Training Log Archive: Frostbite

JK Long Distance, Cold Ash.

Even more hot. I didn't run at Cold Ash in 2013 so this was new to me. I wasn't expecting much from the map but it was more pleasant than it looked, but without much technical interest. I spent a lot of time running on paths.

From about the first road crossing to the finish I was running with Alan Irving. We were very closely matched for speed, and despite taking some different routes always ended up back together. I just managed to get away from him in the last few controls but before that he was probably slightly stronger than me and got to most of the controls first.

I almost ran past #8, convinced it was going to be further along the hill and spotting the control behind me. I didn't see the other holes up there. #12 I went left because I didn't like the look of the urban section and the uncrossable fence/fenced enclosure. My time wasn't bad but it would have been better if I hadn't climbed out of the control and gone to the south of the triangular block of green. Alan did the urban route and we arrived at #12 together. Andy Thorpe passed us both on this leg.

#16 Alan and I again went our separate ways. He started left of the line, I started right and we came together again after 2/3 of the leg.

#23 I went through the strip of white to the south of the green, Alan went straight through. He probably got about 5 seconds on me.

#25 the veg boundary wasn't very clear and I didn't spot the control until almost past it, by which time Alan was already past. This is the first time I got in front of him since about #9 and I just held onto the lead to the finish.

19th place, 11 minutes down on James. A better run than yesterday but it was generally easier so I'm no higher up the results. 16th overall, I think.

JK Middle Distance, Windmill Hill

Even hotter. Made a mess of #2, coming off the plateau into the re-entrants and spurs I didn't really work out where I was until I was well below the control, and had to climb a fair way back up to it. I should have stayed by the fence until I was above the control. After that all was easy enough, but I found it very heavy going. Passed by Alistair at #8, and saw Jon X a few times before he eventually caught me at #18. I caught him again at #27 where he had been running round in circles. I had seen our control but it didn't seem quite right with the shape of the veg boundary so I went to have a look at the control in the gully just in case, which I really shouldn't have.

An ok run but felt very slow. Could have done without the minute lost at #2.
18th place, 9 minutes down on James.

JK sprint, Aldershot.

Hot hot hot. I had intended to wear glasses for this but after some messing about I completely forgot about them when I set off to the start. I don't think it really affected my run at all.

What did affect my run was that I picked up descriptions for course 3 instead of course 6. I can't explain this, just stupidity. I checked my course on my bib before I started and picked up the right map, but when I picked up the descriptions I was convinced I was doing course 3.

So on the way to number 1 the description didn't seem to tally with the map, but it still didn't dawn on me. I found a control in the middle of the circle with the wrong code and must have dithered for about 10 seconds before the penny dropped, quick check of the code on the map, then I did the rest of the course without descriptions mostly and hoped for the best.

Actual mistakes - careless coming out of #1 I stayed too close to the building and ended up having to jink in and out of the loading bay. #5 I set off towards the control before working out I would have to go right round the north end of the building. South was quicker. #11 I ran past #8 before realising there was an uncrossable fence and had to run right back to the other side of the building.

#14 and #15 were ok, I maybe wasn't the quickest but I at least went around the right end of the building.

34th place? I think

West park Fields and Queenswood. Insipid.

Slow jog up the valley as far as Adel Dam, then back through the Hollies. Included a couple of faster stretches out along Scotland Wood and then by the tennis courts. Indifferent. A bit chilly, supposed to warm up tomorrow.