Training Log Archive: Tamsin

First time I have really enjoyed a long race - normally have had enough 3/4 of the way round. One small mistake where couldn't make sense of a clearing marked on the map. Need to be running a lot faster!

Up to the start with Mary.

Spent the morning sitting in a midge infested re - entrant control spotting WOC long. Tired as up since 5am and more bothered about spectating WOC than taking part in the 6 days so skipped my run. Apparently area was horrendous so a good decision.

One big mistake on a control I had pre - running yesterday! Got a bit complacent! Oops. Otherwise just miles off the pace. Ankle hurting for the first few controls then ibuprofen hit me and was ok. Shin is a bit sore now. I think suddenly doing a lot of running is a bit of a shock to the body. Will see how I feel tomorrow but forest marshaling woc all morning so might not run. Also, I don't want to break myself before Stockholm.

Gorgeous forest compared to the middle. I just don't have the speed for this sort of terrain at the moment. Bit hesitant around number 2 but otherwise good. Stopping at controls to make sure all boxes woken up. First time this week I have felt like I have had any kind of spring in my step.

Unfortunately I have no idea of my time. Punched half a dozen different boxes at pre - start but apparently none were clear boxes. Thought the forest was a bit of a jungle at the beginning and Per Forsberg seemed to agree. Messed up a few early controls as I struggled to put map to ground. The felled bit was pretty grim but the last bit of forest was really nice - very runnable.

Missed my start by an hour due to car park queue. Lots of people in the assembly field complaining how grim and physical the area was meant I set off in completely the wrong mindset of hating the course before I picked up my map. Going ok for the first few controls then lost energy as all I had eaten was a bowl of cornflakes for breakfast - probably would have been just about ok if I had started an hour earlier. Stomach started to cramp up with hunger and couldn't run properly. Probably should have retired after 8 but kept shuffling. An experience I will learn from I'm sure.
Also, feeling very motivated after watching WOC races, especially when people I ran against last year as juniors and was a similar level to, have stepped up and now doing really well as seniors.

Decided I would take this relatively easy to save some energy for the evening. First 10 controls were in really nice forest, had a bit of uncertainty using my compass and slightly overshot 8. No problems with other controls except I came out to the left of 13 and at 23 I stopped to help an elderly lady so lost flow and my bearing to 24 wasn't perfect.

Obviously lacking any form of speed at the moment but very fun course, I think Tim did a good job planning. Made a few bad routechoices at the beginning I don't think I would have made if I had studied the map as if I were running WOC. Nice to have the opportunity to pre - run. I have lost my splits so time may be completely wrong!

For both morning and evening.

Nairn open sprint. Taking it nice and easy just getting back into reading sprint maps. Going to be a busy week with pre - running; 10 runs in 8 days if I do all the 6 days.

Event: WOC 2015 & Scottish 6 days
 

Walking in the Cairngorms the last few days.