Training Log Archive: briangardner

Warm-up run and stretching.

Thought the longer endurance run would suit me more than the middle distance, but once again, my nav in the forest let me down. Some really stupid mistakes that could have been easily eliminated had I spent an extra 10 seconds looking at the map and compass… Lessons learnt! Big mistakes were at 10, 20 and 23. Course climb said 400m, but my Polar picked up 715m.

Had a good start, and from the splits, I see I was leading from 3-6. Rather surprised by that, but I’ll take it! :-) Was slow up the hill to 7, and then did unnecessary extra climb to 8, having to drop down to it from the east.

#10 – took a more easterly route to 10, aiming to drop down onto it from the south. Had a great run all the way along the roads and cutting corners. I didn’t take a bearing off the final road crossing, and ended up running past it, too far right (east). Had to find my bearings again and climb back up to it. Caught Nico here (he started 3 minutes ahead of me), and got away towards 11 before him.
Had Nico on my tail for 11-19. Hit most of the controls ok. Nico got ahead just after 19 when I ran to the road too early. He took a short cut and popped out just ahead of me. Ran past him on the road to 20, then things went pear-shaped… Took a horrible line from the road up to 20, overshot, buggered around once again, and had to head back downhill to find it. Meantime, Nico found 20 while I was higher up the slope, I didn’t see him, and he got away. Pushed hard try catch him again, didn’t double check the map and compass, and then royally stuffed up 23. Way too far west of the control - backtracked and relocated off a road. By this stage I was pretty furious with myself!

Last few controls were ok, except I don’t think #25 was quite in the right place… Got my only fastest split on the run to 26. Frustrating day out! Mostly a solid run, except for those 3 mistakes worth about 7 minutes in total. 7th place in the end, but should have been better. 9 minutes off Tim in 1st. Lots to work on. My first ever SA Champs, so some good experience gained!

Course 1 - Splits

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.