Training Log Archive: Craney

Astley's Tower. 18.1km in bushy terrain with a 105 EWT - a beast! Was looking forward to this - the old map reminded me of Winterfold in England where I had a good classic once, and it was quite similar but a bit bushier and lower-vis. Felt like I paced the race really well overall - felt reasonably comfortable physically and focussed on the map the whole way. Dropped about 4mins all up which, again, was ok for the area but potentially punishable.

The first few were tricky. I missed about 30secs on #4 looking in all the wrong gullies. Took a good route on the long leg to #6 I think, but missed 30secs at the end dropping into the creek too quickly. I also caught James Bradshaw 2mins halfway along this leg. Spent the next couple of controls trying to drop him, but it quickly came apparent that he was having none of it. I could get a bit of a gap on paths but as soon as we hit the terrain he was back on me. So I settled down quite quickly and just focussed on running my race. Went through a dodgy patch dropping 30secs on #10, 1min on #11 and 30secs on #13 (although it was a long leg so the splits don't show that one). Got it back together again though and ran a really good section through to #21. Hesitated on #22 and then ended up taking a wide route to #23 which I didn't mean to do at first - turned out ok though. Good through the spectator bit, but lost about 1min on #26 which was really tucked away - in fact James and I both punched another control before realising it was wrong. Finished well. James was the only other one under 2hrs, so happy about that.

3 really fun races, all really well planned and mapped. Great to have a WOC-length classic for once, and really pleased to get round relatively unscathed (apart from a fair bit of blood when my lip exploded).

Routegadget

C • A big weekend.. 5

C • Aussie woc team 7

Long NOL 1 - Splits

Event: NOL Round 3 / WOC Selection Trial - 'Coalfields Classic'
 

University of Newcastle. Didn't have that long to get ready once we'd found the place (travel directions were from the entrance of the uni to the car park!) and felt a bit under warmed-up on the first few controls. Wasn't sure about going left to #2, but seemed ok. It got really fiddly around #5 and I got on the wrong level and tried to open a door into a building - it was actually really fortunate it was locked as I could see the corridor through it and it looked like it fitted the map! Worked it out quickly though, so only dropped 10-15secs. Then missed the underpass to #6 costing a few more seconds. Fine through the next section of short legs. Maybe missed the best route on the long leg, but caught sight of Bryan at the end of it. Reeled him in over the final section of the course and really felt like my legs got going in this bit. Got past him only to mess up the penultimate control by 5secs letting him through. Did just enough to take the win from Simon :o)

A great sprint race with a bit of everything. On the face of it quite straightforward, but very difficult to have a perfect run so I was quite happy to only drop 30secs ish.

Routegadget

'The Environs of the Old Pelaw Main Colliery' (catchy). Felt fine after this morning warming up so was able to get straight into it. The area was cool - ok, lots of rubbish and burnt out cars, but loads of little fiddly details going on and really well-mapped vegetation. It all felt quite familiar to me, reminding me of areas in England like Wombwell near Sheffield. Nice and smooth through the first 9 short legs (banana-ed a bit on #2 and #7). Took the safe route to #10 which lost time but I'd do it again given half the chance. #11 was a real game-changer - I dropped 30secs through hesitations, although was never far off line and high-fived myself when I found it. Picked the pace up on the long leg, but lost time on #14 expecting it to be the spectator control (Grant was actually ahead of me here, but did go to the spectator control and mp-ed). Going well til #19 where I ran across the ride without seeing it and did more of a boomerang than a banana but somehow only lost 20secs. Got it back together again for the rest of the course, but got it really wrong on the last control - wrong route, then punched the wrong last control before realising dropping about 25secs. So, a slightly scrappy run, but mistakes probably only totalled about 2mins, which was ok for this but potentially punishable - good enough for the win again fortunately. Very fun course.

Routegadget

C • thats probably the biggest ... 1

NOL 1 - Splits

Middle NOL 1 - Splits

Driving up to Newcastle in the arvo.

Headtorchy run up Davidson Trig and Red Hill - felt pretty good all told.

6x3mins round Arthur Circuit (a road of about 2km in an exact circle) in Forrest. Quite a good loop actually as it's on a slope and each interval was about half a circuit, so if you start half way up you get some up and down on each one. Felt not unreasonable.

Jog there and back, and 1min recoveries. I've decided that if New York is 'the city that never sleeps', Canberra must be 'the city that is home from work by 6pm, curled up in front of the telly by 7pm, tucked up in bed by 9pm'.

At home studying today, so thought I'd make the most of a nice sunny day and head out to Blackie to re-run an old Twilight course of mine from 2007. Only problem was I simply couldn't be arsed. Got 20mins round, had a sit down, then ran back to the car. Not a trace of guilt so it's all good.

C • Studying? 2

Evening roady cruise into Civic, Braddon, Campbell and back. Felt alright. Baltic out there tonight.