Training Log Archive: iansmith

I followed up the competition with an OUSA Board discussion with Tom Hollowell about the relationship between OUSA and IOF, a US Team meeting, dinner, awards, and a game of Seven Wonders. I had a great discussion with my therapist, Thierry Gueorgiou, about the importance of pain and loss in the broader context of life. Pain and loss provides the moments during which you grow, and it is in the context of those times that happiness is truly fulfilling.

Jog, drills, mental focus.

NAOC Long race. There were moments when I felt like I was orienteering well, but there were also a few disaster points. The net result is that I am dissatisfied with this race; my performance had so much more potential to be better. The map at 1:15 was very difficult to read, and there were several sections where I not only lacked flow, but was genuinely confused.

I was careful to 1, as I wanted to start cleanly and get into the map, the terrain, and the scale. I was very poor on my compass exiting from the trail junction and lost about 30s. The marshes were clearly good features to use.

I executed 2-3 carefully but cleanly. My plan to 4 was good, but my execution wobbled near the end, and I was a bit low. Will Critchley (+3 minutes) caught me here, and I punched the control about 20s after him. I was a bit messy and hesitant to 5; I abstracted away much of the detail between the trail and the marsh. I resolved to be more aggressive, and while I hesitated a little to 6, I was clean and had a good split. I elected to contour left to 7, and I was clean. I felt pretty good at this point, though the uphill to 8 was rough. I caught sight of Critchley leaving 8, which was encouraging.

To 9, I drifted high and found myself unsure of where I was, with lots of rock features around me. I thought I was clean on my plan, but while I saw W and two others searching, I decided to bail to relocate. I wasn't far off my course, and relocating off a hill on the trail. After careful attack, I lost about 3 minutes.

I decided to go straight to 10, and while I executed acceptably, I was very tentative on the last third. I think the north trail was a bit better. I really struggled reading the detail on the map, and I was very cautious to 11 and 12. I executed 13 ok, but made a foolish mistake in the last 500m that cost 3 minutes. 15 was a disaster - I felt like I was wandering around for 5 minutes, but it may have only been 3-4. I chose to run just above 7 and go left of the line, but the trail system confused me greatly. I caught sight of Ross at 15, and hung with him to 16. He messed up 17, while I was clean. I put on some gas to try to hold him off, and managed to run through the spectator chute and to 20 before he caught me. I celebrated by messing up 15s on 21 and 30s on 22.

Cool down with a reluctant Will.

Long - Blue (WRE) - Splits