My first one.

The big day was looming and the reality was starting to settle in. I was going to be competing in the European Championships, for the first time. To say I was starting to get nervous would be an understatement. I somehow managed to qualify and I felt like a Sunday runner about to compete in the Olympic Games. 

After commenting on the smooth running traffic in Copenhagen, we ended up getting caught up in a traffic jam, which meant we had very little time to pick up my race number. We got there in the end and after a hectic day of travelling, I was ready to hit the sack!

On Friday the nerves were really kicking in, so I was keen to start the day. We had some breakfast and went for a walk around the arena. I knew it would be hard, but as Lyndsey commented, the obstacles looked like they could have been used in an adult movie or some kind of death chamber!

Have you ever felt like you wanted time to stop and to hurry up at the same time? That's exactly how I felt as my start time crept ever closer. I was keen to get started, but would have also been happy to go home and curl up in bed with a cold pint of beer.

The first wall looked high and quite scary, I was worried I'd fail at the first hurdle...can you imagine? 3..2...1. go...and we were off. I managed to climb the first wall without any hassle, then it was a jump across a beam into water. The XL wall was a bit of a challenge. There were only small grooves to put your feet and I kept slipping. The aim was to get to the top, pull on the rope and over, I got there on my third attempt. 

The floating walls were next, didn't find them too tough, then a dip in the (very cold) water and some running after. The next one was a rope swing, ring to bigger ring, then box bag and beam climb and horizontal jump down. I couldn't do it...tried six times and my arms were close to giving up. I thought this would be the end of my obstacle journey but the next attempt was a successful one.

Onto the next. I had to climb a 45° wall, using only pegs. I didn't think it would be easy, but it wasn't too bad. Then the best part - a slide to cool myself down for a few minutes!

The next was one of the hardest obstacles, low ring to high ring. The obstacle was a big mess, there were loads of runners waiting to get on. I had to wait for 10 minutes, done half of the low rings, but I fell of it. I made my way back to the start, waited another 10 minutes, tried again but the same thing happened. My height didn't help with this one, I had to hang with my arms and catch the next ring with my leg, I kept missing by 5cm but my arms couldn't take it. I decided not to bother attempting it again, as I didn't see how I'd manage and I was mindful that I also had to run tomorrow.

I made the difficult decision to have my band cut and try the other obstacles. The next one was another arm climb. You had to go up on a log, get on rope, cross to the net, then go under the net on the log, and hold with arms on the rope cross last section. I tried twice and fell on the same spot. I crossed most of the obstacles on the remainder of the race, but my arms were gone by this point and I didn't manage to complete them all.

I didn't feel happy at the end of the race. I knew I'd gave it my all by I hadn't trained enough and really wasn't aware of how hard it would be. In the evening, I read about the race on Facebook and top elite athletes were even saying that it wasn't really a balanced obstacle race. It was more like ninja warriors.

The fact that only 6% of athletes managed to complete the course softened the blow a bit for me.

The next day I had the 15km course to contend with. I felt good when I woke up, even with slight pain in my arms. I was ready for battle and more up for it than the previous day. The first 11km were great but we went back to day one rigs again and the dreaded Big Wall! Gripping onto the small holes with my size 13 feet was really hard and I fell down a couple of times. Lyndsey was trying to record me on the obstacles but had to stop a few times, as I was spending more time on the floor than on the obstacle at times! I managed on the 6th attempt, and my arms were completely gone at that point.

After the wall I gave a good attempt to the other obstacles but my arms felt close to falling off and my knee was in pain too. I surprised myself at the number of obstacles I managed to do, even though I didn't feel like doing any. I was happy to finish and proud of myself for competing. Some well deserved food and a cuddle at the end and I was ready for some sleep!

I have loads to take away from my first championship. I know my weak bits and I know what to expect from OCREC. I will be better prepared next time for the ultimate World Championship, and will definitely be saving myself for just one day, not two!

I would never have been able to do this without my supporters and sponsors. 

Biggest thanks go to my orienteering club Stag and Recruit Write. Thanks to Margaret McLaughlin for her donation.

Huge thanks for being there and cheering me on through all course goes to one and only, Lyndsey. Despite the heat and sunburn.

The gathering.

Here we go. It's 1st April been suspicious all day on social media and life around myself. I headed to Knockhill race track for the gathering - it's a night obstacle course. This was my first night OCR, which made me feel a bit nervous. I arrived at place and it was still sunny (rare thing in Scotland). I got myself registered and was ready to go.
At the start, it was still quite bright, so I didn't need to use my torch. We had a small warm up and we set off. One guy was sprinting straight away and I was like ‘no I'm going with you, can't be that you will run like that all course.’ We ran on quite good road - no mud yet. We had first obstacle, we crossed it very fast and then we had long mud run through woods - it was fun. Came out of wood first cross another obstacle and we had good run on nice road. We were running together quite fast. Then we jumped up a wall and then stopped there. We didn’t know where we needed to run? Stood there like two sheep looking at arrow and wondering where we needed to go. Then we worked out right direction and headed there. We had a bit more mud and off we go in ditch. It looked like the ditch wasn’t deep but we were very wrong. We made our way down to get ourselves out of ditch and we head for tires, cross them and some bog run then thru the culvert and up the hill jumping over mud pits. Then we crossed tires heap. We ran again, then a rope swing, followed by a bog run up the hill. We get told to head for a bridge we done that and then again turn on sheep mode - do we need to cross it or run past it? We thought OK let's cross it and we were right. Then we had a big run all the way we was thinking are we going right way. Then my running buddy seen some spot lights in distance and was like ‘let's just head for them.’ We were quite happy to find out we are going the right way we cross the road and jump in ditch. Then we had long run in bog. When we got out of the woods, we run in ditch for a bit then up the hill in knee deep pond and up the hill in ditch. That was one muddy ditch and we got out of ditch and ran straight down the hill. Then there was a bit of crawling and muddier running. We crossed net wall and then we hit net. It's seems nothing serious but at this point I understood my torch battery will get caught in the net. And I was so right; I was fighting with the net and I kept getting stuck. My running buddy got through it quite easy. And I knew that the finish is just around corner but I'm still stuck in this net. Finally got out of net and see run is over - I can't catch him anymore. Finished really easy get through tire tunnel over two walls and closed finish line. I would be much happier if I would lose in finish sprint, not in this way. Oh well we sometimes make wrong choices of gear we use what we using. All and all was good fun nice company for all race. Will be cleverer next time, well I hope so

P.S. Big thanks to organisers and all marshals it was cracking night out.

P.S P.S I'm not a rich guy but really enthusiastic runner. I qualified for world champs. And I'm now trying to save up for it. You can help me by donating here Thanks!

The Nuts challenge.

      Two weeks ago, I went down to London for The Nuts Challenge. As this was my First Nuts Challenge, I didn’t really know what to expect. All I knew was that it would be cold, hard and well….cold! On the morning of the race, when I made my way from London to Gatwick Airport, the weather was really bad; rain was pouring down and it was also quite windy. I didn’t really feel like I wanted to run.

       I arrived at the location and there was a lot of mud to wade through, which made it difficult to get around the area. I registered for the race and went to the changing tent. I found a spot which was a little less muddy. I then went to the briefing, where we were given instructions for the race. I didn’t want to wander around, so went with the first wave.

       The race started with some muddy fields and then some ditch crossing. This was followed by mud pits, which were good fun! I crossed some tires heap and found myself in the lead from my wave. The next part was the OCR gym fun crossed truck trailer, swing tires, container and wall – then container again. After the second container, I messed up a bit – should have turned, but went straight instead. As soon as I realised I was going the wrong way, I turned back. I finished my OCR gym visit with climbing tires and rolling down the net. The next part involved running down the river. It was good, but from time to time, we had to jump out and back again. River bit finished with climbing barrel tunnel. Then was up the net down the pole, rope swing and more mud pits.

       Next up was some more running on muddy tracks. We arrived at the next obstacles, where you had to jump over planks. It sounds like nothing special, but it makes a big difference when planks are 1.5m of the ground! My height came in handy for this and I crossed fairly easily.

        A rope climb and more running, crossing some small obstacles and then a sand bag which we had to carry up a hill. The sand bag was quite light but it was quite steep hill and of course muddy, which made it more challenging. Then more running on muddy tracks. I started thinking this would be fairly easy to finish, but then the race only really began when we got to the first water obstacle! I crossed the first one, but then there was another….and another. It was harder than I thought! The tire carry was easy, but slippy. The water slide was fun, but cold as hell! Then…you guessed it, more water!

We crossed the pond twice and then headed for finish area. The first lap was done, so I had energy gel and energy drink. I was keen to get started again, so didn't want to stay at pit stop for long. At the start of the second lap, I was already thinking about the water obstacle. All other ones were fine. Second lap went very well apart from the monkey bars where I slipped and fell down. Mistake was to use sand on gloves. Done penalty loop and carried on with race. After second time crossing the water, I realised it was really hard to warm up.

         

At pit stop I had energy gel, packet of crisps and an energy drink. I changed my clothes as well and I felt that it really invigorated me, so I was happy to get going again. The running was easy because I knew I was doing it for the last time. Even the water didn't feel that bad! I finished quite strongly. At end I was checking the time and wanted to finish under 4h but didn't manage it. After I finished, I got a hot drink and just wanted to get out of my wet clothes as quickly as possible.

While I struggled to get of my wet clothes, I heard top 3 of 3 laps and there was a big surprise; I was in first place! I didn't expect that. I made my way back to London and treated myself to a good dinner. I was tired but still wanted to enjoy my wee victory! Overall, I didn’t think the race wasn't hard but water made it really challenging. My best tip would be to change clothes, as that really helped me to keep going. All and all, it was good fun and a really challenging race. Now my aim is to look at bigger and more challenging races.

Palacerigg country park

Score 3

Nice winter day same like back in home. Snow make harder to run. But all enjoyment about snow make perfect day out.

Not make big mistakes only some rout choice should run different.

Cathkin braes

In a very wild day we challenged this distance. It was raining and raining and wind was blowing and again raining and then all together. I can be happy about my control selection order only mistake was 39 should take when run to 49. I have one very big mistake on 49 what cost me 5 minutes. Happy not make other mistakes. Now happy in warm house :)

First orienteering of 2015.

No speed. A bit clumsy orienteering. I'm happy about my route choise only 56-37-47 wasn't so good.

Made mistakes   

• 41 should run straight to bridge. 
• 33 was hard to spot run straight past it.
• 34 run to fast in and end up fighting with bush.
• 44 wasn't on wright bush
• 59 run to far on track 
• 57 to 58 made big mistake when run in garden. spend 1:30 to look for exit some trails was on ice 

GUOC Sprint relay

My day starts with quick wake up get some sandwiches and headed for Victoria park run. I all ready know I will take it easy becose I have one more race in afternoon. In start its work really well I keep my speed low. But when I start run 2end lap I start run faster end keep my speed till the end. Finished in 9position with my new PB on this track 19:15(that was 28 seconds faster than previously). Come back from run drink some recovery drink . Pack my staff for sprint and headed for bus. Whether become very bad. Relay starts with girls in first leg. It was fast and furious. First leg runner task is keep with leading group or very close by. Lindsay done good job. She come out in 2end position. I whent in start was hard to get in map, because of small scale 1:2500 nearly passed first control. All first part of distance was very easy an fast with trickie butterfly loop. I cached up first team from no student and 3th team from student relay. After control 16 was 2 choices left or right I chose right,becose its looks easier and faster. Then I get rest controls and finished. Rest of team Patrick and Mirjam done good job us well we finished 2end but and up in 1st ( because 1st team one runner run 2times) we beat 3th team by 10min.