Training Log Archive: nmulder

Affric North - 1:15'000

WOC Long Distance Final

An epic WOC Long. Midges at the start kept me warming up forever. Also lots of transport issues by the organizers to get us to the start. Way too complicated.

Started off fair, but was caught by the Canadian behind me way too quickly to #4 (longish leg). Next longish leg I was indecisive and didn't see the road route choice until I'd left the control. Thus lost about 2 mins getting back to the road a short while later. I had a good section through the water but started tiring on the first ultra long leg to 13. At the butterfly at the end of it, I was disorientated for a short while. Started struggling with the distance and the recent cold, and found it hard to focus and push the speed. Another long leg to 21 took forever and thereafter I was short on sugars and listless. Managed to keep it somewhat together till the finish, but speed slowed down horribly. Very physical course with high heather on the hills, etc. Well planned and a nice fresh approach to WOC Long distances.

Finished about 20 mins slower than I wanted, but still 61st. A lot of dsq's. Not the result I wanted in the end.

Results

Darnaway West - 1:10'000

WOC Relay - 3rd leg runner after Brad and Eugene

Both Brad and Eugene had good runs and sent me out in a good time. Unfortunately I was in no-mans land, too far off USA, Canada and Japan but also well ahead of Hong Kong, China and Korea. Managed to maintain a steady pace all the way around with only 1 notable mistake at #6 where I didn't have a plan and ended up too far east of the control. Relocating wasn't as smooth either, so lost about 2 mins. Beautiful forest and enjoyed the run. Probably our best relay result as a % of winner (31st overall)?

Results

Achilty - 1:15' - Model map for WOC Long

Open moorland map. Very soft mushy ground with good heather, bracken, etc. Dense clumps of small trees. Marshes tend to be slightly more runnable than other stuff. Broke my compass going 2-3. Then rolled down a cliff into #10. Only managed 12min/km so WOC Long seems likely to be 10km/hr at full speed - so 2.5 hours for me.

Darnaway North - 1:10' - model map for WOC Middle and Relay

Slow jog, looking at vegetation and mapping. Mixed broadleaf and conifer woodland. The conifer stuff and some of the newly replanted areas are pretty ugly going.

Littlemill - 1:15' - Model area for WOC Long

Another easy jog around the terrain. More glacial moraine with nice conifer forest compared to this morning.

Training on Achtermarack. Mixed conifer / broadleaf and moorland. Old map from 1999, but not too much changed apart from a couple of spots of recent windfall, so quite enjoyable.

Short and easy jog / stroll around the Abrichan map 1:10'.

Small area of forest that has been devastated by windfall. Not so fun for orienteering. Remainder was open moorland. Very wet and boggy, slow going.

Felt quite tired and heavy-legged, but 95% over the cold.

Event: WOC 2015 & Scottish 6 days