Training Log Archive: Craig

National Badge NOL, Ngaralta Country. Started fairly well, passed the 2 earlier starters by 5 but Dane went with me to 6 and I rushed 7 a bit and lost about 30 or 40 seconds by missing it to the left. Recovered faster than Dane and got a bit of a gap but was still rushing a bit heading into 9 and got quite confused by the tracks near the start. Didn't really know where I was but followed a bunch (including my mum) who had just started into a control which luckily was the right one. Stumbled across 15 and 16 without really knowing where I was but without losing much time. Stood still for a while 5m from 20 without seeing it. Left heel started to hurt enough going to the spectator control at 21 that I considered stopping there but the last loop looked fairly short and easy and I didn't want to stop and then find out I was doing well so I kept going. Heard the commentary calling Blair through the spectator control a lot less than 4 minutes after me and got a bit negative for a while (started thinking I should have stopped). Picked up a bit again after climbing out of 22 and tried to make sure Blair didn't catche me. Lost a few seconds on 24 but otherwise good to the finish. Left heel really sore after I finished. Really happy with how my fitness has held up and how consistently I have raced this week but it is a bit frustrating to think about what I might have been able to do if I could have trained hard and I'm still worried about how my achilles will survive the WOC trial and JWOC trial weekends in the next 5 weeks.

C • NOL event- jwoc trials 5

Australian Middle Champs, Pewsey Vale. A bit scrappy on the first 3 controls but otherwise good up to the spectator control. Final loop felt very poor but without making any really significant mistakes. Drifted off to the left 3 times on the one leg going to 16. Very wobbly and slow mid leg on 17. 18 was good. Ran the track to 19 but was way left again coming in off the bend and took ages to get to the control. Well off to the right on 20 but saw the control fairly early once I corrected after seeing the fence in front of me. A bit of a frustrating run but still fairly pleased with the result.

ASC Galaxy sprint at Nuriootpa. One small mistake on the earth bank but only a few seconds otherwise happy with the run. Felt as though I ran as fast as I could but it was taking me a while to get up to speed after punching controls. I'm considering giving up running sprint races.

Another jog around Adelaide with Rachel. This one was a real struggle, I don't think there was a single step where I didn't think about stopping and walking. Wouldn't have been any slower if I did.

Jog around Adelaide with Rachel.

Final day of Easter. Another good steady run, no mistakes apart from minor wobbles off the optimal line mid leg. Never felt really strong but didn't really tire either so pretty happy overall. Started the day 51 seconds behind Blair and managed to sneak past him thanks to AJ passing me near the end and giving me the incentive to push the finish hard and go from 5 seconds behind Blair at the last control to 2 ahead at the finish. Ended up 7th overall, way ahead of my goal of top 15.