Training Log Archive: Nathan

The OMM Day 2 - Elite class. 3rd (3rd overall).

Was a little anxious about how my body would react today but woke up feeling reasonably good. Again a bit rushed to the start and got there a minute or so late. Took the path round to 1 and I felt pretty good but it became clear Tom wasn't really up to much at that point in the morning. Small mistake coming out of the mines and losing contact but hit the flag on after that. Moving steadily through to 2 with Tom still struggling to get going and saw a menacing looking chasing pack behind moving strongly. Hit 2 ok but caught by ba-ba, the Scandis and maybe Duncan and Shane(?) at number 3. Proceeded to run in a pack along the fence to 4 but dropped back at one point as asthma kicked in on one of the climbs. Caught back up by the hill 4 was behind and hit the flag ahead of the other teams. We decided to take a more aggressive line to 5 which paid off, opening a bit of a gap which we tried to make stick but getting across the road early and not using the time out. Direct to 8 then faffed a bit on 9, bit too low losing a minute or two (not convinced on the mapping here or control placement) and caught sight of the chasers. We weren't completely sure on our position at this point but assumed we were racing for 3rd with Tim and Ali off ahead. Shin began hurting pretty badly after 9, especially through the rough terrain. Worked pretty hard across to the turbines on 10, trying to eat and drink plenty on the track before a good runnable stretch between 10 and 12. Shifting along pretty well here, no sign of a similar failing like yesterday probably because the terrain was a little nicer and I'd eaten and drank more. Obviously tired but knew if we could keep grinding through the last section we'd have a reasonable shot of the podium. No real mishaps over 12 and 13, banking on the fence-line being ok and being pleasantly surprised by the quad track there. Then smashing down the hill and a gruelling sprint finish to come in 3rd! We weren't sure on whether we'd hold this as we'd lost sight of the chasing teams behind but were happy with how we ran the second half so knew we had a good shot. Turns out we put a good chunk of time in to them and were reasonably comfortable by the end.
Pretty epic weekend all round! I've always been curious about MM's and how tough they were/whether I'd hold up on one. After struggling on the first day, I was happy to come through feeling quite strong on the second but in no way do I feel like I know what I'm doing with it at all. Knew I was fit coming in to it, but it's a different sort of fitness and wasn't really sure how it would translate. Running with Tom was cool as I don't think either of us really expected much from the weekend and to come in 3rd was a real bonus! Awesome to see GG and Hector smashing it and for Tim and Ali to be so strong over this type of stuff, really good showing for the orienteers!
Legs are very stiff and sore now and shin is still painful (Ambulance man said the bruising from day 1 had gotten inflamed from behing dragged about stabilising my leg for 2 days through rough terrain). Nothing too serious though and with some proper rest for a couple of weeks now lined up it should all be fine.
Really cool way to round off the season. I struggled to begin with, especially after a poor orienteering season in the spring, but it's definitely been better than I could have expected.

C • A little bit jealous 3

The OMM Day 1 - Elite Class. 3rd.

Pretty late signing up for this. Was in the car with Sav on the way back from the Hodgson's and after he failed to convince OJ to run with him, I foolishly volunteered myself. Never ran a MM before and my previous longest run was probably Edale Skyline last March (3hrs~ 30~km). Pretty minimal prep, ran the 3km to Goodwin with my laptop in my bag last week and that was about it. Felt like I should be reasonably fit off this season, but it's a whole different ball game at this distance and the big hitters on the startlist know a hell of a lot more about how to play it than me! So just tried to approach it with a pretty open mind and try and stay positive.
Started a minute behind Ali and Tim, mainly becase we were a bit late getting up to the start! Tailed them until the long leg on 4 where we took differing routes. Caught by GG and Hector who were shifting pretty quickly at this point too. Took a pretty nasty fall on some wet rock as we left 4, smashed up my shin and thought I'd done quite a lot of damage. Managed to plod on and suck it up until 5 where the pain eased off a little and we got moving again. Trailed the pack of ba-ba/Jim, Ali/Tim and GG/Hector on the long leg to 6 but stuck to our guns and got a good line in. Moved well over to 7 but then when the terrain got really heavy around 8/9 I hit a pretty rough patch (about 4hrs~ in). Legs felt very tired and began to get pretty grumpy with falling over heather and bogs for what seemed like an eternity. Thankfully Sav just kept on running leaving me with no choice but to just carry on after him. At the time I kind of hated him for it, but it actually worked well as with a bit of energy drink in me we got back on track through to 11. Lost time on the route to 12, taking in thicker terrain by cutting over the hill than we should have and hit the flag just as Ali and Tim whizzed past. I was still feeling pretty knackered at this point but we crashed our way through the heather to the last couple and the finish to come in 3rd.
Bit of a baptism of fire for my first day of mountain marathoning. Very physical terrain and I just wasn't used to the distance but quite pleased with managing to keep pressing on even when feeling pretty bad. Navved pretty much all of it too and no real mistakes other than the route on 12. We probably went off a little fast but felt pretty good for 4hrs~ then suffered for the last couple really. Hell of a lot of respect to Sav for the long stuff he does, he's an absolute machine through the thick crap.
20s~ down on Tim and Ali (2nd) and 25mins to GG and Hector (1st) with some tight packing behind. Not a bad first day but I definitely have a lot to learn about eating and drinking over this distance!

C • Woaaaaah 5

Loxley with Pat and the Joe's. Feeling good.

1:30 in the Matrix with Joe, felt a bit more in control.

Jogged along with the ShUOC group run, nice afternoon in Riv.

Pre and post circuits.

Circuits