Training Log Archive: grilla

Frustrating!!! i really did enjoy today but oh how I wish I did not make that balls-up of 8.

Started out tentatively, ankle still unstable and sore, not able to push off or land confidently. The course was advertised as "tough". In the end I didn't think it was, maybe if I'd been running harder, but I tried to keep something in reserve waiting for the tough part (I think quite a few did). In the end legs were getting wobbly - from yesterday's flounderings and from my stupid way to 8.

Took 1 easy as it looked scarily easy, and it turned out fine - no hidden tricks. Took a safe (left) way to 2. Meandered a bit but just to make certain I did not drift off somewhere unidentifiable. Happy enough. Got 3 well, but leaving was having trouble with the steep slope and went splat - in the same manner as last week - bashing both knees again and re-gouging my right palm. Again left, safe way to 4 got it well enough and same for 5,6. Left again to 7, executed pretty well until the other side of the gully looked more attractive so I crossed early. This probably cost a bit of pfaffing through some extra gullies and spurs but was sure of myself the whole way. Deviated into a patch of green but sensibly turned back out after 10 metres of woeful non-progress. Went right t0 8 (should have stuck with lucky left I reckon). Through the saddle down the spur, past the enormous rock and straight into no-mans land. Ran completely the wrong direction through the marsh. When I finally made landfall I was expecting to see rocks. There were none, I thought "gee they really over mapped this bit" (???what was I thinking??!?!?!?), crossed a green marsh to more dry land and thought "this is quite under mapped", then reality dawned.... From there I had to cross another marsh - one that no man was meant to cross. I was surprised to make it out the other side. Wobbled a bit more before finally getting my head back. 5-6 minutes lost on one leg! OK (but slow and wonky in places) from there to the finish. Stuffed the last in the vagueness.

2 - Splits

Event: Australian WOC Trials
 

Warm up before sprint. Very impressed with myself. I think I learnt my lesson from Easter.

When we arrived the area was completely blanketed in fog. I was looking forward to my first ever fog orienteering, but fortunately it cleared before we started - meaning everyone arrived at the event and got to run at least!

Quite happy with how I started. I think a couple of weeks of intense rest has done the world of good, and a good warm up probably helped too. Running well, made a small mistake leaving 4, there was a crossable fence but on seeing it it looked uncrossable I turned back to take another route. The problem was I turned early and came right back to the same spot. Annoying... Then from 7-8 I made a small mistake trying to negotiate the walls. Misread some stairs as a wall so tried to go around them when completely unnecessary. The wheels fell completely off when I wrenched my ankle between 8 and 9. I must have stepped on a sawn off tree stump while rounding a corner so slipped off and ankle turned at a funny angle. I was left grasping at the wall to stay upright, spent about a minute doing so before I was able to get moving again. Took a while to decide to finish the course, then it was at a hobble and yelping each step for a few minutes. Lucky to have the time to see the trap at 11, unlike most. Really ruined the day by going completely the wrong way out of 17. Lost a heap of time on that one and went heaps further than I could afford to on my ankle. Hobbled to the finish from there, very sore and very disappointed.

Ankle very sore from the morning. I strapped it tight but my ankle brace was rubbing a tender spot and I was uncertain that I would start. Once I picked up my map I virtually forgot the pain, was aware of instability but took it easy and really had fun. Very wet and sloshy - which probably helped my cause and hopefully was good Shamrock training - seeing as I have never run in Ireland. The first few controls were a bit treacherous, lots of eucalypt thinnings made landing scary and I took it all very tentatively. Lost a bit of time at 1 (which seemed common), ran the wrong direction to 2 (trying to keep to runnable ground for me) but picked up the mistake and recovered OK. All fine from then until 10 which I had trouble with (same area as 1). Bridget and Tracy caught me here and were around from there to the finish. It was nice that they caught me just where it opened up and I did not need to worry so much about landing on fallen logs. Tracy stormed to the finish with us floundering after. Great to have someone to encourage me to keep moving.

Happy with my run, but miles down unfortunately.

2 - Splits

2 - Splits

Core day. Lots of balance too. ...and quad stretches that I opted out of due to knee bruises from weekend.