Training Log Archive: PrueD

SS 3 at Kangaroo Crossing, Eldorado. I like this map, but it took me a while to get into it today. Our course had a long first leg and I stuffed this up by going over the ridge, rather than round the bottom on the runnable area. The stuffing up manifest itself when I went down the wrong spur and took a long time to relocate. The rest was fine, but it was too late. I was also slow and unfit up the hills. But really I was really just happy to be back having a go. Knee a bit tired tonight but OK.

I brought 2 novices today, with varying success.

1. My friend Ross from Benalla came again. He mastered orienteering (under my coaching, of course) at Rowdy Flat yesterday, so today was a breeze. For someone who is nearly 60, a novice and who has never done any running, he was amazingly accurate and very light on his feet (despite completely worn flat runners). He came 13th of 37 starters in M3 today - with 16% difference from the winner, beating an awful lot of experienced orienteers. Really I should give up competing myself and just stick to coaching!

2. My friend Peter from Benalla also came for the first time. He refused to follow the string so I sent him off on course 7, with the under 10s and the disabled.. He was a bit grumpy about how easy it was and will have to do course 5 or 6 next time.

C • weekend outing 6

SS 2 - Rowdy Flat, Yackandandah. There are two map versions of this map - the AWOC one and the Alex Tarr version, which I can read. We got the AWOC version and the contours just did not make sense to me AT ALL. I messed up at least 5 controls and took ages to relocate on each occasion. Physically the course was tough too. I had to be really careful of my knee climbing up and sliding down the erosion gullies. And I felt sick - I took voltarin before the event and I think it made me sick, so had to sit down 3 times during the event or I would have fainted. Not wishing to make excuses, but I had a really hard day. Nevertheless, I stuck it out to the end, getting one of the worst results for the day - with the longest km rate ever! At least I got my money's worth.

However the highlight of the day was bringing my friend Ross from Benalla. He has been orienteering once before - in 2004! He had a bit of trouble, but not much, coming 30th of 40 starters in 3M - not bad for an 'almost' first timer! And beating quite a number of regulars, including me, by a large margin.

Street O at Maroondah Triangle. I cut my course short as my knee is a bit tender from the rogaine, even though it was OK at the time. I really only went for the nice scout BBQ afterwards (courtesy of VOA) and to collect the title deed of the sheep station, awarded after knocking off all the other old ladies (who were actually very competitive) in the Vic champs street walking, which was duly awarded by a jetlagged OA president.

Very tired. Very hungry.