Training Log Archive: Anvil

Planned out a 6km course through Richmond Park. Much better this time, a lot less head high bracken and a couple of sections of really sweet forest to run through. Got a bit paranoid when I saw the warning sign for deers (do not approach during breeding season) and ticks (do not go through long grass or bracken). First section, right into long grass inhabited by a herd of about 30 deer. Actually the deer were really cool, they were all lying in the grass so all you could see is their heads, and in some cases just their antlers - looked like a surreal sculpture park.
Really liking these runs, the time just flies.

To Richmond Park via Barnes Common (the fast way), back via Wimbledon Common (the slow way).
Got absolutely blasted by the nettles tonight and I made the mistake of scratching them. I need calamine.

From my place to Clapham North Pub and back. Why all the way out to Clapham North, well, it just so happens on Thursday nights they do Parma and Boags Premos.
Now it's been over a year since I've had one and I have to say, I don't know what all the fuss is about - it's not that good a beer. And don't think I've gone all nancy boy drinking those festy warm Ales that don't even come out of a proper tap - yuk.
On the flipside, this evening has got me craving a tasty Cascade Draught or Coopers Pale.

Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park, Barnes Common.
Felt yesterdays race in my legs and almost felt like I was going to struggle to get back as I was going through Wimbledon, then as i crossed the road, the clouds parted, the sun came out and it all became so flowing and easy. Was absolutely beaut going through Richmond Park, the sun was getting low in the sky making all the trees cast long shadows and I was running along a track with shoulder high dry grass on either side - felt like I was a world away. Finished strongly through Barnes - IPod just wouldn't quit with the pump up music.

Evening race at Bishops Park - conveniently across the river from my house, 1km from home to start, don't have an excuse to miss that.
Was feeling quite seedy all day after a late night at the Hilltop Hoods concert and never really perked up - almost fell asleep in the park at lunch, although who can blame me - hottest day this year. It actually felt like a normal summer day back home, it was even warm in the shade and it stayed warm after the sun went down!
Anyway, back to the details. Once I got the map it seemed to take ages to locate the start and the 1st control, so once I did, I just bolted off in the right direction and got caught in the swathes of impassable fences. Sheepishly had to run back through the start and finally found my way there. Banged into some more impassable fences on the way to 2, then couldn't match the walls at 3 until I realised the walls were about half a metre high. To talk like a local, I am pants. Yeah, I don't know how that works either, I quite like pants. And they laugh at our lingo. Crikey.
Back to the details. Was OK on 4, probably cause it was a straight line run across yellow with no obstructions. Inferior route to 5 on purpose so I could run past 6 and 7 (didn't see either). OK for the rest except for always just running past most of the controls by a couple of metres to the delight of all the onlookers.
Quite funny at 16, I was running down the street towards it and there was a couple standing a couple of metres away from it, staring at it and having some discussion. I run in, dib and as I run out I hear them both give a drawn out 'oh' of dawning realisation. I would like to have heard the conversation in detail, since having me to simply run in and put a stick in a hole solved all their confusion.
Think I came 3rd, which surpised me cause I wa so pants for lots of it. Maybe everyone else was pants too. We all had some fairly pants splits when we did comparisons. Pants.

Ran to the start from mine and collecting controls. It was quite hard to pull out some of the stands, maybe thats why they are never stolen...

Left knee pulled up fairly tight from Sunday, that'll learn me not to stretch. Went out for a super easy jog to feel it out. It was that easy I use the word jog, which I hate. Felt better after about 5 minutes, but had to be back in 20 so tries out an untested loop back past the running track. Note to self, never try new loop when you've got an appointment to keep. Got stuck in some big field with a locked gate and had to go about 5 mins back around to where I came in to get out. Should have just got my feet wet and crossed Beverly Brook. Slowly got faster and faster as it became obvious I was getting later and later. At least I wasn't jogging anymore.

Local 'Frolic' Race at Putney Heath (whoever came up with the name needs a stern talking to). Aim of the day was to focus on control flow and mainly have an exit direction before planned which actually came off quite well once I settled down after the first control. As the place is quite overgrown with bracken and blackberries, the best choice was always to go round the tracks - my only real time loss was when I tried to short cut through the green - going into 6 and to the highway underpass on the way to 7. Also came unstuck for a minute or 2 on the way to 10, miscounting how many track junctions I had to pass before heading in to a ditch.
Was still feeling the effects of the cold, speed was good, but I felt terrible.
Total length was 5.4km, 2nd/~80. Matthias had 3 mins on me, but he organised the loop race there last month and admitted he knew all the least scrubby entrances to the controls.

Sprint Race at same place.
Better than the first - I think being a little fatigued is the best way to start a sprint cause you're not running off faster than you can read. Really good flow for the first 12 except for almost running down the wrong track on the way to 6. In fact I think my punch at #10 was the best dib I've done in my O career, barely even slowed down! Also went straight on #3 and picked up a wallaby track (what would you call a wallaby track here, squirrel track?) which was faster than going round.
Finally lost it at #13, was going to pick off 2 track junctions before heading in, but didn't see the first one and mistook the elephant trail into the control as the second one and was tramping round some virgin blackberries before coming to my senses. Then went down the wrong track on the way to #17 even though I recognised that as an obvious mistake to make...
3rd for this one, a minute down on the new bloke who joined LOK (ew) despite living deep in SLOWland, and 20 secs behind Matthias - I got 30 secs on him at 3, he got a minute on me at 13 and we were within 5 secs of each other for every other control. 3.6km total.
Fun couple of races, I can't believe they use SportIdent for a minor event like this - for those reading back home (Ryan and Emma) it'd be like using sportident at Knocklofty or Mt. Nelson.

C • bogans 3

Going to and from the start and collecting controls.

Just looking over my courses from today again and I just had the most startling epiphany. When I concentrate, I'm actually a really good orienteer - I know, groundbreaking ;)
Problem is, I think after so many years in Tassie on the same maps over and over again I've become really lazy.
Thats all, just thought I'd share that with y'all.

C • i concur 1