Training Log Archive: tinytoes

Feet not feeling great after the weekend's activities. I'm not sure the orthotics are quite right either. 30 min cardio to ward off the freezing conditions then 25 minute strength. Even the shortest run was a bit of a challenge - but the effort over the weekend was all worth it. Legs absolutely cactus.

Opening all 13 locks for the interconnecting fences at 8 in the morning and frost still very much in evidence.put severe stress on my fingers. Fortunately the locks didn't freeze - so main task for the day achieved. PHEW. Setting up Rego and greeting arrivals, liaising with the lovely P&C and principal and then-- gotta go to start. Felt a little more comfortable on this map but it was the one with the "hill" and to get the distance I knew we were going to see various parts of it from both top and bottom.
Great course set by Maria O with winning times at the higher limit advertised. She certainly stretched us both mentally and physically. I thought I might feel better as it was first run of day but S-1 was a struggle. I got into a better rhythm after that and felt happier. The terrain of complex campus, simple campus and bushland plus fields gave lots of scope to mess with our minds. Gates can be conveniently placed and sometimes not! No real navigation problems. Just needed to stay focussed.
Race 3 down - and still the punters are happy!

Changed shoes for last run of weekend. Partook of P&C vege burger + cake + coffee for early lunch. Don't usually do this but hoped I wouldn't suffer later. Start was beside the Bini Shell - where in 1977 I sat with my Yr9 class and watched it rise in all its wonder! A sad sight now.
But to the course. First time setter Bridget W did a splendid job. I knew I picked all the correct personnel for their respective jobs in the weekend's events. Arthur, their controller did a massive job seamlessly and with good cheer. They all worked really well together and no one was a domineering personality.
Maria had warned me that Bridget and she had totally different styles and so it was - fantastic. The last of the races did bring some people undone - both physically and mentally. I did start to drift in thought process about 2/3 of the way around the course but obviously the morning's antics served me well. But oh my legs. Whose silly idea was it to have this format? (OK mine).
As I came down the hill for the last time I did look at the arena and surrounds and took just a little speck of time to say - Yep - I "did" this - I am proud of this.
Wrap up : 4 events in short style - a mix of Middle distance and Sprint, in 2 days makes it worthwhile to travel; having the last day with both races on same site affords a great social atmosphere; P&C style catering is great (we don't have to allocate or worry, they get profits), best 3 of 4 races to count, having a Duo format (2 races to count) allows course planners to still be viable in the weekend. Fun elements - names - as it was the Shorts then the categories were Boardies, Boxers and Briefs which also simplified map printing and the wonderful weather.
But the most important factors were the people involved: having a well organised coordinator, great tech crew, people asking to be involved, a mix of course planners and wise Controllers, mappers who pushed the limits of their capacities, schools who were very obliging and a club that didn't bat an eyelid when i said "We've had an idea......."

Boxers Race 3 - Splits

Boxers Race 4 - Splits

Event: Newcastle Shorts Weekend
 

A first for me - Splits say i didn't lose time on any leg in Race 1.

I don't think anyone could have had more fun that me today. Day 1 of the 2 day, 3 new map, 4 races weekend. Glorious weather. All set up early and waiting for competitors. Took good advantage of the courtyard and facilities.
Map somewhere else - but only miss was the wall- ran to wrong wall.
So starts rockman's and my project. Nice atmosphere but it will be much more hyper tommorow with about double the number of competitors.

Oh did the complexity ramp up for this race. Great area, mapped by ravinnie and courses set by him and LH with DK/LH controllers.Such complexities then long legs and back to thinking. Made good steady progress right up until leg 6-7. Exited north from control around the pond - not a huge drama but set me off at an angle. I should have been more ESE but was more ENE, found a fence, decided it was more ruined than I expected but took it anyway. Noted others were WAAAY over to my right, but I spied my gap in the fence and then couldn't find the building I wanted - because it wasn't there. Lost a fair chunk of time, though splits say only 1:03. Bit rattled after that and consequently stuffed up the last part of 7-8 even after being very careful out of 7 to get right direction. Lost about 30 seconds there due to lack of confidence. Otherwise fairly clean - but well down on places, and hence points.
Did presentation for Duo competitors - plugged tomorrow's catering, packed up, did tethers, tidied up and drove home. Feet awfully tired. Early to bed tonight - smile on my face.

C • You sound happy! 6

Boxers Race 1 - Splits

Boxers Race 2 - Splits

Farewelled rockman's father, Alf, today in sunny, clear, gentle breeze and light surf conditions. The graveside ceremony at the beachside cemetery and afterwards at his Bowling Club was exactly as he would have wanted it. The final tribute - a couple of kilo of prawns and a keg of beer - just the keg. Many people representing the various facets of his life - social, work, training, service clubs, the charities and organisations he supported financially, his friends and of course the family of whom he was so fiercely proud - came together to talk over good times. rockman's photo tribute prompted many reminiscences and comparisons of family likenesses. Alf's life - well lived and oft in debate. 'Bye Alf.

Felt a few twinges which were the results of yesterday's class so it was good to give them a wake up call.

Feeling a bit stronger - actually lasted the run today - but it was Leg Hell.