Training Log Archive: nmulder

Event: World Rogaine Championships
 

Raced World Rogaine Champs with Ryno in Cheviot, New Zealand.

Had a good start, deciding to tackle the NE section first as it was the hilliest part of the map and had the strongest concentration of big pointers. We also wanted to get the coastal sections done before the weather turned bad and the mist came in. It did this earlier than expected. Started drizzling on the start line and continued until it started raining hard at about 1am. Continued until about 4am and stopped raining a short while later. We had a fair night session, with a few nav problems (mist didn't help), but no big mistakes. The final day though was tough and we struggled to pick up the speed. Felt really broken on the last 45 min of tar road running back into town. Ate well throughout the race and felt on good form for 90% of it. Total of 3515 points.

After the race, we thought we'd be lucky to break into the top 10, so it was a big surprise when we got to prize giving. We finished 2nd, about 150 points ahead of an Estonian team in 3rd, but a massive 800 points behind Chris Forne and Marcel Hagener. Our 'Plan A' is almost identical to their route bar 1 loop change about 60% of the way through.

TE 4.3, Epoc 197, 11'127 kcal.

Map of route choices of the top 3 teams here:

From New Zealand WRC

GPS gave up after 12 hours, by which time it was reading 63km. 120km is the estimate for the full 24 hours, give or take 5km.

C • Awesome! 17

Ryno and I ran from our motel in Kaikoura out to the peninsula and then along the cliff-top Peninsula Trail. Beautiful grassy track following the tops of the cliffs and stunning views over the Pacific and snow-covered mountains on the land-side.

TE 1.7, Epoc 18, 369 kcal.

From New Zealand WRC

From New Zealand WRC

Went for an easy tramp around the model area for the World Rogaine Champs with Ryno. Model area was just south of the Cheviot Hills map we'll be using for Champs. Nice country, mostly open, grassy hill and dale sheep country type, with some patches of scrub and forest. We went for 20 of the 22 CPs in a nice loop which gave us good looks at all the terrain types, which is still quite varied. Lots of sheep fences, many electrified. Nic 0, Ryno 2.

TE 1.5, Epoc 12, 854 Kcal.

From Orienteering Maps

From New Zealand WRC

C • Map Disclaimer :) 2

C • Good Luck! 4

Finally arrived in Christchurch after 8h30 and 9h50 flights.

Went for a short run with Ryno from our Motel on the edge of Christchurch's Hagley Park. Needed to get the blood in our legs moving again. Did a nice loop around the sides of the park and a bit through the city's botanical gardens. Lovely large area, why can't all cities have something like this?

TE 1.5, Epoc 14, 152 kcal.

Day 2 of the flight, including a 13hr stop-over in Singapore.

Day 1 of the flight from SA to NZ for World Rogaines...