Training Log Archive: Lizzie

Wrecked.
Seem to have had a consistent headache since finishing the relay?

JK relay - 3rd

3rd leg after Jo and Helen. I decided in the middle of the night that i was in no state to run the relay and resolved to tell the other two in the morning. However, as is often the case, this resolve died on waking up. But really, I was not up for this race. The long experience really did me in and as well as feeling physically sick since finishing the long, I was incredibly scared that I would have an anxiety attack as soon as I started racing.

But Helen gave me the good advice to just take it 1 leg at a time, and I resolved to atleast try and just see what happened. jo and helen both did awesome jobs and sent me out 20s back from the lead and battling with Ruth for 2nd. But it was never going to be about racing today - I was surprised and relieved to feel OK the whole way, but I had nothing to really give. It was a very scrappy run, with mistakes on pretty much every control that was on a vegetation feature in particular. I didn't see Ruth after she had the longer split at #1, so was clear(ish) in 2nd until Charlotte came cruising past with 2 controls to go. I had absolutely no fight in me though, so 3rd it was for us.

Jk long - 5th

Maps:
http://ogang.org/doma/show_map.php?user=lizziei&ma...
http://ogang.org/doma/show_map.php?user=lizziei&ma...

Was quite excited for this beforehand - a long tough race up on the moors. Little did I know just how tough...

Cargoules (aka water/wind proofs) were compulsory, which we all laughed about before hand...but not after...
Started off steadily into the gusting but not-unwellington-like wind and was getting into the terrain alright. Took what I suspect to have been a higher and slower route than others on the long leg, but then exacerbated things by losing confidence on the slope at the end. Big time loss of 3mins over the whole leg, so not happy there.
Lost a further minute on 8 as I struggled with the increasing wind on the top - couldn't read the map properly and thought the wall crossing I could see was the right one on the map - so headed to where I thought the left one should be, only to be confronted by an uncrossable wall...hmmm. shit.
So, by #9 I was in 6th place, almost 4mins behind Jess who was leading, with Jo very close behind. So I was out of the race for 1st in the long, but still in the hunt for overall JK title (2.5mins back on Jess).

Then the hail apocalypse hit.

The worst conditions I've endured in 20 years of orienteering. Sheets of hail, which were like bullets in the storm strength winds. Thankfully (for the moment) I was headed downwind and kept focussed on getting #10. By the time I reached the control (5min leg), the ground was under 5cm of hail. It took me nearly a minute to get my borrowed cargoule on with my already painful hands, before continuing to #11.
The splits really tell the story from here - with all of the late starters having winsplits 'mistakes' on both 12 and 13 - which were headed into the hail. The only way to do these legs was to cover your head and go blindly into the hail - then stop and turn around, shelter your map from the storm and try and relocate off the features you'd already run past. likewise, finding the control was only possible by overshooting and looking backwards to find it!
By this point, I was hoping in vain that every blue jacket and ponytail that I saw would be Jess - cos some company would have been really comforting! It was pretty pathetic how sad I was every time I realised it was some other poor soul on a different course.
Thankful for small mercies, the hail lessened off into driving rain and snow(?!) as I went through the spectator control. As this happens, my splits jump back from being ~15-30th place each leg, to being 1-7th place each leg. I even started to wonder if maybe I'd passed Jess somewhere in the apocalypse, as there were no fresh prints in the snow/hail. in hindsight however, this is just because so much had fallen in the 5-6mins between us being at the same point...
However, even though my speed increased, things weren't good. I was in the thrall of a very surreal feeling; as I didn't feel like I was in control of my body - it was like I was on autopilot.
4 controls from the end, it felt like my body just started to shut down. I really started to struggle. Not like my 'usual' attacks, but similar in that I had to completely stop for at times and walk some bits.
I did manage to bungle my way down the hill to the finish, but lost a further 1.5mins in the process.

To be honest, it's only in reflection that I realise perhaps how hypothermic i was, and am a little surprised that no-one at the finish recognised the state I was in either. Although one lady did look very concerned, but was maybe too unsure to act on it. It took me 5mins to make my way out of the finish tent, and another few to get back to my bag and the halden crew in my shell-shocked state. It was only then that the shock seemed to wear off and I started hyperventilating, and had a little curl up next to my bag. With some help unzipping and untieing from Jo (thanks!) I managed to undress and dress myself eventually, but warmth was a long time coming.

So yeah. not exactly what I expected - not a race at all, but just survival to be honest. Very hard to say what would have happened result wise if it weren't for the change in weather. For my two pennies, I think Jo and Jess would have had a very tight battle for the day win. I like to think I might have had half a chance to have pulled back enough to keep the overall JK lead - but who knows? Will have to come back another year and try again ;)

In any case a very well deserved victory for Jo and one which came as no surprise to us in halden. she's improved so much and is in wicked strong form atm!

Splits: http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/en/d...

C • Nice write up. You've put i... 5

Jk middle -1st
Bit of a funny course, a lot of contouring! Had a clean first half but got a bit sloppy later on, losing time toward the end of legs by not being in close enough contact. Caught jo but she burnt me off big time on the last hill, way too strong!
Bit surprised with the win but will def take it! :)

Event: JK 2016
 

Jog round haworth with jo and fredrik. Strides.

Jk sprint -2nd (18s back)

Was pretty nervous for this having not even finished a sprint race in months. Really starting to get to me mentally. So stoked with today, firstly to get around fine mentally, secondly to be largely clean technically and finally to be not too far off physically.

Main feeling is relief.

Cruised some controls on a map jo had found us. Had some permanent controls on it so included some. Think i found like 3/7 posts though, as they were seemingly haphazardly placed within 20m of each feature.
Drills to finish.

Høiåsmarka with hollie, anni and sabine. Chill. Especially with no gloves.