Training Log Archive: helehan

Event: Jukola 2014
 

Venla leg 1 for BOK

Wow. Very lucky to be offered the opportunity to run first leg for the BOK ladies Venla team. Our start position was 137 after a great result last year, so I was only a couple of rows back from the front! Start was a stampede - I was aware that it was a good 800m run to the start kite but didn't anticipate people starting quite so quickly. I didn't go off fast enough enough in the first couple of hundred metres so got caught up behind runners slowing down when they hit the track into the forest. Picked my way past a few on the way to the start kite and then everyone spread out up the crags after the start. Run was reasonably clean. The trains were ploughing straight most of the way but not always taking routes I would pick with clear attackpoints and running on ridges rather than in the green and bushy marshes. A couple of times I found myself alone in the forest and as a result probably lost time from leaving the train, even though if it weren't for the tracks then I might have had a better/safer route. Slight wobble on 5 but generally pleased, until I couldn't find the last control. Stood scratching my head for a good 2 minutes in full view of the finish arena, with the BOK guys shouting at me! I was looking for a knoll on the forest edge - turns out the punches were over a bridge and in the field, about 10m after the start of the run-in. Seemed obvious afterwards but it totally threw me at the time (I was aware there were multiple last controls) and I certainly wasn't the only one to lose time, although my time loss was somewhat greater than most. So a disappointing end to what was otherwise a fantastic first Jukola experience.

I came in 412, but a cracking run from Tamsin pulled us up to the 250s where we stayed, finishing in 235. Dead chuffed with the team result and good runs all round. I've definitely got the Jukola bug now!

Jog around arena and then up to start kite and back. Few drills & strides. Feeling good.