Training Log Archive: Bashman

WU
Feeling quite good getting up the hill, dropped off my jacket at the bus, and some drills before strides.
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JK Long - Course 2 - 6th

Really wanted to prove something today, and put a lot of pressure on myself because of that. By the way I felt warming up, I thought things were going to go well. Headed off the start and had the idea that once I nailed number 1, everything would fall into place.
Hit number 1 fine and the banana'd to 2, small miss but no need to panic. Through 3 and ran past 4. Still only 30s down, all good. Planned the long leg and hit the hill and 5 where things began to fail. Had hardly nothing to give, which was worrying so early in the course. Forgot about it quickly enough and got to number 6 fairly smoothly but felt it took more effort than it should have. Next few were okay, had my gel and began to hit the climb to 10. This is where the carnage started.
Had noticed the massive death cloud coming towards me at number 7, however I thought little of it and even considered a bit of rain being nice on my overheating body. But unfortunately it was hail, and with the wind, became comparable to machine-BB-gun fire. It was awful and I couldn't see map nor terrain as I headed straight into it. Wind was so strong that it pushed me 45 degrees off line when I was fairly certain I was holding a straight line. But I thought if I could get to 11 I would be fine. Got to 11 and my lips started to swell and bleed, arms were far beyond feel and chest felt like it was being whipped. Swearing my head off to deal with the stinging.
Realised it was time to put on my cag so sat behind a hill and took 2mins to get it on, due to numb fingers and inside-out sleeves battling the wind. Did the biggest S-shape of my life going to 12 where I found someone hiding behind a hill, curled up in a ball - wanted to do the same. Dropped from 3rd to 11th in one leg here. Expected people at the crossing point to tell us to retire. But now things weren't too bad, as the hail was on my back. So I pushed on up the hill and carried on my course, thinking I might still have half a chance at clinching overall victory.
And I could have, had the conditions not completely obliterated my mental state. Wasn't thinking any more and coupled with a double ankle turn and arch bruising from a rock [sorry for the v.rude words I exclaimed for the latter incident - witnessed by many people] I was orienteering like a moose. Had no clean controls here on in and lost all hope for a good result. Trudged into the finish very annoyed.

A result I want to forget about, but probably shouldn't. Couldn't have changed the conditions but then again should have held things together afterwards. Also definitely not feeling very fit today for whatever reason, perhaps not enough recent experience at racing several days in a row(??). In the end Brutus won fair and square and I can only be grateful that I didn't drop down more places.. Still lots to work on.

Hail was so strong that my arms and chest are still covered with 100s small red bruises. Map also has punctures from several larger stones. Hopefully the worst conditions I'll ever have to face orienteering.

http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/en/d...
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WU and Drills.
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JK Middle - Course 2 - 3rd

Always worried about this day as I have traditionally flunked it quite badly. Set off the start hard, feeling like I had to run harder than usual for some reason, but quickly calmed down when I couldn't focus on the map at all. Settled into a better rhythm but never really flowed all that well today; found myself stopping 1 or 2 times on every leg to make out the map properly - perhaps not a bad tactic on an area like this? Heavily rolled my ankle on 5 and limped for a few controls, including the very controversial crossing that I went round correctly. Was annoyed that I wasn't seeing Will, even at points where I felt I could see 2mins ahead, but soon found him messing up 13. This perked me up a bit and meant that I hit the last section hard to finish with a semi-respectable time. Nice to be top brit in the middle for my first time ever, I think.
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WD
Up to download and to the start and back to get a layer.
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Event: JK 2016
 

WU/D
Decent sized WU with quite a lot of drills, then nice loop WD with Aidan and Dane.
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JK Sprint (WRE) - 8th, 1st M20

Seems like a good amount of geeking accounted for a lack of speedwork recently. Turnover felt lazy and never felt like I was running quickly (especially down any steps) but perhaps being confident was more important than being fast today. Made a few small misses, mainly in the form of slightly longer routechoices but I stuck to them so never lost all that much time. Finished strongly but died on the run in with my worst split, energy completely spent, as it should be. Really nice to race against Aidan after I caught him up, it's definitely a rarity these days.

Splits - http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/en/d...
RG - http://www.jk.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#59&course=1&r...
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Easy 30+Drills
Good stuff with the boys. Effortless, put more effort into reading harrison's unlikely AP update.
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Spinning
In the gym, easy with 2 x 4mins chucked in. Feel great. Followed by stretch and sauna with Brutus.
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Easy 45
Started at snail pace with the boys on their WD, and then headed off for a lap round the park. Met Jonny towards the end and jogged back through the bog with him. Feeling fine.
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MMMMM
Easy.
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WU
Lap and then a few drills.
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Meadows Solo - 200m, 4, 6, 8, 1km, 8, 6, 4, 2 - equi-time recoveries
Pretty brutal session but feeling awesome and could easily cruise at around 3min/km today. Aim was to start out steady on the first few and then die on the last few. Wind messed up paces a bit though, by making things interesting for any reps going west. Nice to have support from Jacob shouting out the flat window.
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WD
Short one to the flat to grab bag and change shoes, then gym.
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Gym
Very easy session. Mobility, disc core, plyo, a bit of core, and rolling. Followed by sauna. Nice.
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