White means go, green means stop.

In fact, I learnt so much that I'm not really sure where to begin! When I arrived at the classroom, that was to be our base for the day, I thought that the previous group had perhaps not cleared away their things. In one of my previous lives I was a Nursery Teacher and so am familiar with Small World Play. It would appear that a children's group had been in before us and had been playing Hansel and Gretel with a table top model of a forest complete with streams, tracks and a building. However, it became apparent that this model was for us as our tutor, Hamish, took us over to a table, issued us with a map and then asked us to guess what the symbols and colours on the map meant. In the middle of the map was a large, white area and yet on the table this area was populated with trees. This was not the first time I had read a map and so I was slightly confused. On my maps any forest area is represented by the colour green but an 'O map' tells you so much more than the fact that trees grow there. It tells you how dense those trees are and so how runnable the area is. If it is white it is totally runnable and the deeper the green the more difficult it is to run through. If the level of difficulty alters with the seasons this is also marked with green lines running across it.

Once we had made sense of the symbols we were taught how to orientate the map. This required us to walk around the table and "move your body and not the map!" (as Hamish had to keep reminding us!) whilst placing thumbs on the map at the current location.

Once we had got to grips with this it was time for a quick quiz to discover previous experience of map reading and to give us a basic knowledge of signs, symbols and colours. The key thing to remember is:

Green = it grows

Black = man made it

Brown = earth

After this it was time to play out so Hamish gave each of us a map for a yellow course. Yellow is the second easiest orienteering course you can do. (White is the easiest). We were to experience a 2.5km course where we would have to find our way to ten 'controls' that were marked on the map near to fairly obvious features, such as paths, boulders, thickets and ponds. The rules were that we had to visit each in the order marked on the map and note down the hieroglyphic on the post. There were some "out of bounds" areas on the course so Hamish advised us that we would need to do some handrailing on this course which involved us not taking a direct route but following a fence or a path to work around to the control. He set us off at 30 second intervals and, all I can say is, although I was first to set off, I was the last to find number one! I started on the wrong track, and by the time I realised I was in the wrong place everyone else was on their way to number 2. Once I realised my mistake, though, it all started to slot into place and I managed to locate all but number 6 pretty quickly and managed to be the second person back in the classroom so all in all I was pretty pleased with my effort.

Once we were all home and dry it was time to up the ante! We found a lawned area to work on and Hamish set out a course using cones. It was time to learn how to use a compass. So what do I remember about that? Well..you need to hold your map in front of you facing the location you want to get to. Then you line the compass up with the map, make Red Fred point in the same direction as Black Jack by moving your body, put Red Fred in the shed and then head in the direction of the arrows on the compass (I think that's what you do!) I have to say that this took me a while to learn and it's only been two days and already I think I need a refresher! Once we'd had a bit of time doing this we headed back to the classroom to learn how to aim off and identify an attack point. With all of this technical training it was clear that we were going to be let loose on a more difficult course than the yellow one so that we could practise using the compass and the techniques that had been discussed.

The course we were challenged with was of the orange variety. This was a bit longer - around 3km and the route involved crossing areas with no direct path so a good opportunity to use the compass. This time I was last to set off. Numbers one and two were fairly easy to locate. Number three was the first of several where those who can use a compass would be quicker to put this skill into practise. I was pretty certain that I would get there quicker if I used the handrailing technique learnt earlier but had to remind myself that, I was there to learn new skills and not to win the race! I had a go with the compass and was pleasantly surprised that it took me to roughly the right area. I soon located the control and so sped off to gather the next six hieroglyphics that were more like the yellow standard. Number ten was the next challenging one where it would be quicker to use the compass than to go round on the path so I used the opportunity for another practise. However, in my enthusiasm for using a compass I forgot what green means! I set off in the direction of the compass, only to hit a jungle of rhododendron with no way through! I used the sounds of voices to locate a path to the left of me and headed that way. It took me a while to find where I was on the map and then noticed that number ten was near to the top of the hill on this very path so I took off and bounded up there to try and make up for the lost time. I got to the top. I hadn't found the control. I ran back down. I still didn't find the control. The description (yes - you get those too!) said it was on the side of an 'S'. I ran back up, looking carefully on the bendy bit of the path. I got to the top. I still hadn't found the thing! I looked more carefully at the map and realised it was near to a junction with another path. I ran back down until I found that junction and then looked to the right to find it there. It was actually just on the other path. Anyway, I had managed to do a few hill reps whilst I was out there so that had to be a good thing!

I think I was around 5th back into the classroom after that exercise and then it was time to reflect on our performances. Hamish gave each of us a sheet to fill in where we could note down the mistakes we made on each stage of the run and so start to identify our weaknesses and the areas we need to concentrate. We're going again next week and this time it will be really hard. We will be out in the wilds, on the moors. There will be no cosy classroom although Hamish has promised he will bring a tent of the weather is grim!

I was pretty tired when I got home that day. I am always tired after a Sunday run but this wasn't just physical fatigue. Mentally it's pretty tough. There is no running along and letting your thoughts drift in this game. You have to concentrate or you could end up being out there for longer than you want to be. I certainly slept well on Sunday night. I need to get an early night before the next one....however, no chance of that. I'm going to Colwyn Bay AC annual dinner next Saturday night! My concentration will certainly be put to the test next week then!