Training Log Archive: Rich

Event: GBR WOC Selection Race/LOC NWOL (Long)
 

WOC Trial Long @ Holme Fell

Proper hard core classic distance and love it. Finished 6th, fairly happy with that navigation again wasn't totally solid but better than yesterday and my running was strong particularly as the race went on and was able to push through the last few legs. Within 1min of Craney, Oli and Scott from the start of the butterfly loop to the end.

Started steadily to get the navigation right and was ok until 4 where I unexplicably screwed up, the easiest control on the course! (1min) felt really slow through the steep wooded section and think I was unlucky with windblow on more than one occassion particularly to 9 going right. No major time losses though just a few hesitations here and there.

Had only realised the length of the long leg (10) when exiting 9 but knew I had the fields to cross to plan it though didn't see the path through the woods and hacked through the crap instead - probably lost me 30s-1min. Saw the lower path route but it made the climb even steaper and knew I'd have had to have walked up parts so climbed early and stayed right of the hills. Probably climbed a bit much at the end but I was keen to make sure I had features to use to spike it, which I did. Then screwed up by navigating to 12 instead (realised just short) of 11 and lost ~50s.

Bit of a poor line out of 14 lost me a bit of time but spike it nicely so had a good split there and then lost a good 1min at 15, the majority of the time was spent stood on top of the spur ~20m from the control trying to work out exactly where I was. A bit of unneccesary climb to 16 (~20s), slight miss at 17 (~20s) and slight time loss at 24 by climbing then deciding to go around the hill into the control (~20s). Ok through the next few and running well but made another couple of small mistakes near the end; a bit high at 28 (~20s) and had to dog leg back and drop down and ran down the wrong re-enterant at 29 and lost 20-30s.

Really pleased with my progress in terms of my running in the last year and now not far off the top guys. My training plan has obviously suited me well and looking forward to more continued improvement. Need to make sure I get my navigation up to speed though and make sure I have a solid training plan for that too.

Event: GBR WOC Selection Race/LOC NWOL (Middle)
 

WOC Trial Middle @ Bigland

Running well but navigated like a tit - slept badly last night and felt menatlly tired beforehand which maybe didn't help but felt ok after a good WU.

Didn't start great having no plan to 1; too low and lost ~30s. Then scrappy to 2 and 3 losing 10-20s at each. 4 was fine but then totally blew it at 5 - stayed high onto the hill from the fence but through lack of focus ran within a few metres of the control. took a couple of mins to relocate and find it. Caught Murray who had already overtaken me coming out of 5 and then dropped down the wrong crag and had to climb back up to 6 (~30s) then started to spike a few despite the odd dodgy route and mainly staying ahead of Murray but then ballsed up 15 going a valley too far. Turned round to see Murray disappearing off the spur - didn't see him again (1min lost).

Overshot 16 (~30s), exited 16 in the wrong direction and dropped far too far down the hill and had to climb back up (30s), too low then overshot 19 (~30s), left on 20 with navigation none existant (~30s), hesitant on 21 (~10s), lost time in the circle on 22 probably through total lack of confidence (~30s) and managed to just about get the last 3 ok. 7-8mins of time lost = game over. Need to remember how to navigate on intricate stuff!

ITW

Out to sutton Lawn for a few windsprints.

Last of the controls bar the castle.

ITW

10mins WU

17mins tempo - 4.24km/92m

14min WD

ITW

A lunch time cruise around town to check hanging positions for the city race.

Jog along the canal and checking a few more control sites before meeting a potential transfer target to boost to NOC relay team to big up the city and club:) Then more cruising, checking locations before getting the train home to watch Forest lose yet another play off semi final :( Looking good.

C • potential transfer target 14