Training Log Archive: ColmM

TVOC Bradenham event.

Pretty nice area really - the South of England is not so bad. A dense path network but with lots of green sections breaking up the runnable forest, and lots of point features to navigate to.
Got moving pretty quickly, pretty early. I was probably rushing a little, and I don't think I was perfecting the processes, but I was mostly hitting controls alright and hence getting away with it. My general navigation was good, and I did get through the whole first section pretty cleanly, despite my haste. I probably settled a bit more, but I had a couple of small mistakes on #10 (~10sec), #11 (~15-20sec), and #12 (20-30sec). Probably a part of me felt there was a need to push the pace a little bit more instead of settling down a little. I did clean it up a little over the next section, but an aggressive entry into #16 and imperfect execution possibly cost another ~15sec.
Fine on the next few, trying to run hard on the track and be fluid on the short legs, and mostly succeeding. I planned the map exchange a bit unnecessarily as there was a timed-out crossing before it, but not a big deal.
Left the timed-out crossing, got #22 fine, the route to #23 was decent I think, but I didn't take my time enough leaving the track to take a bearing and probably cost myself the guts of 30sec with the mistake. Again, my hastiness and desire to push the pace may have been heightened by the fact that I was struggling to past an ~M50 on the track that it looked like I should be passing with ease, silly to let that influence me - the forest is where I do my best work.
Clean enough aside from minor lines I'd say on the next section #24 - #30, and then I got to plan the final few controls on the second road crossing so tried to attack them to an extent, but I was feeling a little tired.

The result was quite positive really, beat some names I wouldn't really have expected to, and wasn't too far behind Will Gardner (~4'40), particularly considering I did make mistakes out there and there is room for improvement undoubtedly.
Technically, the race felt like it went mostly alright, but I'm not convinced I was doing everything the way I should be doing. Part of that could be the nature of a control-pick style course and feeling rushed. The 1:7500 map as well didn't make taking bearings easy with all the folding, but I think I should be prioritising the compass more as it didn't feel completely habitual.
Physically, it felt probably quite good early on, but the legs felt a bit heavy and like I was wavering a bit in the 2nd half, especially on legs which allowed for lots of running. Still, I think I can take positives from not feeling at my very best the whole way through to the end and delivering a decent result.

Results
Route

Easy with Niamh in Victoria park from her flat. Gorgeous weather out and London was buzzing so good vibes all round, Lovely run with a 10min or so easy pickup at steady pace.

A bit hungover and struggling from a tiresome week but got a run done in Wytham, so we'll take it.

Easy run with J&L up and around Wytham now that it is open again! Looking beautiful as ever of course, and made for a lovely run despite my tiredness.

Met Áine at The Swirls car park and went for a lovely long run up Hellvelyn. We got up pretty quickly and then considered a few options on what to do next - the loop along the two ridges looked like a lot of fun, so we went for that lap, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Not quick going, but still lovely running with bots of scrambling. Had to help a woman down a trickier section as she was very nervous, but she was actually well able for it really, just needed the confidence of having me in front of her.
Back at the top we met Sabrina, Jess, Euan, Marine & Dellisia as they summited, and then we headed off to do one more small one and make our way down a slightly different route.
Today was the best weather and the two ridges provided a lot of fun, so maybe the best run of the lot, even if I had originally planned a bit more. Legs still feeling pretty strong even if some tiredness was probably starting to creep into the quads. Great few days in the lakes. Made all the better by the hot tub in our airbnb.

A lovely long one up Scafell Pike and then along some of the surrounding summits. I had planned out a route which basically did a full loop back to Wasdale Head along a number of the summits, but with lots of cutback options if necessary. Had fun up Lingfell, ran a good chunk of the climb but it wore me down eventually and I walked bits of the second half. Coming back to the main Scafell track was busy, but not too long to the top. I had some minor navigation concerns coming off Scafell as nobody seemed to be coming up any of the other routes and the trail wasn't obvious, but I got to it. The next few rocky peaks were fun but not the quickest.
Enjoyed myself then running the trails down to the col, and then from this point on (when I started climbing Great Gable) I didn't see anyone again until Wasdale Head. I also kind of badly needed a poo at this point, but I seem to be pretty good at holding it in, so I didn't taint the natural air.
Anyway, ticked off some nice summits between Great Gable and Kirkfell but I hadn't been moving incredibly quickly, so I cut back after this point instead of carrying on in order to meet the others back at the bottom.
Lovely stuff and a good run altogether.

Old Man of Coniston with Euan. Damn, we got a nice day for it. Beautiful conditions. Got the boy up moving alright really. Feeling pretty strong myself as well, which was nice. Ran on and did a lap of the tops there over to the Wetherlam, and then down the spur from there on pretty nice grassy trails.
Good times all round, didn't expect to hit a VK.