Training Log Archive: MVB

Kopaonik Open Day 5: 3rd + 3'32"

Brutal long distance, also because I barely slept because of yesterday's disaster. Started fairly easy but aggressive, good through first few controls but then did not take enough time to read the long leg to 5. I went pretty much straight through 3 valleys and lots of shitty areas while there was a long way around the path. I "only" lost 1' there but I lost loads of energy and legs were ruined for the rest of the race. From then I wanted to push harder but I couldn't, still happy I could keep a decent speed. Technically very good till about 1h racing and then again I fucked up on another long leg, going pretty much straight again. Probably this was the best way because there was not really an alternative but my execution was not great, losing another 1'. Then after 1h18' racing, I'm only 1' behind the winner but that is were my race pretty much stopped. No more energy whatsoever, walking uphills and jogging flat/downhill. I beat the guy I was fighting with for the general ranking before yesterday's dnf, with 7' though, so happy about that.

Many unlucky events happened during this week's races, especially because the winner of the WRE got 968!!! points and I was 1' ahead of him halfway the race. Very frustrating as it was not even my fault I had to quit my race. Rules for WRE are very clear and state a map SHOULD be sealed in a plastic bag OR printed on waterproof paper. Sucks because I don't have any races in the previous 3 years and this was a great opportunity to catch up on some points. No WRE races in Belgium or Macedonia so it always means travelling to get some points.

Happy with my own performances though and with the improvements I made in the last months. Also have a feeling since I moved to Macedonia I am much faster and more in control on downhill sections.

Kopaonik Open Day 4 (WRE): dnf

Started carefully as it looked very technical. First few controls a bit hesitant, but I forced myself to keep taking it a bit easier as avoiding big mistakes was the most important. From the 4th - 5th control I started feeling more confident and pushing harder, while avoiding big misses.
I started to get really into the flow after about 15' but shortly afterwards disaster struck. I fell on the 10th in a marsh and my map was full of mud and in 20 pieces. Trying to clean it was just making things worse. Tried few minutes to run on compass but it was useless, I couldn't read anything and there was no one around me so waiting was not a solution either. Because I only have 1 WRE race, all the good runners were starting way behind me so even if saw someone to follow, it would have been someone very bad/slow.

Disappointment and frustration took over and I quit. At the finish the organisers and IOF Event Advisor were arrogant enough to say that the map quality is good (lol) and that IF I wanted a plastic bag, I should have taken one AFTER the start. Yeah right, I will loose 30" after my start to put a supposedly good quality map, into a plastic bag. In hindsight, I should have waited at 10th control though, even if I wait 5-10' for other runners, I would still have at least some points, now I have 0.

Edit: Splits show I am actually in the lead all the way from the start to the 10th.
Exactly 1' ahead of the 2nd, 4'27"!! ahead of the 3rd.

Before Kopaonik the plan was to see on the last day if I would push or not, according to the general ranking. Because I am mp now, I should take it easy, but probably I am going to push on frustration anyway.

Decided to skip this morning's downhill score-O. Cable car to the top was not working which meant we had to walk to the top. The weather is still pretty shitty and didn't want to risk getting cold before/after the running. Legs are also pretty sore from the 2 previous days so a long warm up this afternoon, an easy forest sprint, and a long cool down, should be enough to be ready for tomorrow.

The priority is still not getting sick and avoiding injuries (or actually still recovering from the previous one), so I'll keep taking things step by step as I enjoy running/orienteering way too much to be out again for a long time.

Kopaonik Open 2nd Day: 2nd + 3'53"

Plan was to start easy and get in the flow, then push through.
Big miss to the first (5') and general ranking gone. Normally when I make a mistake, I know what I did wrong, but this time I had no idea, and I still don't. Have to wait and see the GPS.

Very pissed off but I had a plan to gain confidence so I had to push through. It was my kind of epic weather 8-9 degrees and constant rain, so I was eager to get myself together and smash the rest of the course. (Also because I didnt want to jog and get cold lol). The whole forest was basically one marsh, and the marshes were lakes. I took a quick look at the rest of the course and pretty much every control was very technical and knew the others would have a hard time as well. Took it easy on the next 2-3 controls to regain confidence.
From the 6th I caught 2 guys of my category. I was pushing hard and spiking every control, amazing feeling in this kind of terrain, but I couldn't get rid of one of the guys. Because of this I wanted to push even harder and forced myself to be very focused. Every single control to the finish went perfectly, every single control I took first, but I just couldn't get rid of him.

In the end it turned out to be the guy that won yesterday, he started 4' behind me, passed me there somewhere and I caught him again. Afterwards he told me my technical performance was great and that he was very lucky today to have me as his pilot as it was much more technical than yesterday and told me that is his weakest part. Normally I hate guys following me, but today it give me a big boost and it's good as a training anyway.

Despite the disaster at the 1st control, I'll remember the rest of the course for Saturda's WRE. The others that were closely behind us yesterday, got completely smashed today with +10-20'.

Tomorrow I'll take it easy on both the Score-O (not included in the ranking) and the Sprint Race. If the weather is like today I'll even skip the Score-O. The Sprint race will be partly in the forest so even if I take it easy but navigate smoothly, I won't lose too much time.

Kopaonik Open Day 1: 2nd +2'44"

A lot of rain in the last 2 months apparently and the terrain seems much tougher to me than it normally is. Very high grass in open areas and around rivers/marshes and loads of fallen trees everywhere. I also forgot my VJ Bold's at home and they would have been much more suitable for this terrain than my Inov8's.

Achieved the goal for today: Try to get a good flow without pushing to the limit physically, although I started 30" too late as I needed more time to change my shoes than I expected. First 50' I got a really good flow, a bit difficult for breathing but not as bad as the previous times. The last 20' though I could feel concentration going down step by step. I started missing controls 10", then 20", then 30" etc and I decided to stop every once in a while to refocus and continue. When you have to look 5 times at the control description to remember which number you have, you know you have to slow down a bit.

Very tough terrain and course but I take it as job done for the first day, first day in Kopaonik is always hard, both physically and technically.
Tomorrow pushing a bit more on the middle distance as a test for the WRE.

Edit: Splits show indeed I am in the lead after 31' but then loose it after a physical long leg and couldn't catch up anymore with all the small mistakes afterwards.

Model Event Kopaonik: 3rd Time in Kopaonik and always good to come back. Great maps, terrains & courses and nice to escape the summer heat a bit at 2k altitude.

Took it very easy as it has been 4 years since the last time I came here. Model Event not long enough to really get used to the terrain, but long enough to shake the legs after a 7hr drive. Did not feel the altitude as much as I did the previous times I ran here.

I am not here for a General ranking (6 races in 5days) but I will focus on getting in as much quality as possible, without ruining myself physically and risking injuries/illnesses. Taking it fairly easy tomorrow focusing on the technical aspect. 2nd race (Middle) I'd like to run at high speed 25-30' to get ready for Saturday's Middle Distance WRE, which will be the first real test of this year.

Looking forward to some racing as the past half a year has been mostly rehab and running at home without any major races.