Training Log Archive: Craney

Running 37:00 [3] 8.0 km (4:38 / km)
shoes: New Balance 769

Orienteering race (World Cup Prologue) 27:01 [5] 5.0 km (5:24 / km)
shoes: Inov8 oroc 280

16th place, 1.46 behind the winner. One of my best international races in a while, which was a pleasant surprise. Didn't make any technical time losses to speak of - nice and in control, picking easy lines to run on. Felt pretty good early on (through the cabbage patch!) but started to suffer on the last couple of kms which were all uphill.

Orienteering race (World Cup Chasing Start) 44:30 [5] 7.0 km (6:21 / km)
shoes: Inov8 oroc 280

Unfortunately most of those in front of me got shunted further in front due to some arbitrary time bonus rule and I had a huge pack of some pretty good guys right up my arse. Still, set off calmly and wasn't too flustered as, sure enough, I dropped about 10 places in the first km. Hung onto the pack round most of the rest of the course. It was brutally hilly and, being all in the open and in 30+ degree heat on an ungaffled course, it was one of the toughest races of any kind I've ever run! Gradually most of the pack inched away from me but it was reassuring how gradual it was - we were all pretty much crawling up the hills around the spectator control at #20. Alas, I came unstuck at #23 and dropped 1minute - fortunately it only cost me 2 places (Chris Forne and Murray) as I dropped from the back of one pack to the front of the next - but it made my time a bit worse than it should've been. As it was I lost a slow-motion sprint finish to Murray by a few seconds and crawled in in 27th place, having dropped around 4mins to the leaders.

Not a bad effort - many other World Cup runners were saying how tough it was which was reassuring. A few years back I'd have crumbled in a race like this. As it was, I still had lots of negative thoughts in my head the whole way - I really don't enjoy running in packs - but I didn't give up. In hindsight it was bloody good fun.

Running warm up/down 45:00 [2] 7.0 km (6:26 / km)
shoes: Inov8 oroc 280

Orienteering 20:00 [3] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
shoes: Inov8 oroc 280

Model Event on part of the Slump. Straightforward orienteering but picking lines to avoid the very steepest slopes (up or down) was the name of the game. Plus it was hot and open.

Orienteering 25:00 [3] 4.0 km (6:15 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X-talon 212

Training area called Rotoma near Hawke's Bay. Fairly steep open paddocks with plenty of cow shit.

Orienteering race 35:00 [5] 5.0 km (7:00 / km)
shoes: Inov8 oroc 280

DNF. Seriously f***ed off - sabotaged by a fricken traffic cone! I seemed to be one of very few up for racing the whole thing today (it being the Oceania Champs, me not having a race tomorrow, hoping for a confidence-booster and feeling optimistic about my chances), so particularly annoyed it happened to me. The irony was that one of things I was trying to improve today was planning ahead so when I hit the road on the long leg from 10-11 I focussed on choosing my routes for the next bit of the course. I therefore neglected to see the traffic cone on the side of the road in dappled shade, tripped over it, cut open my finger, ripped my map and broke my compass. Carried on a bit but the blood was pouring a bit faster than I'd have liked so had to stop. Much shouting of expletives. Had been doing ok up to 10 - calm, in control and flowing well, a small miss on #8 but otherwise good, and feeling fresh still. Poo.

Running warm up/down 15:00 [2] 3.0 km (5:00 / km)
shoes: Inov8 oroc 280

Note
(rest day)

Orienteering race (World Cup Sprint Final) 21:30 [5] 4.0 km (5:23 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X-talon 212

34th place, disappointed and a bit angry at the finish. It started ok and was in about 15th at the spectator. Not that I knew it - I'd been forced so wide on routes to #3 and #4 I thought I must've missed a trick and I'd be way down already. Then #7 came and I hadn't done enough planning ahead. I got some of the way only to realise my planned route was blocked by a high fence. The only crossing I could spot was back past #6 and up a massive hill. So I did that. In hindsight I should've carried on further round the way I was going. Out of it after that and no longer on top of stuff. Most of it was a great tricky sprint, but I was not a fan of the legs 2-3, 3-4 and 6-7: when the only options are so wide, drastic and different to each other I don't know how you are meant to spot more than one viable route choice, let alone compare and decide which is best.

Running warm up/down 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X-talon 212

Orienteering race (World Cup Sprint Qual) 14:26 [5] 3.5 km (4:07 / km)
shoes: New Balance 769

15th place, much better. Focussed well and took every opportunity I could to plan ahead. Some routes sub-optimal, so could've been quicker, but they were all conscious decisions and I didn't make any technical time losses. Legs felt ok. Pretty intense stuff and quite a challenge executing the wiggly routes and staying on top of stuff. Very pleased with the result.

Running warm up/down 30:00 [2] 6.0 km (5:00 / km)
shoes: New Balance 769

Orienteering race (World Cup Middle) 46:30 [5] 6.0 km (7:45 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X-talon 212

51st place, crap run. First 9 were relatively clean and I was quite in control - probably not planning ahead or looking at the whole leg enough though, that could've saved me a bit of time. #10 it all went wrong through and I dropped 2.5mins - one of those where I knew where I was but no control and I didn't have a contingency plan. It ended up being deep in a hole just round the brow of the hill. A bit unlucky perhaps. Caution then went out of the window and I was scrappy round the rest, including spending 2.5mins stuck in a bush on the way to #14. Very disappointing.

Running warm up/down 30:00 [2] 5.0 km (6:00 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X-talon 212

Orienteering 25:00 [2] 3.0 km (8:20 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X-talon 212

Orienteering race 1:03:30 [4] 12.0 km (5:18 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X-talon 212

Oceania Carnival Day 1 on Fusilier - a lovely forested dune area. Nice gentle terrain for just cruising round at a reasonable tempo without getting too tire.d Did that bit ok and hit 90% of the controls cleanly, but struggled to run in a straight line on the long legs and came out in the wrong place a few times (always far to the right). So not a great run technically, but physically fine. Not very relevant to Sunday though apparently...

Running warm up/down 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X-talon 212

Orienteering 56:00 [2] 7.0 km (8:00 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X-talon 212

Orienteering 26:00 [3] 4.0 km (6:30 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X-talon 212