Training Log Archive: tinytoes

When you have 11 hours in the car you have plenty of time to stretch....some bits and definitely not others. Worked really hard on my toes trying to keep from the brink of another stress fracture of my plantar plate. Calf is starting to get sore so will have to ease up on the massaging. Intend to do little weight bearing or high intensity for the rest of this week so back on the bike again... wonderful.

With one of the 2 closest competitors (3 of us less withn a minute in cumulative time) starting 2 minutes after me it was essential to get away fast and cleanly so as not to "lead the way" to controls. The terrain was very fast and very open and no one would survive with even a smidgen of an error.
#1 spiked and off to a good start. All seemed to be OK and I think I overtook 3 others by #5 who had started before me - happy but needed to keep mind from wandering (thanks Hanny for the tip). Loved the aquaduct feature; just a smattering of mining; subtle spur gully; and I can't remember a minor track at all. All under control until 8 with a little wobble - just 30m to the left -and continued such until I got to 10 and I started to panic as with only 2 controls to go the Error fairy might still jump out at me and spoil the whole day. Mucked about a bit between 10 and 11 and also stuttered to pick the right track from junction after 11 and just could not believe I'd got through pretty much unscathed and had run my little legs off. So pleased to finish. No matter what happened I was happy with my run. Stayed for 2 minutes at the Finish chute to see if following runner came in - not in sight (actually ended up MP but time was way off so safe there). So the wait was on - would other contenders previous 3rd and 5th spoil the party? Amazingly they didn't so was thrilled to grab 3rd. Booty:
nice certificate and bunny. On the way out farewelled Prue and had a bonus of meeting Louise - YAY now I "know" you all - Prue, Jools and now Louise.
After lunch went to Bendigo Pottery for a look-see. Saw some nice prints and sculpture in adjacent studios. rockman toyed with buying a water feature but ended up only taking the artist's card. Then walked around the park in the city on a beautiful afternoon.
So Easter 3 day is over. Thanks to all Vic clubs and volunteers for all your hard work over the past 2(?) years. Loved the variety of terrain over the 4 days - would have loved to run the Prologue but not to be.
Now for a period of relative rest for foot - sadly experiencing injured plantar plate again so need to be strategic.

Day 3 W55+AS - Splits

Always knew it was going to be a challenge but it was a real challenge. Not sure many people felt unbridled joy - most just pleased to finish.

A very tough day at the office and not just for me, fortunately. Started badly when I turned the map over to find it a mass of black spots through the centre section of the page and couldn't find much in the way of a course within the jumble. Found Start triangle and the direction for #1 with a great attack feature. Subsequently found I must have skimmed the top of the rocks and passed it by. The only good part was the front runner was still there searching so that gave me some hope - trouble was she had a shocker all throughout. Found #104 - not mine - so embarked on relocation. Poor strategy to begin with so defaulted to using back bearing from farm house below - which sent me back to #104. So nothing for it but to go downhill and run beneath the rock and attack from below...which would have been a good plan about 10 minutes ago!!! Big time loss here and a big dint in confidence. Matters seemed to improve thereafter until #6 which engaged a very large contingent of very experienced orienteers for a very long time. The divine mix of a watercourse preceded by a clearing and the quantity of rock to make life difficult. Didn't like rockman's body language from a distance so I knew he was frustrated. Eventually I realised my control (which was his as well, but you never know) could be in the next gully which also had a clearing and was on the same level. So investigation commenced. Success at last and by now I had caught 2 others who had started before me - so some good at least. A little wobble at #9 where I found 2 other bits of rock identical to the one which was holding the control close to its chest, but neither of which was mapped - mumph but only about 40sec lost.(Listen to me worrying about 40sec after #1 and #6). Sprinted in to get in front of Day 1 winner - just for the heck of it as she is an ex-Aus rep - and also to gain a Finish Chute winning split. As I was last starter I expected to see everyone else showered, changed and having afternoon drinks, but it seemed that very few escaped unscathed with most of us falling victim to #6. It will be interesting to see splits tonight and to see cumulative times. I'm thinking I have moved up a place, but maybe not.
THE MOST humbling experience of the day - a woman on crutches came in 5th place on our course - less than 2 minutes behind me. Her navigation is spot on and she conquered #6! Well done Barb.
Edit: miracles have happened.I've now pulled up into 4th place but with 4-6 within 2 minutes that's pretty competitive.10 mins behind 1st and 5 behind 2 and 3. Can't see either of them falling over (sorry not intended as a pun) as they are Aus reps. Will have to fight to keep 4th.

Caught up with PrueD afterwards which was nice.

Also visited "our" cidery which we had planned to do and restock the cellar. Funny part was we didn't realise until this morning that Henry of Harcourt idery was quite close to the event, and even funnier going to the event when we realised it was next door about 500m down the road. Then to discover that the back fence was a boundary! A few other oreinteers came that way too and so got to meet fizzyred and LostRichard over a cleansing ...cider.
Almost relegated day's disaster to the back of memory after those 2 nice things. But what clenched it was rockman making me lunch of grilled M,C,T and a coffee. Slow afternoon - as usual on a Sunday O day. Hope tomorrow is kinder.

C • PrueD 4

C • Chance Meeting 2

Day 2 W55+AS - Splits

Didn't go flat out as I knew it was dangerous to lose map contact. Pleased with 1-4 and momentarily relaxed, made a rough decision to 5 and made ground fit map. Lost at least 5 mins on leg to 5 which was very costly after checking splits tonight. Never mind could have been much worse. Foot a bit sore now but not bothering me much in event.Trying to stretch it but know I'm probably losing the battle.
Best run in mining ever so quite pleased - just enough to keep you honest but not overwhelming on my course. Tomorrow is another day - as always on tender hooks in a multiday event.
Congratulations to all involved today - an excellent event, though I know you had your problems. Course just right! Lots to allow us to feel like we've achieved a just result.
Edit: placing 7th after today. Sort of disappointed given just 1 mistake and it didn't seem that big. Looks like there are some speedy clever people playing here. Perhaps a strategy could be to pull up to 5th tomorrow (up 2 places) and then repeat the dose on Day 3 to snaffle 3rd. Tomorrow is another day.

Day 1 Course 14 - Splits

Event: Easter 2013
 

I really hope I'm pushing myself - even harder today until about 35 minutes. Can't afford to have to do that much warm up!!!