Training Log Archive: macmarocIn the 7 days ending Jun 18, 2012:
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Sunday Jun 17, 2012 #
Orienteering race (Jukola Relay) 1:41:25 [5] 10.3 km (9:51 / km) +365m 8:22 / km
shoes: Jalas Black FLX 09
Actually ran 12.49km = 8:04m/km. Course pace = just under 10m/km.
Wow, what a race!! Extract below taken from what i input to the Maroc compilation:
I witnessed the winning team finish, then probably the top 15 or so teams, including Scott Fraser who brought his Swedish team home in 5th place.
Andy was running in, he picked up my map and handed it over, I was off. A 1k run to the start kite, time to settle in. I even had time to clock my last control, which would turn out to be a useful tactic when at the end of a 10k race. I wouldn’t say I nailed #1 but I got it – a bit nervy but got it all the same without too much time loss. Ended up on the wrong bit of bare rock, needed to take more care! Within a couple of controls, I realised I’d fallen in behind a couple of Scandinavians. The one in front was wearing the same club top as the one I’d seen win the Jukola Relay less than an hour previously. I passed one of the guys then followed the other into the wrong control at #10. Frustratingly, I knew he was going off to the right but followed him none the less. We quickly corrected our (his!?) mistake and off we went. I felt I could go faster, so took a different route out of #12. Just before arriving at #13 a group of about 15 apparently faster, maybe leg 7 runners came in from the right. Up we went, they must be heading for the same control, great. Up on to some bare rock and they all, yes each and every one, stopped dead. Which bit of the bare rock were we on? Mistake, should have stayed running slower and steadier. Maybe lost a minute and off I went on a short leg, to a marsh. These were not always easy to spot, especially among the bare rock. #14 was my biggest mistake, maybe 4 minutes, ended up going back to #13 and then nailed it – why couldn’t I do that the first time, argh!
Now for a long leg, nearly 2k. I wasn’t too bothered about fine O as there was a large lake I would hit unless I was well off my bearing. I hit the lake and nailed #15, relief. On looking at my GPS on routegadget, I’d actually wandered off more than I had realised at the time. A few short legs and we were nearing the end. The last 4/5 controls were tricky with more black line features to complicate things.
Our goal was to get Drew off before the mass start 9am. I knew I had enough time to just go outside 10m/km and still get Drew away before the mass start. I didn’t know what they stop the traditional handovers 15 minutes before to prepare for the mass starts. I’d missed it by about 6 minutes. I was under 10m/km! I was chuffed, I had not let the team down, I run a reasonable race in my first Jukola Relay, I’d definitely be back and want to improve too.
I was on a high and the rest of the team seemed pleased too. Off to the showers, an experience in itself. And a sauna complete with a beer, which Jon insisted was all part of the experience. It was just after 9am on Sunday morning and I was having a sauna with a bunch of Finns, whilst drinking beer.
And so the rain came on, and on. Poor Drew got soaked, which was not too bad when in sweaty O clothes. We all got well and truly soaked walking up to the bus stop, for a bus that never came. After nearly an hour we started trying to get a taxi, without success. And then a bus, one that didn’t fly straight past full. We were on our way home, or were we just starting our journey to Jukola 2013?
Wow, what a race!! Extract below taken from what i input to the Maroc compilation:
I witnessed the winning team finish, then probably the top 15 or so teams, including Scott Fraser who brought his Swedish team home in 5th place.
Andy was running in, he picked up my map and handed it over, I was off. A 1k run to the start kite, time to settle in. I even had time to clock my last control, which would turn out to be a useful tactic when at the end of a 10k race. I wouldn’t say I nailed #1 but I got it – a bit nervy but got it all the same without too much time loss. Ended up on the wrong bit of bare rock, needed to take more care! Within a couple of controls, I realised I’d fallen in behind a couple of Scandinavians. The one in front was wearing the same club top as the one I’d seen win the Jukola Relay less than an hour previously. I passed one of the guys then followed the other into the wrong control at #10. Frustratingly, I knew he was going off to the right but followed him none the less. We quickly corrected our (his!?) mistake and off we went. I felt I could go faster, so took a different route out of #12. Just before arriving at #13 a group of about 15 apparently faster, maybe leg 7 runners came in from the right. Up we went, they must be heading for the same control, great. Up on to some bare rock and they all, yes each and every one, stopped dead. Which bit of the bare rock were we on? Mistake, should have stayed running slower and steadier. Maybe lost a minute and off I went on a short leg, to a marsh. These were not always easy to spot, especially among the bare rock. #14 was my biggest mistake, maybe 4 minutes, ended up going back to #13 and then nailed it – why couldn’t I do that the first time, argh!
Now for a long leg, nearly 2k. I wasn’t too bothered about fine O as there was a large lake I would hit unless I was well off my bearing. I hit the lake and nailed #15, relief. On looking at my GPS on routegadget, I’d actually wandered off more than I had realised at the time. A few short legs and we were nearing the end. The last 4/5 controls were tricky with more black line features to complicate things.
Our goal was to get Drew off before the mass start 9am. I knew I had enough time to just go outside 10m/km and still get Drew away before the mass start. I didn’t know what they stop the traditional handovers 15 minutes before to prepare for the mass starts. I’d missed it by about 6 minutes. I was under 10m/km! I was chuffed, I had not let the team down, I run a reasonable race in my first Jukola Relay, I’d definitely be back and want to improve too.
I was on a high and the rest of the team seemed pleased too. Off to the showers, an experience in itself. And a sauna complete with a beer, which Jon insisted was all part of the experience. It was just after 9am on Sunday morning and I was having a sauna with a bunch of Finns, whilst drinking beer.
And so the rain came on, and on. Poor Drew got soaked, which was not too bad when in sweaty O clothes. We all got well and truly soaked walking up to the bus stop, for a bus that never came. After nearly an hour we started trying to get a taxi, without success. And then a bus, one that didn’t fly straight past full. We were on our way home, or were we just starting our journey to Jukola 2013?