Training Log Archive: grilla

Absolutely amazing, NZ long champs in St Arnaud. Hope GPS downloads as would really like a track of this. This is the reason I go orienteering- absolutely stunning forest, birds singing, moss covered rocks to run along, just amazing. Climb was horrendous (especially when I didn't spot the contouring option) but so nice to go over the top of the hill, all by myself up there in the unspoilt forest. This compares with my favourite map south in NZ and amazing that it is so close to Finn's yet we've never been here. Will go back.

Race was so-so: too low on 1 but caught myself before I got lost, slow going to 3 up hill, slog up from 3 to top of hill (wrong route choice from a speed perspective but who cared, I loved it), overshot 4 then scared to descend too far (ended up high), took a bad fall on way to 5, 6 was good but went straight past the boulder thinking it looked like a tree stump, Marquita caught me here and dragged me along for a few controls, then I let her go but somehow managed to pass her, she came past back in the streets at the end I kept up in the tricky sections but could not keep up in the running sections. Chose to come to finish via little path rather than road as did not want to spoil such a great area with stupid road run. Marquita 12 min ahead! Need to get my act together.

Good start but got very sloppy in the middle which cost me big time. Very dense forest, very few features, needed to use compass accurately which is not a strong suit! Lost time on 4, 5 (went back to 4 and started again), 6 (found the radio device but not control), 10 (overshot). Beautiful forest! Went for a dip in the lake afterwards, it was refreshing and not too freezing. Perfect clear, fresh water.

Event: NZ Orienteering Champs
 

Sprint around Nelson. Fun start, made a mistake on 3, left leg got sore/dead on way to 6, slow for a bit, missed good route 9-10 and 10-11 as line went over gap in fence (could see open gate but not game to run through it...) got going again towards the end. Might need to consider doing a warm up in future.

VE with Aoife. Start triangle confusing again. Could not see path from where we picked up map, Nea also confused. Aoife overshot 1 ended up at 2 but came back without prompting, good to see she took notice of code (have previously had doubts). 3 and 5 strangely placed in middle of long grass patches but did not bother her. We 'cut the corner' to 9. She got 10 and 11 perfectly fine even though I was not sure. Ran a reasonable amount for a change.

Usual Mt Annan slog up and down hills and through long grass. Feeling weak and unfit most of the way! Made mistake on way to 3 - spotted VE control and started running downhill towards it instead of along track to my control. 8-9 was a killer up cleared hillside. Overshot 12 and ran off map, mixing with the M course people! Slog from there to finish, struggled to make myself run in places and had quite a few walks!

Event: NSW State League #1 - Wattle Ridge
 

Started Terry Hills, got back as far as St Ives hill before I got a flat. Tried to fix it at top of hill but pump hopeless so rang the rescue crew. Then got bored so pumped tyre a bit more, enough to roll along and got as far as top of Mona Vale Rd big hill. Waited for lift there as was not game to go too fast on flat tyre. Taking it easy as trying not to smash up legs too much before this afternoon.

VE with Aoife. Strart triangle confusing (again). Also confusing as course crossed itself a few times plus doubled back. She coped well. Would be good to cross her and Lyra, they'd make a good team! WE were leapfrogging much of the course.

Wattle Ridge. Taking it easy as did not bring O shoes and was very insecure in loose fitting trail shoes. One ankle twist that was not too bad so got away with it. Extremely poor route choice and execution to 1. Lost a heap of time there. Shaky for next few. Off-line to 5 but picked myself up OK, same for 8. Too right for 9 and lost some time there. Wonky to 10 but got it OK. 11 and 12 were freaky - quite scary with a massive cliff to get down plus another one below. I would not have set here (risk averse) but pleased we were taken there as it was stunning! Struggled back up cliff to 13 in unsuitable shoes and feeling my age. Slog to the finish showed how unfit I am. Green was probably good NZ training.

C • steep 1

Homework scooter session

Homework bike ride

Training weekend activities

Event: Women's Training Weekend - Hunter Valley
 

Training weekend activities.

Quick morning run while Aoife at swimming. Hard work in patches - steep and also overgrown. Amazing to be able to go places like this on a Thursday morning before work.

Aoife's homework for this 2 weeks includes doing 15 min of exercise each day. We have been scootering and cycling around the neighbourhood. Today we cycled to Loyal Henry Park then did some walk training and discus practice.

Event: Sydney Sprint Series 2016 Race #9 - North Ryde
 

Aoife's course she did quite well, had trouble at start triangle and through campers only.

Honeysuckle Creek - very hard work but nice to be out. Took the opportunity to go out to this event being in Canberra for weekend - a last minute decision.

Course 3 MIDDLE - Splits