Training Log Archive: CHorley

Aus Schools Sprint Orienteering Championships

Wasn't sure how this was going to play out. Knew sprint is probably more my strength compared to others so this was the main goal to see if maybe I could get a placing in a fairly stacked age group being one of the youngest, so slightly unpressured.

Start was unideal, because I decided to run 90 degrees the wrong direction to the start for 10 metres whoops. Knew where the first control was though because it was visible from the "quarantine". 2 and 3 was good, but probably the wrong route to 4 + slowness. Bit confused with 5 but not too bad, 6 was slow as was 9. 10 I think it would have been better to go far left which I didn't actually think/see was a routechoice until sam mentioned it. It was slightly longer maybe but control flow. Overtook my 2 minute man Mr. Mousley to 11 who hung on to me until 14 through the basic "transition" controls. Probably the wrong route to 15 but I got to see 16 (like Callum White should have until he decided that he wanted to go to 20 first). Good through to 19 but slightly slow. 20 was a bit appalling. No plan, very safe longer route so lost 5-10 seconds but came like 6th from memory lol. Through the run-through, Oskar Mella told me to pre-meditate a right route-choice to 22 but no it was a left route choice that was faster (thanks Oskar who chose a left route). Happy with 23 which everyone apparently screwed up and pretty good for the rest of the last part but apparently left to 26 was like 6 seconds faster. Sprint finish was annoying having to turn 45 degrees from a downhill but lost like 1 second to Zefa and probably a bunch more Kiwis so kinda irrelevant but I love the finish chute.

Finished in first 10 seconds ahead of Hogann, but I was in start block 3 of 5 and the rest was stacked. Alvin beat me by a minute and 6 seconds or something unsurprisingly. Zefa then came in ahead and another Kiwi but he mispunched (and Kiwi's don't count technically). Then I was a bit anxious with Callum White punching out some quick times until his 30 second mistake on 16 which helped me hold ahead by 3 seconds. Then Sam, Torren and Oskar were in the last three and that was slightly frightening. All had a faster start than me (except maybe Oskar) and Sam continued his good run into a spectator control where he was ahead by 15-20 seconds, Torren however had lost time and then even more later and Oskar isn't too fast to I landed a very solid 3rd Australian. NSW podium sweep as well.

ASOC Sprint Senior Boys - Splits

Steep Hill to the start. Nice wd loop with Aston, where we could see people running into the 2nd last controls.

Aus Middle Distance Champs - 2nd (1st Australian).

Well this was funny. Thought I'd left my compass bag at the previous days event, but I left it on the team bus. Then I got to the start and lost my SI stick somewhere. Was told by the start officials to look for it and I'd just be put on a late start. So I look for it for 5 minutes, then my dad comes up to shadow my brother with his SI still on his hand so I use that and start 9 minutes late.

The run starts well with a very easy 1st leg straight down the hill. See my new 1-minute man milling around a knoll further away as I spike the control. Long, bingo leg to 2 and I screw that up badly. The rushed start would have contributed to this, wasn't entirely sure where I was going, found a control which definitely wasn't mine, somewhat relocate then run past the control again before I spot my 1-minute man Eckart Bosman, I turn around and wallah really obvious, no idea how I missed. 3 was visible from 2. 4 was a slight miss. Had a bearing but ended slightly left, but saw a flag which I originally dismissed but realized that it was mine when I started approaching some green. Eckart hit just before me. 5 was pretty good, overtook Eckart again and knew exactly where I was going.

Map flip to 6 which was a long leg so lost 10 seconds there, but not much I could do about that. Chose to go straight-ish as the track was a little bit too far out the way. Originally Eckart looked like he was going to run to the track but when I started running 45 degrees in a different direction he decided pack running was probably better. Went a bit to the left to avoid some green, then hit a cliff I'd been to before just after 1. Stayed on the line for the next quarter of the leg until I chose to go left around some erosion stuff with nicer running. Corrected my direction then saw the control after Zefa (m20e) shot down the hill at a stupid pace. Won 6 by 30 seconds expect for Eckart who was 4 seconds down. Straight down the hill to 7, then headed off in a direction estimate to 8, which was also quite a good leg, reading the detail well. Dropping Eckart by this point. To 9 I just headed in a general western direction because of all the catching features available. Ended up at the obvious marsh north of 2 then bypassed 3, before contouring into the open area. Small hesitation wondering if I was in the right area because it was further around the cliff than anticipated. 3rd on the leg, but 2nd followed first.

Little error on 10 getting stuck in the green marsh but corrected and only lost 20-30 seconds. Good to 11. 12 and 13 was a bit hesitant, before a creek crossing to 14 which was cool, but my shoes did not dry afterwards for a while.

When I first downloaded my time was 3631, because my start time was 11:04, not 11:13 when I started. The dude (Ian) at the download tent was very stern about me changing it because it was a "competitor error", but the ladies told me to look for my SI and I would very happily have manually punched. Subsequently submitted a form to the controller via Debbie and got my time changed. However this was after they printed to results for presentations and I didn't receive a 2nd place, but I really don't want to take a prize off someone (particularly when Marcus Degenaar had such a good solo run).

Very happy with my run though to only make 1 mistake (10 was 20-30s so not counting).

Start was 400m further than advertised. If there was a 6 minute start box I would have been cutting it very close, but thankfully it was 3 minutes.

Vic Middle Distance Champs - 2nd M16A

Plan was to jog/walk etc. until the finish chute. Pretty good nav. Little mistake to 3, running around 3 of 4 knolls in the circle before finding the right one. 6 I came right wayy too early and 7 I was one creek north. Was throwing sticks around mid course for whatever reason. Won the finish chute in 18 seconds, but some 20Es ran 17 :(. Very surprised with a placing, but I think everyone was taking it easy.

Start and back with Oskar to get something.

Spectating the Grand Prix. Big W to Euan in 16s. Saw Riley for the first time in almost 3 years.

Vic Middle 6A - Splits

At wagga, pre aus champs post 5 hour drive + stops

8 x 400 (4 minute cycle after odds, 6 minute after evens).
65, 65, 65, 68, 66, 67, 66, 66.

Coach wanted me to go 64 but that was never happening. Last one before aus champs.