Scottish Six Days: Day 5 - Roseisle

Well what can I say what an amazing race.  Certainly my favourite area of the week.  Parked at RAF Kinloss and had a 3km walk to the start in the heat.  Happy to have an early start as it was already very hot for my 10:46 start.  Looking at the map I find it difficult to draw my route so this entry might be shorter than normal.  What I can say is that #1 came up very quickly and if I hadn't noticed a fellow Cornwall member punching I might have run right past, thanks Bernard!  Took the beach option to #5 but couldn't find the path off the beach as it turned out I cut in early straight to the path junction and into the control clean.  The whole course was very technical and there was no time lose concentration. It was good to find a breeze as I turned out of  #11 28 mins in and no major problems just a few hesitations.  This forest was super quick under foot and there were defiantly going to be some fast times.  Really nice plan to #17 and really well executed.  Misread the map at  #20 for the only major mistake of the day, expected the Reentrant to be on the west side of the hill.  Eventually relocated off the open area near the path to the east, 53:49 gone.  Went direct to #25 but dropped short to control in depression, really hot in this open area so glad to get back in the forest.  Slight miss to #26 ran hard to #27 but legs and lungs complaining a bit now 77:25 still a slim chance of dipping under 80mins.  Pushed through the last 3 controls and went as hard as I could down the run in.  8.6km in 80:03 in 33rd place.  Overall 39th with best 4 results to count.  Still possible to push up the results if I have a good run tomorrow!

Last day 9.2km 485m on Coulmony and Belivat

Mark Lockett
07779643449

Scottish Six Days: Day 4 - Loch of Boath

So how were my legs after a rest day, stood on the start line I wasn't sure.  My goal for the day was to have a clean, well paced run.  Going off to hard was not  an option today on my 8.2km 230m course.  Took the safe path option to #1  then used fence and hill to guide me into the control.  Good running pushed me to take the straight line option to #2, #3 and #4.  Thought about the track option to #5 but decided against it.  Crossed the ditch in the open area but drifted left and didn't cross second path.  Decided to relocate to fence line to the west, saw the fence and track before I got there and was able to pick new knoll to south of track as new attackpoint.  Cut through light green on the way to #7 which wasted a bit of time .  Clean through to #13, but fell waist deep in water crossing ditch in open area, girl in front only went knee deep, she must have special powers or could it be my lead lined shoes? Couldn't get the ground to fit the map after the fence on the way to #14 and drifted past.  61min gone at the road crossing decide to push and be confident looking for a sub 80min run.  Slight hesitation at #18 but clean through the rest to the finish. 79:18 and 33rd/52, best result of the week and the legs are feeling good.

Abbie walked around her course in the rain and blasted down the finish run to beat her daddy.  

Tomorrow the forested sand dunes of Roseisle.

Mark Lockett
07779643449

Scottish Six Days Day Three - Culbin.

First we were off to the string course and Abbie decided to go around on her own, it is great to see her grow in confidence as the week has gone on.  She also enjoyed her White course and manage to beat me on the finish split! She spent the rest of the time playing with Mazie in the Asembly field.  I am glad she is enjoying her first taste of a big orienteering event.

Now to my run! Drifted left to #1 and onto path but didn't waste too much time.  

#2 really set the tone tough going but looking forward to hitting the ride, never saw it eventually made it on to the path and turned wrong way, realised, turned back and hacked across to other track.  Took easy option of veg boundary as attackpoint and bearing in.  Met Will Hancock at #4 unfortunately injured and retiring.  Some relief of the hard going to #6 but once in the open area things got tough again so opted for path run to #7.  Nice run along the coast to #8.  To conservative to #10 hit veg boundary further SW than I wanted.  Energy going on the way to #11 but happy to see competitor speed pass 10m to my left, obviously on a track, switched to join it but nothing there, how do those guys run so quickly over this terrain.  Tiring big time to #17 but managing to keep it clean.  Tom longer track/ride option to #18 but ride did not provide the good running I hoped for.  Missed large ride on the way to #20 stood scraping head for a time but managed to get it back together.  Glad to get over the finish line cheered on by Cornwall OC club mates.  8.2km 80m climb 84:42. (Actually distance run 9.8km)

Next up a rest day and a spot of Dolphin spotting.  I can hear my legs saying thank you!

Scottish Six Days Day Two - Carse of Ardersier

Into overdrive!  Early start today so no tracks established early on.  Came off the track to #2 and quickly realised today was going to be tougher under foot than yesterday and with 9.2km and it being hot I needed to get the pace right for the whole run.  Major hill of the day at #5 all 15m of it but a steep little thing.  The technical side of things ramped up at #8, and the tough terrain and complex nature made for a slow split.  Made up for it to #9 and #10 with well executed nav.  Off track to #13 but came out of the light green and saw fence crossing in front of me. Phew! (not as route on map extract) #14 follow unmarked ditch from south all the way to control.  Caught a break going towards #20 picked up unmarked track from man made feature which took me all the way to path south of the control.  Scrabbled around a bit at #24 but nothing major and was happy to make it home in 87min 53sec for 9.2km (actual distance run 11.1km)

Abbie mean while completed her White course in 19.51secs, did the string, cheered in all the runners from Cornwall Orienteering Club and got a mention on the run into the finish from the commentary team. Way to go! 

Tomorrow the challenges of Culbin and 8.6km, it gonna be technical............ 

Scottish 6 Days - Day One Lossie

I must admit that I wasn't looking forward to getting out of the van into the rain to make my way to the start.  However right on cue the rain stopped and I made my way to the start picking up Kerno members on the way for a quick chat.  Keep it clean was the mantra for my run.  Slow and steady to #1 Glad of the veg boundary to the south.  ran slightly past #2 but nothing major.  #7 pace counted from veg boundary, first use of a new skill, found it bang on, still need to practice more but starting to think why haven't I done this before...... Fool! Safe path option to #9 and #10.  Bearing and paced to #11 but out, but bearing good and straight to it.  Keen not to make mistakes to #12 but mistook ride to the south for top path!! Came off path bend to #14 but must have been extra path, relocated.  Brain dead to to #16 which seemed to take an age from veg covered ride.  Clean into #17 then the run for home glad for the well established elephant track.  Thumbs up for my first day of Scottish orienteering.  

Tomorrow 9.5km on the Carse of Ardersier....... Bring it on!

Scottish Six Days 2013 - 28th July - 3rd August

Reports etc coming soon........................................................

Small Area, SI punching and a lot of head scratching! - Mylor Bridge Street O

Off to deepest darkest Cornwall with the offer of a BBQ, Street O, and swimming in the creek at Mylor Bridge, Nr Falmouth.  Always happy for an excuse to run map in hand so off we headed.  Cornish holiday traffic meant that we arrived close to the 2pm start, so we quickly changed and headed out of Phil and Adele's beautiful house.  We were presented with a map, which had the rules of the game on (See below).  This is a format that they have used a number of times at the Cornwall OC summer series but one that I had not previously experienced.  So I was trying to get my head around it and explain it to Helen who has going out with Abbie to have a run (and hopefully an Ice Cream!).  When I turned around most runners had gone and I was getting pressure from Phil to get out there!!   

Mylor Bridge

So off I went, still trying to get my head around what the hell I should be doing.  No brainer at 191 just punch and go, ran past 192 thinking I should get some more 10 pointers first! Mistake.  At the 6 road junction I took the wrong road but quickly realised my mistake mostly because of the jeering from others!  #201, #211 this seems pointless so quickly moves on to 30 pointers.  #213, #203, #223, #233 the bonus really hot now!  Wondered where Roger H was off to then noticed #214 over the fold in my map.  Dunked my head in the estuary just off the quay at #204, was offered a hose down by a local, but declined.  20 mins in, up the hill passing #232 but not punching....... #224, #234.  Back down to #215, killer hill up to #225 really hot now.  #205, #235, #195 40 mins in (shortest stretch of the creek might come back here!) #216.  Didn't fancy going around so asked some locals on the quay at #204 how deep it was.  They said there were stepping stones across at #195.  Stepping waist deep, but much deeper when I fell off them so swam the last half.  #206 47mins gone.  Cruised back past the finish picked up #196 then back to the finish.  53min 7.8km now time for a swim..........  Abbie and Helen got their Ice Cream and won the best junior prize.

What great format, on a map that Phil prepared which did the Job perfectly. 

Thanks all, and a great party afterwards. 

The Rules of the Game