Training Log Archive: tinytoes

Very straight forward park sprint type event for State Schools. Nice area but not very technical. Most on grass and so I felt very ploddy. 2nd by 19 sec.

More technical in campus sprint format. Nice area and great facilities. Had a mid race danger moment but caught it in time.
Helped out with presentations.
1st in race 2 by 5 sec so came 2nd overall in State Sprint

Race 2 - WSU H6 - Splits

Race 1 - Hard 6 - Splits

Somewhat of a time filler but due to poor sleep I didn't feel like pushing it to go faster than just maintenance.

Tough class but proud that I did the extra run section. Talked afterwards to sort out the back soreness issues from 2 weeks ago. Now narrowed it down to doing the kicks section in the Friday class prior.

Event: Newcastle OY #8 - Barnsley
 

As StK66 often says - there was a lot to like about the run today.

With less than 5 hours sleep I wasn't going to be very sparky today but trudger was insistent I turn up and run the Hard Medium - as it is the last NOY for the year! Can't be it's still August!!!
Got to event and was struck immediately about how dry and dusty it was in the forest comparing it with Congewoi 2 weeks ago and even yesterday.
Decided to be conservative but found strangely while i wasn't going very fast I wanted to trot rather than walk purposefully.
Started just after trudger, not deliberately and as it happened, just before PowA who streaked past on the way to #2 (apparently I was of some minor advantage at #1)
S-1 track E to Y junction, minor track see control. Distinctive tree - yeah right a group of black sticks - once was tree methinks
1-2 short leg - PowA surge
2-3 to minor track, follow to major track, cross, maybe pick up minor lead in track - that was the plan. In actuality minor track, major track at right angles to what I wanted (what is this plastic thing I carry around with me? what is that bright light in the northern sky? Mysteries for sure). Saw a group of people clustered around a control but knew it wasn't mine. Checked number and was astounded it was my #4 - so relocate, pick up small track, go through broken fence continue on minor track start to cross bridges ie w/c that'd be interesting wheretheheckarewe? Oh that'd be this w/c to the N and I should be going S. Definite wakeup call (literally as feeling a bit sleepy now) adjusted and then took good route to the real #3 .
3-4 backtrak
4-5 picked up little track and ran for ages through paperbark - S of creek. Absolutely beautiful running and felt yummy. Was expecting MTB to come through at anytime - which would have been dangerous as it was so very narrow but a lovely part of the course - thanks sal. Managed to keep focussed enough despite seeing other runner going in opposite direction, also found a good crossing point for creek and then back a little to control. That was one of the good decision making times for the day.
5-6 S on minor track, around green.
6-7 crossed more major track, picked up minor. Saw control
7-8short leg which I butchered, though wiser heads than me didn't feel this was quite right either. Must have drifted south before crossing w/c but couldn't find a tree root mound where it should have been. Kept drifting S - thought it was going to be one of those 50-50s where I picked the wrong way to go. But came to a more major track and worked out where I was. So back N along some minor track and saw a flag. The so-called tree root mound was a sawn trunk and a few bits.(yes there was a tree and there was a mound of tree-like bits)
8-9minor track to major track, picked correct AP track
9-10 more windy bike track, doing a ladder run crossing or jumping from track to track - fun! Across the hot and depressing powerline clearing and found the very deep erosion gully not conducive to cross so went all the way around only to find it was the best direction to attack #10
10-11 back again across the depressing powerline clearing, so hot and degraded - and picked a track to attack the hill climb for the day. The bit of green stripe near the top was messy but it was a simple control. Found out later that rockman had that control too - bit tough for him - I think.
11-12 downhill and very, very steep. This was where I felt the ground was really slippery - dry slippery. Was a tiny bit off line for this but easily rectified.
12-13 Along track and broken fence, around the OOB, and picked up small track again. Jumped down to a lower one closer to the w/c and picked exactly where control was.
13-14 started to climb up hill again when i fortuitously stopped and decided the other side of the w/c might indeed offer a better route to next control. A bit thick in places but worth it. Didn't shy away from the light green as PowA did - better route of course.
14-F didn't have much luck picking up small track so headed for road. Pleased to be able to run all the last bit after 6km already on minimal sleep.
Feet starting to complain after every run now in O shoes. Never had much cushion but really hard ground leaves its mark.
Didn't get to see many people - but did talk briefly with MessEng, who is managing to hurt himself in different ways each week!! (You listening?) Looked good despite his adventures.
Felt much better this week - no problems with back - different class on Friday made the diff.
Thanks sal. for a great course - you have done well! Really intricate and Middle distance feel - lots of concentration.
Really nice day all up. Sleep tonight. Marathon watching later on.
Go Scotty Westcott !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just run and enjoy. Nothing expected of you.

Hard Medium - Splits