Training Log Archive: RobB

After a good nights sleep (well from about 19:00 until 02:00) we were feeling tired but determined.

OJ set a tough early pace, that never really relented. It was definitely the tougher of the 2 days and 2/3rds of it was in tough terrain.

We spiked 1 and it was a long tough ascent to 2. This really was the worst terrain in the world - knee high tussocks and marshy bog. Words can't describe how much I was enjoying myself. More of the same to 3 and on to 4. We couldn't see anyone in front or behind at this point (and could see a good 10 minutes in all directions) so realised that it was all about time rather than placings. Consequently, we just focussed on setting a solid pace (well OJ focussed on the pace and I focussed on his feet in front of me).

In the last 1/3 we joined the other classes and it became better running. Having suffered for most of the day, I started to perk up a bit. Really tough descent into 8 (and then climb back up). Great descent with the wind behind us to 11 and then another steep descent to the finish.

Pleased to have had a better day out on hills and to be just behind Steve B and Jethro (although I am sure they could have gone faster if necessary).

All good experience and we both know that we could have done better. Maybe next year.

C • Well Done!! 5

OMM Day 1. Owing to OJ's foot and me feeling like I was coming down with a cold we were really unsure of whether or not we would be able to hold it together for the race. So sensibly we started as hard as possible. First 1/3 was pretty good running and I was optimistic that all the rumours about tussock filled hell holes were over estimated.

We were steadily passing teams for the first two and a half hours and feeling in pretty good spirits. By leg 5 we appeared to be in the lead and it was a long leg through the terrain with a tricky finish. We had our lead confirmed by the guy at control 5 and we were delighted that the clag was coming down, making it even trickier for the teams behind us. Next leg involved some road running (I was delighted, OJ less so) and then a tough climb up to 6.

We were starting to tire during the next 1 hour but the mix of nuts, haribo and power bar thingamajiggies kept us going. Really long leg to 9 over a tussock infested hillside. At this point it was a struggle to keep upright let alone moving forward. However, it was only a short control pick at the end so we knew that getting 9 signalled the end of the course - with only 30 minutes or so left. We said hello to Nick Barrable - although in the car on the way home OJ denies having seen him.

Eventually spiked 9 and then it was a short push on to 10... only we never found it. The control was on a small re-entrant and we ran straight to where we thought it should be but couldn't see anything. Did a bit of headless chicken running around (the next feature to relocate from was at least 5 minutes run away). Getting, tired, cold and frustrated we ran on to 11 to relocate. At this point we turned round and saw Steve B running towards us - he hadn't found 10 either. Started to think about just finishing, but psyched ourselves up to turn back. Spotted Bruce Duncan coming out of the control who could not disguise a cheeky grin (we had caught him up 10 minutes after about 2 hours). A slow tired final push to the finish.

Found out we had lost 35 minutes on 10 and were about 40 minutes down overall. Pissed off and tired by the end but hot chocolate perked us up (and snus for me).

Randomly managed to pitch our tent next to Clare and Heather without realising.

C • Wedding Anniversary 1

About 2 months worth of rest days - tapering for the OMM.