Training Log Archive: acejase

Running late of course so pumping along to start. fortunately the start seemed to be a few mins late - I always think a very wise start operator in charge when that happens.

M40 Oz CHamps at Slap Up Creek. Not a good start when I bee lined from triangle to wrong fence crossing, or at least the fence crossing that was 45 degrees off the one I thought I was going too. Corrected ok and was wise enough to make a safe route choice to 1st which actually gave me 2nd fastest split. First 3-4 were in the paddocks and kept with smart route choices getting them well. Could see forest was going to be rugged and was indeed very much like Badja when hit it - flat but lots of logs and rocks to jump over or snake through. Nervous about first one in the forest but got it ok and then seemed to hit them quite well. Was trying to get good pace (i.e. not too fast) for long course. Two medium to long legs in the middle with easier navigation and at the end of 2nd I realised I'd started 'meandering' a bit - just plodding along with not much focus. Next leg was long (2k?) so gave myself a pep talk and did it well. Unfortunately due to oxygen debt or just normal incompetence the next one I misinterpreted where I crossed a ridge line and arrowed my way down onto the wrong little spur line which looked very similar to the one the control was on. After some swearing I had dropped 3 minutes. Pushed hard through last 20% of controls which were again back in the paddocks and was good physically up some late big hills.

Matt Sherlock got me by a few mins which I put down to my error (conveniently disregarding the 5mins or so it looks like he lost) but Greg Barbour smashed us both beating me by a lazy 10 minutes. I was a minute ahead of Scotty Simson. I think Matt and Greg were together for a portion of the course and some company would have helped me when I was 'meandering' but not to the tune of 10 minutes!

Great area, good course and enjoyable day. 3* 3rd places in our car home with Liggo and BA both taking the esteemed position. General store closed in Captains Flat so had to hold on for an ice cream till Queanbeyan servo. Had coffee at the event which i'd have to declare was ordinary.

LONG Course 3 - Splits

Started early at OZ Sprint Champs at Grammar as was planning commentary work. As it turned out by the time I got back Blair was in fine form at his old school so I left him to it. Did Elites and ran pretty reasonably keeping good contact with the map while pushing along. Picked some easier routes and other times was on the look out for the little hidden gaps and stairs of Grammar. Lost a little round the childcare centre not reading a fence properly and came a cropper 3 controls from the end losing 30s or so when overshot a well hidden control on a maintenance shed. Result pretty ok by my standards, closer to the middle than the end. Thought the area was good, well mapped and good course.

M21E - Splits

Course 1 - Splits

and today its freezing and windy as. felt like i was going in slo mo into the wind on ride in.

had that sense i had a flat tyre on the bike. i didnt which suggests a bit weary.

Red Bridge ints with Fatrat although we did briefly bump into IanD at one point. Both Fatrat and I weary and uninspired. Did 4*ecmo ints and I had zero zip, dragging myself round in 4mins each int. Ben gave us a pep talk at the end for having done em.

needed a blobby recovery run post race on Saturday. Balmy evening and blobbed round with no obvious niggles.