Training Log Archive: markg

Token warm up. Warm down was collapsing into the boot of the car, inhaling two pieces of banana cake and drinking 1/2 a litre of gatorade.

ACT Looong Champs at Awoonga. My plan was to take it easy, minimise mistakes, and survive till the end. I'm not quite sure how I did ... I started slowly, took awhile to make up my mind about a route for the 1st leg, slow enough that Miss Jones, who started at the same time as me, ran out of sight (about 30s quicker on the leg). Ended up going right to the fence which was safe but a bit further and had more climb. Continued in the same slow and steady vein and by the 1st spectator crossing had made no mistakes and had caught Toph and Hoggster. Toph threatened to run away and then died away but I ran with Hoggster through the map change to 18 - still no mistakes. I thought I might have had a little break leaving 18 but Hoggster overhauled me and then coming into 19 I hit the wall. Hoggster was gone by 21 and I struggled to keep running. By 25 I was predominantly walking and getting light headed. I lost about 6min from 19-Finish.

My biggest mistake, apart from getting sick the last few weeks, was only taking one gel on the course. The second was racing Hoggster, I think he was going a little faster than I should have.

Ironically, giving I hit the wall, I had a very clean run without a mistake worse than a few seconds' wobble so technically one of my best runs ever ...

Event: SILVA National Orienteering League
 

A little pre-breaky warmup hoping to remind my legs what running was plus warm ups and downs for the two races.

ACT Sprint Champs at CIT. My result was about what I should have expected after 3 weeks of no exercise whatsoever and still not having properly recovered. Felt very sluggish and unable to push it at all. The navigation was pretty easy but still got caught out a couple of times not paying quite enough attention and lost 45s overall on 3, 7, 14, and, stupidly, the finish where I didn't read the map and then got confused by the bunting.

The problem of elite competitors ignoring OOB continues: on the way to in to 18 I accidentally ran through the garden bed on the western edge of the circle (practically the only one mapped as OOB) and subsequently eased off the gas. I then dobbed myself in at the finish but no action was taken. I know some others ran through this too but were less forthcoming to organisers. I don't think there was anyone at this location to catch out violators.

ACT Champs Middle at Wild Deer Sands. A disappointing run. I felt a bit stronger running than this morning and was very clean (was also very cautious in the more complex bits) except for a wobble at 3, big errors at 6 (-1.30), 7 (-0.30), 8 (-1.00) and maybe 10s stuffing around at the fence at the last control before going to the crossing point. All the mistakes were sort of dumb and I'm disappointed not to get in the top 10.

I'm still pretty clogged up in the head but otherwise feel okay. A little worried it might turn into a sinus infection.

I've still got a cold. It's clearing up a bit so hopefully I can do something tomorrow.