Training Log Archive: Chas

Into Huddersfield, out to Marsden on canal towpath and up Wessenden. Home via Goodbent Lodge.

WR team score. Family team. 2nd to the Fields. We'll have them next year..
Achilles feeling less sore than on Saturday, so good plan not running yesterday. Keep to running alternate days for a while.

Decided to rest achilles and go for a bike ride instead. From WR campsite, through forest to Harwood Dale and then up to top of Fylingsdale Moor. Down into Sneaton Forest and over to Robin Hood's Bay. Back along the old railway line via Ravenscar as far as Cloughton. Struggled to get up the hill to the campsite. Distance a rough estimate as forgot my GPS.

White Rose, Day 1. Stoney Marl Moor and Pye Rigg. Short Brown, 6.5km, 80m. 1st, 2 mins ahead of Clive despite loosing the plot in the middle of the course. Overtook Mike Pedley 3 times between 6 and 10. Worst was 90 degree error between 8 and 9. Probably lost about 4-5 mins in total. Achilles was a bit sore but not too bad.

Event: White Rose Weekend
 

Intended to run home from Upper Cumberworth, via Stone Woods but only got as far as Jackson Bridge. Right achilles was getting pretty sore so decided to walk the rest of the way. Got a lift as far as Longley Farm when a lost delivery van asked for directions. Iced achilles when home.

Digley, Holme, Ramsden and back via Moss Edge Farm. Nice to be back on old routes. Heather best it's been since moving here.

Rest day in Chamonix. Walk/cable-car up Le Brevent. Amazing view of Mont Blanc.

Day 6, Montagne de Lachat (WOC Middle Final area). H45, 3.5km, 240m.
Got it right at last! This area was easy according to Thierry and, although I'm not sure many would agree, I can see what he means. It was generally runnable, without the brashings, etc underfoot. It was complicated, but not vague (being on a steep slope) and the map was good. The first 4 controls were on the flatter, easier lower slopes and it only got really techincal when we climbed the slope to no 5. It was easy to be careful here as it was too steep to run and I manged to continue with the careful navigation, visulising my route into the control each time. The only small miss was at no 10 where there was just too much detail for me to read the map properly and I was about to go out and relocate when I found the control. This did make me think that it might be time for a magnifier though. I was pretty pleased with my run but knew it was possible for my time to be beaten. Luckily Holo didn't run and I won. Amazingly, my result pulled me up to 2nd overall, although if Holo had done 5 days he'd have won easily.

Day 5, Creux de la Cavale. H45, 3.6km, 60m.
This was similar to day 3, but slightly less vague and with slightly better visibility. I also found the map easier to interpret. I started well, finding the first 5 controls cleanly, before missing in the green stuff at no 6. That was minor though compared to what happened at no 7. I contrived to take 7.5 minutes for a 150m leg. I missed twice before going out to relocate properly. The terrain was so rough around there that progress was slow and any errors were amplified. Frustrated with myself today. Finished 26th, 12 minutes down.

Day 4, Foret de Charvette (WOC Long Final area). H45, 8.2km, 315m.
We knew what was in store for us this day having watched the WOC yesterday (and buying the map of the Men's course). Having seen some of the mistakes from WOC competitors, I was feeling somewhat nervous. It was also hot. The first two controls were relatively easy with paths to get you fairly close. I still managed to miss them both, but not seriously. For no 3 I made the mistake of not using the paths to get as near as possible and paid the price; approx 4 mins binned. There was then a break from the technical stuff (but not the physical side!) while the course took us to the stunning view-point on the edge of the map. Over-shooting this control would have been fatal and it was the only time I can remember stopping mid course to admire the view! Then it was time for the really tricky stuff: 8, 9, 10 and 11 were diagonal downhill legs across a steep hillside with virtually no line features (imagine the slope on Great Tower, but 100 times bigger). I found it impossible to stay in contact whilst 'running' and almost impossible to relocate once I'd lost contact. I'm still unsure what the best technique to use on this slope was, but I was reasonably happy to avoid any major time losses. After no 11 it was a long hot slog to the finish. I finished 8th, about 7 mins down.

Day 3, Le Pleurachat. H45, 3.1km, 110m.
This was even trickier than Day 2 because the terrain was more vague and there were fewer paths. I also thought the map was much harder to interpret and never managed to work out what was mapped and what wasn't. I blew no 1 by attacking from one depression when I was actually at another one. I then got completely disorientated and ran off in the wrong direction to no 2. Even when I realised what I'd done I couldn't work out where I was and lost another massive amount of time. At this point I decided this was my day to drop (the overall competition is best 5 of 6 days) and I walked/jogged around the rest of the course. Surprised to find out the winner was only 43 minutes; perhaps I should have carried on...

Watching WOC Sprint race. Well done GG!

Day 2, La Grande Teppe (WOC Middle Qual. area). H45, 6.0km, 295m.
Surprisingly my calf felt better this morning, but I fully expected it to hurt very early in the race. However, after some initial stiffness, it was OK. The first 6 controls today were some of the trickiest orienteering I've ever done. It was also combined with some of the roughest terrain imaginable; limestone pavement covered in all manner of vegetation and brashings. It was very much a case of safety first; both to avoid serious injury and getting seriously lost. I was very pleased to get through the first 6 controls with no major loss of time. After that it got easy in the open stuff, but I made a bum route choice from 8 to 9, going down and up rather than round, which cost me 2 or 3 minutes (and as it turned out, the race). One more really tricky control near the end which I successfully identified and took as carefully as possible. 2nd, 45 seconds behind Oystein Holo, NOR.

O Festival ERDF Savoie Grand Revard (alongside WOC 2011).
Day 1, Les Gouilles (WOC Long Qual. area). H45, 4.6km, 255m.
I was somewhat nervous about this: dodgy calf and reports of very tricky and rough terrain but with no chance to do any training. My calf was OK to start, but was hurting by no 2 and pretty sore by the end, reducing me to somewhat of a hobble. I was careful with the navigation and took safe routes where possible and so avoided the big errors that many were making. Quite pleased with my result; 5th out of just under 200. Winner took 50 minutes. Calf stiffened up badly afterwards and worried that might have been the end of my week's racing.

Event: WOC 2011 + O'Festival Savoie Grand Revard
 

Still not daring to run. Had brisk walk into Holmfirth and back for which calf felt OK. Lots of heel raise exercises on the stairs.

I can still feel the calf walking about. Wearing my skins 24 hours in desperate attempt to speed recovery.

Had a sports massge today instead of trying to run. Masseur said she couldn't feel too much wrong and I'm hopeful I could be running (slowly) in time for France. Stretching.

Day 5. Loch Nell and Shenavallie. 7.7km, 210m.
OK, so sensible doesn't come easily for me. My calf didn't feel as sore as I had expected this morning so I went to the start and picked up my map. After about 5 mins of steady running (half way to no 2) the pain suddenly increased and I knew that was it. Walked back via 8, 9, 10 and 11. I shan't be running at all tomorrow. Promise. More ice.

C • I reckon you need a week in... 1

Day 4. Torinturk. 8.2km, 300m.
Felt left calf go (in same place as last time) at no 5. Continued up the hill to no 6 without too much discomfort but as soon as I went downhill to no 7 the pain was too much to continue. Walked back.
I guess that's the end of my week. Hopefully I might be OK for the French 6 Days which starts a week on Sunday if I'm sensible now. Ice. Only interest in the results is what position I was in at no 5.
Edit: comfortably in the lead at both 5 and 7 where I decided to retire. Gutted.

C • Sorry to read/hear 2

Well needed rest day. Tempted by the sprint race, but not seriously. I start after Aasheim tomorrow for the only time this week. Got to make it count!

Day 3, Creag Mhic Chailein. 7.5km, 345m.
5th, 8 mins down on Aasheim. Only lost a minute or two in mistakes, mostly at no 8. The early start was more of a disadvantage than I appreciated, but at least that's it out of the way for the week now. Well needed rest day tomorrow.

Day 2, Ardnaskie. 6.7km, 290m.
2nd again, 3mins down on Aasheim this time and with smaller lead over the rest of the field. A few small misses towards the end totalling about 2.5mins. Earlier start probably didn't help either. I concede to Aasheim already, but first Brit would be nice...