Training Log Archive: GM

I thought an easy run at lunchtime would be good, and it was. Ran down to JKP then did the 'new' ABS fun run course. Met a guy called Rob who is from Immigration at the 3.5km turn around point so we ran back together having a chat which was nice for a change.

RPM at Oatley Court with Heffer, and MaryMac for most of it. Didn't feel too tired at the end so must have been taking it a bit easy.

Coalfields Classic and NOL long at Astley's Tower near Kitchener. Ran the M45A course again, which was also with the M40A's. There were some really pleasing parts of my run and a couple of real disappointing bits too. I started off a bit scrappy to 1 but then on the way to 2 I had someone running right behind me, literally, which I found very off putting - normally it doesn't bother me so my mind wasn't on the job. Over ran 2 so had to double back and lost about 1.5 minutes. Ok through 3 and 4 and then our long leg. My intention was to go fairly straight and not worry about picking up any little tracks. Not bad time but could have pushed a bit harder. I didn't drop enough on the next leg which was contouring so slightly over ran again but not by much. Scott Simson had caught me at this point. He went more left than me leaving 6 on the longish leg back to 7 so I didn't see him again till 8 and again at 10. This middle part of the course was going well and I felt strong. I mucked up 11 inside the circle by thinking the creek bend was the one to the left of the control so I headed right too far and had to come back so lost 2 minutes. Then 12 was another stuff up inside the circle - the control was on an overgrown earth bank beside a dam in the middle of a patch of green. I must have passed with 10m of the control the first time through and then spent the next 5 minutes trying to find it. Never saw the dam and the green was a lot thicker and more extensive than I was expecting. No trouble with 13 but exiting to 14 I should have gone straight to the track but angled too much so hit the track further along than I expected so ran too far. When I stopped and came back to find the control I missed it by metres the first time so that just compounded the time lost and another 2-3 minutes disappeared. All up I kissed goodbye to 12+ minutes which is not good. Normally I would expect to lose < 2 minutes on a course like that. At least I know I can keep up with the 'younger' guys if I am not making stupid errors. Overall it was a great day of orienteering - a great area and a good course. The organisation and NOL race spectating just added to it.

Event: NOL Round 3 / WOC Selection Trial - 'Coalfields Classic'
 

Coalfields Classic and NOL sprint race at University of Newcastle. Karen B set a cracker of a course on a great area - I have run here 2 times before and this time was so much harder. The first 14 controls were in and out of complex buildings, gardens, passageways on the western side of the campus. I was sucked into heading off from the start in slightly the worng direction, but it was on the road so it was simple so in the end not a bad choice. Comparing splits with Lance Read I should have backed out of 1 but went the other way so lost a little bit. Good through to 10 but then started to the right for 11 then propped when I couldn't pick a good route through so went back to the left past 13 without realising the control was there - this proved to be a help on 13 because I knew what the 'cave' looked like. Lost my most time on a poor route choice to 15 which was the only long leg - should have gone left across the foot bridge but took the route to the right on the road so ended up having to cross back across the straight line to come into the control as the other ways were blocked. Last mistake was on leaving 17 when I thought I could follow the undercover path on the edge of the building but it ended in a dead end way above the ground so had to back track out. Finished in 2nd place in M45A 20 seconds behind Lance.

Good warm up before the Sprint.

Coalfields Classic and NOL middle distance at 'The Old Pelaw Main Colliery'. Ran M45A again and really enjoyed the area - the navigation challenges just kept on coming which was great. A typical Newcastle area map with lots of details in a relatively flat area, but the combination of the short legs in the detail and direction changes and vegetation changes made it really good. Only down side was that I missed a control so had my 4th career MP. Fairly steady and good flow through to 7 then propped too early on 8 when confused by all the white tapes. I thought it was around the top of the quarry but I couldn't see it and realised that it was the trail bike tracks and the quarry was through the next patch of green. Got pushed too far to the right by the vegetation heading to 9 so picked up the main track then back on the minor one. The next series of controls through to the spectator were OK but felt a bit tired. I was having a few problems relating the map on the way to 15 and then was too hesitant coming into the control. Good through 16 and 17 then saw the two signs - one with an arrow to the left said 'Wet Feet' and the other with the arrow to the right said 'Dry Feet' I wimped out and went the dry route. Hesitant on 19 and then across to the fence beside the OOB and paralleled it to the fence corner and headed in. The next leg was in the same direction but I thought I was already at 21 so started reading the map from 21 as I was running from 20. All of a sudden I was having so may problems making the map fit but was too stupid to stop and work out why. Managed to make it fit and then relocated quickly and found 22 fine. I probably would have ended up in 2nd place if I had of visited all the controls but I didn't so I didn't.

Up in Sydney on the way to Newcastle for the Coalfields Orienteering and NOL. After wandering through Ikea at Tempe for ages and Swedish meatballs for lunch with ALJ and the kids I thought a run was in order. Drove a couple of km up the road to Sydney Park at St Peters. I ran around the Parkrun course which was a loop around the outside and a wiggly loop through the middle - it was fairly flat but it had a couple of hills in the middle of the park to keep me honest. At least I know how far I ran for a change.

Run to work on the usual route.

At a work off-site all day plus a dinner so didn't get home till late so just did a quick out and back through Spence. So quiet ... No pedestrians and only a couple of cars.

Cockies 'Map and Pide' evening run from Devil's house with Shep, Lizzie and Devil.