Training Log Archive: Ollie

Event: NOC Compass Sport Cup Final
 

Running for SLOW for the CompassSport Cup at Sansom and Blidworth Woods, near Mansfield. The course (Brown/Men's Open) was dominated by brambles and bracken - the team were aware of this and were dreading setting out. But I fortunately had a very late start, so had few problems with the undergrowth. Indeed, I could have saved quite a bit of time by taking more daring route chocies, e.g. through some of the "fight" vegetation.

A pretty clean run, with just a stupid mistake on Leg 12 (failed to see the obvious way, and made a 90 degree error) and Leg 24 (didn't navigate properly, so briefly lost contact with the map.) I had a good run overall, but didn't really push myself at any point on the course - as I was expecting to run into some very physical sections. They didn't materialise, and I tried to speed up at the end, but probably left it too late. Very pleased with the time though - within 3 minutes of Paul, and beat Matthias. Feeling great on the course and generally at the moment, and know I have more in me.

How GG managed 52 minutes is beyond me - he is a very good orienteer, but running 5.2 minute Ks in that kind of terrain is superhuman.

Earned 74 points for SLOW, out of a possible 100. Was 32nd out of 126 finishers. SLOW finished 6th overall in the competition.

To/from Waterloo station.

I lost my GPS receiver on the course today. I think it slipped out of a hole in my O-trousers. Bummer. Time to get a Forerunner 305 and have it strapped to my wrist.

Brown - Splits

Via Camomile Street and Percival Street. Quite damp on the ground. Going fast as running late.

Via the Tate Modern and Tower Bridge.

Along the Regent's Canal. Going very fast as another fast cyclist was just in front the whole way, and he was easy to follow - until he slipped on leaving the canal at 6km and I overtook...

My cycle-computer measured distance is around 4% less than previously as I pumped up my tires yesterday using a pump with gauge - the previous pressure was as low as 25atm (should not be less than 40!) and the tires are no up to 55atm. A rough calculation - radius 25cm, was 24.5cm before due to the tires being so soft. Circumference has increased by factor of r1^2/r2^2 = 4% further travelled per revolution - but my cycle computer hasn't been recalibrated. I think it's now accurate, having been overestimating how far I've travelled. This isn't going to stop me passing the 2000km milestone which should happen in the next day or so.

Along the Regent's Canal. Defintely feels better with properly pumped up tires.

SLOW Street-O score around the City of London and Bankside, starting and finishing at Exchange Square, just north of Liverpool Street Station. My route went down beside Broadgate, to Tower Bridge, then across the bridge and along Bankside to Southwark Bridge. I then headed to London Bridge and then up to Bank, then around Finsbury Circus and went around the Liverpool Street Station area itself.

Each checkpoint involved answering a simple question, e.g. what's the name of the pub here? I got 410 points out of a possible maximum of 540. Annoyingly quite a lot of people I knew got between 415 and 430 points - and I missed an easy 10 pointer that was only 30 seconds away from the finish. Serves me right for not having a proper timing watch. Also, on crossing Southwark Bridge, I should have headed straight north and got a few of the high-scoring controls near the Barbican complex. My other mistake was stopping for at least two minutes at only my second control, at Aldgate. I didn't realise what I was supposed to be looking for, there.

My route is here.

Via Regent's Canal.

Via Regent's Canal.