Training Log Archive: Bashman

Unfortunately I had to sit out the relay, but if anything this was a bit of a relief. I gave everything I had in the previous two days and that was satisfying, and although it looked very fun to race in the terrain again I know I risked pushing the cold into my lungs. Instead, I pretended to prepare for my race to allow Ben to have a full experience so went into quarantine, got ready for my race, and as soon as he started his leg I changed back and ate my lunch. Felt a bit bad for the team to be DSQd but after jogging a lap of the quarantine I knew there was a good chance I would retire anyway or if not, leave the forest much more ill if I had tried to race.
Full day of eating and napping and chilling instead. Feeling better by the evening but still having blocked sinuses and a bit spaced out.
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WC Prologue
Really satisfied, could have been even more awesome with a better long leg but should be a fun chase later on. Woke up a bit ill but hoping to hang on at least till tonight.
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WC Pursuit

In short: started full throttle as everyone else but with a bit of a cold already in the system from the morning. Running in a hungry wolf pack and closing in on the leaders but soon enough hit the wall as many others did. Body temperature rose, I began to feel very cold/fluey and by two thirds I was staggering about some green trying to convince myself to retire. Failed to do so twice and then once more when Spongey and Cherry dropped. Decided to push myself to finish for some World Ranking points (worth it, as it turned out) and since retiring would take almost the same distance anyway. Jogged the last few controls feeling a little bit better but still in quite a bad spacey state. Little memory of this last section of the race isn't a very good indication of my health at the time...

So an epic fail, but what an exciting new format! I think there's definitely room for this to become part of the WOC program - no less for the spectators, 6 runners finishing in 1 second is closer than most middle distance athletics. I believe that as long as the prologue holds an extreme technical challenge with bigger start gaps (less mooching), as well as fewer starters (as woc would be) and a high level of routechoice in the pursuit then this could be the real test of an all round orienteer. Orienteers haven't been solo runners for a long time. They need to be able to run in an overspeeding pack, out-think the group to gain advantages and often outsprint opponents should it come to that, as is the same as any last leg of any relay. I think the new set of tactics involved with this new format is very exciting and the format is very straightforward for those outside the box of the sport. It opens the door to new champions and new types of orienteers, and even though I wasn't there to witness the finish, the replay is the most exciting piece of orienteering I've ever seen. And in a rather tongue in cheek manner, those against this new format seem to also be those who might be worried they won't be able to win it. I also understand the traditionalist opinion but who can say the sport hasn't transformed already with whats in store for sprint woc... The traditional distances will remain in any case, so why not!
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C • Pursuit 3

WC Long
Briefly,: very happy with this, felt like I left everything in the forest. Started a bit wobbly as I've felt most of this week but got better as the legs warmed up. Running well against the leaders on some sections though so not going too slowly. Then a few mistakes losing track of the leg later on but happy to at least stay ahead of Havard for the whole race. Nice to not be 20mins down on the leader for once and to get my first collectable WC points at a pretty stacked race!
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C • race 1