Training Log Archive: Ollie

Swiss O Week Day 1. The start was up at 2950m above sea-level, the end was at 2600m - quite a drop. Took it a bit too easy as I was concerned about the altitude and didn't realise this was going to be a fast area. The first section was very stony and tough, too, and I made a couple of poor route choices. The second half of the race was fast and downhill, on alpine pastures. Stunning views of the Matterhorn.

My worst day's result, as I ran too carefully and slowly. Won the intra-SLOW run-in split competition though! (So had to wear a polka-dot "king of the mountains" jersey for the following day's race.

Result: 608 points. 82nd out of 125 finishers. Best split: 17th on the run-in.

Event: Swiss Orienteering Week
 

Test commute to where I'll be hopefully living for the next year.

Pleasant, relaxed ride along the Regent's Canal which took me almost all the way home. A really nice way to travel home on these hot summer evenings.

SLOW Middle distance evening event on Oxshott Heath, on a 1:5000 map. Fast and furious - but a 2 minute mistake at No. 1 - I had to relocate back to the start! - a 1 minute mistake at No. 6, and a 2.5 minute mistake at No. 14, effectively ended my chances of a good time. But it felt great to be sprinting around the rest of this course, including an intense sprint finish. With many legs under 60 seconds, this was a course for snap decisions, and a good way to practice control flow technique - I for once had good flow and was able to pretty much punch the controls without stopping running - already knowing my exit direction and the next control code.

Again hot and humid, but cooler at least than Lithuania was!