Training Log Archive: Jay-T

Brief. Not a bad game with Kev, Paul and John H.

Event: Harvester Relays
 

Leg 2 for NOCers out at night.

Been looking forward to this for a while.
Brilliant fun!

On the Thursday we had quite a good team. Unfortunately on Friday night Dave pulled out due to injury leaving us short of our anchorman. Despite the efforts of Captain Andy no replacement could be found meaning Ant also pulled out (given the team was incomplete and thus n/c).

5 people into seven legs doesn't go and the pack was shuffled accordingly, with none of us ultimately running the leg we were originally allocated!

As a result of this I changed from Leg 4 to Leg 2.

Missed the start this year as I was asleep; slight panic to get ready then unsure what was happening as tracking wasn't available and radio controls were all showing 00:00:00 initially. Fortunately the latter was soon sorted and it transpired Andy was out at the front with Rhys (LOC).

Soon two lights came bobbing along and I was set off in 2nd place about 30s down. The LOC 2nd leg was an older gentleman and I passed him on the path run out soon after. I was now alone in the lead... Try not to mess it up!

#1 was tricky - long leg diagonally down the slope. Compass was respected. Found the marsh and then a possible ditch and... yes! There's the boulder!
#2 Slightly too high in my excitement but corrected [60]
#3 Aimed off south towards wall playing safe.
#4 and #5 were straightforward.
#6 looked tricky. Thought coming in from the north through the green then popping out into the open was a reasonable plan. But the vegetation made no sense to me - seemed to be all ROST with some areas of fallen trees. Hence continued far too far south. Mild panic was setting in; didn't know how long behind me other teams were (turned out FVO were at +10mins after Leg 1), but was aware that most teams put their best runner on Leg 2... Re-attacked from wall junction but still found it more by luck than judgement. And there was the LOC gentleman again... [7 mins binned]
#7 and #8 got it back together a little but had no idea whether Nixon (FVO) had passed me (he hadn't, but only because he had also had difficulty locating his (different) control in the same area).
#9 used the patches of trees to find right level but there seemed to be an extra one higher up the slope as ended up too high [60]
#10-#14 took us through the plantation - it was possible to use the ruined fences as handrails and I did so to keep it safe at night. Worked well and really enjoyed this bit - no sign of anyone else and daring to hope I might still be in the lead...
#15 was simple.
#16 went back out to the path and came in along the marsh; again choosing the safe route.
#17 this looked tricky again. Found the bottom of the slope / marsh successfully but was then forging through virgin bracken. Head torch fell off here and had to stop for [30] seconds to replace it properly. Came round edge of slope and there was the control... and Nixon.
#18 ran off ahead on a rough bearing but not in full control and when I hit the path turned the wrong way briefly... [60]
Now just hold onto 2nd place..!
#19 simple from path.
#20 found it ok but very slow up the hill.
#21 finding it hard to concentrate mentally now and dithered in circle somewhat [30]
#22 and #23 crawling up hills.
#24 almost on top of control but it was disguised by a sprout of bracken. In my tired state I had a little hunt around... [3mins]
Then finally into the handover +7mins to FVO but still in 2nd place - could have been much better but at the same time could have been much worse!

Team went on to post 3rd fastest time overall. Over an hour behind winners FVO, but would have been very interesting if we had had our original full team... I wouldn't have got to go into the plantation on leg 4 though :)

https://new.drongo.org.uk/harvester/files/results/...
http://www.cuoc.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#25&rout...

Tracking best here: http://3drerun.worldofo.com/2d/?server=em.club.tra...

I am T17 (starting 01:15:00 approx) and you can see T18 gradually hunt me down...

Pre-Harvester training at Great Tower.
Steady. Much easier than the BNC!

Collecting

Hanging the control I wasn't meant to collect.

Singles vs John G to start. Enjoyable.

Event: HALO Poacher 11 - Healing Manor
 

1.5km course (7:55 pace)
Sprint format, but in the grounds of Healing Manor. Small section of ornamental / urban and some fringe woodland, but mostly rough open with waist / head high grass / nettles / thistles.
Didn't realise some 'gardening' had occurred and given first start took longer path routes quite often.

2.5km (7:04 pace)

1km (6:51 pace) (!)

3km (6:58 pace)

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1811954...

Did quite a bit over the 5.5km straight line required; combination of thinking I had to do 6km, needing to reduce mpk after first outing and there being a queue / lack of maps for the most sensible courses!

http://halo-orienteering.uk/page/_eventresult?LS=0...

Hull...