Training Log Archive: schnitzer

So another Scottish 6 Days is over and it is time to write an essay summarising my current thoughts and feelings.

Firstly the competition itself. Quite disappointing really in terms of the areas themselves but it wasn't unexpected as I am a forest lover and the West side of the Highlands is always going to be much more moorland-based. Plus it has worse weather. At least it was 10 years since the last time it was over this way and it's back to the East side in 2013 - all good, see you there.

Now on to me. I am disappointed to have not improved in terms of my results in comparison to 2009, as I did in comparison with 2007, 2005 and so on and so on. However I haven't had the best time this season with illnesses and injuries and actually there are a lot of positives...

I felt really good on day 6, fresh in fact - contrary to what I expected with much less training leading up to the competition in comparison with 2009. I'm pretty sure I didn't feel that fresh on day 6 in 2009 (maybe I didn't taper enough).

I am not as light as I was in 2009. I certainly didn't turn up at the start line on day 1 at race weight and things got worse over the week eating lots of fatty, sugary food and drinking every night with me Bruv, fairly heavily on some days. I am probably a few kgs heavier than in 2009 and I guess 5kg from race weight which would make a massive difference what with all of the hills. I am the same height as Keith and am carrying much more fat but yet I am running slightly faster. I do appreciate that I have done more running training than him though both on hills and in terrain.

Now it is time to work out what is happening next in terms of my orienteering goals. This process would have been a bit blurry if I was still living in the UK but fortunately I live in Sweden and the Autumn season is much more massive here. I will do races every weekend from now until mid-September including these monsters...

27-28 Aug - Stockholm District Champs Long/Middle
10-11 Sep - National Champs Long
16-18 Sep - National Champs Middle/Relay

So a few weeks to get the weight down and lots to look forward to. No OMM this year for me, can't be bothered with it so I don't have to worry about doing any slow ultra-long sessions with a pack.

My biggest goal is simple - to shave a load of time of my PB for my long Nacka route. I will attempt this some time around my 35th birthday. I was in really good shape for me when I set the best time in Nov 2009 (maybe the best shape I have ever been in) and it will be very satisfying to know that 2 years later and older that I am fitter and faster.

Day 6 (34/59). I was under the impression before racing that I could make up some places overall with a good run but actually even with a perfect run I could have only made up 1. Out of the runners a few minutes ahead of me in the overall standings only Keith and Andy Powell were running slower and certainly not by much and the navigation was pretty easy to say the least.

I made a big mistake on 14 probably losing 2-3 minutes - a parallel error and it took me ages to work out what had happened. Lost 45 seconds on the second last control as well which was severly annoying as it was very simple, I just didn't look at the map.

Day 5 (31/57). Seemed to be in a rather good mood today - physically strong and very few navigational issues - my best run of the week. Finally got the blister pain under control as well with the aid of compeed.

Interesting area and course - lots of variation and the some complicated pockets of detail.

Day 4 (51/62). Fairly confident that I would be fresh after a day off I pushed hard from the start and was virtually clean to number 9 - in 41st at that point. Things got worse after that as the long leg to the spectator control made me quite bored. Threw time away either side of that control in a comical fashion. More mistakes at 12, 17 and a big mistake at 18 turned my run very ordinary. Pretty crap area.

Day 3 (39/67). Was a bit worried about the distance/climb today but for nothing it would seem, I kept a steady pace right to the end with no tiredness issues. No serious technical problems but the time I did throw away was a bit silly - quite easy navigation but as enjoyable as yesterday all in all. Lots of blister pain today.

Day 2 (38/69). Felt really good physically and pushed hard. My worst mistake was at number 1 but fortunately the time loss was kept low by young Jamie Stevenson changing his start time to a minute after me and after overtaking me for the 1st out of 3 times confidently found the control for me.

Really enjoyed the forest and the course. A result much more fitting for my current fitness and navigational ability.