Training Log Archive: acejase

Run to start with ALJ and Hoggster plus some trotting round.

ACT Middle Champs at Orroral Tracking Station. Hoggster starting 2mins behind me. First 5 or 6 controls in the clearing and I probably overcooked things a bit - running too fast to stay ahead of Hoggster. Also control sites through this section seemed far too simple. 8 was a pivot control and first in the infamous ororral bush. Got it ok but lost 30s on 9 and again at 10 - probably brain fades due to going too hard early. Just as getting 10 there was Gareth (-4mins) and Hoggster not far behind. They caught me at 12. We made a complete meal of 14 with Andy later accurately describing it as like M10s again with all of us searching. it was in a section of the map where I lost 3 or 4mins last time and it was 3mins again this time.
After that was with Andy with Gareth in the distance until 22. Unfortunately the water proofing of the maps left a little to be desired and leaving 22 I realised 23 and any colour within 100m (?) of it had rubbed off my map. It was think scrub and Andy had gone out of sight so I somewhat panickly barged through the forest trying to catch sight of him (or anyone) to use till I ran back onto my map going to 24. Unfortunately though my ankle went from under me and I went down like a sack of spuds. Lay on the ground cursing for a while till I decided it wasnt broken and endorphins kicked in. Got up and headed in general direction Andy had been going, spotted a giant boulder and there was my control 23 beneath it.
After that was initially a grumpy hobble which after a while became just grumpy as ankle seemed ok. Actually lost more time on 26 than 23 which can only be attributed too cranky-induced lack of map contact. Got to the end and resisted the urge to discuss map paper quality with organisers - by the end not only was control 23 missing from map but it much more of the map had disintegrated.
Not a good day but cant blame it for the loss to hoggster - he'd already caught me 2mins. Iced ankle and slowly cheered up post race. Thanks to ALJ and JLA for listening to my 'vent'.

Longest warm up since pre-kids after family dynamics meant I got to event about 40min before my start and solo. Most of warm up with Grant which meant we had to stop to inspect some criminal evidence in a car park at one point.

ACT Sprint Champs at CIT. Wanted to race properly and apply lessons from Sprint Canberra early in year - don't start silly-hard, look out for fatigue-inducing mistakes late on and beware mistakes when changing from urban to bush.
Started with good contact with map and not flogging myself but steady. Found a rhythm and was hitting them well. Hesitated a fair bit on leg 6 which was short leg direct but long, around route choice required. Not good contact and lots of hesitations but went the right way. Coming out of 6 Constable Frogga, who started a minute behind me, was coming in. He passed me on way to 8 which was first control in the bush. Had a bit of a man-crush (in the past when I was competitive it would have been annoyance) at GB's smooth runnning and orienteering technique and stuck not too far behind him through the next 3 or so bush controls. Very convenient to my goals for the day.
STarted to lose GB as we went back into the buildings so consciously switched back to greater map focus while trying to keep up the pace and get benefits of seeing GB now and then. Did this well and started seeing Geoff Stacey who started a minute ahead of me.
Lots of little fiddly controls through this last part of the course and almost made an error on a longer one. Reminded myself of avoiding fatigue-induced mistakes and finished well.
Probably my best sprint race for a while and ended up about 2mins 30s behind winners Olle and Lachy (a tie). Not normally that close. Importantly rolled Hoggster by 4s who also had a good run so a spring in the step round the assembly area for me. :)

C • Another win! 2

Warm down with Hoggster discussing all the time I lost. ;)

Grrr. Bike crunching somewhat after taking back wheel off earlier in the week to fit it into the festiva. Some fiddling with rear wheel placement might it slightly better.

Blobby terrain run on O'Connor Ridge after spending all morning writing a report at Tilleys. Nice morning, nice run. Only drawback was by the end it felt like a Saturday except it wasnt!

Did some terrain running up on Red Hill which mostly consisted of a 20 minute tempo effort. Far from race pace but pushed along when I thought about it! Ran for a shrt while down a new path I found from near the look out car park. Veered back into the bush when I got to the bit where the workmen were still building it! I'm guessing I was the first person to use it, or at least the first part of it.

super commuting.