Training Log Archive: Clara

Just getting out the door. Legs knackered from street o - must have been running hard.

Flemington/Ascot Vale.
Went along to street o as the other other orienteer from work was organising. Various parts of my body were hurting at different times (lower legs, lower back) but felt like I was running quickly for most of it. I think I picked a dumb route, but got all controls and just made it back in time.

I feel like I can actually run these days, which is awesome :)

C • And why shouldn't you 10

NSW Long champs, Gardens of Stone, Ben Bullen. 11th.
Thanks to the other Clare B for the panadol before the race :) Got me through relatively unscathed. This felt like how I'm used to long races feeling. A slog the whole way round, but pretty happy to be only 3 mins down on the other Clare B. A clean run, until the last 3 spectator controls where my brain had already turned off.
The outcome of the Clare B challenge 2nd weekend: a clear (which coincidentally is pronounced the same as Clare in Kiwi) victory to Baker, so now I have to bring my road bike to Melbourne. 2014 total - Brownridge 6: Baker 4. The comeback has begun!

C • Your Ranking 1

NSW Long Champs Hard 2 - Splits

Mixed relay, Lithgow TAFE. 4th leg for Asha, Rob B, Matt.
Not feeling 100% beforehand.
Headed out just behind Jas (same course) and the other Clare B (opposite course) and just in front of Jacqui (same course). Lost Jas after 3 controls, but came into the spectator just in front of the other Clare B (with her having done the longer loop). Probably should spend time less time while on the course cheering competitors.
Got to 10 on the boulder as Jas was leaving, and left it as Jacqui was approaching. Then ran to a fence that wasn't on the map. Tried to play catch up with Jacqui after that. Luckily I'd heard about the old 62/64 trick, so the only time I lost there was from not checking descriptions and seeing it was below.
A full 90s down on the other Clare B, but just glad I made it through without vomiting :)
All formed part of the best day ever, as the race was followed up by a trip to Ironfest where I got to dress in chain mail.

C • I wish I had seen that! 2

Easter day 4, Cherry Farm, Clandulla. 18th.
Loved this race.
Did the splits analysis, and the leg where I based my route choice on which way would be most fun was also one of the legs where I had my best placing :) 151-150: going down along the cliff line was faster, AND more fun!
Made a really bum route choice to #1 - must have panicked at the start and forgotten Kez's route choice training. At least I got to use the ladder twice.
Enjoyed things a lot and was happy running until the slog back to 14. Came in from behind the OOB buildings in an effort to avoid climb, but possibly added too much distance. Smashed it up the hill to 16 to keep in front of Tracy, but was a bit hesitant coming into 17 and 18.
Overall 15th. Very happy with how I felt physically. Slightly more regular training makes Easter much easier! Room for improvement though! Not often that my running goes better than my nav.
Outcome of the Easter Clare B challenge - Brownridge 3: Baker 1, taking the total to Brownridge 6: Baker 2. The prize - Bakers had to look after me during the week.

Day 3 2 Hard (2) - Splits

Easter day 3, Prosser's Reef, Clandulla. 15th.
Lost some time on 1 already - termie on a spur. Was doing well until halfway to 4, when I crossed the spur before the control higher than expected and kept going. Didn't take me too long to relocate once I figured out things weren't right, so good practise for something. Took the track route to 6 as I didn't want to have to concentrate for so long. Clean through 7-9 but drifted on compass to 10, crossed the track too high and went down towards 11. Found 11, went back to 10 but still wasn't sure going in to it. Lost another short amount of time to 13, and a few sec on 15 where I must have zoned out already.
Wasn't doing well with compass - something to practice.
On the plus side, legs felt good, which is a huge achievement for me in a long. Was running up some of the hills thinking back to the dark, wet hill ints the other week - cheers Ezy and Rob :)
Disappointed to have made some fairly big errors, but happy with the physical side.

Day 2 Course 2 - Splits

Easter day 2, Carwell's Labyrinth, Clandulla. 13th.
Clean through 1-6 but lost some time in 7, coming in to the left after recognising it as a dangerous control. Don't think I recognised a clearing in the forest at any stage at Easter. Came in too far right to 10, losing a little time. Lost concentration to 12 and drifted on a short leg. Chased Aislinn up the hill and then made a public error, going to the wrong spectator control.
Probably needed to be more careful coming over spurs into the rock - I knew I needed to take it carefully but didn't follow through enough.
Would have been happy with the time minus the errors, but that's not how orienteering works! Legs were feeling good though.

Course 2 day1 - Splits

Easter Prologue, The Common, Rylstone. =5th.
Just for the record, I was as surprised by the result as anyone. When I heard them saying through the spectator that I was on a good run my immediate thought was 'I hope I haven't missed a loop or done something out of order'.
Never really felt on top of it and wasn't reading ahead, as evidenced by my 360° turn leaving the spectator. Legs weren't feeling quick either and couldn't move Kelly at all. Ran straight to all the controls though, and didn't really lose any time. Maybe forest sprints are my thing, like the '06 Bendigo prologue.
Good start to Easter :)

Mt Tarrengower, relocation exercise. Navigating really badly, even when I had the map. Must have been distracted by boys on motorbikes.

C • Boys on motorbikes 2

Mt Tarrengower downhill exercise. Did better at this one, although was pretty off on #5. Found the mapping harder to read today than usual.

Golden Sandshoe score o, Castlemaine. Still not the biggest fan of score o and was feeling a bit tired, so just went out for a jog. Legs struggled up the hills - I think they were still smashed from intervals on Thursday.

15' w/u and 10' w/d.

6.5 x hill intervals with Ezy and Rob. Damn hard work up a steep hill.

C • I did wonder if you were the Clara Ezy referred to... 1

First post daylight savings run, in the rain to boot. Had a manky sore toe all day (blister from Saturday, which I stupidly cut the top off - I'll never learn), but it felt better once I got home with wet shoes so went out for a little run. Just down to Moreland Rd, then did 3x hills on Foch St (50s each). Legs felt good for the first 10 mins then plodded on.

State League, Glenluce. Wasn't feeling it before running - must have overcooked it the day before. Found the first leg a real slog, but got into it a bit after that. No errors, just plugging away out there. Big gap to Jas, and got well and truly done by TvG again. The other Clare B is making a comeback in the challenge now: Brownridge 3: Baker 1.

I really need to kick the habit of walking to read the map.

Bendigo local, Smiths Reef. Was going to take on Clare B on course 2, but heard that cousin Andrew was there so took him on instead. He got me by 4 mins in the end, and got me on every leg but one. I was feeling pretty good though, and enjoying the fast terrain.

Warm up to the lake through the gaol and back home again afterwards.

10 x hill ints at Coburg Lake. With random route choice from World of O to read on the way down.

Legs were feeling pretty rubbish on the hills.

Early(ish) jog round Coburg. Found a piano. Had after work drinks and movie, so glad I forced myself out the door in the morning. Even managed to stay awake at work.

C • Piano 3