Training Log Archive: slow-twitch

Putting out remaining controls, mostly white and yellow ones.

Event went well, ~30 starts which is actually pretty good for an O-Waikato out-of-towner. Numbers swelled by an Auckland contingent. I discovered the reason one or two of the markers had proven elusive yesterday - at least a couple of people found the one for the trickiest control before they found the control - luckily they were of the opinion that I'd found the right spot yesterday, not 2 weeks ago. Cough. Anyway... What I'd do differently is been a bit firmer with some of our local members that they really should have been doing the shorter easier "red" not the long one (maybe if I'd had some ballpark likely "mere-mortal" times as well as distances that would have helped). Oh well, at least there's a few more O-Waikato members who have learned just how technically difficult orienteering can be. And a few Aucklanders who now realise that there's a bit of a difference between 6km of typical Woodhill and 6km of Waikato spur-gulley.

I'm not sure if the hard-luck story should go to one of our new imports who lost her map 2/3 of the way around the long course while probably doing OK, or to our esteemed President's brother, who only lost part of his map but it just happened to be the bit with the couple of remaining controls on his course

control collecting - a 30 minute and a 10 minute loop approx. Picked up the pace and even did a bit of running which I wasn't really dressed for but it was nice. Realised at the point of no return I didn't have a compass so in a way it was still a good little technical exercise and a number of the controls I came to from different directions than in my previous 2 visits "just to make it harder". Sorry Bozzy for giving you the far-away ones, but I figured while there were still people in the forest I should be holding fort at the finish.

Putting out controls. Should really have gone significantly quicker than the other day especially as there were several parts of the map that I visited then that course redesign had made redundant. But there were a number of my tags that I'd put out on the first visit that I just could not find! A bit of a worry really

Still pretty shattered, but surprisingly haven't fallen over sick, which would almost be a relief as that would make monday's tank make a lot more sense

For what it's worth, here's the map. There are several legs I really don't know how accurately the route I've drawn reflects what I actually did....

Relay, Castle Hill. The reason I travelled down for Nationals this year and was felling good enough to take on the first leg, so really should have enjoyed this. But really did not. Got through the first loop ok although the 2 big climbs hit hard. Was staying about where I'd expect to in the pack though. Then somewhere around 25 minutes started to really hit the wall. Thought I was on the verge of an asthma attack while in the rocks north of the arena, fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) by the time I was back in the spectator area that had passed, so kept going even though I was right down among the dregs on the leg at this point. But as soon as I'd committed myself to the long loop to the northwest just lost it physically, which do doubt contributed to a couple of big mistakes (and it wasn't nice starting to feel dizzy in amongst those big rocks..). Again the big DNF looked tempting coming by the arena one last time but <1km to go so forced myself back into the rocks and somehow switched the brain back on enough to stay in front of the few leg 1 runners that were still around me (while trying to ignore the fresh looking leg 2 & 3 runners gambolling around). Really don't know what happened there, surely can't blame the altitude, some water on the course would have maybe made a small difference?... guess I shouldn't be surprised if I wake up with a mega-cold tomorrow...

Hopefully one day I will be back and in sufficient shape to appreciate what is an awesome place!

C • wow 1