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.

My first planned race in Scotland

Croy Hill SoSOL - Sunday 9th November 2014 - including Scottish Student Individual Championships

Event type: Race

A South of Scotland league event on a new map of Croy Hill near Cumbernauld takes place on Sunday 9th November.  Parking will be at Croy station, which is also on the main Glasgow/Edinburgh rail line, with registration adjacent.  More details below and final details also now available in pdf or Word format below.

Terrain description

Croy hill has the Antonine wall passing through the centre of the map.

More Information about the area

Directions:
Approach from the M80 - if approaching from the west, take junction 4A exit, follow signs for B802 to Kilsyth/Croy - if approaching from the east, take junction 5 exit, follow B8048 to Kirkintilloch then B802 to Kilsyth/Croy.  Turn left into the first entrance to the Croy station park-and-ride car park.  If arriving by train, registration is across the road from Croy Station (clothing can be left here).

Registration, download and toilets:
Registration, download and toilets will be at the Antonine Sports Hub, opposite Croy station.  Both the start and finish will be approx 20 mins walk from the parking area.

Scottish Student Individual Championships eligibility:
To be competitive you must enter the following courses
Championship Mens - Brown
Championship Womens - Blue
Novice - Light Green

Near: Cumbernauld.    GoogleMap

Courses:

Usual SoSOL courses (Brown, Blue, Green, Short Green, Light Green, Orange, Yellow, White).  SI punching will be used.  Map scale 1:10,000 on A4 paper.  Brown course will be double-sided.  White and Yellow maps should be picked up at Registration at the sports hub, before going to the start.  All other maps and control descriptions available at the start.

Brown 8.6km 300m climb
Blue 5.7km 190m climb
Green 4.0km 120m climb
Short Green 3.1km 110m climb
Light Green 3.4km 110m climb
Orange 2.5km 60m climb
Yellow 2.1km 40m climb
White 2.2km 35m climb

Unfortunately there is currently no suitable area for a string course, although there are short nature trails at Auchinstarry Basin (on the North side of the area, with parking) that may be of interest.

Start times:

Registration from 10.00am.  Starts 10.30am to 1.00pm. No pre-allocated start times, punching starts.  Courses close 3.00pm.

Entry Fees:

Pre-entry on O-entries encouraged, although entry-on-the-day will also be available, subject to map availability.
Seniors £8 (£10 non-BOF)
Juniors and students £4
Seniors running white/yellow/orange £4 (£6 non-BOF)

Contacts:

Planner - Arnis Saltums
Controller - Andy Paterson
Organiser - Alastair Dunlop