Training Log Archive: W

Set-up for the chase a few hours later at Queen Elizabeth Park. Unfortunately, this was kinda easy. But, easy just means I need to run faster and been smoother. I really worked hard on having really, really good departing directions, and generally I could see the next control or almost near to it before hitting the control prior. So tried to run rocket fast in, and then rocket fast out. However, this also meant that I skipped over some of the important steps in my sprint plan that I'm supposed to be executing after each control. I suppose if nothing else that means I should revise the sprint plan.

And, yippee, I'm still undefeated in sprint camp setups!

http://orienteering.ca/doma/show_map.php?user=will...

And then there's the matter of the chase. I'm 2/3 for these, and I'll admit, the most interesting year was the one I lost (curse you, underpasses!).

This time I had another solid lead of around 50 seconds, which was more than enough to never see anyone. There's no doubt that that gave me a huge advantage of just not ever having to deal with anyone, ever. Make the race a heck of a lot simpler than having to also deal with the demands of competitors. So, I had time to be safe out of controls and pick out the strong route rather than being hurried. It was excellent practice and again I read ahead quite well, but I think next year I'll either sandbag the setup, or wait at the start to jazz it up a little.

Either way, hellooooooo new headphones, but which ones to get?
http://ue.logitech.com/en-ca/headphones/ue6000
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-A900X-Aud...

http://orienteering.ca/doma/show_map.php?user=will...

Event: Vancouver Sprint Camp
 

You know its srs bzns when I switch from my Tarthers to my F-lites. Yesterdays embarrassing loss meant today I had to pick it up a little and perform like someone who places almost last at world cups does. And what does that mean? It means blindly following other people to the stupid dead end at number 2 and not reading ahead when there was dead running.

Yes, my effort level definitely increased, but I was not mentally prepared for the forward planning. I suspect I was running too fast for my speed, but I should have stopped at 2 to look closely at the route, and should have read ahead on the way to 10 to plan for 11. A bit too frantic at that point.

However, I used my magnifier and was smart on the way to 3 to catch the best route and not end up on the wrong side of the wall. Running with a magnifier is really, really great now. I'm a convert.

Partner exercise at blah blah blah not a race don't care.

No, not really, again tried to read ahead, even when I wasn't navigating, and once again really appreciated the use of a magnifier. As I followed I was trying to evaluate the exit directions of all the possible controls I might've had to start navigating from when I switched on to navigating.

Another race at Greenwood Park. Of the wooded variety. No more multi levels! Hurrah!

I will admit, that my awesome route to 2 was somewhat accidental. It was the route I had decided on, but as I climbed the hill I had decided that it was not the best route, because I thought the hill just on the south side of the control at 2 was downhill, and by going the way I did, I might have had to go down an extra contour line. Turns out it was actually an uphill, so I saved a ton of climb! Yippee!

Definitely lost a bit of time to three, though, I went to low and went below the lower cliff when I really wanted to go just below the upper cliff. No matter, I played it safe by making sure I went to the spur before heading down all willy-nilly. That was a good choice. Then picked a safe route to 4 which took me right past 5, so I could spend 4-5-6 planning 7, which I think was also probably a good route. I think 11-12 could have been a little bit better, maybe even going around to the north might've been better, or at least cutting through a bit of white to save some distance. But, I spend the long running pretty much getting the rest of the course sorted out.

Finally, the results are the way they should be. All is right in the universe.

Farsta race at um.. some named park. The primary reason for the warm up at the point was to literally warm up and get my muscles actually moving again.

Unfortunately I had the fairly short route right off the start, which meant I didn't really get into the chaos of the actual race. I ran pretty much alone (save for some Kiwi heckling), for most of the time. I imagine if I had the longer first control, things would have been totally difference because I would have been hurried and distracted by others. As it stood, I ran the whole thing by myself and really had no problems and made all things right in the universe again by over a minute.

Time for Vancouver Racing Camp! Started off with a warm-up camp at the Olympic Village where I tried to execute a more structured navigation routine. Definitely it was hard to do it properly at speed, and if there weren't so many races this weekend, I feel I could slow down and do it properly. But, I can't.

Then I jogged over to the start of the race outside BC Place. And if there were any time to work on not leaving the control before having a plan, it was this one. The chaos started from 3 to 4, which actually was not chaotic at all. I had a plan well sorted before arriving at 3, though I had a sub-optimal exit direction, primarily because I had planned backwards and hadn't gotten to the last 50 meters.

Then 7 came along. I think I learned that its probably not unresonable to keep planning ahead if you're sorted for the controls ahead. Before getting to 4 and I had planned 5 and 6, but reconsidered going all the way to 7. That could have been a mistake, because then I stopped doing any pre-planning until I got most of my way to 6, and came to a complete stop going to 7 to find a route. Eventually I did find a route after a solid 30 seconds of a non-movement, and my route was definitely not the best one. That probably cost me a solid minute or so, but everyone made mistakes, and Future Sprint Star took this race by well over a minute over me.

That was a rude awakening. I'm not going to be able to waltz to that $200. Time to get serious.

Headed down to Goldbar for some wax testing for the Birkie and some intervals in anticipation of what is now a racing camp this weekend. Initially it was just a training camp, but now there's money on the line, so I'm not going to get to do the experimentation I had planned to do, because I gotta win. Gotta win. Seriously, gotta win.

Anyhow, 10 x 1 minute intervals with 1 minute off. More double poling than not, which I felt was okay if it can get my heart rate up and not stress my legs too much. Used Rode Super Blue on one ski and Vauhti K15 on the other, Rode was more grippy for sures. Then ran into Paul and did an extended cool-down, and then ran into Jack and talked about the new new new Madshus coming out, which appears to be almost completely made of carbon. Full carbon sole, full carbon heel cup, carbon cuff. Hell, even the upper looks like its made of carbon (which is unlikely). These may shatter the realm of possibility when it comes to how much race boots costs. I wouldn't be shocked by $800.

And if you had $800 to spend, criminy, get some Carbonlite Holes instead.

C • Zissos Award 2

Attempting to do a trainer cycle after soccer this evening, but my trainer is really frustrating me with the amount of grinding noise its making. Like, really frustrated. I hope its not officially perma-broken.

Polished off some basement strength afterwards.

Light jaunt with Nev to get back into the swing of running a little.

My feet were in quite bad shape afterr NHZK (New Hong Zealkong). It was likely a product of a ton of running, lots of running in racing flats, and a lot of walking in sandals. I tended to wear my roclite 320s a lot, but there are times (like the beach) when that's just not feasible.

So, I'm going to have to be more careful over the next few weeks, to try and stick more to skiing, maybe some speedskating, and do lots of stretching. It already feels a bit better after a week off my feet.