Training Log Archive: Forest Demon

Jukola 2017 - Harpatti

Running for EUOC 2, 3rd leg.
Went pretty good - Probably my best Jukola run I've had.

Quite hard off the start, but moving quite well. Took a different route to the guys I was with, and ended up following an elephant path into some shitty green, but bashed my way out without too much time lost I think
Moving really well through the next few, felt good and there were people who were running a good speed.
Took a gel at 40 minutes in as we crossed a marsh to 11, but didn't check direction and missed my gaffle. Bollocks! Very hesitant to 12, didn't want to lose more time, so the fast boys had vanished.
But pushed on regardless, and got most of the rest fine. Slow and hesitant to the ones on the slope, then was alone for 21 through 24 so kept it quite slow. Was bonking hard anyway, so just trying to not fuck it at the last moment

All in all, I was pretty pleased with my run. The pace was quite fast, at least by my standard, but I kept at it quite well. Encouraging.

Wandering around Jukola, doing plenty of eating and not enough sleeping.
Would've done the model, but I was a bit worried about how my hip was feeling

Started jogging round the sprint training, but my legs were knackered, and I wasn't paying attention at all.
So I just wandered back

Mass start relay training - Pulesjärvi

Banter started, so I was a bit gassed to number 1, and the boys sped off into the distance.
Kept it pretty clean through most controls though, and a few folks reappeared.
Bashed round on the path to 9, and saw Tam/Jack leaving it as I got there, and realised I was pretty close to the front, and got all excited thinking I could catch them.
Didn't pay attention to the compass, made things fit and before I knew it I was over near 11 without even realising, oops.
Jogged over to 10, but then Jenny appeared so I had to start trying again. Finished a long way down though.

But it was (apart from one control) actually quite a positive piece of training. I realised that I could actually push much more than I have been doing, and also that the terrain felt easier while doing so. I guess in my head I thought I couldn't go that well from lack of training and fitness, but actually I'm not *that* bad

Some jogging about before and after the relay, plus went back to see what had gone so wrong to 10 with Josh. Picked up Carcas on the way and jogged through to 11 before destroying him on a sprint finish

Long training - Rääkkykangas

Skipped straight to 9 as the beginning of the course looked dire. Navigating okay, still working on compass and circle.

Micro-O - Pulesjärvi

Took it very easy, just trying to work on having a proper entrance and exit for each control - had noticed I'd been very stop starty at the weekend

Middle training - Kortejärvi

Skipped straight to 4, as the first 3 looked like a waste of time.

Again trying to have a proper plan in place for the circle, while between controls working a bit more on actually staying on line following the compass.
Realised I'd been meandering towards the end, picked up the speed after 14. Aim of the course completed though, went well.
Think I've just gotten very lazy with my orienteering recently, gotta sort that out.