Training Log Archive: GM

RTW

Stuck at work so a later RHFW than usual.

Victorian Long Distance Champs at Kooyoora. Overall, a much better run than yesterday. Only a couple of small blips, but mostly pleased with my choices and execution. My fitness could be a lot better but I am slowly improving that. I took the route choice out to the left on the first leg and ran most of it on the road and path leading into the control. I caught Malcolm Ingham by 4 minutes 2/3 of the way to the control ... and we then bumped into each other every now and again throughout the course and finished within 10 seconds of each other. I decided to avoid the green as much as possible so went wide to the left on 2 down through the more open gully to pick up the small path which was 'hidden' in the rocks and green. I overran the point where I wanted to leave the path so Malcolm jumped in front of me. Coming into 2 I thought it was the SW side so when I didn't see the flag I spent 15 seconds trying to work out what I had done wrong - when I realised it was the SE side I jogged around the boulder a bit more and there it was. I really enjoyed my orientering through the next few controls, linking together the route across the big bare rocks on the way into 4. Somewhere in there I got ahead of Malcolm again. I took a wide route to the right going to 7 which may not have been the fastest route, but I wanted to avoid the wide swathe of darker green immediately before the control on the direct route. I didn't run hard enough on the easy long leg to 8 losing nearly 3 minutes to Warren on this leg alone. And speaking of Warren, he passed me as we were running into 8, but I had a better exit route so kept with him to 9, but then he just pulled away and I didn't want to tuck my map under my arm and follow - there's no fun in that. Malcolm was back with me at 9 too and we diced most of the way back to the finish, but each doing our own thing. Only real blemish was on 14 where I misread the description as western rockface so went to that one but no control. Spent a minute stuffing around before I worked out my problem - the description said eastern rock face. I often seem to get the east/west thing confused. Ok through to the end and finished in 2nd place, 10 minutes off Warren's time but 4 minutes ahead of Malcolm who was 3rd. I was pleased to have the 3rd fastest time on course 8, ahead of all the M50s, and only beaten by a quinella of Keys - Warren and Aston. Another great event in a fantastic area.

Event: Victorian Middle/Long Distance Championships - Mt Kooyoora
 

Victorian Middle Distance Champs at Kooyoora. Great area, great course, great weather! However, I managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on this one. Good start through 1 and 2 and most of the way to 3. A small wobble at the end when I estimated where I was in relation to my AP, but in the green saw the wrong high point so lost a minute fluffing around. Picked it up again through 4 to 10 and was really enjoying it. Then I just switched off a bit leaving 10 and spent the next 10 minutes stuffing around trying to relocate, but decided I had to just go back to the previous control, take a deep breath, and start again. Took it carefully this time and found 11 but it wasn't what I was expecting - I had flipped the contours at one point. Lost a good 10 minutes on this one which is a big chunk of time on a middle distance course. After finding 11 I was ok through to the finish but the impetus had gone. Six minutes behind the winner, and 40 seconds behind 2nd, but scraped into 3rd so scored a nice mug. We now have a set as MaryMac was 3rd on her course too.

The walk/jog up the hill from the assembly to the start got my heart and legs nicely warmed up, plust the views were good.

Out to the dam and back on the grass

RTW with MaryMac as far as Lake G, then I branched off and was riding past the mall when I suddenly thought 'jocks and socks .... bugger' so did a U turn and rode home and back with the necessary undergarments for a comfortable day at work.

Lunchtime run from the ABSHouse over Gossan then across the red foot bridge into Aranda. Up DS Hill and then around the back of Aranada and eventually back, sticking to the dirt paths and grass along Bindubi and Eastern Valley Way.

RHFW

RTW

From work over Cook saddle and along LBG to ANU to meet MaryMac for a coffee at Vanilla Bean (no Hoggster sighting), then back through ANU and along Belconnen Way to Benjamin Way. It was about 10 minutes quicker coming back - a combination of a shorter route and a tail wind.

RHFW with a bit extra along Ginninderra Drive to meet MaryMac on her commute.

RTW with just some light sprinkle

Run from work to the top of Black Mt. A few people out walking but otherwise very quiet.

RHFW via JKP and Ginninderra Creek