Training Log Archive: Craney

Event: Australian Middle Distance/Relay Championships
 

Gibraltar Hill near Bungendore. Had been getting quite excited about this race for a while having been able to see some big granite outcrops from the Kings Highway as we drove past a number of times in recent months. I knew Rob would have a devilish course in store for us too, so my plan was definitely to take it carefully and read as much detail as possible. In hindsight it feels like maybe I took this philosophy a bit too far at times but anyway it paid off. Hit #1 cleanly but got quite confused at #2 - the gullies around there seemed quite big but hard to pick up on the map, so I dropped down the wrong one and lost 40secs. Another 20secs or so dropped at #5 going diagonally downhill to a small rock. Still, I could tell it was very intricate and others would be making mistakes too, so I wasn't too disheartened. Did most of the intense control pick to #18 without too many problems, but quite slowly (very small hesitations on #13 and #15, and rounded the wrong big boulder a #17). Then a long leg to #19 with a straight hilly option and left or right round options. I went for the straight, being that it looked more runnable and would be the last climb on the course. So really attacked it. Drifted a bit to the left mid-leg which cost a few seconds, but caught Robbie at the top of the hill and dropped into the control cleanly. Turned out that was the decisive leg which got me the win. Ran with Robbie over the last few to finish reasonably pleased with my run but aware that others would run well and have a good chance. Having an early start, it was a long wait to see how it stacked up. I got quite nervous stood in the coffee queue listening to Jase's commentary getting higher pitched by the second with excitement as Simon descended the hill. Turned out he'd run a great race but missed quite a lot on #5, so came in only 7secs down. So a little bit fluky for me (but perhaps making up for the sprint), but it was great to join Gracie (who'd had a blinder) for a family double. A great middle distance race - course, terrain, map and competition all top notch.

Oz Middle Course 1 - Splits

Nice cruise in golden evening sunshine around Davo and Redders.

Acutely aware that I do still have a marathon coming up, I thought I'd better do a bit more running at that pace. Felt like a bit of a struggle but managed to do it ok - multiplying this session by 5.5 might be a bit testing.

Sprintervals on Bob's great Parliamentary Triangle map with a strong showing of youngsters (Nick, Brodie, Olle, Kas, Ian and Marketa). Some really fun sections but also a good chance to stretch the legs. Not feeling especially sharp.

Various jogging to, from and in between sprintervals.

Went for a jaunt around Campbell Park, Hackett Hill and Mt Ainslie with Nick Hann, Ian Lawford and Marketa just before it got dark. Nice to have some company for a change, with the additional novelty of some other non-Australians (although I did feel a bit old). Felt like I was reasonably recovered from Sunday.

Public holiday so headed off to Queanbeyan Golf Course with the Elsons - lost to Conrad by 1 shot! Gutted.

Wow what fantastic terrain - massive granite rocks scattered all over the shop, super runnable terrain, hardly any paths, tricky vague slopes... The stuff orienteering dreams are made of. I guess my enjoyment of it was also helped by having a pretty good run. Set off well spiking each of the first 7 controls in some scattered rocks and catching Lachy and Bryan up. Then it got a bit vaguer and I lost concentration a bit dropping 20 secs or so on each of 8, 10 and 12. I crossed over Simon on the way to 12 and it looked like he may have closed some of the 4mins up, which put the willies up me a bit. Took the really cool tricky section from 12 to 18 carefully and managed to stay clean. Turns out Simon was about 20secs up on me at that point. Then the running opened up a bit with some more vague legs before heading out into semi-open farmland. Fortunately I was feeling good and my energy gel had just kicked in so I was able to push hard to the finish and keep things clean to take the win. Hard to think of having run a more enjoyable classic race before.

C • It was good terrain 2

LONG Course 1 - Splits