Training Log Archive: Anvil

ACT Middle Distance Champs
Was running well, solidly, doing all the right things, good exit directions, plannig ahead - all the stuff you need to do on a good middle race.
Was sitting in 11th place at #17, then it all fell apart. Did none of the above, just ran in the general direction with no plan, was sloppy in the circle and subsequently dropped 10 places on the next 5 controls.
What a waste of a potentially good result on a world ranking event on a really nice area. The more I think about this race the more pissed off I get.

Event: Snow Treble
 

Sprint Race at Buckenderra.
Really enjoyed this race. A solid, but not outstanding race. Lost 10 sec at 4 misreading the earthbanks, 15 at 11 and 12 being sloppy in the circle and 25 on 13, executed the leg perfectly and had caught Blair and Bryan coming out of the control, except they had overshot the flag and were running 'into' the control when I saw them. I bound down to the clump of rocks I saw them running out from, turn around and see them punching the control, roughly adjacent to where I was when I saw them.
Lost 5 places on that leg and another 2 over the final 3 legs after that due to being a lazy arse.

Easy cruise with the boys on the hills round Muzz's place - allegedly its his long loop ;)
Ripper views in the twilight, got a few decent snaps and a lot more not so decent as the lack of light didn't help!

Australian Beer O Champs
1st loser.
Popped my beer o cherry finally, about bloody time too.
Ripper final loop going out just after Muzz and lead changed twice. Best outcome of me falling behind was that it put Fagg under pressure to finish his last beer and we were treated to a power spew.
Pretty stoked with the k rate, that includes drinking time - 4 beers to 2:17 to get through.

Easter Day 3 - Chasing start. 9.6km total.
Starting at the head of the massive pack, in reality had the chance of pulling up one place to 11th, but potentially down to 18th if it all went pear shaped.
Was 30 secs behind Bruce, with Jimbo 5 secs behind me.
Choked on the easy 1st when I wasn't expecting the earth bank on the edge of the circle, but then settled in. Took the track on the long leg as the forest felt so slow and rough, but it was a minute slower than straight. Parto caught up here and had the same split as me, so we did the next couple together, though he pulled away pretty quick. Was by myself from 6-10 and was pretty clean as the line zigged through the cliffs, but went wonky on 11 and a big group coalesced over the next couple - Ian, Reubs, Olly, Parto, Bruce and myself.
Cracks were starting to appear now, Olly and Matt disappeared pretty quick and it looked like Reubs and Bruce would get away too. Went over both ankles in quick succession and then had a nasty fall going into 15 and it looked like everyone had gotten away.
Grumpy, I was slow to a point of walking on the climb to 16, but out of the blue Ian reappeared, then Reubs and Bruce and that was the pack for the rest of the course.
Was in a lot of pain by this point, redlining and just struggling to hang on. Can't remember much about the rest of the course, just letting whoever was in front lead and stay in contact enough to know where I was.
Bruce and Reubs got away on the climb up to 23 and I was pretty sure I wouldn't reel Ian in, but then we had the downhill bit to 25 and I remembered I usually drop Ian on the downs on Mt Wellington (but forgot how much he smashes me on the ups). I had minor hopes we'd catch back Reubs and Bruce, but they were too far away.
I was more stubborn than Ian and he gave me the win and I also picked up my first split win of the weekend on the 2nd last leg! Unfortunately I have to share it with Ecmo which makes it not as good. Absolutely shattered at the end.
12th for the race, 11 mins behind Jules.
Enjoyed the area and the course, the terrain was very Tasmanian. All the crap on the forest floor felt like Littlechild Creek and the bracken and rock was just like a Midlands sandstone map.