Note
On reflection I think I've made steps forwards this season. Real focus on JK as knew it was all or nothing and managed to perform under that pressure - the 4 focus racing building up to this with specific aims really helped. Annoyed to fail to win Scottish Sprint - good prologue but blew it in final (3rd). 8th in class at JK Sprint was a good result and really pleased with performance at British MSR even though rivals weren't there. Improved performances in WREs Kortrijk and Denny (1). I'm more consistent but still fall to pieces in any sort of "forest sprint leg" and route choice heavy courses. British Sprint = best overall of 6th and close to 4th.
Selected for Europeans which was major target. Didn't qualify but wasn't a poor race. The standard is getting higher and higher and although I’ve improved sadly was not good enough. Need to keep improving in every way and have the confidence to make my own decisions at this level.
Euromeeting and World Cup were an added bonus. The opportunity to run 1st leg at sprint relay was something I'd always wanted to do. I ran parts in the front pack at both relays proving potential is there and was just a small slip away from a top result both times. Knockout sprints involve qualifications which at this stage remain hard but the head to head element in quarter final onwards is somewhere I believe I could thrive. The individual sprints show how far I've come as I was disappointed with both results but they were not bad - I will continue to work on aggression and confidence as these are still two of the biggest limitations to better performances...although it's difficult to do this. I'm not just making the teams, I'm getting in amongst the other Brits and pushing them.
Forest wise another poor JK Middle and awful Scottish Long Champs but 9th in JK long and decent SHI long, both with no focus. British relays successful aside from 1st control (and unfair gaffling) and Scottish and SHI relays had some really great parts....Perhaps some forest targets for the coming season, especially relay first legs or runnable forest?
Running wise: The XC season was not too bad happy with results in East & National relays, Short Course and National XC. East District was awful again - partly down to putting too much pressure on myself. I haven't managed 5km or 10km PBs (almost ran a 1mile PB mid training week which was considerable faster than last year) but I didn't run so many races and the ones I did weren't the fast ones as orienteering took more of a focus. Post B12 best park run but a very bad day at 5000m race. I ran well at Vogrie and Springburn - not fast park runs so not evident in time, again no pressure though.
I'm not getting the improvements in running I am looking for. Took a risk and changed things up over the summer and think it worked but need to have a real think about training for the coming season. I have had good consistency since the B12 problems but want to see more results and need some positive times for confidence.
Last two years in brackets 2017/18 and 2016/17 respectively, although not sure how relevant....
Time trial pace range: 3:33 - 3:25, 3:27* TT change due to potential Meadows embargo so winter ones ran on old course, 2x summer on track (3:25 - 3:33 & 3:34 - 3:49).
Park run range (Edi only): 18:20 - 18:56 (18:35 - 18:49 & 18:41-19:07).
5km: 18:26 * note Meadows rather than Silverknowes (18:11) (18:27).
5000m: 18: 56 (18:25 & 18:37).
10km: 38:25 (37:52 & 38:25).
I had no days off all season for illness or injury. Massages have allowed me to stay on top of niggles and somehow avoided illness...I know when I do next get ill it will be bad!!!
I'm quite sad it's a forest year next year as I've got good momentum. I'm still in the process of making plans but I'm not going cold turkey on orienteering, I'm someone who needs to do it to have the confidence. So at present will involve strong running focus to get real fast, hopefully some WC sprints/WREs and maybe some forest ventures. It will be nice to be slightly more flexible and do some mad races/runs?! Bring it on :).