Training Log Archive: OllieIn the 30 days ending Jun 30, 2006:
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Wednesday Jun 28, 2006 #
Orienteering race (Local Event) 37:30 [4] *** 5.0 km (7:30 / km) +135m 6:36 / km
spiked:11/14c weight:68.9kg shoes: Standard White O-Shoes
TVOC Summer Series evening event at Bloom Wood. Despite the event being a low key one, Bloom Wood is a fine area - very little vegetation even now in late June, and has been used in the past for a UK Cup middle distance race. The race was a mass-start, with the course arranged like a figure-of-eight, so that people started in four directions.
I made a silly mistake on the first leg, not bothering to check my compass, and was too far to the left. The first few controls were very fast and intense - my first loop was just 1km. The second loop was the big one, with a 900m leg, some tricky map detail, and a monster hill.
I saw no one going my way at all for the second loop, so assumed I was on to a very good time - I picked up the pace and powered around the course, unfortunately then making a 2 min mistake at 10, a 1 min mistake at 11 and a half-min mistake at 13. Still, it was a great run and I finished around 6th back - a much better result than at Hughenden. I beat Jon M but Rob P was well ahead of me.
Although the weather was cloudy, it was very muggy and so quite tough going. So two pints of lemonade and a huge meal at the local pub with the other JOKers/OUOCers was a top idea. Then it was just a case of getting back to London.
I made a silly mistake on the first leg, not bothering to check my compass, and was too far to the left. The first few controls were very fast and intense - my first loop was just 1km. The second loop was the big one, with a 900m leg, some tricky map detail, and a monster hill.
I saw no one going my way at all for the second loop, so assumed I was on to a very good time - I picked up the pace and powered around the course, unfortunately then making a 2 min mistake at 10, a 1 min mistake at 11 and a half-min mistake at 13. Still, it was a great run and I finished around 6th back - a much better result than at Hughenden. I beat Jon M but Rob P was well ahead of me.
Although the weather was cloudy, it was very muggy and so quite tough going. So two pints of lemonade and a huge meal at the local pub with the other JOKers/OUOCers was a top idea. Then it was just a case of getting back to London.
Cycle Commuting warm up/down 55:00 [2] 7.5 km (7:20 / km)
From work to Paddington station, then later from the station back home (very slowly and via a roundabout route, as no lights!)
Sunday Jun 25, 2006 #
Cycling long (Cycle Touring) 4:43:42 [3] * 84.5 km (3:21 / km) +300m 3:18 / km
slept:7.0 weight:68.9kg shoes: Brown Leisure Shoes
Cycling from Weston-Super-Mare to Bath, via Pill and Bristol. Part 7 chronologically, and Part 1 cartographically, of my 8-part cross-England bike ride. Took an extended stop in Bristol to watch the England vs Ecuador game at a friend's flat. Then cycling at high-speed along the Bristol to Path cycle path, in gentle rain, to meet another friend at Bath for a hearty meal that I was, by that point, really looking forward to!
Today's 85km felt easier than the 40km two weeks ago, due to the excellent road surface for pretty much the whole way, and most importantly the fact that it was dead flat, with only very gentle gradients.
Highlights were the Grand Pier at Weston-Super-Mare, the Avon Gorge and spectacular Clifton Suspension Bridge, a spooky 700m cycle tunnel on the railway path, and the lovely section along the Avon Cycleway.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=260728
Today's 85km felt easier than the 40km two weeks ago, due to the excellent road surface for pretty much the whole way, and most importantly the fact that it was dead flat, with only very gentle gradients.
Highlights were the Grand Pier at Weston-Super-Mare, the Avon Gorge and spectacular Clifton Suspension Bridge, a spooky 700m cycle tunnel on the railway path, and the lovely section along the Avon Cycleway.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=260728
Cycling warm up/down (To/From Station) 45:00 [2] 12.4 km (3:38 / km)
shoes: Brown Leisure Shoes
Cycling to/from Paddington station. For once, I was organised enough to get up in time, so it was not too rushed. And then the late night return, again not too rushed, this time as I was very tired.
Saturday Jun 24, 2006 #
Note
On Sunday I'm planning my longest day cycle so far - 75km from Weston-super-Mare to Bath (with an extended break in Bristol to meet up with an old friend and watch the footie.)
Friday Jun 23, 2006 #
Cycle Commuting 20:10 [3] 5.4 km (3:44 / km)
slept:7.5 weight:69kg shoes: Black Work Shoes
Test commute (at 1830) from work to a potential house I could be living at when I move later this summer. Checkpoint 12:15 after 2.9km. I beat my 25 minute ETA which is encouraging.
Cycle Commuting 32:00 [1] 7.9 km (4:03 / km)
shoes: Black Work Shoes
Relaxed cycle back home, via a "scenic" route, from a house I test-commuted to.
Sunday Jun 18, 2006 #
Event: Knole Park District Race
Orienteering race (District Event) 1:01:13 [3] *** 7.9 km (7:45 / km) +200m 6:53 / km
spiked:14/19c slept:7.5 weight:67.2kg shoes: Standard White O-Shoes
Ran the Brown course at Knole Park. Another hot and quite humid day meant the pace was pretty slow - huge areas of bracken in the first part of the race also slowed me down.
Despite half the map being out of bounds due to tree plantations, and the other half seemingly out of bounds due to a golf course, the planners did manage to get a good course out of the map. This was really a race of three parts - an orienteering race for the first few km, then a road race, 2km down a hot, dusty road, and finally a cross country race to the finish.
I had a poor start - I didn't recognise the crucial "small fenced enclosure" symbols, thinking they were depressions instead. The head-high bracken also confused navigation. The result was that No. 1 was my worst control - the exit was also bad, so I was slow to No. 2. No. 6 was tricky, trying to find a way into the site without getting stung by nettles. My route from 7-8 was lazy. Then the course dropped into some woodland, which was extremely pleasant after the hot sun.
I overshot No. 11, then on to the road race - 12-13 was 1km down a long, hot road, and 13-14 was 1km back up another road. Finally, some easy controls to the finish.
Finished 8th= out of 39 runners. I'm pleased with this result, I'm definitely running better now than I was a year ago.
This event is probably the last weekend event I'll be at before the end of the season. I've done around 30 races this season which is great.
Despite half the map being out of bounds due to tree plantations, and the other half seemingly out of bounds due to a golf course, the planners did manage to get a good course out of the map. This was really a race of three parts - an orienteering race for the first few km, then a road race, 2km down a hot, dusty road, and finally a cross country race to the finish.
I had a poor start - I didn't recognise the crucial "small fenced enclosure" symbols, thinking they were depressions instead. The head-high bracken also confused navigation. The result was that No. 1 was my worst control - the exit was also bad, so I was slow to No. 2. No. 6 was tricky, trying to find a way into the site without getting stung by nettles. My route from 7-8 was lazy. Then the course dropped into some woodland, which was extremely pleasant after the hot sun.
I overshot No. 11, then on to the road race - 12-13 was 1km down a long, hot road, and 13-14 was 1km back up another road. Finally, some easy controls to the finish.
Finished 8th= out of 39 runners. I'm pleased with this result, I'm definitely running better now than I was a year ago.
This event is probably the last weekend event I'll be at before the end of the season. I've done around 30 races this season which is great.
Cycling warm up/down (To/From Event) 1:00:00 [2] 14.0 km (4:17 / km) +90m 4:09 / km
shoes: Brown Leisure Shoes
Home to London Bridge station, quite fast as I was cutting it fine. Then Sevenoaks station to the town centre car park - up a big long hill! Then later a lovely spin back down that hill, and then back home from London Bridge, going really slowly.
Wednesday Jun 14, 2006 #
Orienteering race (Local Event) 54:17 [3] **** 5.9 km (9:12 / km) +55m 8:47 / km
spiked:15/19c slept:7.5 weight:68.1kg shoes: Standard White O-Shoes
Local evening event at Epping Forest South West. I love running in Epping Forest - one of my all time favourite areas - and this event was a 25 minute train ride from work followed by a two minute walk to the registration - so it was unmissable, even though my arm was arching something horrid from a jab! The weather was lovely - sunny but not too hot, a welcome change.
I ran Blue (the hardest of the three courses available) and I got my first ever win! I was just 18 seconds ahead of No. 2, although there were just 10 runners and 9 finishers on my course - it was after all a very small event. Still, a win is a win :-)
Despite twisting my left ankle at one point, and getting clogged up in green and nettles several times, I really enjoyed my run. I started slowly, but was going really fast towards the end.
Epping is very technical, but flat, and it's easy to make big mistakes. I made a very silly one at No. 3 - thinking it would be the easiest ever leg - just run down a ditch - I promptly made a parallel mistake. I made slight mistakes at 4, 5 and 6 (I was trying to lose a couple of slower runners), then took a risk and went straight from 7-8, getting stuck in ferns and nettles. 8-9 was the same, again getting stuck and then aiming off in the wrong direction. Once again, I went straight for 10-11 and got stuck in thick green. From 11 to the end, I was fine, and going faster and faster - except for 14 which was my biggest mistake - to be fair, the map was vague here, and I slightly mis-marked the control site. 14 was near the collection of small ponds in the centre of the map. This is my third race on this map - every time there has been a control near the small ponds, and every time I have made a really big mistake. I thought I'd blown the race, but was very fast from then on.
Epping Forest is always beautiful and a challenge, and the weather was so nice today. This was one of those races that makes me remember why I like orienteering so much and why any other sport would never compare.
I ran Blue (the hardest of the three courses available) and I got my first ever win! I was just 18 seconds ahead of No. 2, although there were just 10 runners and 9 finishers on my course - it was after all a very small event. Still, a win is a win :-)
Despite twisting my left ankle at one point, and getting clogged up in green and nettles several times, I really enjoyed my run. I started slowly, but was going really fast towards the end.
Epping is very technical, but flat, and it's easy to make big mistakes. I made a very silly one at No. 3 - thinking it would be the easiest ever leg - just run down a ditch - I promptly made a parallel mistake. I made slight mistakes at 4, 5 and 6 (I was trying to lose a couple of slower runners), then took a risk and went straight from 7-8, getting stuck in ferns and nettles. 8-9 was the same, again getting stuck and then aiming off in the wrong direction. Once again, I went straight for 10-11 and got stuck in thick green. From 11 to the end, I was fine, and going faster and faster - except for 14 which was my biggest mistake - to be fair, the map was vague here, and I slightly mis-marked the control site. 14 was near the collection of small ponds in the centre of the map. This is my third race on this map - every time there has been a control near the small ponds, and every time I have made a really big mistake. I thought I'd blown the race, but was very fast from then on.
Epping Forest is always beautiful and a challenge, and the weather was so nice today. This was one of those races that makes me remember why I like orienteering so much and why any other sport would never compare.
Cycle Commuting warm up/down (To/From Event) 35:00 [1] 6.8 km (5:09 / km)
shoes: Black Work Shoes
From work to Liverpool Street Station (before my race, as a warm up.) Then later from Liverpool Street Station to home (warm down.)
Sunday Jun 11, 2006 #
Cycling long (Off-Road) 3:30:00 [2] * 41.5 km (5:04 / km) +850m 4:35 / km
slept:8.0 shoes: Brown Leisure Shoes
Petersfield to Amberley, offroad on the South Downs Way. Hot/humid, so nice and slow. Time is moving-time, actually took nearly an hour longer, including stops.
I'd been meaning to do this route for almost a day - it's almost entirely off road once you hit the way 3 miles south of Petersfield, but the track surface was great and even the long uphill sections were a pleasure. The route crosses just four roads, and the three mile continous downhill section at the end was sheer bliss. The route clings to the side of the steep ridge on the north side of the south downs - in places it zig-zags up the steepest hill. I was happy to not have to push my bike up any of the route, except one short 10m section where I had tired myself out zooming up for the benefit of some fellow wayers.
Probably the most amount of climb I've ever cycled in a day. I was guestimating 400m of climb, even after the day, so was amazed when I measured it off the map.
I met a few stragglers from a marathon, going in the opposite direction, and passed direction signs and mile markers for the race, every once in a while. In fact, my route was very similar to the marathon, just in reverse. I would have not liked doing the marathon on such a hot and humid day! See http://www.209events.com/event.php?event=33 for the details.
I might do this route again, maybe starting a little earlier on the route. 26 miles is really not a lot for a day's biking, but you definitely need to take it slowly when the temperature goes above 30C.
I'd been meaning to do this route for almost a day - it's almost entirely off road once you hit the way 3 miles south of Petersfield, but the track surface was great and even the long uphill sections were a pleasure. The route crosses just four roads, and the three mile continous downhill section at the end was sheer bliss. The route clings to the side of the steep ridge on the north side of the south downs - in places it zig-zags up the steepest hill. I was happy to not have to push my bike up any of the route, except one short 10m section where I had tired myself out zooming up for the benefit of some fellow wayers.
Probably the most amount of climb I've ever cycled in a day. I was guestimating 400m of climb, even after the day, so was amazed when I measured it off the map.
I met a few stragglers from a marathon, going in the opposite direction, and passed direction signs and mile markers for the race, every once in a while. In fact, my route was very similar to the marathon, just in reverse. I would have not liked doing the marathon on such a hot and humid day! See http://www.209events.com/event.php?event=33 for the details.
I might do this route again, maybe starting a little earlier on the route. 26 miles is really not a lot for a day's biking, but you definitely need to take it slowly when the temperature goes above 30C.
Cycling 45:00 [1] 12.3 km (3:40 / km)
shoes: Brown Leisure Shoes
Home to Waterloo via library, then later Blackfriars to home.
Saturday Jun 10, 2006 #
Orienteering race (Local Event) 55:23 [3] *** 5.1 km (10:52 / km) +45m 10:24 / km
spiked:13/18c slept:6.5 weight:68.3kg shoes: Standard White O-Shoes
Local Event at Mereworth MOD training area - pleasant to run in but very hot, and the map was very out of date (1999), especially in relation to representing the undergrowth, resulting in a 10-15 minute error near the end. This was my worst mistake since February. I made a number of other more minor mistakes near some controls - again, these were often due to the imprecise nature of the map and some "bingo" controls in green forest.
I finished 6th out of 27, six minutes behind the leader. If I hadn't made that big mistake near the end, I'd have won. That's two races in the last four where I could have one but couldn't deliver on the day...
This is the first map I've ever run on with an explicit warning about adders. Apparently the area is crawling with them. I spent a good while during the race treading carefully over logs and undergrowth. I didn't see any, but did spot a lizard at the end.
I finished 6th out of 27, six minutes behind the leader. If I hadn't made that big mistake near the end, I'd have won. That's two races in the last four where I could have one but couldn't deliver on the day...
This is the first map I've ever run on with an explicit warning about adders. Apparently the area is crawling with them. I spent a good while during the race treading carefully over logs and undergrowth. I didn't see any, but did spot a lizard at the end.
Cycling (To/From Event) 1:15:00 [2] * 17.5 km (4:17 / km)
shoes: Brown Leisure Shoes
Work to Victoria (not via the Mall as it was closed) then Borough Green to the Mereworth event, including an off-road section. Then back to Borough Green, and finally from King's Cross back home.
Thursday Jun 8, 2006 #
Note
slept:7.0
Probably doesn't count as formal training, but I spent a lot of today doing hard physical labour out on a hillside, in the baking heat. My company gives me a day off each year to do community work - the project I chose this year was widening and reconstructing paths in the National Trust's Winkworth Arboretum near Godalming in Surrey. The fifteen of us, + a few NT workers and crazy dogs, spent around 4 hours with spades, rakes and sickles, moving mud and turf from the upslope to the downslope, and drinking copious amounts of water in an attempt to stay cool. The day was broken up by a long, very relaxing lunch outside by the tearoom. A world away from the office.
Tuesday Jun 6, 2006 #
Orienteering race (Local Event) 1:05:00 [2] *** 7.82 km (8:19 / km) +200m 7:22 / km
spiked:18/23c slept:7.5 weight:67.3kg shoes: Standard White O-Shoes
TVOC Summer Series event at Hughenden, near High Wycombe. 7.8km for a Tuesday evening event - ouch! But the going was easier as it was a little cooler than at the weekend. But it did get dark towards the end, and so I had some problems reading the map!
Finished 12th out of 23 runners - very suprised as I thought I was almost the last person back. I Took it very easy, also made quite a few mistakes, some bad.
The first loop was 5.6km, it was a mass start, but I made a slight navigational mistake at 2 and 3, in the dark woods, and lost the pack. 7 was tricky - again, it was quite dark. 8 was my first major mistake - I went too far to the left, got confused, and ran down an earth wall parallel to the one I needed to be on, wasting perhaps 2 minutes. Some confusion at 9 as the control number was wrong - wasted 30 seconds here. After a nice stint through an open park, it was back up the seemingly neverending hill for the second loop. The gloom was definitely gathering, I was poor in finding 3 due to a risky route choice. 7 was the second big mistake of the night - the complex path network confused me and I made a 90 degree error, heading uphill to the left, when instead I wanted to go down to the right. A 1 min mistake. Then it was just a long, steady jog back to the start.
Time is estimated as the results are in points, not in time.
Finished 12th out of 23 runners - very suprised as I thought I was almost the last person back. I Took it very easy, also made quite a few mistakes, some bad.
The first loop was 5.6km, it was a mass start, but I made a slight navigational mistake at 2 and 3, in the dark woods, and lost the pack. 7 was tricky - again, it was quite dark. 8 was my first major mistake - I went too far to the left, got confused, and ran down an earth wall parallel to the one I needed to be on, wasting perhaps 2 minutes. Some confusion at 9 as the control number was wrong - wasted 30 seconds here. After a nice stint through an open park, it was back up the seemingly neverending hill for the second loop. The gloom was definitely gathering, I was poor in finding 3 due to a risky route choice. 7 was the second big mistake of the night - the complex path network confused me and I made a 90 degree error, heading uphill to the left, when instead I wanted to go down to the right. A 1 min mistake. Then it was just a long, steady jog back to the start.
Time is estimated as the results are in points, not in time.
Note
Four days after fixing my bike's back tyre, the chain has snapped - again. Removing two more links to fix it is going to restrict me to very few gears!
Sunday Jun 4, 2006 #
Event: OO Trophy & District Event
Orienteering race (District Event) 1:07:25 [4] ** 10.0 km (6:45 / km) +195m 6:09 / km
spiked:20/23c slept:6.5 shoes: Standard White O-Shoes
OO Trophy district event at Petworth Park, in West Sussex. Really hot and tiring, this was a race for cross country runners as much as orienteers.
Nick B won the special 10km Brown course in a commanding time of 42 minutes (4.2mins/km for 10km in blazing sunshine - Barrabulous!) I finished in the top half of the results, which was nice. I thought I was on for a shocker as I seriously tired near the end and had to walk for some significant sections.
Pretty much the whole race was on clear open land, but there were plenty of tussocks - and deer - to contend with, and with temperatures up past 25 degrees celsius, even the smallest hills were missions.
Phew! Can't wait for the air-conditioned comfort of the office.
Nick B won the special 10km Brown course in a commanding time of 42 minutes (4.2mins/km for 10km in blazing sunshine - Barrabulous!) I finished in the top half of the results, which was nice. I thought I was on for a shocker as I seriously tired near the end and had to walk for some significant sections.
Pretty much the whole race was on clear open land, but there were plenty of tussocks - and deer - to contend with, and with temperatures up past 25 degrees celsius, even the smallest hills were missions.
Phew! Can't wait for the air-conditioned comfort of the office.
Cycling (To/From Event) 2:10:00 [2] * 30.0 km (4:20 / km)
shoes: Brown Leisure Shoes
Finally got around to retrieving and fixing the bike on Saturday, in preparation for the trek to the event today - Petworth is a nice place, but it isn't convenient for the train!
Cycling from home to Waterloo, Pulborough to Petworth (with plenty of small stops!) then back from Petworth to Pulborough - again taking it easy - and finally from King's Cross back home.
Cycling from home to Waterloo, Pulborough to Petworth (with plenty of small stops!) then back from Petworth to Pulborough - again taking it easy - and finally from King's Cross back home.
Saturday Jun 3, 2006 #
Score Orienteering race (Local Event) 44:18 [4] ** 5.25 km (8:26 / km)
slept:7.5 shoes: Standard White O-Shoes
HH local score event at Frithsden East, on the edge of the Ashridge Estate just north of Berkhamsted.
The first of my nine planned orienteering races this June, and almost a win!
The score event consisted of two maps - at any time during the 45 minutes, you could come back to the start, drop your Part 1 map and pick up a Part 2 one. Each map had 11 controls on it. I did all 11 of the first, and 7 of the second, giving me 180 points - there was a loop near the end that I didn't have time to go to.
I finished second - Simon E won with 190 points, one control more than me. In retrospect I should have done the second map anti-clockwise rather than clockwise - that way I would have missed three outliers that were tough to get to, rather than the four that were close by the finish. I pushed myself hard on this race, and felt the pain - especially around the middle section - a sharp 30m climb tired me out and I messed up getting back to the start for the map changeover. At the finish I was thinking I would be well down on the results though, so finishing second is great.
Note: The distance I am quoting here is the straight-line distance measured based on the controls I visited.
The first of my nine planned orienteering races this June, and almost a win!
The score event consisted of two maps - at any time during the 45 minutes, you could come back to the start, drop your Part 1 map and pick up a Part 2 one. Each map had 11 controls on it. I did all 11 of the first, and 7 of the second, giving me 180 points - there was a loop near the end that I didn't have time to go to.
I finished second - Simon E won with 190 points, one control more than me. In retrospect I should have done the second map anti-clockwise rather than clockwise - that way I would have missed three outliers that were tough to get to, rather than the four that were close by the finish. I pushed myself hard on this race, and felt the pain - especially around the middle section - a sharp 30m climb tired me out and I messed up getting back to the start for the map changeover. At the finish I was thinking I would be well down on the results though, so finishing second is great.
Note: The distance I am quoting here is the straight-line distance measured based on the controls I visited.