Training Log Archive: briangardner

Event: South African Orienteering Championships
 

Up and down the warm-up road and lots of stretching.

Legs were feeling good, but pitty the nav let me down. Felt nervous for the first time ever before an O, and that probably contributed to the iffy navigation.

#1 – I went the wrong way around the thicket
#2 – went straight through the green, should have taken the road. Caught Cobus (+2) and Nick (+4) here.
#4 – went around the eastern thicket before circling back to the control
Next few controls were good, except I was slow up the hill to 9.
#13 – biggest time loss. I think there are more boulder clusters and rocky ground here than is mapped… Went too far west, and had to run back down the hill to 13.
#14 – Stopped short of the control and visited another boulder before getting it…
15-18 were ok, running speed felt good.
90 degree exit angle error out of 18. Saw Brad and Ake running to 17 when I was on my way to 19, knew then I had lost too much time.
#20 – Way too low on the hill, found a control from another course first, had to then relocate and head up to 20. 30-40 sec mistake.

In the end, a messy run and no real consistency, despite stringing a few good legs together. Speed was ok, just need to work on map contact and using my compass more… 4th place out of 12. 27 sec behind Tim in 3rd.

Course 1 - Splits

To and from van Gaalen.

Much more chilled, less technical route than last weekend. Had a fair start, but the top 3 guys pulled a gap within the first 5kms. Tried to hang on, but dropped to 6th place. Kept the hammer down, but just could not catch them. Found myself riding alone for almost the entire race... Furious wind to contend with, and no bunch to find shelter! Got passed in last 10k, but then the guy took a wrong turn. Held onto 6th place in the end. Julius Corbett smashed the field on a singlespeed... Awesome race raising funds for the Rhinos!!

Short loop in The Coves. Just ticking the legs over.