Training Log Archive: 007

Walking all day in Edinburgh, loved it here!
Knee still a bit sensitive.

Cold feeling a bit worse than yesterday. Edinburgh festival time is crazy busy and fun!

Warm up for WOC long. A little rushed as I got to the the start later than expected, although I think that was better than dealing with midges for longer!
Suddenly got sharp pain in the knee during warm up, which had been fine since monday. Seemed manageable but made me a little hesitant in the terrain in the beginning.

WOC long. Bad/sad race. I think having a cold, having some knee pain and other non ideal race prep made me lower my expectations internally, which meant I went into the race lacking the competitive energy and determination which allows me to run an intense focussed race. I didn't feel at all nervous at the start, slight apprehension about the physical challenge but also was really looking forward to the beautiful terrain.
Started ok, but not very aggressive as I was a bit worried about the knee. On the long leg got overtaken and couldn't keep up. Felt 'intense' on the shorter legs 5-7, but got a bit pushed around by terrain on the way to 8. Up to here nothing had gone wrong. But then chosea bad route to 9 (left) even though had previously decided right was better (I think i was tired and impulsively chose the easier exit from the control?). Gradually on the leg 8-9 I lost contact, drifted down and left and ended up more than 15!!! contours below my control on an extremely steep slope. Climbing up to the control just about killed me and I was wrecked for the rest.
Very disappointed in myself. Since Easter my motivation hasn't really got up to where it should be, had a similar feeling at the World Cup races in June.. Not sure where to from here, especially as my knees are worrying me.

C • downhills 4

Very easy jog around the model map for the long. Felt very excited about running the race in this Scottish terrain.
Physical not in ideal form -v sore throat, cold in head and trouble regulating temperature/sweating it out. But HR not higher than normal which is how I decided I should be right to run.

One hell of an exam done.. fingers crossed for a pass!!!!!
Now I can get myself to Scotland and into Orienteering mode..
My head cold is quite bad still today and I feel like the last 3 weeks haven't been great preparation, but it couldn't possibly be worse than last year.
I know what I have to do and I am looking forward to pushing hard, picking good routes, trusting my compass and flying through the forest :) :)

Throat still very sore (strangely only on the right hand side), and cold is moving into my head.. So another rest day.
Knee sill a little twingy too.

Bummer of a day. wasted an hour going to the pool only to find it closed for renovations. my knee is twinging on stairs, trying not to aggrovate it and got some antiinflam patches.
Then halfway through the day I realised my throat was really sore, after having been a bit 'sneezy' and tired the last week.
And study was demoralisig. Really scared of this exam on wednesday :/

C • All the best! 5