Training Log Archive: Rich

JK 2013 Day 3 Long @ Cold Ash

Started this a bit sloppily totally losing my position on 2 which lost me 30s. Then came out of 3 in the wrong direction and ended up having to climb back up the track. Also contour too far going to 5 and too far left of 7. ~1:20 lost already. Then got my act together a bit more although got caught in the rhodis and lost 30s on 12. Recognised 14 would be difficult and so hit the large depression first but then failed to use my compass and lost 1min having to return to the large depression to relocate. Got a good line through to 15 but then overshot and hit the road by the open field, another 1min.

Caught sight of Eric going into 16 and slowly reeled him in up to 19. Bad route to 20 going left to the road - straight is great. Small miss (15s) at 23 and took on first energy gel to 24 as I was starting to struggle slightly at this point though the gel didn't seam to have much effect. Would have been happy with my route to 28 but went badly off line between the first and second tracks and had to dog leg an extra ~150m (30s). Caught Eric back up at 29 where we both missed (30s) and then exited 29 badly (saw JD and MN approaching 29) and then overshot 30 (50s). Pushed on a bit to try and keep ahead of the expected train approaching. Lost a few secs on 35 by climbing too far up the left side of the hill after thinking I was on the lower path and initially went to the wrong control on 37. Managed to stay well in front of the JD and MN in the end.

Finished 9th after several DSQs with another solid though unspectacular performance. Somewhat pleased again but has shown me the kind of performance I can produce with a clean run, full health and proper training behind me.

Routes for Days 1 to 3: http://www.jk.routegadget.co.uk/cgi-bin/reitti.cgi

C • JD and MN 2

C • Gel 3

Easy first couple of controls so attacked from the start and saw Sminty just leaving 3 around 50m ahead. Slowly closed this on the longer leg to 4 but made my first error here. Sminty looked confident higher up the hill and thought he had seen the control, aparently not. Turned back right as thought we were too far left but nothing. Went further left and relocated beyond the junction. Back across and still nearly missed it - nearly 1min binned.

Up the hill to 8 and 9 I started struggling a little and made a couple of hesitation and sminty came past. From here I was struggling with some fatigue particularly on the hills but having sminty kept me going though we both made small errors on 10 and 14. Was still in line for a decent run until 18. Poor compass out of 17 and then mixed up light green and ended up too far left, although I though I was right of the control until I saw the gully. Another 50-55s gone. Still pleased all things considered to be in contact with the top guys but the mistakes, particularly 18 were needless and costly on this area.

Event: JK 2013
 

No expectation of myself for this and my legs were feeling a little fatigued and achy despite hardly running for the last couple of weeks.

JK 2013 Day 1, Sprint - Reading Uni

Steady to 1 to get into the map and then increased speed helped that I had planned some of the early legs almost spot on with only cursory prerace geekery. Start to finish it went pretty well though lost a few seconds in route choice on each 5, 6, 7 and 8. Somewhat suprised just how much time (>5s) I lost on 8 going left round the building rather right around the hedge. Legs were feeling rusty and didn't quite feel like I hit top gear. Finished 10th at the wrong end of tight packing but still please and suprised by the result.

Easy jog around the block to make sure I could at least give this weekend races ago - felt alright.