Priorities

Last week I haven't done much again because of the foot problem but I also rested a bit anyway after the exertions at the footpath relay. This week I went out for a very short 3.5 mile run on Tuesday to test the foot (without the orthotics) and I didn't really feel much during the run, although I felt a small amount of stiffness afterwards. Hopefully I'm heading on the right track now.

Today I've done some of my first 'proper' orienteering at Pooley Fields near Tamworth. The weather was dreadful - heavy rain for most of the morning and some of the worst conditions I have run in for a while. Having said that by the time I finished it had stopped raining (didn't notice), but the damp undergrowth ensured I stayed soaked anyway. To be honest I didn't enjoy the run very much, as was demonstrated by the amount of swearing... I was making the most simple of mistakes and couldn't even stay on or find the paths which is pretty basic. I think some of it was because I haven't orienteered enough recently so am out of practice. Overall I came 17/46, some 16 mins behind the leader. The only positive was that I was first M21 and ahead of the leader in the West Mids league. I'm now 81 points behind but with one race to spare so am well positioned (my average is 98 whilst the leader's is 94.6).

The last few 'proper' orienteering races I've been to I really haven't enjoyed which is partly why I've not done much over the last few months. I'm beginning to think about stopping or heavily reducing the amount I do and focus on my road running/cross country instead. I'm thinking about still doing things like mountain marathons, long-o, sprints and the odd night event, but just stop doing the standard day events.

I'm entered in the Milton Keynes half marathon next weekend - I'll see how I feel and make a judgement about the foot during the week. If I do run I'm not in pb form so might just take it relatively easy and aim for 1.30 pace.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spine Race - Some Stats (2012-2024) - Updated following 2024 race.

Image
This is an update to a post I originally published in following the 2023 event.  I have now updated it to reflect the 2024 race. Over the years there have been a number of stats published about the Spine races, usually focusing on finish percentages etc.  I decided to take a look and see whether I could do something different with the data.  I've focused purely on the Winter Spine Race and none of the other races in the series. Some headline stats: 28 countries are represented in the finish results (increase of 2 as a result of 2024 event). There are 610 recorded finishes by 478 people Only 16 people have gone sub 100 hours (exc. 2015) - an increase of 4 during as a result of 2024 event. I've attached the spreadsheet I put together.  To explain it in a bit more detail take Jasmin Paris (row 6): She was the 230th recorded finisher The 185th individual to have ever finished the Spine The 5th fastest recorded time (includes people who have multiple finish times) The 5th fastest in
Read more

Ranger Ultras - High Peak 100k

Image
Over the coming months I've got three 100k races coming up and the High Peak 100k was the first of these.  On paper it should have been the easiest, more so as the weather in September is usually benign.  The reality was somewhat different, weather forecasts were stating it was the hottest day of the year hovering around 30c with very high humidity levels.  It was clear that the weather alone was going to make this a sufferfest and it didn't disappoint. I decided to be quite conservative with fluids, reverting to my expedition pack which is designed for multi day races.  It holds 2 x 750ml bottles, plus space for my 2 litre bladder.  Although there were 7 water stations along the route, I wanted to ensure that I could drink freely from the start and get a feel for my consumption until I was properly settled into the race.  The downside to this strategy was a rather heavy race pack... At 9am the race started and it was my initial plan to try and finish the 100k in somewhere betw
Read more

Spine 2024 - Thoughts and Expectations

Image
In the coming week I have the 2024 edition of the Spine Race to look forward to.  I finally managed to get the monkey off my back after 2 failed attempts (2022 Winter & 2022 Summer), both due to injury, before finally finishing the latest edition of the race in 17th place in a time of 118 hours and 47 minutes. Although finishing in 2023, the race was not without drama, particularly towards the end due to extreme hallucinations.  At its worst, it included seeing the Cheviots covered in plastic bags instead of grass, prayer flags all over the mountains, my name written in grass and then being convinced I was being chased down by head torches behind me (next competitor was 4 hours behind).  It resulted in a total break down once reaching Kirk Yetholm.  More details can be found in this blog. Greg's Hut - 2023 I could be forgiven for not wanting to have such an undertaking ever again, but there is something special about the race that sucks you back in.  I have no idea what will en
Read more