Hardhead Down's 18th October 2009

I think this probably ranks up there as one of best run's on a brown course 7.0km 170m 58.27. I was right in the mix with people I don't usually sit with in the results, so a good day for me, but I have always loved this area. Next week I am off to compete in my 14th OMM in Wales and am now really looking forward to it.

SW Champs - Haytor Dartmoor

19^th September 2009

South West Champs

Haytor, Dartmoor

Brown (M35L)

8.5km  410m  2hr 04min 18secs

 

Now I am not sure why it was a called a Brown course because it wasn’t like any Brown course I have run before.  But it was like an M35L course and was tough and with the weather being hot especially in the valley and in amongst the bracken (of which there was plenty).  So why compare it with a brown course and not just call it course 2 (which they did as well).  I seemed to have the most difficulty in amongst the tors and found interpreting the rocky features a nightmare, losing most of my time on controls 14 and 22.  So I was surprised to be around mid way in the results 12^th/22.  Now I am looking forward to seeing routegadet later this week.

 

Results http://www.devonorienteering.co.uk/

BCU (UKCC) Level Two Paddlesport Training

Last week I attended a paddlesport coaching course at Totnes Kayaks. There was a lot of Coaching Theory to take on board and it has taken me a while to process that infomation. I am now looking forward to getting ready for my assessment some time next year.

picture stolen from http://www.coachingandguiding.blogspot.com

Dunmere Woods 26th July 2009

Excellent event today and the planner made the best use of area which has become a little over grown over time. Really nice blast at the end of the course just as the concentration was starting to slip. Looking forward to seeing Route Gadget and comparing splits, as everyone retreated to their cars to get warm and dry straight after their run.

Devon Orienteering Club Harris Relay
19th July 2009

Nice to be back Orienteering after a bit of a break and back on the Moors as well. We entered a two man team into this three person relay, and as my team mate hadn't really orienteered before it was left to me to get the bulk of the controls. 1-6 were manadatory and one member of the team had to visit the other controls. I was happy with my nav apart from getting mixed up at 12 thinking I was at 13 (not sure why) then spending time looking for 10 above small tor. When I realised I shot off to 13 and everything went OK from there. Had a change of plan at 9 and decided on 16, 3, 2 then 8 but met team mate at 2 and he had managed to take in 8 already so we could run for home.

Great event on a nice area. Need to get a extra team member next year!

Quantock Orienteering Event - Staple Hill

Although I have been orienteering in the South West Region for 10 years now I have to confess this was my first Quantock event. Now I had heard stories about how their areas where tough and Staple Hill didn't disappoint. It was difficult to get into any rhythm at all, light green and white often seemed to blend into each other and all terrains proved tough going, so I guess that I wasn’t too disappointed with 1:29:16 for 5.5km 255m, but as so often it could have been so much better. Quantock’s also use the Joe Lee punching system as seen on the KIMM for a number of years and this does seem rather fiddly compared with SI or Emit. Having said all that I did enjoy trip and would go back.

My Marathon Days are over........

So the Marathon has been and gone, and the medal is gathering dust. The training didn't go to plan and a head cold and hot conditions made for a trying day and a slow time 5.26.33. But the cold has gone and the benefits of the training seems to be shining through. I have been out with a running club this week and wished I had joined before the marathon, I got a friendly welcome and think that this maybe the key to improved running speed and training motivation. I have been itching to get back out orienteering and so today after running a coaching session at a local primary school I went to the permanent Orienteering course in Central Park, Plymouth. What a great way go for a run. The map is available at http://www.devonorienteering.co.uk/

Time : 34:01

Route: 10,26,1,22,27,2,23,3,28,5,4,6,7,8,29,11,24,12,30,17,18,31,32,19,25,20,33,13,34,35,21,14,15,36,16

so there's the challenge

Enjoy