Training Log Archive: Keith

Manga Pirau Waikawa Beach

First world cup race in NZ since 1994. Very sucessful with lots of people out watching. Inspiring stuff. Some good NZ placings. Felt like a WC race, with medal ceremony etc. IOF should be commended for putting the World back in World Cup.

Our race started through the open dunes, i pushed a bit more than recent days. Did a conservative route choice on 5, which whilst it worked, involved 2 dune crossings and a patch of mostly untracked green, so lost a bit of time. Was a bit frustrating as the direct route apperntly you could see the man-made object, so they lucked-in. Most kiwi's know that that kind of beach leg is extremly risky. Then suffering up through the dunes. When I got to 12 my SI card wouldn't register (hence the mp in some results), I did get reinstated later. Seems random that it didn't work for my card, but Carsten and everyone else behind me had no problems....

Identified 13 as being hard, and went right, thinking i would see the bend and the hill. There was just small (too small to be mapped) sand dunes everywhere, and my plan quickly came unstuck. Then i went to some high ground and try to relocate, which was fairly unsucessful. Before eventually deciding I was too far south and heading north. Lost about 4 mins, and race gone.
It was frustrating, and in retrospect I should've gone straight into it, over the index hill or in from the flat on the left. In relocation, I probably should've done something more radical like out to the east to the flat area. I'm also useless at relocation, partly causeIi don't do it that often :-). In summary my sand dune orienteering is just to poor to do this kind of control clean - and it always has been.
Then followed Carsten down beach to 14, which he promptly stuffed up and so did I (2 mins).

Enjoyable race - Ed Nicholas had a blinder, maybe he should emigrate.

Middle Champs C 1 - Splits

Ocenia day 2, Osgiliath, Waitarere north.

Nice pine forest to start, then a loop out to coast, through low vis, and into the open sand dunes. Started alright, then identified 6 as being difficult and fluffued it up anyway, should've gone more left. Was struggling with running, through soft decomposing surface, and tuned ouit on the way to 9. Ended up hitting track to east and relocating.... but got that wrong, so a bit of a muck up. Found the low vis stuff sutiablly tricky and difficult to run through. Though only 22 seemed real tough. Went out to the road from 26 to 27, which was conservative, but worked.

WUD

Event 2 C 1 - Splits

Event: 2013 Oceania Carnival & WC Races
 

Ocenia day 1, Fusilier - Santoft, Manawatu sand dunes

Things a bit tight at the start, but made it in the end. Beuatiful runnable forested sandunes.
Generally cruised, don't have much speed at the moment. Couple of medium mistakes, mainly in the green strip which was a bit lower vis. Particuarly number 5 and 7. A joy to be orienteering in nice terrain in warm temperatures.

Good to see all the orienteers out in NZ. Wherever I go Orienteering in the world I always see the same people. You just can't get away from Ed Nicholas and the swiss guy with the dirty black mo and flag.

WUD

Event 1 C 1 - Splits

Walk with Matt and Leisa up the hackett to the waterfalls. Wanted to go up inwoods loookout, but weather was a bit poo.
Good catchup.

Standard from bayview. Along to aerial and back. Felt OK, though a little weary from last night. I had got stuck into the morgan's spiced. It backs up the evidence from Tim's november session, that morgans spiced is a good choice to get a little merry, but still be able to run ok the next day.

Went ice skating with the crew at Tahuna. Good to see NZ hasn't lost it's northern roots compleltly. I was pretty incompetent to start. But kindof got the hang of it. Got quite alright at one point, before a nearly crash.
Then a spectular wipe out, ended with me being quite wet and a sore head. Did a few more laps, and then gave up.
Great fun.

Walk with mother from the glen round the cable bay walkway loop. Up to top of airstrip and back down the 4wd track.