Training Log Archive: markg

Long distance NOL in a mass start, multi-loop hageby format. Fun event but painful. I was predicting slow and steady would be my only tactic and it was, my legs were stuffed from the outset. The start was crazy but I managed to keep in the mix and stay in contact with the map and the most unlikely of unlikely things happened, I was first to the first control on my split :) I was near the front for the next three but then I started to go backwards. I made an error at #10 and another small one at #11 and then I was on my own until #18. Caught Olly at #19 and picked it up a little until made a mistake at #25 and fell back again. Was caught by some Tassie runner at the first control on the 3rd loop and then we made an error on the next one. Was good for the next couple, caught Patty Saile and John Nieuwenhoven, and went off the front of that group when we crossed the road for the last mini-loop. Unfortunately, a couple of small errors allowed everyone to catch up and we plodded together for a few more but finally all three ran away from the 3rd last and I couldn't keep up. Reasonable race again but had nothing left to give after yesterday. The obvious lesson is to do more consecutive days of training.

Pre-dawn wake-up jog with Anna plus a warm down. Didn't really have the energy to warm up. I don't think it made any difference.

Event: SILVA National Orienteering League
 

My debut race for the Cyclones in the NOL at Keithcott Farm in Adelaide. Started steadily, wanting to run myself into the map and not kill myself on the expected early hills. I got into the school grounds in quite good shape despite losing about 10-15s at #1 because I had to do a lap of the nearby thicket after discovering the gap between the thicket and adjacent fence did not exist. Was steady through the school buildings and I'm really happy with my nav and flow through this quite technical section but I did have some wobbles - about 15s on #10 through bad route choice and not seeing the gate and another 15s on #18 from making a wrong turn by the control and having to loop around and come at the control from behind. A highlight of this run was my fastest splits for the final control and finish. I wouldn't expect any in this field. 14th overall but only 30s off 5th and 4:22 behind the Jules. A promising run.

Middle distance NOL the same day at Para Wirra with a chasing start. I started in a big bunch, quickly dropped to the back and despite having a decent time to #2 as I left it I was completely alone. I then lost about 35s on #3 despite thinking that I did it ok and suddenly Olly and Liggo were on my tail. I led them through the next couple and then we were together with Liggo pushing the pace and threatening to leave us behind. A mistake by O&L at #11 saw me in the lead briefly but Liggo pushed ahead, led us through #13-14 and then ran off. I tried to push on and dropped Olly, passed a few others into #16 then caught Dave Meyer at #17. We plodded together for a few controls before Dave made a little error leaving me to run the last 2 controls alone. I got some wierd, right-side chest pain coming up the last control and had to walk a bit but managed a plod to the finish. It turns out that Dave and I took a stupid route choice out of #17 which probably cost us 30s. Pretty good race but I simply didn't have the strength left after the morning's sprint.

Morning wake-up jog plus warm up/down for both races.

Cruised into UQ to meet Megan for lunch.

Very thick and steep mid-week orienteering at Gap Creek West. My aim was to be steady, use good technique, and reassure myself I know how to do it properly. I basically succeeded, with only a couple of small errors that I wised up to before they became big mistakes, so lost less than 1min, but I was soooo slow. Even on the one leg with substantial track running I only barely cracked 10min/km ... The worst part of the run was that one of my o-shoes decided to start falling apart in two separate places so I may have to switch to the comfy but bulky, heavy, and rather incongruous Icebugs for the NOL races this weekend.

C • o-shoes 3

Had a bit of a Macca-style incident after orienteering. My house keys fell out of my shorts while getting changed and despite thinking 'must pick up keys after getting dressed' I forgot them until I was all the way back at Indooroopily and had to drive back ... sigh ...

Dropping Ewan off.

Picking Ewan up.

Dropped Ewan off at childcare, plodded around Yeronga Park, had a coffee at Evo and plodded home.

A bit of self care with the roller and tennis ball, and some stretching. Felt very nice and loose afterwards.

Picked Ewan up in the afternoon