Training Log Archive: Billenicus

Since the knee seems to be largely OK now, don't think I can get away with so many rest days, partcularly as intending to try to do more cricket for a bit.

So, the short Avian - Avro loop, fairly gently as legs pretty tired. After the first few minutes felt a bit better than expected. Yesterday's foot problem seemed to have gone, but started hurting a bit about halfway down the hill.

South Island Champs Long M45L 6.4K 120m.

Not quite as tricky as yesterday, but still lots of difficult controls. First few controls on steep low vis forest which was rather bingo-y. Missed 3 by a couple of minutes, but must have gone right past it. Also got stuck in unpleasant stuff on the way to 5 (the normal slow vegetation but with bush lawyer mixed in). Better on the flatter stuff later in the course which was much more like yesterday. Again, taking it steady and trying to stay in control, but there were some bits of faster running this time. Lost about 3 mins at 14 after being put off by a massive unmapped boulder. Not much time loss after that, though not putting a great deal of effort in.

Physically felt OK, if a little tired. Unfortunately, right foot had been hurting since waking up and it felt pretty uncomfortable for a lot of the race, particularly when there was a chance to open up, so was never trying too hard. Pain was at base of big toe when pushing off.

South Island "Middle" Champs - Rotoiti - M21E - 5.8Km

Expected it to be hard, but it was way harder than anything since France. Flattish mixture of manuka bush and fast open areas, but very complex vegetation. Controls very well hidden and features often invisible until the last moment.

Plan was to concentrate on getting it right and not worry about speed. Did very well at this for a long time, But started getting a bit sloppy on 14 and 15 and then lost 3 mins on 16 just losing contact. Got back into it after a slow patch, but then shoddy on last 3 controls (though 24 was ridiculously hidden). Frustrating finish, but not too bad considering my lack of tricky orienteering for so long. With practice, could probably handle this area a lot better.

Physically not a problem at that speed!

Event: SI Orienteering Champs/NZ JWOC Trials
 

South Island Champs Sprint - Blenheim - M21E - 3.1K(?)

Very easy Sprint, though still lost a few seconds at 2 due to not reading that there was no straight route into the control. Particularly boring section around golf course where everyone else can juist run faster.

Medium Avro - Avian loop.

Generally feeling very tired, and kept the pace very gentle. Going to be a struggle get up for this weekend.

The Whitemans Valley loop, clockwise. Legs felt very tired pretty much the whole way, so surprised that it was under an hour - didn't push that hard on the second half.