Running warm up/down 10:00 [2] 1.91 km (5:14 / km) +20m 4:59 / km
shoes: Asics GEL-Speed Star 5 2014
AM Warm up run.
Orienteering race 14:55 [5] 4.1 km (3:38 / km) +25m 3:32 / km
shoes: Inov-8 X-Talon 190
AM NAOC Sprint in Arnprior at 1:4000. My final chance to win a NAOC race was in the sprint which had been a goal of mine for a few years. I new the course was going to be very fast with a more tricky section in the first part, a middle section where you would have to run like a maniac and a chaotic last section with a lot of controls. I started out well and under control until I almost overlooked a route choice to number six. Luckily I saved it in time and minimized the mistake to around 5ish seconds but it could have been much worse. I think I also lost a few seconds on the run to number ten because I was trying to get a real good look at the final section because I can remember when I looked ahead to the end, I thought to myself "dam that's a mess of controls, I can't mess anything up there or any chance at winning will be gone". I managed to get through the last eight controls very well and I think that is the reason why I ended up winning the GOLD! Placing first overall added to the significance of being the NAOC sprint champ and the meaning of the gold medal. All the hard work finally payed off. What a feeling!
Being the top Canadian and winning the NAOC sprint has qualified me to run in the 2015 WOC Sprint in Scotland as per the Canadian Selection Criteria. Time to start preparing! I will get another chance to qualify to run the middle or long next summer in the Canadian Team Trials since both of the Regional WOC spots were won by Canadians at NAOC.
Running warm up/down 5:00 [2] 0.8 km (6:15 / km)
PM Short little warm up run for the Relay.
Orienteering race 13:33 [5] 3.0 km (4:31 / km) +45m 4:12 / km
shoes: Inov-8 X-Talon 190
PM NAOC Relay at Gilles Grove - Robert Simpson Park at 1:5000. After about one hour of rest the sprint relay started, so there was not much time to recover from the sprint. I ran second and had a great race again. The course was three quarters in the forest which added an extra challenge. The forest was quite open which didn't slow the running speed down too much. I ended up having the fasted time out of everyone.