Training Log Archive: hkleaf

Travel day - Edinburgh->Copenhagen->Zurich->Hong Kong

Some light running at Queensferry between the car and the Forth Bridge.

Various running/hiking around Scotland with Iris before our departure for home.

Warm up before Long Final @Glen Affric

WOC Long Final @Glen Affric

cool down jog

WOC - Long Distance - Men - Splits

Light rain, chilly
Long Model course @Littlemill with Iris.

Cool down afterwards

Resting in the afternoon while the rest of the team is off touring Loch Ness.

Treatment on R-foot

Warm up before the WOC Relay @Darnaway

WOC Relay @Darnaway
We had the same combination as AsOC Relay last year, but I've never run the 1st leg at WOC before. The pace out of the gate was insane! I tried my best to hang on at the back of the pack while still being careful to read the map to the first control. But by #3, I had trouble deciphering the map while keeping pace. As a result, I went to the wrong control (50). By the time I recovered, the train had left! Made a compass error on the way to #6 (56) and took a bit of time to recover. The Chinese runner was having trouble as well, so he ran with me until #12 (just after the map change) when I made another compass error. Still not 100% sure what happened but the terrain just didn't match up with my map visualization. Ran around trying to relocate without success. Finally found a control but in my slightly panic state I failed to check the code on the map and just thought it was the women's control. After running away momentarily, suddenly came to the realization that control was in fact my #12!!!! By now, my pace has slowed a bit due to tiredness. The navigation was at least acceptable, until #20 (41) where I was slightly off west of the circle and made a small loop before realizing where I was. On the run in, had trouble seeing a cross point and nearly went through the fence at the opening where we had jumped over during the run-out to the start marker. Took a little tumble into the rough to stop myself, then ran in as hard as I could.
Glad to have completed under an hour, but a bit disappointed that I made so many mistakes out there. The excitement and craziness of running the 1st leg is definitely an experience I won't ever forget. If I am lucky to get another chance in the future, I will be more ready for it.

Cool down afterwards

After dropping Tsz Wai at the quarantine, a few of us took the opportunity to re-run the Sprint Final course from yesterday. Since Iris couldn't find her map, I gave her mine and just jogged behind her. Time includes jogging from car to Start and back from Finish to car.

Event: Tallinn O-Week (2xWRE + City Race)
 

Middle / Relay Model @Darnaway North
Had some trouble at the south part of the map, mistaking the edge of rough open with a clear vegetation boundary. Could've averted the mistake by simply checking my compass direction. Took a while running around before finally finding myself again. The north part of the map went much better by comparison.
After studying the bulletin, guessing the Middle Final tomorrow will be using the south part while the terrain for Relay will more likely resemble that from the north part.

After Darnaway, Iris and I parted ways with the rest of the team to the Long Model @Achilty
Iris had some experience on this type of terrain from last year's training camp, but this was my first time, so was a bit nervous. And it was not easy! I had some trouble distinguishing the subtle landforms in the terrain, and generally not very accurate with the compass bearing. The visibility is great but the runnability through the marshes and rough open is quite terrible. It gets tiring to essentially high-kneeing the whole time!
Iris and I ended up running the suggested course together, so we can discuss what we see and help each other out along the way. Overall, it was a rather discouraging session and has me worried about the pending Long Final.