Training Log Archive: Shminty

Around llangollen?

Delamere Linmere SEE
Blue course

A good course using some parts that have just become useful after years of being fight. Few controls in realised my compass had a huge bubble in, probably was there when i started but i didn't check.
Veg boundary to 13 wasn't there and wasted a minute or so. Then 14. What can i say. Ran down the wrong ditch in the light green and ended up on a path north instead of east of 13. If the compass had been working it wouldn't have happened but even so it was a bad error to make.

Better than previous day. 9 seemed further down the hill than i was expecting.

A few small mistakes and couple of poor route choices. Started off running quite well then slowed on the climb and heather near to the end.

Alyn Waters SEE Blue course

Not sure how long I took exactly. On course for a clean sweep of top points on the blue course.

C • pretty shitty they haven't ... 1

Stinging nettles were out in force.

Putting some controls out in the fields for an exercise mum was doing with the guides. So lots of stopping and starting.

Just noticed afterwards ankles a bit sore and seems more swollen. Don't know why, think I might have jarred it at the weekend.

Macc Forest Twin Peaks Second Day only M21L

Way too hot. Walked up some of the hills, especially those not in the shelter of the wood.

Not really any mistakes. Tom just about beat me.

Taped feet and they seemed to be ok.

Quite warm out even past 6pm. Delamere East and a bit across the road. Weren't allowed to the last control because they were filming some horror movie down by dead lake.

Back was a bit sore at work and calf hasn't quite recovered

Had been thinking recently I was making mistakes as i wasn't looking at map enough. Made mistake to no.1 by looking at it too much. Didn't see a path I needed to run down and lost 1.40 which cost me 5 places at the end of the course.

Didn't think I was far enough up the ridge at 10 so ran further on only to come back to the control and see hector approaching up the hill. Beat him to 11 only because he ran straight across a path without seeing it. Had no energy and couldn't keep with him to 12. Lost more time on 14 and in the end I just wasn't running fast enough. Just felt really tired round whole course.

Was gutted to do so badly. Don't think I've ever felt so disappointed. Two poor runs. At least I didn't mis punch this year but maybe 1 mis punch and 1 good run would have been better than two bad runs.

Had a poor start to season last year then at Scottish 6 seemed to be improving only to be set back again by not running properly for months after JEC. Unlikely now I'll have anything important to improve for until FCC next year. Hopefully though my ankle would have returned to a normal shape by then, instead of swelling up every time I jar it.

Felt tired to first control. Lost at least 30secs on 2,3,7,10,11,20. Running through the green wasn't good for the back either. Stood in the circle at 7 but ran out again. Stupid mistake to 10 and cut in too early for 20. Was shattered afterwards.