Training Log Archive: bigEIn the 7 days ending Jul 13, 2013:
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Friday Jul 12, 2013 #
Orienteering (Relay) 47:14 [3] 5.0 km (9:27 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X Talons
Thursday Jul 11, 2013 #
Orienteering (Middle) 1:05:08 [3] ***** 4.1 km (15:53 / km) +145m 13:30 / km
shoes: Inov-8 Oroc
The goal was to qualify. We believed that with a good day I could do it. The final months and weeks of preparation all went entirely to plan... we practiced planning, visualizing, trained in the terrain... At the start I felt calm, strong and confident. At this level I knew it was all about preparation and the team had done a fine job. Here's what happened:
When I flipped over the map I started planning my way to leg #1. The course setters had set a leg more difficult then anything I had imagined. Then I was passed the start triangle and into the green hash. In Vuokatti that means dead-fall and young spruce trees. I thrashed my way across but I had already made my first mistake. I never came up with a plan for how to find #1. On the other side of the hash I relocated and made my second mistake. Instead of taking the time to come up with a new plan I attacked the ridges hoping to precision my way into the control. This was a bad strategy because I lost contact right away, eventually hitting a large rock spur only to plummet into oblivion. I might have relocated on the spur but I was panicked at the time. The rock was smooth and I was sliding backwards down the spur having picked a bad line. Not a direction you want to experience during the World Champs. Also a sign I was rushing...
In short, three severe mistakes in as many minutes. Why did I have so much trouble? The general consensus is not enough practice racing under pressure. I went back after the race and reran the beginning of the course, careful to have a plan and stay in contact. I made it to #4 in ten minutes, exactly on the target pace! Another possible factor was the three man start. Having two other guys bashing through the forest with me was a problem.
I think I could have pulled it off despite the challenges. Thank you to everyone who's helped me along the way. Here's the GPS Tracking. I was stubborn trying to relocate in such a tricky area. Took a few tries...
Fortunately I won't have to wait long for more racing under pressure. The Relay is approaching fast.
When I flipped over the map I started planning my way to leg #1. The course setters had set a leg more difficult then anything I had imagined. Then I was passed the start triangle and into the green hash. In Vuokatti that means dead-fall and young spruce trees. I thrashed my way across but I had already made my first mistake. I never came up with a plan for how to find #1. On the other side of the hash I relocated and made my second mistake. Instead of taking the time to come up with a new plan I attacked the ridges hoping to precision my way into the control. This was a bad strategy because I lost contact right away, eventually hitting a large rock spur only to plummet into oblivion. I might have relocated on the spur but I was panicked at the time. The rock was smooth and I was sliding backwards down the spur having picked a bad line. Not a direction you want to experience during the World Champs. Also a sign I was rushing...
In short, three severe mistakes in as many minutes. Why did I have so much trouble? The general consensus is not enough practice racing under pressure. I went back after the race and reran the beginning of the course, careful to have a plan and stay in contact. I made it to #4 in ten minutes, exactly on the target pace! Another possible factor was the three man start. Having two other guys bashing through the forest with me was a problem.
I think I could have pulled it off despite the challenges. Thank you to everyone who's helped me along the way. Here's the GPS Tracking. I was stubborn trying to relocate in such a tricky area. Took a few tries...
Fortunately I won't have to wait long for more racing under pressure. The Relay is approaching fast.
Sunday Jul 7, 2013 #
Orienteering long 1:37:04 [3] **** 12.4 km (7:50 / km)
shoes: Inov-8 X Talons
Longest 12km's I`ve ever run. More physical and lower visibility then everyone expected. They`re saving the best forest for the final. The GPS Tracking is a fun watch but the map doesn't show the visibility challenges. A lot of really close calls on this one. Some less brilliant orienteering towards the end. Oxygen deprivation caught up to me. Happy I recovered quickly and avoided any loop di loops. Needed more stamina to run this one properly.Results