Training Log Archive: GraceE

Travelling to NZ.

Happy new year!
My back is going to be ok I think, but still pretty stiff/sore so am resting up. It is an awesome feeling to return from holiday, unpack, clean... then pack and go on an even longer holiday!! :D

My back was really stiff/sore and I could only do a funny jog warming-up, but thought in the end that I would start anyway :) If the pain got any worse I would pull-out straight away. I enjoyed the course which changed direction regularly and took us to most parts of the map. I also enjoyed running at a steady jog; I could read the map more and it didn't hurt my lungs :) I say this but that last little loop was an absolute killer and I was hands-on-knees heading up to the last control. The back held up ok. I'm really glad I got to do an extra 84mins orienteering training before NZ, and I had a lot of fun. Took the 5-Days win comfortably too which was nice :)
Fantastic week of orienteering and socialising in beautiful surroundings and stunning weather.

Finally got to run on this detailed little patch of mining terrain. Very intense! I took it nice and carefully - only moving forward if I was sure of what was in front of me and where I was going. It meant lots of little stops to double check things! I was really happy with how it went. The only improvements could have been the long leg to c9 where I should have gone right of the line on the fast track - instead I zig-zagged my way across the whole area on little bike paths and felt like I was losing heaps of time (I think it was about 60secs slower). Then I overly hesitated into c10, losing a further 30secs. This type of terrain requires 100% concentration and it's hard to find any flow. I was really pleased with how I read the map and didn't try to run too hard. Great course and good fun!

Nearing c2 I swung/jumped off a knoll and landed unevenly, jarring my back. I felt it twinge and then it bothered me a bit for the rest of the run. It started to stiffen up as soon as I finished... and got worse during the day. I wore a heat patch and took back pain pills... but was fairly sure it would be bad for at least a few days like all of the other times :s

Day 3 - plenty of rocks/bare rock/knolls sprayed across some hillsides, with much covered by some low-vis pines and vegetation. Really awesome terrain! I lost 1min on an easy control, c5 (was on line but got pulled further up the slope by some other orienteers). When it came to the long route choice leg to c8, I thought that the track option was safest, though maybe slower by >1min if the direct route was nailed. I decided to go straight as I need practice at not always taking the easier-on-the-brain option. I executed the route ok but bumbled a bit in the first half and struggled to move with confidence. I did the leg a bit over a minute slower than Lena who also went straight, so there's room for improvement there. I finished well and was careful not to get complacent in the final section. Ended up 1.38 down on Lena. Despite having quite a good run, I know that any low-vis stuff really slows me down, so that's something to work on.

Day 2 - rocky hills with fast open running in between. I had a really good run. The only "miss" was when I dropped 3 contours more than necessary on the way to c5 and then had to climb 5 to get up to the control (~30secs). Great fun :)

Event: 2012 Christmas 5 Days
 

Day 1, fast spur-gully terrain. Went out as hard as I could really as the terrain allowed it. Lost 1min on c9 as suddenly doubted myself and thought I'd gone too far, though should have just kept going another 30 meters. Lost a further 1.45mins on c14 - was pretty annoyed about this one and finished thinking that had blown a good run, but actually still took the win by 3mins. Fun terrain and somewhere you can really run on the edge.

Err.. it's looking like today will be a rest day. Should be well rested for some fun racing ahead :)

Christmas morning run with Matt on Red Hill. Just a short one in the end as we had important things to do like help cook up a feast and then eat it :D

I skipped my last intervals session for the year. Naughty me.

Rob Roy loop. Nice and hot, and really peaceful out there as always.

Wasn't looking forward to it, if I'm honest. OK run considering lots of things... though still over 30secs slower than where I'd prefer to be at this time. So pretty shit really. Although the course is a long 5km! I finished 5th outright with a guy 2mins ahead and another 1min behind, so ran along doing my own little race the whole way. Then hit the shops hard at Westfield Belconnen, so a fun morning all round really! :s

10 mins warm-up, then a 25min jog around the lake back to the car with Matt.

25 sits-ups, 4 push-ups. Well it was really 3 proper push-ups and 2 half push-ups while Matt and I argued over what constituted a proper push-up. Pretty ironic considering Matt has never done a push-up in his life!