Training Log Archive: Nathan

Decent length warm up, mainly jogging and drills, feeling pretty up for it.

JIRCs Realy Leg 1 Gaffle: CaaAC (4.8km +140m)

Was feeling pretty good for this, no pressure race for me really, as team was never going to be in contention. Headed out briskly, first to the start kite, but then too far left slightly on 1 so lost a couple of seconds. Leading up the hill with Sasha, pretty funny really as all you could hear going up was the constant cursing of everyone tripping and falling in the heather. Got to the top about the same time as Sasha then we both headed up 3 and were pulling away before we made a mistake, i cut in a bit early and he followed but it turns out it wasn't in the trees so we had to angle back up the hill allowing everyone else to catch up. We both reckon we could have pulled away if we hadn't slipped up. To catch time a bit, i pushed on a bit and hit 5 around the same time as Bryn and Tim then pretty easy leg to 6 just straight across the open in to the other side of the woodland. Took a different route to everyone on 7 as i went straight rather then on the path and caught time i think by doing this. I thought 8 was too far left but found it fine, it was pretty obvious, flowed through 9&10 easily, back with Sasha at this point. He pulled away at this point heading up the ridge to 11. Found it fine, wasn't a hard control however it sort of dawned on me as to how bad at hills i am Obviously Sasha lives in scotland but still, i was knackered up the hills and he just kept on going so something to work on, as i was matching him on the flats. Then across the hill to 12 and contoured round, going slightly straighter than intended but got it fine. we joined back up with Tim and Andrew form 13 but then Sasha pulled ahead so it was basically the race for 2nd. Flowed around the edge of the trees for 14 and 15, no issues here at all. Then across the open, following Sasha's trail as he just got further and further away. Got 16 fine, in the ditch in the rough stuff. Then looked at the leg for 17 and it was just grim, got up on the the ridge and thought it was on the knoll but turns out it wasn't and was in the gulley just before. We were all within 10m now so thought I'd have to start pushing so did that a bit more heading up through the gorse bushes and around the track to 18 getting there just ahead of Tim then through the open around the hedge to the last control and in to the finish.
Came in roughly 45 seconds or so down on Sasha who was just flying round.
2 things i found this weekend]
1:fitness is still not there, despite being medically fit, athletically i'm not there yet, need more endurance and more work on hill. but it has definitely improved since JK/British time so hopefully with this year done i'll get some more solid training in.
2: the thing i've lacked most this year, is confidence in myself, i can have decent runs but i pile the pressure on myself and can't perform when i do this. This was particularly something i noticed in scotland too so defintiely something to work with. 2 2nd's this weekend so overall pretty happy ad was only properly racing on the relay.

Similar to yesterday.

Warm up before the JIRCs individual.

Gore Heath 6.8km +220m

Pre race, my plan was essentially to have a clean run, not to race but to get round without mistakes.
Took a decent route to 1, heading a bit round about, but fast on the paths. Then up to 2, decided not to go in the 'train tracks' as Sasha said but headed back out in to the main woodland which by the looks of splits was faster. grueling leg to 3 but got on with it, again with paths, then just took a bearing for 4 and got it fairly cleanly but don't think it was the fastest route. Everyone complained about 5 but i seemed to find it ok really, just slowed down and made sure. Small paths to 6, i don't think were mapped very well but wasn't too bad, was puffing a little on the hill though. Bit of a mistake on 7 as i was too far north towards 2 so faffed a bit before it clicked which was annoying but got it out of my head pretty quickly. Path to 8 but missed it, was on the wrong side of the re entrant so again lost some time.fairly safe but slow through 9 and 10, but 9 was scrappy really but safe again through to 11, making sure there are no mistakes on the path network. Up to spectator was knackering as it was a steady ascent up the hill, then down the hill on to 13, easy. Odd route to 14 went too far through and lost time, should have zig zagged instead. Clean to 15, but was pretty tough running. Somehow lost a fair amount of time on 16 annoyingly, maybe going over the hill and then not going far enough. down easily to 17 then up to spectator again. Long run down the path again, found 19 but i think there was more green than was mapped which was a bit of a theme throughout to the honest. Went straight through 20 and 21 in the green so slowed a little and made sure. Then out to the path for 22 and through the trees for the finish.
So essentially a pretty clean run, no huge mistakes, biggest was 7 losing almost a minute and then a few other scrappy controls annoyingly. Lost maybe 2:30-3 mins overall with small errors etc and that's being pretty picky. Then obviously not running at full race pace so could have pushed harder but didn't want to as this was more of a race for me to get a bit of confidence before the next season. really enjoyed it, finished 2nd about 4 mins down on sasha who's flying at the minute.
Not feeling 100% yet but far better than at the start of the year. Hopefully get a good base down before next year, as i missed it last year with both my knees.

Easy jog, didn't tie it so approx.

Heading down the long way to jubilee for intervals

Went to Jubilee for intervals.
6x600m with 1 min rest. Didn't feel great but got on with it. Not sure how I'm feeling for Jircs really but I'll give it a good go.

Same as warm up but backwards.

Long run with school, very stop start, knackered from yesterday really.

Decent effort tonight, sliding back in to the routine of getting out training again. Fartlek'd the ullesthorpe loop, varying paces and terrains which was great fun.
Looking in to dietary changes pver the next week or so as i think this will definitely benefit me. Good session tonight though.
Foot note(literally): Pulled out my Walsh's last night and forgot how good they are to run in so i'm out tomorrow and thursday and perhaps friday, so if all goes well, may run in them at JIRC's.

Ok, so back to training now, feeling fine really, cold seemed to have cleared up. I felt good running in all honesty, better than i have in months, maybe the week or so slow training due to my illness. Went for the short dunton run to shake my legs out, lovely evening but very sweaty as it was warm and humid.

On a broader note, training. For this year, i'm keeping it simple, running. More specifically racing if i can but trying little orienteering because that way i can really build up my speed and endurance in prep for the races next year. This year is a learning year for orienteering, i won't tin the JK or British i know that, but i can have some good races and build my confidence before becoming a top year. This sounds like i'm shying away from competition, but it's a long run plan i've been working on for some time that involves more than orienteering training, it's more working on my concentration and mental ability whilst orienteering. However i won't give too much away, but it's just a heads up really that if my results drop, i won't be too worried as it's going to be more about the year after this year.