Training Log Archive: slow-twitch

Pre race warm up/jog to the start

Waiuku South. Still infested with man-eating cutty grass with enough fallen timber to build a small town hidden in it! 2nd out of 6 in M21A and Simon A just a couple of minutes ahead (Lise and Hanny, 1st and 2nd in W21E were a BIT further ahead - either side of 65 minutes). Caught the previous starter by #2, we were together to 7, split on the long leg but met again at 8, together to 12 (then I took a bad route and he got ahead) then again 16 to the finish. Annoying I couldn't keep any small breaks I made on him when I seemed to be out-navigating him on most legs, but he just seemed to find better lines through all the rubbish on the ground. However I am happy I kept my head throughout the encounter and wasn't pressured into anything too silly mistake wise. A little bit of time lost here and there getting to the circle OK but not spiking the control (7, 8, 12, 19 are the ones I remember), drifted a bit to one side climbing to 6 (but caught myself before too much damage done), and using a track I knew would be soft sand on 12 to 13. So probably no more than 3-4 minutes lost technically, just plenty of room for improvement fitness/strength wise.

Warm down. Seems to have been successful, as after driving back to Welly I still seem to be walking OK.

Event: Auckland Champs
 

Half hearted warm up and down before and after race probably adds to 5 minutes. Really needed the warm down more to "un-grump" between finishing race and talking to anyone about it than for any other reason...

Plantation Farm. Firmly 14th out of 14 in M21E. Winning time 35 something (breakthrough win for SImon J). Should be happy to have had a near perfect run on a course nobody really came through unscathed, but when I did stuff up I stuffed up BIG time. Losing c 15 mins on one leg (4) does not make a good middle distance race! (And another 5 mins at #8, but I think I had some help from the map on that one) Not sure what I can learn from this one as it was such a crazy stupid mistake I can't really see how I made it. Maybe (1) there ARE times when that little voice in my head that says "something's not right here" should be listened too (2) check the compass MUCH more often when in low vis forest. Funnily enough I think it was monitoring my compass while contouring round into 3 which got me that one OK when others seem to have lost a bit of time. Shame the idea of keeping on looking at it didn't stick in my mind...

A bit of streets and riverbank - not right up to Silverstream Bridge but up that way. Really just testing the ankle out - wouldn't say it's fine but I think I can cope with it for the moment, if anything more comfortable running (with some hard core strapping) than it is walking! So my on-again-off-again trip to the AK champs is on again. Maybe having a bit of enforced speed control for the middle distance race will be a good thing.

Like Paul says, Now For Some Speedwork?

So my lifestyle has changed to one that for the next few months at least might allow for a bit more specific training. The question is how best to find a balance between getting enough to be useful and not killing myself. In the past when I've been either not working or office jobbing (and been motivated) I've aimed to get 3-4 sessions a week. That tends to include at least one longish run (60-90 mins, though can be shorter if it's being squeezed into lunchbreaks) preferably with some up and down, one shorter but faster, and if it's a no-orienteering week then I might try to somehow get a technical element into one session (ie taking a map to read). This log, only started this year, was the beginning of my training-diarizing so I can't really give any more detail about past efforts than that!

I would welcome any input or advice on this from APers with more of a sporting background or have gone through the same evolution from non-athlete to orienteer. Also any Wellingtonians who'd like to join me for at least the odd session...

Of course the first step is to work out if the ankle's up to it! Unlike other recent attempts to roll it, it's still a bit sore and limited in rotation this morning, but no apparent swelling...