Training Log Archive: Craney

At The Cascades. Came 3rd (1.06 down on Nick Hann) and Australian Champion, keeping up a decent record in this event. Different tactic to yesterday - less respect for the terrain and just do my thing. Even so, I was tired and not full of confidence from the off, hesitating badly when I got near the circle at #1. However Shep came in at that moment having started 6mins before - lucky for me and saved me losing more time, but a wounder for him. ~30secs lost. We ran together the next few legs and suddenly the whole 'orienteering race feeling' came back. Felt much sharper with the Nav and more urgency in the running. Banana-ed #6 losing 15secs, but then had a great section to #12 (which was the most challenging part of the course). Small miss on #13 that seemed to catch a few out. Only other sizeable miss was 45secs on #16 where I read the wrong description - stupid and frustrating. Turns out that cost me the lead. Finished ok but not with the speed of Nick Hann.

So, a good run and a pleasing result. Could see the time of the NZ-ers no probs but would have had to be near perfect which would have been asking a lot in this stuff. Can go to Cairns happy now :)

At The Cascades. Came 9th. Normally severe boo inducement but this time just had to take my hat off to world class terrain and world class map. Done a lot of orienteering over the years, but hard to recall a much more challenging and fun race. Unfortunately I just wasn't ready for it - excuses galore but ultimately comes down to the old chestnut of not enough race experience in relevant terrain.

Plan was to be cautious and read everything into #1. However at 1:15000 that was just ridiculous. Why has the top level of our sport become like this? Oh well. Didn't manage well and binned a whole heap of time over the first 3 controls. Better after that but, in hindsight, paid too much respect for the terrain and took too many wide pathy routes and spent too long bumbling trying to make out too many tiny features. Despite the slow pace I found myself proper rooted by the final few controls. More time lost on #18 and another few mins on #21 and #22.

Still, not a disaster and kept running. So it came as a surprise to end up 17mins behind Matt Ogden, down in 9th place and 5th cockie! Quality running from the top guys. Gave me a few ideas for tomorrow...

Short jog at Glen Aplin near Stanthorpe after a long day travelling up to the Oz Champs. Legs felt ok.

Tempo 10mins aiming for 3:30s. Got there ok - first half quite easy, second half a struggle.

Warm-up and warm-down jogs.

Lunch run with Jasen Higuchi up Red Hill. Good to chat most of the way, and we ended up pushing pretty hard up the hill.

O-training on Isaacs. Good to get in the terrain and do some more technical training. A bit achy after yesterday though, and never felt ahead of the game navigationally.

Warm-up jog.