Training Log Archive: Nathan

Impromptu run up Skiddaw via Dodd and Carlside, then along Little Man and Longscale. Was only going to do 30 but wanted to bully myself.

Warm up and down through the week

Little note as it's the rest day and I've got time. Went in to this week with high hopes and began to feel comfortable on the training maps by the end. The middle quali was a race of 2 halves. Through the technical stuff until my mistake is the best I've felt orienteering in a forest this year, great flow, good planning and just let the legs tick over. Lost my focus after the road crossing and threw my race in a stupid mistakes. It could have been avoidable and I felt angry at myself for making such a silly mistake which is different to how I felt after the sprint. The sprint itself was different to how I expected being concentrated in the south of the map and my race went ok but nothing spectacular and I didn't feel that kind of surge of excited nervous energy I normally get beforehand which i think usually helps. Legs felt ok but nothing more but my planning ahead was ok, although I missed a few crucial route choices. I don't know what happened on 18, maybe because it was such a simple leg after 17 my head was already in gear to plan and execute 19 but I just didn't see it. How I felt after was different to the middle, I just felt crushed and like I'd wasted my time with all that training and prep, rather than being angry. Still hugely disappointed in myself and feel embarrassed about what happened but I want to say thanks to the rest of the team for really trying to help me out (sorry if I was a dick) and if course a massive congratulations to Sasha on such a great result. Starting to feel really really motivated for the long now though and I plan to do myself justice in the last 2 races.

Frustrating middle quali. Awesome run until number 10, switched off and lost my head. Pretty gutting and disappointed in myself considering I was comfortably under the barrier. On to the next one.

Event: Fin5 and JWOC