Training Log Archive: Kris

JK long distance - 4th (4th overall)

My route from today's long distance - Benny Hill theme optional but encouraged https://t.co/TmsS4Cseu1 #jk2018 pic.twitter.com/AqLGC4E5LC

— Kris Jones (@Thekrisjones) April 1, 2018

Ok for the first few but then a wobble on 4 and a bigger mistake on 6. Saw Peter had almost caught me by 7 and I thought "What are you doing? Pull your finger out!". Good through the next section of course and when I next saw Peter on the crossover at 15-16 I had pulled out more of a gap. I fell on 18 to 19 and smashed my compass which was less than ideal but was ok through the next couple. Took the wrong path after the stream towards 21 but apart from that I adapted pretty well to not having a compass.

Then the calamity ensued - left 22 following the line to 28. At a glance (and when tired) I guess it is easy to misread 23 and 28, but I didn't realise until 3/4s of the way there when I saw Speakey running the opposite way. I'd run so far out of my way I honestly considered sacking it in here but thought I might as well head to 23, see if I was now around Peter and have a nice jolly the rest of the way. If I didn't find Peter, I could just sack it in at the spectator. (Jonny ran 20.4km for the race, so whilst not all of the difference was at this control, it gives an idea of how much extra I might have run)..

Caught Peter leaving 24 and sat in and followed for the next couple of controls. When I went to the front at 28 we immediately missed as I had no compass going into the green. Then came the long leg to 29. I immediately bailed out to the road, Peter shouted something about it being out of bounds but I thought: "it isn't on the map, I've had a mare already, just go for it" (I checked with the controller after and he said it was fine). I dropped Peter on this leg and it gave me a new lease of life. I was quite happy with my race from then on. A couple of slips on the circle, not unexpected without the safety of a compass, but I felt full of running right until the end.

If I really wanted to do well at long distance I think I'd be a bit pissed off. There isn't any need for that many controls so the situation where lines are confused shouldn't ever be an issue. From the sounds of it, I wasn't the only one. It's a selection race and a WRE - these things should be picked up. As things stand, I'm happy to just laugh at it. I'd have liked to challenge for the overall, but I had a good hard run out, some technical training and enjoyed quite a lot of it.

JK middle - 2nd +46s.

Pretty good except for one big moment of stupidity at 15. I'd missed 14 slightly (15s or so) and the panic from that combined with the lack of oxygen from the hill climb to make me think that I was looking for a crag in a depression. I stopped in the dip before the control and was very confused. Lost about a minute. Apart from that my mistakes were generally few and pretty small.

I really enjoyed today, fast and furious. Could have done with fewer controls (like most big UK events) but generally I thought it was ok. Legs felt better than yesterday as well which is nice. Tomorrow will be interesting..

My route from today's middle race https://t.co/AwKrHkYWSG pic.twitter.com/AYGyRRR4Ix

— Kris Jones (@Thekrisjones) March 31, 2018

JK sprint - 1st.

Very easy navigation - Just a matter of not switching off and pushing hard. Felt like I didn't have the smoothest start but then got into a good rhythm after a few minutes. A couple of 2-3 second mistakes over the whole course, probably 5-8s total. Running-wise I didn't feel quite top notch but that was probably because there wasn't anything to distract so you always felt like you should be pushing harder..

My route from yesterdays sprint race https://t.co/dp8Eu6EpuP pic.twitter.com/cuxtOukL7S

— Kris Jones (@Thekrisjones) March 31, 2018

Inc. 4 strides

#reversetaper

5 x 2 full laps ~1380m (90s)
First 4 hard and then 1 at tempo/sustained
4.03, 3.56, 3.55, 3.53, 4.17
Working hard but the pace was good. Felt like I had a bit more in the tank also.

Started off feeling broken but warmed into it.

Progress check (6 weeks to Europeans):
Technical: Reasonably satisfied with my orienteering the last couple of weekends. The basics are solid but I still need to build the consistency at race speed and under pressure. I haven't quite built the finesse to understand which decisions are important and which just need to be made yet. I should be aware of this next weekend and try to use my time more wisely. Plenty of improvements to be made before the Europeans - time on a map and armchair time will both be important to make these improvements.

Physical: I've struggled for consistency more than I'd like recently - 2 illnesses and one injury taking out a total of 13 days since Christmas (13/85). My general running fitness is good, if lacking a bit of sharpness. Where I think I'm lacking a touch is in getting up to speed and keeping the speed high through terrain; either in a quick fire sprint o type situation or in the forest where the challenge is constantly changing. I'll be more diligent on performing hill sprints/strides/conditioning in the run up to Europeans and more orienteering in general should also help address this. However, the main goal before Europeans is to get that consistency.

Mental: I don't have the same confidence as I have had at times in the past. This is probably linked to the feeling of lacking sharpness, both on the technical and physical side. I don't think this is a problem at this stage but it is something to try to build on before Europeans - hopefully addressing the other bits will help with this one.