high temperature.

https://www.strava.com/activities/569475147/overvi...

24th/274 http://my6.raceresult.com/50604/results?lang=en#0_...

Note - 2016 is now already in my top two years of all time for total ascent.

Event: NGOC League 4
 

FoD Parkrun.

Thursday's run did more damage than good so knew I had to take it easy - and with Paul Dodd running, had to make sure I did my own run and not try to hang on to him.

Just about keeping up with Chris Poole for first lap before passing and dropping him on uphill of lap 2.

Time about where I wanted to be - but it felt harder work than I'd expected (humidity?). After previous two weeks, today was amongst the best conditions I've seen. Great to see Mark Matthews getting in a decent run - well ahead of me today.

"HMB Too Late" ("Her Majesty's 'Barrow") put in an appearance - luckily not on the course this time...

https://www.strava.com/activities/568495316/overvi...

Short loop to cool down.

https://www.strava.com/activities/568495371

NGOC League at Mallards Pike. 6.9km blue.

Fairly straightforward course and no major mistakes. Pace was slow - particularly in terrain as all very brashed. But consistent - Scott gaining on me quickly early on, but falling away towards the end.

1 - went straight, through brash, roughly in right place when stopped to look for control. Small loss
2 - went through brash again. Control was behind fallen tree. Had i known would have gone around other side of tree rather than via foul smelling stream. Another small loss.
5 - went off path near the end and not much of a plan. Ended up on different ditch to I thought but realised, looked and saw control. Another small loss.

All clean from here. Path option 8-9 got me back up with Scott, and meant I was with Jackie 9-11 and our terrain speeds were similar. Got ahead by going straight to 11 rather than dithering, and left Scott too far south. Back across stream to run along earth bank (easy terrain) to 12. Stayed on path to very late on 13. 14 was moving when I got there so no time loss.

Very straightforward course, lots of path running - but this part of Mallards getting more and more brashed now. Better run than last Sunday, and enjoyed it more.

Again speed not really there so not expecting a great run tomorrow.

https://www.strava.com/activities/568495834/overvi...

Good job I ran yesterday... Detour via Cheltenham due to train problems so might take all night to get home! At least I've got a double seat to myself (and on a cross country train too!!!)

Never mind, relax and enjoy the scenery