Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Middle distance qualifying today and no public race so was back in town by early afternoon and went out for a run. This enabled me to carry out step 1 of my other mission for this trip. One of my long-term ambitions is to visit all 103 of the locations in the data set I use for Australian temperature monitoring. I've bagged 59 so far and expect to get another 10 or so on this trip.

This meant my plan was to run out to Dubbo Airport (or at least close enough to it to sight the thermometer screen). I didn't expect this to be a brilliant running environment as most of the way there was along a highway, but there was a decent track parallel to the road for most of it, taking me past such sights as one of Australia's many abandoned drive-in movie theatres (showing an impressive amount of weed colonisation) and the Orana Juvenile Justice Centre. Got some enthusiastic support (at least I think it was support) at a point on the way back from some members of the local indigenous community (not the ones in the Juvenile Justice Centre). Finished off with a loop through the south end of West Dubbo, and pulled up a bit early on meeting the Johnsons and Mounts by the river, and discussing media in general and the Great Hydrogen Scandal in particular.

The run itself was reasonable, certainly not as sluggish as the last two days, but still not brilliant.

First chance to get out on the JWOC terrain. Felt sluggish after a morning doing the commentary for the Schools, and wasn't running that aggressively in a terrain that demands it (no point in doing so in a midweek race which I ran mainly to give myself some terrain familiarisation before running the nationals next door on Saturday). Navigated reasonably well, although a bit hesitant at times and a couple of 30-seconders. Felt better towards the end.

Very enjoyable terrain to be in. It's rocky underfoot, sometimes very rocky, and quite steep, but you can pick your way through it - it never felt like a slog in the way that one might expect a course with 5.5% climb and 8 min/km to be a slog. Some of the forest, with cypress pine, green grass and scattered boulers, was gorgeous to be in. Really looking forward to the rest of the week.

C • Frenchmen... 1

A loosening run after coming back from a long day at JWOC. Started out along the river where we ran the sprint and then looped through the east side of town. Unsurprisingly saw a few JWOC team officials also out running (possibly also a competitor or two if they were really keen), and a few other familiar faces in the centre of town. Also unsurprisingly felt sluggish most of way.

If you were trying to find a form of orienteering totally unsuited to me it would be hard to go past a mass-start sprint race. There were a few people on the start line who were talking about using me as the chief navigator (whereupon I told them about the World Cup race in Switzerland in 1996 - otherwise infamous for the flash flood - where I was leading a pack of 12 which I didn't expect to be able to outsprint, so I deliberately punched a wrong control that I spotted and got most of the rest of the pack either disqualified or very confused).

As it turned out I drifted a bit wide on the longish first leg and was almost at the back of the field, and then spent the rest of the course picking people off one by one, rising to about halfway 1.20 down, which isn't actually too bad for me in a sprint. Would have been quite an interesting sprint as an interval start race, with some nice detail near the river, but the number of people out meant there was essentially no navigation. Didn't feel that sharp but that was no surprise. The steeper river banks were very slippery after morning rain - anyone who didn't end up on their backside at least once wasn't trying very hard.

C • Cute tactic. I hadn't heard th... 1

Event: JWOC 2007
 

A steady run which was a bit slower than I would have liked, on an area with gully-spur and rock lines - reminded me a bit of Julimar (the WA National League area from 2005).

Didn't miss much, just a couple of 15-seconders - pleasing in particular to nail some difficult ones coming down onto rock lines from above. Lasted the distance OK but not as sharp as I'd like to be. The final result was 5th (and not too far away from 2nd), but Shep was a long way away, 12 minutes ahead - a fair reflection of my speed (I even got done in the finish chute by my sister - who had a pretty reasonable run herself).

Caught Rune 4 minutes at 13. He ran away and then I caught him again out of 18. He ran away again and I didn't see him again, but finished a couple of minutes ahead of him on the ground so he must have hit further trouble.

Road sign watch: on the way between Parkes and Peak Hill: 'You are now entering the Bogan Catchment'. Hopefully there's a similar sign in the reverse direction on the way out to the JWOC areas - it will give the Australians the chance to introduce everyone to some Australianisms.

Last hit-out before the championships week. Was staying on a farm about 20km out of Birchip and did an out-and-back up the local road. The bitumen ended at their gate so I was on dirt all the way (I didn't ask our hosts whether either of them has ever been mayor).

A nice run on a windy morning - felt pretty good, even quite strong at times.

C • Ridings 2