Back out running after a while off due to calf problems. I did a 6km route around Haytor Rocks in beautiful weather, a little hotter than I expected. Calf was OK if a little stiff at the end, so fingers crossed it will be OK for the the OMM at the end of October. But before that, next week is the SW Sprint Orienteering Champs near Dorchester.
London City Orienteering Race 2011
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| James Hargreaves on the run in. |
The
10th September saw the fourth edition of the London City Orienteering Race
organised by SLOW, 1109 competitors made the start line from over 28
countries. It was a race that I heard a
lot about and was determined to have a go.
Preparation didnt go well and I when I turned up I hadn't really run for
a month and half due a double calf injury.
I thought about walking around but as I got closer to the off I decided
to give it a go and see how my recovery was going. The pre race instructions had a lot about the
mapping around the barbican estate which had multiple levels, this just
confused me so I didn't dwell on it to much.
So after chatting to the Hargreaves brothers I headed to the start. Off I went to the first control which was on
some steps. I soon reached the top of
steps, as we had obviously started on the upper level no control, checked the
control description, foot of, so down I went.
Now off into the city, quick route choices and clean execution the order
of the day. Into a small park and then
back onto the street. Now this wasn't a
sprint event so, it was important to control the speed as the men's short was
6.1km straight line, so nearer to 10km probably. Obvious control sites early on so I
concentrated on flow through the controls which felt good, even if my basic
speed was not. The first city landmark
came on the way to 4 when I ran around the famous gherkin, then Lloyds of
London. Control 10 was the first
mistake. I ran down the road looking for the control in the park, to find an
uncrossable wall, had to double back and around to the park entrance to
eventually find the control only 1m from where I had been standing!!!! Out of the park and due south to St Paul's,
around the front and through a massive crowd waiting for the cathedral to open,
which had a wedding take place. Easy
route to 12 but no sign of the control just about to check the map then there
it was 10 metres away but down a level, after 50m detour I was at the
control. Clean to 15, before the tricky
leg to 16, keeping it simple I ran up the main road to steps on the east side
knowing I needed to go up a level, no steps! So back across the road to
underground entrance up the steps and over the bridge. The steps I was originally looking for turned
out to be steps off the bridge easily confused!! Clean in to 17, steps on way out took me to
subterranean playground with no way out, two runners had follow so felt OK
about this small mistake, decided to retrace steps to road to make things
easy. 18, 19 clean but slowing now as
legs getting painful. Ended up in dead
end in middle of leg, then wrong level so not a great leg to 20, went in early
to 21 so lost small amount of time. All
in all I was really pleased with my run 71:51 for 6.1km and 22 controls. Really
great event, which keeps you focused at all times, map contact key as it can be
difficult to relocate. The different
levels of the Barbican proved a challenge but are well mapped, and make for
interesting orienteering. On the whole
an amazing event and well worth the trip to London, next it will be city race
on the Saturday and the southern champs on Sunday so well worth the journey.
Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon 2011
Beinn Dearg 11th – 12th June
We were picked up from Inverness Airport by our chauffeurs for the weekend Rich and Will Kromhout (QO) and transported to the event centre near Ullapool. The drive took us through some spectacular scenery, and the realisation set in that it was going to be a tough weekend. The last mountain marathon we had completed in the Scottish highlands was in 2004, it snowed and we took 17hrs 19min for the 42.6km 2610m on the B course it was an epic. Recently the LAMM have introduced a score class so it was nice know that we would only be out 7hrs + 6hrs, barring disaster. We registered, pitched our tent, had tea in the sun looking out over Loch Broom, before the rain forced us into the bar, we sank a couple of local pints before heading for bed.
View Route Gadget here: http://www.lamm.routegadget.co.uk/
Mark Lockett and Oliver Marner
We were picked up from Inverness Airport by our chauffeurs for the weekend Rich and Will Kromhout (QO) and transported to the event centre near Ullapool. The drive took us through some spectacular scenery, and the realisation set in that it was going to be a tough weekend. The last mountain marathon we had completed in the Scottish highlands was in 2004, it snowed and we took 17hrs 19min for the 42.6km 2610m on the B course it was an epic. Recently the LAMM have introduced a score class so it was nice know that we would only be out 7hrs + 6hrs, barring disaster. We registered, pitched our tent, had tea in the sun looking out over Loch Broom, before the rain forced us into the bar, we sank a couple of local pints before heading for bed.Saturday morning dawned bright and fine (well I say dawned it never seemed to get dark!!) and we made our way to the bus, picking our event maps on the way. The maps were 1:40000 based on the OS 1:50000 and had all control points for the weekend pre-marked. We first stopped to drop off the B Class, before reaching our start along with C and Elite class competitors. There were four starts in all which meant that competitors were well spread out from the off. As we started we received our control descriptions and proceeded in plotting all the controls on our map quickly discarding some before settling on a route that would bag us 170 points and involve a climb to 1084m to a 60 pointer on top of Ben Dearg. We started with a run across a flattish, boggy area before our first river crossing only a km in, always a shock to the system, before starting the 300m climb to the first control it was a around 8am and was already worryingly hot. Next a 4km contour walk which was a real ankle tester, but all seemed fine, and a bit of good nav which saw us in and out quickly, too quickly we missed a 10 pointer in the valley. Now in its self not really an issue on a score class but it was to have ramifications. We dropped down to cross Loch Prille and across at its outlet, which would put us in good position to contour and climb above Loch Tuach around Cona’ Mheall and set us up for the climb up Beinn Dearg. Unfortunately this is where we found out the limitations of 1:50000 basemap being used, in that hillside was covered in scree and crags none of which were marked. This really slowed us down and we lost a lot of time crossing the slope. We eventually reached the summit the 4km leg had taken us 1hr 53min with a total of 4hrs gone. We descended the way we had come up and made our way to Eididh nan Clach Geala 928m, on the way I asked Oliver if he had taken in the view at the last summit, we were both shocked that after such a struggle we had simply punched, turned and headed back down, we did make up for it at the next summit. 5hr 20 gone now getting tight, but major climb done but over 10km left we could do with some fast terrain but not looking likely. We decend to the north but only find patchy running, at last we pick up a path but it’s short lived, we hope there is good running to be had along the river but we pick up the control at the river still searching for good ground. When we finally get some I am spent nothing in the tank and now it’s a damage limitation exercise. We finally pick up the track which will take us most of the way to the overnight camp, again the map lies to us and it starts a 1km further on than we expect. It was a long track and finally we make it to the overnight 55min 45secs late!!! We score the 170 points we set out for, but 112 penalty points means we end day on 58 points 79th out 89 finishers. We find the Kromhouts and pitch our tent, they have had a better day finishing in 7th position with 230 points. Soon we are forced into the tent as the forecast rain starts.
Sunday 0500.
The overnight camp is so remote that there’s not the traditional piper for the wake up call, just a man and a megaphone!! But he’s here to tell us to get out and enjoy the sunrise, which we do and are glad we did. We eat breakfast and pack away and make our way to the start. Any control east of the camp and south of the event centre don’t even get marked, we not going to be late again. And we are off we mark up a route to take in 160 points we make a mix up the way to first so miss out on a 10 pointer. We reassess at the first control and decide to miss the 30 pointer to the north west. Not a difficult decision, but would we have given it up so easily if we’d realised it was a 50 pointer!! So we head back to the 10 pointer. The route doesn’t have the climb of day 1 but the going under foot is fairly slow still (Plus I am knackered!!). Nav is difficult trying to pick out where the contour cuts the ground, glad its another clear day as nav would be tricky in low vis. A short track run gives us time to reassess and we agree to miss a 20 pointer to the north. Into a 30 pointer 3hrs 51 gone, 9km to go. Got lucky with decent into Srath Nimhe avoiding scree and use path to start climb. Long crossing with going hard work, get to control with 43mins to go, 5kms and 510m of decent, its going to be tough and we need a bit of help from the terrain. Off the top and pick up quad track, it takes us all the way to a fence line, not allowed to climb the deer fence but I see a river, and send Oliver to investigate, off comes his pack and through he goes, I pass the packs through and follow half in the river, its cold but it might be the difference. Through the trees and drop onto the track. 20mins to go, find a single track and the running is good, get to the compulsory with 9 mins left and 1100m and make the finish with 2mins 2 secs to spare. Really don’t understand the instructions at the download, to spaced out. We finished 31st on the day and 61st overall. Not to bad after the hash we made of day 1. We covered 52km with over 1700m of ascent in 13hr 53min. The Kromhout’s on Day 2…… well I think they should tell that story!!
I really came away with a new respect for those that lead their class; the way these guys and girls move through the mountains is amazing. I also leave with a renewed respect for the Scottish Highlands. Another great event in great terrain next up the OMM in October.
View Route Gadget here: http://www.lamm.routegadget.co.uk/
Mike Nelson BOKtrot 3rd April 2011
Routegadget
Cornwall Orienteering Club Race - Mount Egdcumbe 26th Feb
Brown Course 7.2km 370m
Mount Edgcumbe always lulls you into a false sense of security. You go there thinking that your going to get an easy time of it, nice nav and a run around the park. But when your out there you start to remember previous encounters, the difficulty moving on the steep wooded areas to the North, memories of your lungs busting trying to make up time in the parkland, and the climb which seems to be a constant companion.
This race was to be no different! although the going underfoot was worse than ever before. After 12 controls I was gone and knew that control 14 was within 50 metres of the car, I nearly gave it up. I was caught at this point by Peter Morton who I knew had start a few minutes after me. I wondered if I could make that back and so that was my focus for the rest of the race. I tried a few different route choices, but we were together all the way swapping leads into the controls, and I just managed to get to the finish before Peter but the results showed me 3 minutes behind.
Happy to get around in 81mins, winning time 56mins!!
Mount Edgcumbe always lulls you into a false sense of security. You go there thinking that your going to get an easy time of it, nice nav and a run around the park. But when your out there you start to remember previous encounters, the difficulty moving on the steep wooded areas to the North, memories of your lungs busting trying to make up time in the parkland, and the climb which seems to be a constant companion.
This race was to be no different! although the going underfoot was worse than ever before. After 12 controls I was gone and knew that control 14 was within 50 metres of the car, I nearly gave it up. I was caught at this point by Peter Morton who I knew had start a few minutes after me. I wondered if I could make that back and so that was my focus for the rest of the race. I tried a few different route choices, but we were together all the way swapping leads into the controls, and I just managed to get to the finish before Peter but the results showed me 3 minutes behind.
Happy to get around in 81mins, winning time 56mins!!
Cornwall OC - Lanhydrock Race 20th Feb 11
Picked up the map to find a blast around the parkland was in order straight off, no time to think. First 9 controls all done in just under 14 mins, even with a slight miss to 2. Need to get back in control but miss the 10th and have to relocate off the path!! Path option to 11 only way to go at Lanhydrock, fly down the hill to 12 but find myself having to come back up the hill a little, never a good thing. Clean from there just slow especially up the hill to 18. 7.0km 235m in 74.32. Pretty happy apart from the miss to 10 which was careless. Look forward to seeing the results, graph and routegadget.
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