Training Log Archive: Lizzie

NOL long
Another very scrappy race. Had an early start with noone fast around me, so all on my lonesome after I passed Lisa at 1 (and 2...). Did run past Al as she headed to 14 and I to 6 though.

Anyway, 3mins lost on 2 straight up. 1min on my idiotic route along the stream to start with, then another 2 trying to figure out what was in the circle (still haven't really got my head around it!)
Overshot 4 and bad route. In fact i didn't realise I'd lost time here til after I finished. It wasn't until later in the course that I figured tracks were the smart (but boring) option on this course. So was completely oblivious for the first few controls and headed straight!

Executed the long leg to 6 well, linking up tracks and bearings between. Tackled the climb up the spur by 14 and slowed down when I had to entering the control off the fire trail. Then negotiated the potentially tricky 7 well.
Should have taken the track to 8 but was stubborn and cut the corner, got a bit stuck - then misread where I eventually came out and did an extra little loop to the hill top!
Again, tracks best to 9. I went straight and executed my plan fine. But was slower.
Long leg to 10 let me down. I'd read ahead on the way to 6 and made up my mind...but then i changed it (fundamental error!) and then i changed it again! (even worse error!). In the end either route (up and long boring track bash, or lower and straight through bush), was viable and prob much of a muchness. But I messed around at the start deciding. Lost 2-3mins all up on this one. Should have bitten the bullet and taken the fire trails, but my mind rebelled at the thought of 3km+ straight running on tracks!

Busted my ankle on the slope 12-13. Lost a minute hobbling. Then stopped early on 14, being silly, another minute.

Took what i thought was a silly route 14-15. Decided to get out to the track as fast as possible, and in doing so missed the route choice down the spur. Ended up taking a bearing between the tracks and adding unnecessary distance. However I gained a heck of a lot of time at the end of the leg by tracking it around and through the event centre rather than trying to bash through to the spectator control. So had the fastest split here, but feel it could have been a lot faster if I planned better at the start of the leg.

And smashed it around the last loop. With the exception of the penultamate control, where I found myself on the wrong side of a rank looking creek. Didn't want to waste time finding a narrower part as teh control was visible on the other side. So it took a jump...and landed a good 40cm short of the other side! Got stuck up to my knees, and a nice splash back of the grottiest water ever in my face! Will probably turn into hulkwoman or something now... boganwoman??

Overall an ave run and not surprised Vanessa was 7mins ahead. What was surprising was ending up 3rd in a very tight bunch! 14s would have seen me 2nd!


So all up not a bad weekend results wise, but personal race wise there's significant room for improvement. Lucky I've got 2months :)

And teh foot's pulled up ok. there's some tendonitis going on in the inside of my left ankle, but physio isn't too concerned as yet. Just have to treat it sensibly, ice, voltaren, stretching and loosening the ankle.

Long NOL 2 - Splits

Event: NOL Round 3 / WOC Selection Trial - 'Coalfields Classic'
 

NOL sprint.

The first sprint to beat me in a long time! Straight into the tricky stuff and my lack of orienteering took it's toll. Fine for the first 6 controls but by then my brain was running 30m behind my legs which was just asking for disaster on this map!

3x40s blow outs, pretty out of character, 1 bad route choice and plenty of <10s mistakes. Not happy with my race and didn't expect to be anywhere near the top of the field, so was very surprised to end up in 3rd.
Almost 2mins behind Rachel though, which is a shocking time difference for a sprint!

Very well set courses, disappointed I didn't handle the course well.
Plenty of room for improvement! :)

On the plus side, I had the fastest finish split :)

NOL middle.

A scrappy race in scrappy forest. Very small features which took a few controls to get used to. (our 2nd control was in a ditch behind an earth wall - yet the flag was visible above the earth wall!)

Had a good start, bit of a slump in the middle, and good surge at the end (story of my weekend really). Stopped short on 10, dropping 20s, and never actually saw the tower that teh control was on! Then lacked confidence at 11 and wavered too far right, another 20s. Long leg to 12 I did really well for the first 2/3rds, laying down my bearing and smashing it out. But then decided to cut the corner to the small track, but never rejoined it! 40s time loss bashing through the green and having to attack the control from the opposite side.

Only other time loss was on 15, another 30-40s where I somehow went within 10m of the control without seeing it! Silly stuff really.

Anyway, clean enough in a tough area to take the win, and an enjoyable course all up. (apart from the 240m marginally uphill finish chute!)

token warmup/down. Legs were having none of the warmdown

NOL 2 - Splits

Middle NOL 2 - Splits

to and from uni

Ease out of the legs with Devil after the drive up to Newcastle. Only had one Ute try and run us down. It literally stopped, revved, and shot off towards us...well I may be exaggerating. But only just!

Flipping warm for 6pm. Felt a bit like Rome to be running in the dark in tshirt and short and sweating like anything!

Was going to go do some short sharp 30:30s at lunchtime on blackie...but there's smoke everywhere and I don't really feel like burning.
So going for the square wave taper this week ;)

:D

spent half an hour messing around doing corners before we actually started training...
ave. as.

On the bright side I've found the ultimate pre-training food....peanut butter, banana and chocolate (proper, not choc spread) sandwich! Sugar high lasted about 3/4 of training...obviously need more next time.

Is it legit to have a real taper week when you haven't really been in training?

Another average as day at uni. Got the tyres on the car done atleast. And got John to figure out the puzzle of putting a new windscreen wiper together for me after I struggled for half an hour this morning - the supplied instructions were blatantly wrong and clearly I've lost my powers of imagination (all used up on lego 10+years ago).

Had to walk across town twice to drop/pick up the car. And lo and behold, outside of my heel now hurts :( fricken aye.

C • Good question 2

been getting slack again. Mainly cos I got in the routine of doing it in the morning before work, but now it's so cold in the morning...and so warm in bed!

C • Perhaps you're turning into... 14

Map and Pide night at Devil's. Arrived a bit late, or on time, not sure. But others were waiting, so I didn't tape my freshly healed blisters...dumb

So piked about half way round so i wouldn't mess up my feet too bad. Not too much damage, but a baby blister inside the old one on my left foot and right foot a bit tender. Should be sweet by the weekend so long as i'm not an idiot on them (again).

Kept at an honest pace by shep and devil, pretty glad to turn around and cruise back with GrantM!

Didn't stretch last night...

Actually feeling pretty good. But didn't sleep too well due to all the thorns and scratches :s

good to ease out the legs. A little brisk in the morning now...