I Need To Train: JK2013 - 29th March

The JK2013 was a true festival of orienteering and had everything you could want from a big event. Its been a while since the event but reflecting back on I had a three good solid runs on the classic events and relay, but was disappointed with my sprint run. I had decided to go for bust but never really recovered the confidence needed after a poor first control, and even slight hesitations cost you in this format. However I still enjoyed the format and the race, but left a little jealous of Reading University who have an amazing campus.

The classic races were really enjoyable although I stood on the start line with trepidation as I realised that I would be running on a 1:15000 map, something I haven't done for some time. I shouldn't have worried as it was a really clear map and once into the scale and had no problems over the two days.

The JK relays are always a bit of fun, this year more so as the Kerno 'B' Team took on the might of Kerno 'A' in the Men's senior relay. I was on the lead leg and was surprised to bring the B team back in the lead, was an upset on the cards? Graham Pring kept the lead on the second leg and at the spectator control on the last leg Steve Eastley still had a slim lead. At the finish it was Kerno A's Phil Newell who appeared out of the forest first to take the glory, just over a minute and half in front of Kerno B. A great weekend of racing, in some beautiful countryside. Now working on getting permission for next years JK in South Wales.