Training Log Archive: schnitzer

O-Ringen Day 2 (100/111 +37:50). Physically much better today, had power available the whole way. My race went extremely well technically, very slight misses on 9 and 16, 15secs and 30secs lost. I lost time on the way to 6 but only climbing up into the rocks for 30secs or so until I thought better of it and went another way. A bit hesitant on route to the tricky number 11 as well.

Course and area much better today, more like what you would expect. It rained quite heavily for a long period and that coupled with going in and out of light green areas with nobody else around gave a good wilderness atmosphere.

It's a bit depressing that I felt good physically and lost very little time only to be nearly 38mins behind the winner, over 3mins/km slower. I hope it's mostly my lack of ability to run through rocky terrain that makes me so inferior (it's true that I've spent much less time in the terrain this year) and that it won't be such a disadvantage in Scotland.

C • terrain 3

Started off slowly, then picked up the pace a bit talking with SJ then started properly running when I realised I might be late - arrived bang on my call-up.

O-Ringen Day 1 (105/114 +46:00). Woke up a bit sniffly and maybe that had something to do with how physically off I was. Just wasn't strong enough for the terrain or the distance. Walked controls 15-19 and jogged the last couple when the terrain turned lighting fast.

Made my biggest mistake at 3, I'm guessing 90secs time loss. Another minute at 5 and a very small miss on 16. So navigationally ok.

Pretty uninspiring course which didn't do enough with the limited good bits of this part of the forest. Don't really expect that at the O-Ringen and a very long leg through brashings and green with a very easy control at the end made me think that I might as well be back in bloody England.

Event: Swedish O-Ringen
 

8:45 WU
5:45 WD

Elisabeth and I ran from the tent into the more detailed training area of the 3 on offer then took it in turns doing a leg each. Beatiful terrain with immense crags and boulders, just rock everywhere really. Elisabeth seemed to get all the hard legs and I did myself justice with the easier ones at a really slow speed - technically perfect. Munched on blueberries pretty much the whole way around.

To ski slope. Saw a fawn (yes I did look that up, I was going to put baby deer), no sign of the mother.

8*0.44km & 80m. No lady weights today but planned to do a couple more reps than last time. Gradually build it up - should have started back in April as soon as the snow had gone, I will next year when hopefully I won't be so ill or injured. Anyway went for 4mins a rep - same as last time thinking that it would be bloody hard by number 8 but it seems I underestimated my freshness...

1) 4:05
2-3) 4:00
4-5) 3:55
6) 3:50
7) 3:45
8) 3:30

Should have kept it consistent and done 10 or 12 reps but didn't get back from work until 8:30, major busy at the mo. It's hard enough staying upright descending near the bottom as it is without it being dark as well. Average gradient of 40% and the first 1/4 of the slope is significantly steeper than the rest. It was pretty dark at only 10pm tonight and it's a bit depressing that we're already a month past the longest day. There will be snow soon.

Saw a smallish black snake. It was a lot more scared of me than I was of it - Sweden is like Britain for snakes, only adders can hurt you.

Downs...

1-3) 1:55
4) 2:00
5-7) 1:55
8) 2:00

Jogged back home a shorter, more roady way - less chance of ankle damage in the dark.

Saw a big frog... or toad, I have no idea which it was. Then saw a huge one a short while after, like the size of my wallet (physical size, certainly no reference to how much money I have in it). The internet reckons they were toads because they prefer to walk than hop apparently.

C • Saw a mushroom. 2