Final Day of competition

Day four and time to make amends, but no a few more errors, two serious and three careless. If I could get rid of the mistakes I would be dangerous. Ended up after the four days in the worst position - forth. But then out of 84 in the over 60's and against some of the best in the world I can really complain when I haven't been able to train much over the past three months. Delighted the calf has held together. Now 90 days of cogitation in France to decide what to do for the future. No more Orienteering planned until late July in Sweden.

Day Three

How many times do you have to try and go straight through the green bits before you realise that you will get hung up in nasty stuff? Four times in my case. Talk about not being able to learn on the job! The area was a bit of a surprise as I was expecting much more run ability, but in this game you have to adapt and today I didn't. 2 to 3 and the first block of green had me backtracking a couple of times then slowly finding a way through. By the time I realised I should have gone NW out of the control I had lost 2 mins. Second line of green cost me about 30 seconds then I lost the plot at the end of the leg and another 90 seconds gone. Got 8 ok but suspect going south around the green may have been quicker. Lost my line 8 to 9 and same 10 to 11. 11 to 12 would probably have been faster to go to the first drink station then SW through the white to the path then to the next crossroads and west down the track. 15 to 16 definitely should have come back out SW through the gap then west to the track. So probably six or seven minutes lost. BV the Finn had a perfect run and looks odds on for the win. I'm going to need a good run tomorrow to get close to a top five place.

Day two

Even faster area than yesterday as less green bits. Still red lining where possible, but keeping a check on distance as well. Confirmed third place yesterday and looks like second place today 30 odd seconds behind. Still in contention in what is an incredibly competitive class. Two errors today. Just don't ask me what I was doing 9 to 10. Was on line but just didn't crest the spur before the track, saw an open area to my right and mistook it for the larger open area in front of the control. Realised my error but lost at least 30 seconds. 10 to 11 was shaky due to loss of confidence and another 20 seconds lost. Happy though with sub 30 for 4.6k with 80 mtrs of climb. Back to long distance tomorrow in a new area a bit to the north. map on FB.

Solid start

You can't win a four day competition on day one but you sure can mess it up. So delighted with third place out of 80 plus over 60's. 41 seconds down. Got everything pretty clean just made two route choice errors that cost me about 90 seconds. All to play for over the next three days, just have to keep the brain in gear. Map of today is on FB. I suspect tomorrow will be on the east part of the map which looks more difficult as ther isn't any green to catch you. Enjoyed tonight's urban night sprint round Praia de Mira, just hope the legs hold out.

Weather forecast

Looks like the local weather forecast here in Portugal is as accurate as that back in the UK. Cloud and showers forecast, but bright blue skies and up to 15 degrees. Rain forecast for tomorrow though. Map shows the model area. If the real thing is anything like this then we are in for a treat. All the Brits were saying how lovely it is to run in such areas. Drove up the coast to Aveiro yesterday about 40 minutes drive. As we were getting close we passed Praia da Bara and some lovely painted stripped buildings. Aveiro itself is a thriving place. Some old quarters but a busy shopping area as well. Took a traditional boat trip to the salt pans and now have some packets of salt! Before registering at the event centre today we spent the morning in Mira, the town just up the road from where we are staying. Very quiet, but some good shops and a couple of supermarkets. Everyone very friendly. The local church stunning in gold as usual. A twist with this one is that the usual 14 pictures of the journey of Christ around the body of the church was depicted in tiles. Pictures to follow.

Quinta de Lagoa

Transfer day yesterday from Sao Miguel d'Acha. We had been well looked after by Raul and his family at Casa d'Acha. Stopped at Coimbra on the way, slightly disappointed with the place but still very interesting. Then on to our abode for the next week or so. Hotel Quinta de Lagoa betwixt Praia de Mira and Mira. Beautiful hotel complex with its own lagoon. As we are the only people in the whole complex till tomorrow they bumped us up, so what is still the cheapest place per night of our whole excursion has turned out to be a suite with separate lounge diner, double wash basins, cooking facilities, terrace and stunning views. Luck of the Irish! This afternoon, making the most of the sunshine, went out for a terrain run in Praia de Mira Norte. Heaven! Soft underfoot, light detailed contours, everything accurate, very fast run-ability and all to myself. I was just disappointed I had told Valerie I was only going to be out an hour or I would have still been out there now.

That's a bit better

Long distance race today. Took Normans Jones advice and tried to keep things simple. It paid off and got second place only three minutes behind Borje Vartiainen, world masters gold medalist and the person Thierry Gueorgiou credits his success and 15 minutes in front of third placed, world masters silver medalist Rauli Helkkula. That pulled me up from 6th overnight to 2nd overall. Only two minutes lost on 9 to 10 when I should have gone down to the track rather than going south. So happy bunny after yesterday's debacle. Pictures (on FB) show today's course -some serious rocks. The area we were running over and winnings to date.

Mixed day

This mornings race at Cidral in amongst the rocks was a bit of a reality check. It's no good knowing what and how to do something if you don't concentrate on actually doing it!! Bit of a wobble to number one but nothing too serious, control 2 fine. Then three and I went to the boulder but failed to look at the description as to which side the control was, went away and came back to discover I must have been about a metre away from it in the first place, was so annoyed with myself that then made a 90 degree error leaving the control and really messed up 4 by loosing five minutes!! A total of 9 minutes lost on a race that took me 34 minutes. Embarrassing or what. Then this evenings night race in Idanha a Nova. First off and brain very much in gear. First place. I'm running faster in the night race than during the day so why am I making mistakes in the day race. Anyway it's back to the same area tomorrow for a rerun, only longer. Let's see if I can get it together. Nothing to play for except my pride.

The perfect day?

If not then certainly close. Woke to clear blue skies. Not a cloud to be seen. Very cool but hardly any wind. Fernando has very kindly agreed to chaperone us for this mornings training. Unsurprisingly the Portuguese do this a little differently. Their training camp consists of over 20 orienteering areas within half an hours drive. The exercise controls are small stakes so they only have to be put out once and are then left there. Today I have chosen a course of 6.2k in two parts to see if I can put to good effect what I learnt on Tuesday. Fernando drops me off and takes Valerie for a sightsee of Nisa a few k away. So on this perfect morning I am completely alone in this fantastic terrain just enjoying the running and navigation. See the photo. Do some double checking of some controls and only jog round but still manage under the hour. Then Fernando takes us to his fathers home village of Amieira Do Tejo where not only do we get to sample his dad's home made wine, we get a personal tour of the local castle. Then it's back past Castelo de Vide to some friends of Fernandos who are just finishing a late lunch outside in the sunshine. Fortunately we are in time for the apple crumble, some more wine and a local licquor with cherries in. Peter and his wife have been in Portugal for over 40 years and run a small holding with some cottages they let out. Also at the table are son Martin and his Portuguese wife and another friend. Martin is an international sheep shearer from New Zealand. The conversation and wine flow well into the afternoon. Bliss. perhaps I did this site a disservice as the photos did appear. So may keep going with this for a while.These photos from yesterday at Elvas. Will put today's map up tomorrow as I can't see it from here yet!

Ammaia and Elvas

Sightseeing today. Started by visiting Ammaia, an amazing abandoned Roman town that is only 5% excavated. What always surprises me about these places is that they were abandoned in the first place. Then on to Elvas a stunning walled town. The most complete in Portugal. First fortified by Islam. Extended in medieval times then finally during the 17th century. Amazing aqueduct serving the city. Visited the contemporary art exhibition. It's probably me but contemporary art just doesn't do it. Isn't art supposed to be uplifting and beautiful? Odd bits of metal lying around or a bed made from valium tablets. Art? Don't think so. Journey to and from Elvas made under lovely clear blue skies, quite flat in places with the horizon going on for miles. View from the Castle at Elvas just went on and on. Anyone object if I just list What we are up to on FB. Can't get this site to post the photos I want see gobbledegook above and am only duplicating things. Opinions??

Tuesday

Low cloud again this morning and some sporadic rain. Had breakfast with Fernando Costa who was the race director and a good friend from Porto. The three of us then drove out to one of the training areas. Fantastic area, cork and olive trees, very runable. Checkout the maps on my Facebook page. On the return journey a private tour of a small local winery, with the obligatory wine tasting of course. Then a tour of a local castle, part of which is also a five star hotel. Ending with a lovely simple meal in a local hostelry. Great day. Forecast is better for tomorrow, fingers crossed. Bournemouth area had snow this morning looking at all the FB posts.

What happened to the view?

Weather has closed in again and the view from the Hotel is non existent. Having packed we say goodby to Jorge who has looked after us magnificently. Although we only had one night in the room we should have had, I would certainly recommend it. We drop down the mountain and the weather hardly improves. We travel to Castelo de Vide via Portalegro but the weather precludes much sightseeing. When we reach Castelo de Vide the weather has improved a little and an explore of the town, church and castle ensues. Another fascinating place, steep cobbled streets and very quaint. Just about to go out to find a local restaurant and meet up with Fernando Costa the race director. Think I will give my calf a rest tomorrow and try a run out on Wednesday.

Result!

Official results now posted and yes I did win yesterday's forest race. Also won yesterdays sprint race round Marvao. Lovely sunshine and although cold was great to out running through such technical areas today. I had over four minutes to spare from yesterday's win so was able to take things a little easy, or should have been able to. Made far too many silly errors, mainly by paying too much attention to the compass rather than map reading. I wasn't the only one who thought there were a few magnetic anomalies in the area. We have now moved into Dom Dinis hotel which is lovely and has such stunning views. Pity we weren't able to be in there for the four days. We depart for Castello de Vila tomorrow, it's only a few k away and we will be there for the week before we move a little further north for three more races next weekend. Hope to give the calf some rest. Local masseur says it's the solus. Looking on the net I'm supposed to give it four to eight weeks rest. Anyone see that happening???