The start of a busy Ten Tors training season kicked off a couple of weekends ago with a preliminary stomp in the wind and rain to try to narrow the field down a bit. This weekend a few had been dropped, still leaving a good couple of minibus-loads. Training two teams at once means one 55 mile group, two 45 mile groups and two 35 mile groups to monitor, the latter two being well over-subscribed and still have to be trimmed down soon. Unfortunately, they all seem well capable of finishing their routes on the event, so selection time is going to be tricky. May come down to names out of a hat, barring injuries.
My group's navigation lacked a bit of confidence rather than ability, although they seemed happy by the end. Now we need a zero viz weekend to sharped them up. My mate Martin and I do most of the training now after a bit of a nightmare with a bloke I recommended to the Team Manager. Suffice to say teaching is not all about showing folk how clever you are......
Rounded off the weekend with the Grizzly (20 miles off-road) on a glorious day on the south coast of Devon. A stomp on the moor the day before wasn't the ideal prep, but I think it's my quickest so far. The exact route and distance varies from year to year and this was supposed to be the toughest yet. Nothing fell off and stuff seems in working order this morning.
I've read about the Grizzly, proper tough one. Sounds like you're getting a fair few miles in at the moment!
ReplyDeleteNot doing too bad at the moment - making hay while the sun shines! The Grizzly's a bit of a monster - makes the most of the valley sides and cliffs with more clarts than you can shake a muddy stick at. Looking forward to next year...(I think) :-)
ReplyDeleteYour mind must be sharp as a tack to be thinking navigation as well as running; in the wind and the rain I might add. Are you on a trail or just making your way through to an end point? Sounds pretty amazing and sorry to seem like a dunce.
ReplyDeleteSorry to disappoint you, but this weekend is forecast be warm, dry and sunny :( Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteDid you do the Grizzly 'bear foot'?
ReplyDeleteHi Jessie - the Grizzly's a marked route on tracks with a bit of cross-country and a smattering of roads with a bit of pebbly beach on the side.
ReplyDeleteHi WITC - right, that's it. I'm going skyclad.
Hi Simon - ho ho!
Sorry, Steve!
ReplyDeletegood training for L50 doing both those..did you run the grizzly solo or with the boss??
ReplyDeleteNo dogs allowed, unfortunately. He would love the bogs and the hosing-down at the end!
ReplyDeleteHope the recovery's going well.
Paul