Training Log Archive: mushy_pea

Legs felt oddly tighter today, so took pace a little slower. Visiting old haunts of my primary school days.

Went for a jog around old haunts when back visiting the family in Omagh. A visit that I thought may not be the best idea the week before WOC when it was mentioned that "there's a right bout of the diarrhoea going round". The conversations I end up in when kids are involved!

R & R back with the family.

Jog about on the warm up map. Found it difficult to keep on line to controls, and easily became very confused. Made me really nervous - decided I'd better be really careful during the race or this could be really embarrassing.
Running back from the last control bashed my left shin off a rock. It absolutely ached, but gradually subsided. Great race prep!

Easy cool down after. Felt swollen and bruised shin the whole way round and upon finishing my entire left calf ached from effort. Presumably the extra effort from the swelling at the front of the leg. At least I get some rest before WOC now.

WUOC Middle - 28/80

Aim was to be careful and minimise mistakes. Did a decent job of this. A few minute time losses on controls, but as this was so difficult to avoid, I´m satisfied with my race. Certainly didn´t think I´d improve upon my sprint position today. Happy out.

Results

Now to catch my flight home. Bye bye Alicante!

C • awesomeness 7

Met with Hollie for a jog on her university map. We jogged a bit, and then I navigated some of the legs planned by Nixon while we jogged and chatted, then did some speedy legs when Hollie left followed by a jog back.

Took it easy, was a nice course, dodgy map in places - but grand. Nice to get out, even if it was difficult to get up!

C • Sprint 3

Warm up on the map around the castle grounds. Very cool quarantine area. Not impressed by the mapping, but didn't worry about it as the map was going to be on very different terrain - on the streets and alleyways. Feeling ready for a good race.

Short cool down after once I eventually dragged myself away from water and results. Treated with a double-team leg massage afterwards. Absolute agony. Think I should stretch more...

WUOC Sprint - 29/78

Eventually the competition got underway for me today - and it was amazing. Fantastic warm up area in the castle grounds looking down upon the city and sea, followed by a really tricky course with lots and lots of steps and confusing paths. I tried to take #1 slow and carefully, but still managed to be really confused by the mapping of steps and ran past the control before realising and doubling back. Was then already caught by my 1 min girl - gutted.
We had a bit of a head-to-head on the flatter/downhill section until we hit steps and I pushed on to drop her when her pace slowed. From here I went back up to the area I had difficulty with to #1 (in hindsight there was a better route that avoided this) but I knew it by now so faired much better this time round.
Was obviously tiring when I misread a route option to #13 which slowed me and it was here I got caught and passed by Julia Gross. For the last few controls I just pushed the pace to keep with her, and check the map so I knew things were going right.

Really disappointed with my start - should have saved at least 1 min there. But, on the whole, was happy with my race and my position. Feels nice to be top half!! Go away "what ifs...".

Results

Swiss had hired cars to re-run on the map from Sunday´s local event (more relevant terrain than the model, I was told) - so a few Germans, an Australian and I joined them.

This area was much trickier than the model - as I´d be warned beforehand. In general features were very vague - "distinct" trees, pits, cliffs and paths could easily be missed at stages. With a time limit I just had the chance to try out the start and end of Sunday´s course. Synopsis was to try keep accurate bearings and just be slow and careful into the actual controls. This does not help my confidence in the terrain.

Tried out my road flats today. In general I felt more comfortable. Definitely had trouble on the steeper slopes though, either contouring or passing up/down. As the rocks were giving way beneath, it´s possible it would have been just the same in road flats. Am still undecided.

Wandered in to Alicante town for a walk around. Didn´t pry too much, but there´s great potential for the sprint. I´m excited!

Event: WUOC 2012
 

WUOC Model Event - Middle dist

First time out in terrain and it´s tricky enough. Vegetation was confusing in earlier parts, optional path routes seemed best - though smaller ones and veg changes proved indistinct and difficult to find sometimes.
Main concern was the dry rock ground. Felt wrong in O-shoes today and am tempted to run the middle in my running flats...

Proved easier today with people milling around control sites. Would be nice to test an area with less people around.

C • Long tomorrow 5

Just arrived in Alicante and set off for a welcome jog with Keiran around the University campus. It´s actually really nice with a cacti garden and moat around the museum. Lots of interesting little sculptures too.
Weather´s going to prove tough - Alicante scorchio!