Training Log Archive: Jay-T

In Glasgow being ill and injured.

Event: Nottingham City Race
 

Another largely uninspiring urban race compounded by the three locked gates I encountered on my way to number 15 (all shown as valid routes on the map). No mention of what they are going to do about this on the results. Fortunately my lack of tarmac speed means I'm not too bothered. Best bit was getting into the castle for free. Would have hung around longer but needed to watch Federer show everyone why he is the King.

Event: Cliffhanger Ultrasprint
 

First Ultrasprint.
Qualifier 2 first. Very slow to 1 (how many people starting later knew exactly where to go?) then pulled up in the woods to be in the lead. Unfortunately a couple of big 10s errors (at this scale) when coming out of the wood (headed for wrong tree, then wrong bush) saw me drop to 8th, 15s down.
Qualifier 1 started better (visible first two controls). Hit 3 fine too (lots of mistakes here). Dropped my standard 20s on the two controls in the garden bit. First by looking on the wrong side of the pillar, then falling into the trap of the uncrossable hedge - there was a gap, but not through to the control. Finished 3rd, 32s down.
Somewhat surprised to make the final, but the quality of the field wasn't quite up to previous years.
Mass start final. Scramble for 1, then just behind Adam Potter on first loop. Difficult to work out where you were going with the crazy gaffling. Came through spectator in 3rd(?) Overtook Neil and Adam when they were faffing around looking for one between the thickets. Looked to push on, leading through the next couple, but then took one of my gaffles round the wrong way, so had to go back round the right way (although with the 30s penalty system, not sure whether i should have simply carried on??) Anyway, lost a bit of heart here thinking I was probably last as a result. However, a couple of controls later saw Martin Ward not far behind so resolved to stay ahead. Into the field at the end I could hear someone coming up quickly so just put my head down. Turned out it was Rob Baker who seemed to come from nowhere, but just pipped him by 1s, finishing 3rd overall.
They missed me for the prize giving, but was acknowledged eventually. Fairly straightforward once you worked out which control you were meant to be going to!

Took the flooding as an excuse to try and get rid of the pain down my back / glute / leg.

See below

A saturating session. Left leg and glute still not right... :/