Training Log Archive: OJ

JK long distance, also Kyloe (but with lots of different names so that we would think it was a different area). Another beautiful day and a spectacular hilltop assembly area that was nothing if not risky in April. Had a good run off last start, a few small mistakes in the first part of the course, but orienteered better and felt stronger in the later part. Managed to pull out a minute or so on JD and Speaky, and Scott took the day off, giving me some extra breathing space.

Really pleased with the weekend, it's been a real boost after a few weeks of injury and work. I feel like I have been pretty lucky though--this weekend was made for me with rough and tough forests that don't allow for really fast running and reward safe orienteering. Now I need to get back into some good training and try to sharpen up a bit before the international season kicks off.

Good warm up and some half hearted jogging about to warm down. Tired legs.

JK Middle, Kyloe, really tough, rough area and a challenging course with loads of controls and direction change. Really up for this and got quite nervous for the start, all helped along by the organisers who had made a great atmosphere with a start podium, etc. Missed no. 1 in a vague area of slope and vegetation detail and that gave me a kick up the backside. It was a big help to catch Craney at about half way--he helped me through some tricky bits and even held a branch out of my way at one point, now that's kind. Biggish mistake near the end, but managed to scrape a narrow win over Scott, who also had a few mistakes out there.

C • holding the branch out of the way 1

Jogging about before and after, enjoying the sunshine.

Event: JK 2009
 

JK Sprint at Newcastle uni. First 'real' race of the season, so all very exciting, set off pretty hard, reached no. 3, no control. Looked around for a few seconds, saw some army cadets who had been guarding it looking confused, realised it had been nicked by some scallies, and carried on with my course. Since I had a pack of most of the top guys just after me I guessed that it wouldn't be replaced in time, and it would most likely be void. I carried on racing but kind of lost the buzz. They did replace it fast though, and it was only me and a couple of others that were effected so it wasn't voided, fair enough really.

Ross won in a really quick time over a minute faster than me, and Rhodri had a great run to take 2nd.

Some jogging with Rob and a few sprints to try to get a good reading on the speed trap - managed 14 mph, Nixon could only get 13.

Long day of traveling yesterday and a tiring trip to recover from. It feels strange to be at home. Added to that the fact that it is raining, and there is no way I'm going out running. I was led to believe that it would be summer when I arrived home!

C • oh dear, you seem to have m... 2

Morning run before heading home, really nice day today, although very cold. Felt really rubbish running. Did one effort along the river to get the legs moving.

Some drills and sprints to try to wake myself up, didn't really work.

Really busy day at the archive, and the coffee machine was broken, nightmare. Too tired for any kind of training, went for some borshch and beer to celebrate finishing up.

Usual stuff at the climbing wall gym.

And an easier weights session, legs still pretty tired for some reason.

C • wrong day! 5

On the treadmill...

Good climbing session, did a load of traversing and some bouldering and then made a friend and did some routes as well, although I was pretty tired already by then. Good to get some expert coaching from a really good Russian climber!