Before this weekend, I'm not going to lie, I was pretty stressed, run-down and I desperately needed sleep. First week back at university after the Junior European Cup was killing me. Camilla Bevensee, arrived in Durham on Friday morning ready for our early morning (5.45am) on Saturday to get to Edinburgh in time for our starts.
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| Love this crazy one <3 |
We went for a casual run with fellow orienteers Peter
and Aine on the Friday afternoon, had a top notch spag bowl...which camilla
decided to add apple to? Claiming it tasted good...and turned the house upside
down to find my phone. Which was finally found, sat happily in my food
cupboard? Obviously the next morning was not fun but it meant we arrived in
Edinburgh at half eight, with plenty of time to prepare and get into quarantine
before the race. I hadn't really considered how good the competition would be
until I was sat in quarantine; looking around me and EVERYONE had been at a WOC
or JWOC. Repping my England top, I jogged to the start for 10.16 and was in my
usual relaxed, happy mood - turning round in the start box to wave at Ed who
just replied: 'Focus Lucy'. HA.
I had a great run, well it was okay - felt a
littttllleeeee slow trying to 'sprint' up at least one hundred stairs I reckon.
I was hesitant here and there, taking a few wrong turnings. Nevertheless it was
great fun, especially along the main street with the alleyways running off as
you had to dodge between the tourists, surprising them when you randomly
appeared out of an alleyway. I saw Florence in the final part of the course,
coming up a steep grassy bank, discussing the length of my shorts...'I can't
even see them Lucy!'.
Finished in 6th - aware the best were still
yet to come in, so I was pushed down to 19th in the end. The sun was out, we
were given goody bags (these should be compulsory at every event - I don't care
if I sound like a five year old but I love them) and I was pleased with my run.
After finding some Wifi so I could work (boringgg), we left to find Isla and
Kristian's flats: some EUOC athletes that had offered us floor space to save on
accommodation costs. Me and Peter went for a little bimble of a run round the
meadows before showers, a cuppa and then off for a Durham meal; where Camilla
had her first Fish and Chips :P the ceilidh, I was explaining to the people in
Durham who hadn't done one, was a sweat fest - although not as bad as some I've
been to. It was pretty decent, even got a cheeky dance with Martin Hubmann -
GULTAAAYY.
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| Misty and cold race... |
The next morning was another early one - 5.45 wake up,
although this time I managed to stay awake on the journey (to Stirling) and
worked. Yes...worked. I am so productive! With starts an hour earlier than the
previous day it was freezing and misty!! I started at 8.54, running into Stirling
castle full of confidence, before stopping and thinking: Nothing matches up.
Like nothing.
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| Part of the course in Stirling |
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| The run-in |
I spent the rest of the course if I’m honest running
fast, relocating, running fast, relocating etc etc. Embarassing myself later on
in the course where I punched control 14 (the spectator control) before I’d
been to 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13…WHUUPPPPSSSS. I finished with a smile and
absolutely loved it, even though I had really done badly! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!
The afternoon I went off again to find some WiFi,
before saying goodbye to Camilla L
and starting the longgg drive home!
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