Training Log Archive: rcro

Having to avoid strenuous exercise in the 24 hours before tomorrow's hospital scan. Opted to walk somewhere flat, hence Wye Valley Greenway with various photo stops in the tunnel.

It's a very long way from Tidenham tunnel to Tintern tunnel when walking. Little detour to find Ian's tunnel on the way back to make it 3.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7334733475

6.9km blue course on Merthyr Common in fog and rain.

First few controls all fast run uphill and was struggling and overheating - barely able to keep up with Ifor once I caught him, thinking I’m probably too ill for this, but it did slow down after.

Going right way to 3 then went off line as I was taking my jacket off, which proved more difficult than expected.

Leaving for 4, went around the hill to the right, but may not be sure which hill. Then followed compass south across the grass. But running in a straight line after a compass bearing seemed to consistently result in correct compass bearing being 90 degrees out after about 50 yards. I hadn’t totally twigged this by this point. To my surprise found Reuben, nowhere near where I expected control and carried on south (and this south seemed consistent) until I didn’t find anything that matched, and totally confused by various hillocks. Spent a while looking around assuming in roughly the right place, by now joined by Vanessa and Doug and lots of green course runners. Eventually found the green course control no-one on green could so waited for someone to come and show us where we were. Not close at all…

Finding 4 from here was pretty trivial and got there at the same time as Dan (4-5 mins behind starting), which surprised all of us - all made 20 minute mistakes on this.

Going back to 5 should have been easy as literally retracing our steps for 90% of the distance, but I used my compass and then quickly found I wasn’t going in right direction, similarly Reuben had started out wrong and then disappeared off 90 degrees right, in what *seemed* to be totally the wrong way. With Doug and Vanessa relocated off a series of big holes that might have been the ones a long way due south of 5, but wasn’t convinced. We all split off into different directions - Doug left, Vanessa right, me in the middle just aiming to head north to quarry and bounce back. Found stony yellow open SW of control and things started to fit the map as I got closer in.

Decided that I would retire as really not in good enough health to be out on my own in thick fog for possibly 2 hours - energy levels can be a bit erratic and didn’t want them to drop too soon, nor did I want to risk injury in that state. Tried an inland route aiming to go somewhere near 6 but not worry if I didn’t find it. Kept checking compass and setting out mix of east, north east and north, but every time I rechecked found my current direction was south or south east. Knew I was well off track, and well away from anyone else so keen to head north. Found a massive hole not on the map, so hoped it was just hidden behind control descriptions rather than off the bottom.

The heading north trick did work and intercepted somebody (on green) looking for 6. Went in with him but he was too far south so carried on north towards finish having cursory look - visibility was a bit better here but saw no obvious form line. Maybe 30m too far east to see.

Getting back from there to finish still seemed pretty involved and heading north didn’t take me due north. Pleased to get off the hill!

Had I realised that Reuben, Vanessa and Doug had all lost a further 15 minutes than me on 5 (and I lost more than 5 mins), and were still 15 mins behind me when I was close to 6, despite my going well off line and not attempting to navigate beyond compass, might have carried on. Just felt uncomfortable carrying on alone when the weather is bad and I know I’m ill.

Overall, a nice course with a decent long leg. Would have been much easier in good visibility, but might have enjoyed it less. Very glad I wasn’t putting the controls out!

https://www.strava.com/activities/7328473277

Day off work so went to the Forest for the first time in a long time. Managed to run 5k which was good, but really struggling at the end - quite warm.

Found some orienteering flags and a group of teenagers who looked to have a map with them - flag were collected in whilst I was walking after.

Quite a lot of lizards out. Had to watch my feet to not tread on any.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7317692156

Being sensible as totally exhausted and want to be able to enjoy a day out tomorrow. 30k running looking impossible this week.

Pretty unwell throughout my annual leave day yesterday so the sensible plan would have been go for a walk - but I want to at least try to run and would only regret it for the uphill bits and last 20 minutes, so ran with the slow group.

Climb up Fan Llia mostly took my own line lower than the group following a distinct trod that climbed more gradually, but was pretty spent by the ridgeline and tired along the top. Descent was much rougher than I expected based on Four Fans/Transfan route slightly to south - had to take it gingerly and survived, which a few didn’t.

Long pause for walking wounded to catch up at the standing stone then broke up with only half taking on Fan Nedd via Four Fans climb. It’s a lot harder on a hot day when very physically ill (previous 3 times have all been very wet and cold days when both mentally and physically ill but not quite so debilitating…); I was climbing faster than most of the group by dying very quickly, and taking advantage of role as stand in leader to keep stopping to let the back catch up and pass.

First time south of the trig. From southern cairn all trods quite indistinct so glad once down at the end.

Beautiful evening to be out in the hills. Might be suffering tomorrow as a consequence, but you only live once…

https://www.strava.com/activities/7309388320