Training Log Archive: AlanH

Open 5 from Church Stretton. Biked first as we seem to have run too long on the last few. Were aiming for 3 hours but actually happy with what we did as what we left was either low points or big effort or both. Sarah struggled a bit with the riding, lots of towing.

Run. The time we had remaining asked for a very simple route up one valley, down another which took in all the big scores, and whatever we could get on the top in between. Going up we were quite slow, Sarah tired from riding. I set a cut-off of 75 mins remaining at #26 to get #23 before descending, and we only had an hour left at #26 so didn't do it. However the descent was very runnable and Sarah seems to have got a bit braver on this sort of track and we flew down and nearly 25 mins early coming back so should've done at least 23 and also perhaps 27/28 instead of 31. Knew we were going to be well early at 32 but didn't even see choice of going back up for 28, and actually quite glad as that would've hurt.

5th again, although points wise not as good as the last one. Solid if not spectacular performance.

Strangely my legs hurt far more through the riding than the run, although they were quite heavy at the end.

Event: MTBO Tankersley
 

Tankersley national league. Rubbish prep, hadn't looked at old maps, had too much wine the night before, head/heart not really in MTBO at the mo, but fortunately a course of reasonably technical nav on 1:7500 map, very slippy conditions (time to give up summer tyres though!) and not much climb suits me very well and managed a win by 5 seconds. Didn't feel I was attacking much, or capable of it, but probably good with slippy and technical nav, always felt in control of the nav and didn't really stop much.

Andy Douglas shows how well his orienteering is coming on by being second, although he will be kicking himself having been 3.5 mins up on me with 3 to go.

Makes the national league very interesting, I think that despite having given up on it after Chopwell incident I now lead. I think Ifor needs 93 or better at Gisburn (where of course I am not riding!) so he's still odds on favourite, but no pressure there mate! I hope it doesn't come down to the Chopwell incident deciding the league, but I guess I should be happy that despite being injured for all but two races my domestic season has been easily the best ever.

No GPS trace, distance stolen from Ifor.

C • Distance was a guess.... 2

Having missed the whole of the nightO season last year with achilles/ankle trouble I was desperate to go out so travelled all the way to Ennerdale for the first of the season. A bit rusty for running and orienteering anyway without it being dark as well, but settled in after the first control and did ok. Good enough to win anyway.

Ride to/from start/finish from car park. I enjoy riding the cross bike in the dark.

Team Tuesday from Coledale up into Whinlatter. Forgot GPS so a bit of a guess.