Training Log Archive: Lizzie

Oceania Long
https://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/20191005olw21e/

Oh boy. Feeling fairly shite this morning, as the cold chose its time to settle. Still not in the lungs, so headed to the start with the intention of running through to the spectator (1/3rd of the way through) and seeing how I felt then. Felt pretty crap at the start though, so hopes weren't high, but didn't want to miss out on Warren's kangaroo crossing epic (figured I'd have to come back in a few days to finish it if I cut it short).

First few controls were straight into the green detail. Took them carefully, coming to the tops on 1-2 to be sure. Not a fast route, but secure to start with. 3-4 was the first long leg. I was at 3 with Ness, who headed off on the left route. I opted for the right route, steep downhill to start, but then fast running and little climb. About 100m out of the control I second-guessed my route, but luckily i was far enough down the hill by then that i couldn't change my choice. So continued. A bit of time loss at the bottom of the leg, losing my direction, but otherwise good.
Stopped for a drink on the way to #5, before heading up into the rock detail. Felt pretty smashed up the hill, but the detail meant going slower wasn't a bad option.
Clean through to the spectator, where I heard I'd taken in a good amount of time on the other girls...well, that made it kinda hard to pull out. So I picked up my second map, had a jelly snake and drink and headed out on the long leg.
I chose to head right on the track, but felt I didn't have the legs to slog it up the hill on the track in the sun. So opted for a more straight routechoice, up and over the spur, a sharp downhill, but then a pretty easy route into the control. I executed the leg well and had 3rd fastest on the leg (not far behind), but in hindsight the L route would be faster.
#13 was a tricky short leg straight after the long one, and there must have been 7-8 of us girls missing it together (plus Ellie, somehwere, who i didn't see...) I caught Tash and Krystal here, and we all overshot together. This meant we headed off together on 14, another tricky leg across the slope into the rock detail. I wanted to head high and drop into the control using the gully, but got caught a little low halfway through the leg. Tash and I headed higher while Krystal dropped a bit low. Together we navigated nicely straight into the control, just taking it steady and checking off the big details. Didn't see Krystal after this, while Tash and I headed straight onto #15, a lovely vague downhill diagonal into the bermuda triangle.
Again took it carefully, having made a major mistake here 5(!) years ago. Nailed it. Said hi to Jake, who was heading up the slope. And continued on on Tash's tail.
Lost her a bit as I stopped at both water stops enroute to 16. I got pulled into a wrong bearing heading up the vague slope to 16 though, dropping 30s or so. A short leg straight up the slope to 17, and then the final long leg. Another up-over or around or mix-the-two option. Tash and I decided to boost it around to the track (boost being a very relative term at this point). Tried to hold the compass steady and not get sucked further down the slope than needed. Tash put on a sneaky burst of speed at this point, and I was just clinging on to be honest. I knew I would catch up the gap again once we got to the detail, but boy it was tough work slogging it up the track! A final little loop in the rocks, trickiest being dropping back down toward 21. Then a nice bit of running into the finish. Managed to avoid faceplanting on the last fence. So good day all around.

Absolutely smashed in the finish. My head was completely stuffed up. Did a couple of interviews, but to be honest my ears were so blocked I have no idea if i answered the right questions!

C • Bermuda triangle 1

3 - Splits

On photo duty today

Beaut map, back in technical granite. After a hot day watchiing the schools racing I just about had enough energy to head out myself. Throat definitely not happy today, but seems contained so headed out, and lungs were OK.
Enjoyable run with some fast long legs dropping into tricky rock detail. Unfortunately I tweaked my ankle a bit on #5. So jogged it from there. Rest now until the weekend to try give the ankle a rest and the cold a chance to pass through. fingers crossed

Helped out on starts and then ran the Senior Boys sprint course at ASOC. Fun map on 1:2000 scale. Nice to do some more sprint, although definitely feeling the sore throat now. Made on route choice mistake which cost 20s. Still, better than Saturday's effort....

Oceania Relay 3rd leg

got sent out 2.5mins down on the aus team, but Bridget happened to have the longer split on the first control. Was surprised to see her ahead in the open to #2, and caught her at 2, when we both hesitated finding the right little cliff. Together through to#7 where the course turned up hill again. Put in a decent effort up the hill to the pivot, and didn't see Bridget behind. From there, knew it was a matter of staying clean through the butterflies and the tricky downhill leg through the rock detail toward the arena.
Only blip was when I misread the numbers one butterfly ahead of myself and got confused looking for a 165 a reentrant instead of 131 a rock. Caught it in time though.
Happy to bring us smoothly into the finish.
Think I've caught Bridget's cold though, after running with her those 5-6 controls! :O

Aus long champs. Beaut terrain, loved being back in among the rocks! Didn't get all the best routes, but just enjoyed being out there...until the last loop, where I was really in suffer-town. Nice to take the win, hopefully the lungs feel a bit better by next week's long!

Course 3 - Splits