Training Log Archive: Niamhunter

Paul's team warm up

EYOC Relay - 13th team

Wasn't really sure what to expect on this, wasn't as nervous as previous days - probably as I was just more relaxed and used to racing after the last two days. Just wanted to go out and run my own race - not getting distracted by anyone else and just enjoying it.

Got sent out by Tara in about 20th I think just behind about 4 other teams. Just took it steady on the run out - sitting at the back of the group, planning my route to the first couple - knew I had to be careful on these as they were in the slope. Spiked the first three and was at the front of the pack I was in climbing up to the crossing point. However went up and into what looked like it should have been a crossing but was into some OOB. So realised quickly and was straight back out and round to the crossing. (Was with about 4 other people on that who didn't realise and just carried on I think).

Anyway the rest of the course was pretty smooth didn't see the pack again and passed a couple more people as I was going. Got stuck in a bit of green going to 6 but don't think my route was bad as quickly got out and round so didn't loose too much time. Was slightly off at 6, seeing the control for 7 (was very close to 6) before knowing I needed to go slightly left to six.

Then was all fine just cruising through the rest till the spectator, spiked all of them. A little bit off going through the field to number 14 and then again just 5m away from 15 but didn't see the control till I got passed as it was in a depression. A bit of time lost here (30 secs or so). Need to focus on compass at all times even when getting close to the end!

Pretty happy with this run again, just a couple of wobbles so nothing major.

EYOC Long - 24th

Again very nervous before this race and waiting around in quarantine for 3 hours or so didn't really help. Managed to keep entertained though, a few crosswords, signing some autographs just keeping chatting so was fairly chilled when I went to warm up.

Warmed up to the pre start and some drills and was actually feeling quite good. Pretty chilled and just ready to race at the start.

Wanted to just start slow as the start life was only 10m away so I didn't make a mess of the first ones. 1 was fine just a nice short leg to begin with nothing too tricky. Then to 2 just went straight, had a good attackpoint and so spiked the control quite easily. To number 3 all my nav was fine and executed my plan well but my routechoice was just not great. Almost 100m longer than going straight but was round the path so I was going quickest out of everyone who had tracking so think I just need to find a balance between speed and distance on routechoices. 4 was fine, nailed that.

Then 5 the long leg, plan was pretty much straight, aim a bit off at the end to know which way I needed to go to get the control. Started well and got to the midpoint attackpoint I'd found. Then decided to run down the river for a bit and thought I'd gone further so took a compass bearing which I actually followed quite well but in the wrong direction. So ended up too far up the hill (control was just off the side of the hill, where it started getting steep). Knew I was starting to go down hill and knew I didn't need to but just lost my head a bit and ran down and ended up at the path. Once on the path thought I was too low so ran up then realised I was too high so just back down the path. Then just chilled before going back into the terrain and spiked it from there. Lost a good 4 mins on this legs which I annoying as if I'd have just concentrated from the top where I knew I needed to go down I wouldn't have lost so much time.

Then from there nailed 6 which was good as it showed I just chilled and forgot about the mistake. 7 was good but then wobbled on the route to nine. Started below the line, got to the path as planned but then was too worried about going into the terrain so ran up the path and came off at a known point. Spiked the control bit just had a longer route than most.

Then fine from there spiked the rest of them and was not that far down on the leaders on 9, 10 and 11 and was actually the quickest person (who was tracked) from 11 till the finish. Nice confidence boost to show that when I orienteer well i do orienteer well. Just need to get rid of the big mistakes!

**from number 6 on I was top 4 on out of those who go tracked

EYOC Sprint - 35th

Was really quite nervous before the race. Just tried to chill in quarantine which wasn't too bad. Warming up I felt good and the legs were feeling pretty fresh, less nervous and was feeling ready to start.

My plan was to just keep on top of the navigation by slowing down when needed so I knew where I was going to the next control before I got to the one before and then speed up when I got a chance to. Just basically trying to get a good balance between the speed, map reading and actual navigation.

Started off from the start a bit too quick I think, didn't really plan the first one just knew I had to get up to the top towery bit and just ran up. Definitely didn't take the shortest route, just the first one I saw.

Up until control 7 I was pretty smooth through the control just not ever getting up to full speed. Had a little blip out of 6 meaning I hadn't fully got a picture of 7 so was quite hesitant to that, then again ran slightly past 8 so had to run back up to it. All through the castle I was very hesitant anytime I got to a wall to cross I was very hesitant as really didnt want to get disqualified. So definitely lost a bit of time on them.

Got a bit more flow in the last part of the course after using the long spectator run through to plan a couple of the legs. Knew where I needed to go on the one near the church which was good to then plan the next leg. Found a bit more speed in this section and felt good going up the hills but still just all a bit too slow. Didn't think I had any major routechoice errors especially not in the last bit.

Anyway not too disappointed with this run, quite pleased with how it was and also compared to the other GB girls wasn't too far behind. Was an alright start to EYOC.

EYOC Model Sprint area

Just checking out some different features etc with Eildih and Tara

EYOC Model Long

Just walking/jogging bits with Eilidh and Tara again, just seeing what different veg and features looked like

Easy jog to Tesco and back a bit before travelling to Bulgaria today :)

Taper interval session in the morning before school and travelling (Just about managed to get to school on time):

Warm Up

5* 400m, 200m jog - feeling gooood :) apart from being really quite tired

Cool Down

8.1 km, 90m

Super easy ride with Ali...once we'd fixed the bike :/