Training Log Archive: Kris

Tiomila first leg.

A bit nervous the day before as I haven't had the best of luck the last couple of years, spent most of the day dozing and getting a bit bored so by the time it came to go I was more looking forward to starting than anything. Legs didn't feel great warming up but I felt pretty ready.

Mad start as always and on the first couple of controls I was quite passive, I wanted to take my own routes but thought the safest was to stay in the pack so I did. Just made sure I checked off features and kept an eye on my compass. Not attacking it very much at all. I think the third control was probably the hardest, really vague stuff. Found it fine, Nixon steering the group in. Pushed a bit harder around 4,5,6,7 as I could start to see a gap open up in front, got to the front at number 8, still uneventful, compass and picking off features. Here half the group went around and half went straight, I went around and Nixon went straight. Next couple of controls were quite easy, leading into another hard long leg, I had very little concept of what the vegetation was doing on this leg and backed off a bit, looking up at the other guys and the terrain for identifiable features. Dropped back a bit here, maybe 20 places but it was worth it to be secure going into the control. I picked up the places I had lost on the next leg and after crossing the road felt like the job was mostly done. Nixon came up behind me again just after the road and I could see we were back at the front. From here to the finish felt like textbook relay running. I stayed in second or third letting the leader set the pace but keeping on top of the navigation and we were pretty good through the last section. Into the last couple of controls I was a bit more nervy as I knew I was close to a really good result and I let a couple of people passed being a bit over secure on the last few easy ones. Got to the last control in 7th or 8th and then ran the run in as hard as I could, no need to be secure any more. Got into 3rd by the finish and 2nd by the handover but couldn't catch the NTNUI guy.

Really chuffed with the performance, didn't feel anything special but it was a well executed first leg and whilst I thought I was capable of doing it after some almost performances, it is always nice to confirm it and actually do it.

As a team we just missed out on the Kratov night train after being in a position to catch it. If we had caught and ridden it it would have almost guaranteed a top 15 result. Ended up in 23rd at the end which I think we should be pleased with.

C • Nae Bad 5

Easy on a hotel adjacent map.

Orienteering intervals, pretty good on the first three but got the wrong gaffle on the fourth and made a big mistake on the fifth.

Night O on a horrible green area. Got in a bit of a boo.