Training Log Archive: syd

My return trip was unfortunately just as eventful as my trip to Norway. Flight from Oslo to Newark was fine. Landed in Newark, went through all the things, made it to my gate...and got a text that the flight to Pittsburgh was delayed. Walked around for a while. Flight kept getting delayed further. As I sat watching a thunderstorm a couple of miles from the airport they started cancelling flights. Not good. The 3 flights to Pittsburgh after mine were all cancelled. Mine was hanging on, I was holding out hope that it would go out later, but then it was cancelled too :( And with 3 planes of people already trying to get to Pittsburgh the next day I could only get on a standby list. Ridiculous. Gave up on that and decided to just drive. Rented a car and drove across PA. Stopped for a 30 min power nap along the way. Made it home at 1:30 am and then got up at 6 am for work today. Argued (politely) with a woman on the phone for 40 min to get the checked bag I had left in Newark on a plane to Pittsburgh today. Success. Returned the rental after work and picked up my bag and the correct car. Travel is finally complete! I'm tired.

C • Oy 5

Back to the heat and humidity.

Spectator race at Mork. A4. 6.3 km.

In the pouring rain. I started with Kevin since it was the open course and you could start at any time. We made it to 1 at the same time and then I didn't see him again. Took it easy and enjoyed the woods. There were so many people! My navigation was pretty clean. 4 - Couldn't quite figure out the terrain in the circle. I got close enough and then there were a bunch of people that led me to it. 10 - The ride to the river crossing was beautiful :) 13 - Drifted E and had to correct. I'm finally getting the hang of this terrain just in time to leave.


Then we spectated the relay. So fun to watch!

C • Great performance! 2

Back to the car with a quick stop to download.

We wanted to get to Sweden since we were so close! Decided on a short hike in Tresticklans National Park. An enjoyable morning walk with nice views of the lake. Legs feeling much better than yesterday. The long took a lot out of me!

Mom and I cheered for Kevin at the spectator race in the morning. It looked like a fun course, but my legs were beat from yesterday so I opted not to run.

Then we went for a walk around the coast of Asmaloy. It was pretty - lots of bare rock. And we mostly had the path to ourselves. Kevin misread the scale bar and it ended up being quite a bit farther than expected. I was dragging by the end. Should have brought some snacks.

Warmup/cooldown.

WOC Long (11.7 km)

I was told at 8 pm the evening before the race that I would not be allowed to run in the long because I did not have a race with a world ranking score >600. (I have never run a WRE before the WOC middle qualifier). This was incredibly disappointing as I had travelled across the world to run in this race. It does state that somewhere in the rules, and I am fine with following the rules, but that should be checked well in advance. Not the evening before when a start list has already been handed out. Erin and the team were fantastic. A complaint was filed and the committee ruled unanimously that all of the athletes could run (there were a number of others in a similar situation). It wasn't all sorted until 9:30 pm, so I really was not in an ideal mental place for the evening before a big race. But at least I got to race!

Spent the morning in quarantine getting in the right mental state for some solid orienteering. Goal was a clean race.

Started in the arena! That was a neat experience. Tried to look like I knew what I was doing while standing on the platform. Had a good first control which helped settle my nerves. Took the road around to 2. When I came over the hilltop there were like 8 men with cameras camped out on the other side. Lots of clicking as I punched. I figured they were calibrating their settings while waiting for the top men to come through. Clean through the first loop and then on to the first long leg. It took me longer than it should have to come to a decision on a route. Not sure that I picked a great route, but I did execute it well. A few short controls and then another long leg. I took the road around, but maybe should have cut through earlier? Some hesitation close to the circle, but sorted it out quickly. Went straight to 11 and drifted a little N. Probably should have gone around. Then through the arena passage and on to the last part of the course! Went around on the trail to 15. Then just had to keep my focus for the last few controls. By the end I was almost used to all of the cameramen in the woods.

Quite happy with this race. I had a clean run and enjoyed the course (although it did seem like a lot of road running). I had a loose goal time of 2:10 and I came very close. I feel slow comparatively, but I am definitely satisfied with my run.

C • Wow! 9

Event: WOC 2019 - Norway
 

Warmup/cooldown.

WOC Middle Qualifier - Heat 1 (3.9 km)

Not the race I was hoping to have for my WOC debut. 1-3 went well. I was running my own race and reading the map well. Small mistake on 4. I overran the control and corrected off the next set of cliffs. Refocused and 5-9 were clean. Then a massive error on 10 when I tried to pick up the pace. I did intend to go around the cliffs to the north, but my bearing was slightly off after climbing the hill and I wasn't maintaining contact with my map. When I realized I had no idea where I was I just ran around aimlessly (thinking of all those people watching my dot wander) instead of stopping and taking the time to relocate. Took way too long to figure it out. A disappointing run, but it was an awesome experience and I'm looking forward to the long tomorrow!

C • Watching the dot wander 3

Model event. We arrived later than most other teams and there were herd paths in the woods between the controls. I did a few out of order to make sure I was focusing on my navigation and not just following tracks. Went pretty well. Difference between knolls/hilltops/cliffs/unmapped rocky areas is really starting to click.