Chris Curtis Web Site

There is so much going on in my work at the moment – we are working to open a sports hall and I am having to develop lots of web applications for that and other reasons, on top of all the usual demands. That is why there have not been too many posts, or too many opportunities to go orienteering either. Still, it is not too long until the summer holidays when I can catch up and give myself some quality time.

The first post on this site was exactly two years ago – doesn’t time fly when you are having fun!

After a cold, grey week it was suddenly “flaming June” with bright sun and genuine heat. What better time to head into the lovely South Downs and orienteer at Wolstonbury Hill? The Hill is in the ownership of the National Trust and so is managed very traditionally with sheep and a few cattle, happily co-existing with walkers and lots of horse-riders who were out enjoying the fantastic weather and the amazing, if misty, views.

This was my first event since the injury and I went along really to see if the leg would cope. I had mentally prepared myself not to finish and to walk rather than run, if this turned out to be necessary. I had imagined the terrain would be something like Lancing Ring – rolling hills with some slopes, but OK if I took it fairly gently.

Even to reach the start required climbing steeps steps cut into the hillside. The first leg went up gently through lovely sunlit forest before emerging onto a steeper slope across a flower-filled meadow. A few steps beyond the first control it was easy to see the second – on the other side of a deep valley, with a fast run down a steep but manageable slope, pausing only to delicately ease over the first of a number of barbed wire fences, then a gentle jog uphill to the control. We were then taken up the same valley to control 3. Everything was feeling good – I had run over a kilometer with over 100m of climb and descent and not even a twinge. Almost all the way had been in the open so I was feeling very hot in the sun. It then dawned on me that the valley was even deeper and the sides steeper here, and there was no sensible way out except straight up. The slope came close to 1 in 2 at places and I was not the only one reduced to a determined trudge – and having to take breathers when I could admire the view. The heat and the lack of recent running took their toll. I felt as if my brain was boiling and my heart-rate was running out of control.

At least this took us to the top of the hill for the next four controls. This area was very technical and tricky with lots of pits, earthworks and small bushes where controls could be hard to find even in very open country. I lost lots of time here and felt I was struggling – the lack of practice adding to the lack of fitness and the heat. This theme continued through to the end, though thankfully the last few controls were back in cooler woodland.

The time and position was immaterial. My hamstring was gently nagging by the time I finished but there were no other ill-effects from a very physically demanding 4km, during which I had had some fluid and comfortable runs. I thoroughly enjoyed the navigation too – though I was not very good at it. I thought there were some great challenges in excellent terrain and I hope to run there again.

This was the last “SOG” (club league event) of the season. Despite my deliberate (and accidental) slowness, I managed to add a point to my “best six” score for the season and ended 14th in the Green course league – four places up on the last series and well up on last year. My average time for this series was under an hour – so I did meet my target. I was improving fast when I was injured and might have done even better without the break. I must aim for a top ten at least for the next series.

It is officially summer then, and I am back from injury – time for Park-O!

Now running WordPress 2.0.3 – upgraded very sweetly

Sorry for the lack of new posts recently – injury and over-work. Both should be improving rapidly from now on, so watch this space!