Owls Count

Having had a good run in the individual it was on to the relay competition, which was using the part of Culbin I had run on last year. For the relays I was running the middle leg in Mens Short.

The first runner back helpfully warned all the waiting second leg runners that we would need to take care through some of the sections. Soon after my first leg runner appeared and I was off. The first few hundred metres was along the main path and so I started fairly quickly while getting the map open and orientated.

For the first five controls I ran fast and accurately. I was reading the map well and moving quickly. Then I set off on the long leg into the thicker section of forest in the north. I felt I had picked a good direction and attack point but failed to find the control. After wasting ten minutes trying to relocate I finally found the control.

For the last part of the course I was not running too well. I lost two minutes at control eight, when I misread the vegetation, and a further two minutes at control ten, when I overshot the control by a distance. My slow running for the last few controls probably cost another few minutes. Overall I am disappointed with my run. It took about 53 minutes instead of the 38 I reckon it should have taken.

In better news from the day is the photo in this post. My father, and team, won the M/W60 class.

Start photos: 1 - 2
Prizegiving photos: 1 - 2 - 3

Last year I ran at Culbin and made a reasonable job of it, so it was with some confidence that I returned this year. For the individual we were running on a bit to the east of the one used last summer.

I did not start too well. I allowed myself to be distracted by others and drifted way off. On noticing the forest road I realised my mistake and went into the first control - losing just over a minute. For control three I lost another minute by losing height off the ridge and hitting the wrong set of knolls - though this was kept to a small time loss as I quickly realised where I had gone.

I should have run a little more direct and strongly to six. Control seven was took double the amount of time that it should have to found - a two minute mistake. I got close to the control then went off to join a group of people looking about 50m away, before taking notice of the vegetation.

The next few controls were fine, but then I messed around on the long leg to thirteen. I should have run more directly and strongly, but instead took a longer route round. I lost a couple of minutes here between the longer route and running slowly. Going to sixteen I lost a minute running slowly. I then took the longer path route round to seventeen - this seems to have been a reasonable choice, since it gave a better attack point.

Overall I am satisfied with the run. I ran strongly for much of the course, aided by being around others of a similar pace, and only made small mistakes.

Photos: 1 - 2

My route

Qualifier

Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

My Route

I had a slightly slow first control, while I struggled to locate exactly where I was and where I was going. After that I kept a good pace through the first half of the course, with only a small wobble on one control in forest.

On the longer legs on either side of the spectator control I was a little slow. Then I had a couple of poor controls. At 14 I was distracted by a nearby control and I lost 12 seconds working out where the correct control was, though I did save some time by punching the control over the passable wall. I then lost another 12 seconds by picking a poor route to 15 - by the time I had noticed the better route I had already committed myself to a longer route.

From there on to the finish I kept in control of my direction and kept a good pace. I finished in 17:48 and, at best, could have been 35 seconds faster if I had had a perfect run.

Final

Photos: 1 - 2 - 3

My Route

For the afternoon the snow had cleared and we had moved into an area with more running on hard ground. This meant the flat shoes and shorts came out for the final. This ended up being a good choice - in only a couple of places would any extra grip have been helpful.

I started well, managing to avoid the mistakes that many made at 2 or 4. Going into 8 I lost a couple of seconds due to one of the parked cars, which was weird as it was clear where the tree was.

My time for the long leg, to 9, was good. I made a quick choice and stuck to it. It seems that I picked the same route as most others, but I am not sure it was the best choice.

At 16 I lost a few seconds by not running as directly as I could have done. I veered off the straight line route. Going into the spectator control I was slow and did not pick the best route. After this I maintained a good pace. I had a small problem at 23 - I misread the control descriptions and confused myself standing at the correct control but not thinking it was mine.

My time was 16:59 and I had less time loss than in the qualifier. I could have been three places higher with a perfect run, but am happy with my place and time.

Overall

Before this event I set myself the goal of reaching the C Final and wanted to run well in both races. I achieved the goal and did have two good runs. While I was only three places off qualifying for the B Final the gap was over a minute and I simply cannot, at the moment, run fast enough.

I managed two good runs by staying in control. I was close to losing track of where I was at times, but managed to keep it together and cut out the big mistakes that caused others problems and I had at the JK.

Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

My Route

From waking up on Saturday morning I was never feeling too great and this was reflected in my run. While my navigation and route choice was ok, I never managed to get a decent pace going.

For the first couple of controls my navigation was off. I was not taking enough notice of the map and compass - meaning I was running a way off. Through the next section I kept up a reasonable pace and navigated well. I had a small wobble on the way to 6, but sorted this out when I found 10 on route.

After getting to the spectator control I should have retired - I was not running well. I finished in just over 71 minutes, but should have taken 50-55.

Photos

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

My Run

I was running Mens Short this year. Due to child care arrangements I was going off in the mass start on first leg. I often struggle to get my pacing right in such situations and also struggle to get in contact with the map early on. My route.

This year I got into contact with the map quickly and worked out which direction I had to turn off after going through the gate. Through to control six I was with some others and running well. However, on the long leg across to seven I lost the pack and my way. Over the final half of the course I lost about five minutes - just having no real pace over the terrain.

Overall we were firmly mid-field. As a team we are fairly happy. It was a little disappointing to finish behind SARUM though!