Training Log Archive: Jay-T

40/15 in Gatwick hotel room

Event: YHOA Superleague
 

Legs rather battered.

SYO Tankersley and Hesley

#5 Poor exit route, stayed on upper path too long [30]
#9 Miss to east; came out onto path [15]
#13 Noteworthy in that it was a good split - went the long way along the main path to the SE
#14 Another decent split, stayed high initially and attacked from the path junction N of the control
#17 Strayed off line too far south [10]
#20 Big hesitation too early after finding small re-entrant (hidden under line) [30]
#21 Thrown by previous error, headed off without paying close enough attention, rectified using holly bush [15]
#23 Too far W initially, thinking I had crossed the main path nearer to the line [10]
#24 Exited previous control to the W rather than E, exacerbated by undergrowth [10]


5th; 2min 30s behind Ben Stevens, 2min behind Barber. Not bad, but generally a little off the pace; definitely feeling the effects of my exertions yesterday.

Disappointing course overall; there are a lot of paths so some path running is inevitable, but too many legs were planned parallel to the path system.

Event: Red Bull Robin Hood
 

Red Bull Robin Hood.

Headed to 48 first, few others about, but the elite group (with the exception of Peter Bray) went to 40 first. The group around me then headed to 49 for some reason (much better to pick this up afterwards); I went to 53 which was en-route to my first challenge control (103 - Little John balance). Unfortunately this was the challenge that I had decided in advance looked the most difficult. As I was second there it would have been rude not to attempt it, but I duly failed.

From there I did a circuit of the map in a counter-clockwise direction. It was fairly obvious even at this early stage that getting them all wasn't realistic so I left out anything that was too far out of the way.

Already running on my own after 103; biggest time losses of the day here where I missed 37 [30] and was looking too early for 33 due to bramble proliferation [100]

Failed the second challenge (105 - onion catapult), despite being agonisingly close a couple of times and being complemented on my technique!

Third challenge fairly nearby (101 - rope climb) finally passed one! Seemed fairly straightforward.

A few people knocking around the control cluster south of the start, but all going in the opposite direction. Few dodgy lines here; biggest loss on 32 where I was forced east by the undergrowth [60]

Bit of a climb / dogleg to 43 - possibly one control that I should have left out - then onto my fourth challenge (102 - archery). No other competitors in sight, so no pressure as the entire row of instructors assessed my shot... nailed it first time!

Running low on time now, difficult to chose which controls to visit, but headed for (what turned out to be) my final challenge (106 - portcullis raise). Easily completed this in no time at all, although this was definitely not challenging enough - more weight needed next year (indeed everyone who attempted this 'challenge' passed).

Just over 12mins left - opted to just head back picking up a final couple of controls on the way (incorporating a somewhat risky straight route from 57 to 51, which fortunately turned out to be ok). Thus missed 'spot the difference' challenge, although this was reputably more difficult than it sounds.

320 points; 11th place, winning score 380.
Quite refreshing that a perfect run for me today could conceivably have resulted in a winning score. Evidently this could apply to (probably) any of the top 15 or so, but the point is that the score / challenge combo serves to level out raw ability a lot more - and thus probably make for a more open and interesting race!

Brilliant event; well done to all involved.

http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/62694471...

Warm down collecting a few controls.

Trios. GPS returned just in time for the weekend (woo!)

Headtorcher out to Wentworth.
No GPS, but pretty much same as run on 5th July.
Quite a bit slower (9min) than then, but not entirely unexpected given the time of day and how I was feeling.

Home Match vs Cudworth YM A playing with Sean.
Late call up for my first match of the season as Tom had injured his wrist.
A little bit rusty and out of practise with feathers, so the runners up from Division 1 last year might not have been the best opponents to face.
A bit out of my depth to be honest, although frustrating at the same time to be giving away a lot of free points. Lost all three in 2 games.
Brent and Abid picked up a consolation in the final rubber; 8-1 loss.