Training Log Archive: jtorranc

Something of a disappointment. I was by no means entirely clean, with losing contact on the long leg between 9 and 10 (? no map in front of me just now) being a highlight (not such a disaster navigationally since I relocated just fine when I eventually reached a major trail but I spent longer than I care to think fighting vegetation to get to that trail) but I didn't feel as though I was perpetrating a technical disaster. That leaves the phýsical side of things to take most of the blame for being so much further behind the winner compared to my performance in Japan. Granted, my season to date has made clear that I'm not in the shape I was a year ago but I didn't and don't think the discrepancy is quite as big as the clock is saying. Perhaps my pre-race preparation this year is somehow at fault but I have no particular suspects at the moment.

I ran just about full tilt into a single strand wire fence after six or seven controls - my fault since it was mapped and stealthy but not invisible. I don't think it had much effect on my race but my left thigh stiffened up post-race and there's quite noticeable swelling. Fortunately, it's higher on the thigh and affecting a meatier part than my accident in February. Now, eight or so hours later, I still have the full range of motion in the knee joint, so I doubt if this will be much of a problem going forward.

I'll second Brian May's analysis of a couple of years ago and Wil and Brent's recently expressed opinions - right now, North American men need to have essentially perfect by their own standards races physically and technically to have a chance of qualifying for WOC finals. Here's to another year in which to try and raise those standards by enough for that to change.

The shortest of the three men's courses offered to the public after the middle qualifier. Since this was intended as a technical tuneup, I was running but not hard. I was pretty much clean though not flowing extremely well. To a certain extent, that was intentional since I'd rather be somewhat deliberate than take a chance on flying by the seat of my pants tomorrow. Barring a physical collapse, I'll be happy tomorrow if I again manage not to have to attack any controls more than once.

Event: WOC 2006
 

WOC long model event. Rainy, map hard to read on the run in green areas full of rides but that was hardly a surprise after visiting in May. Still jet-lagged since we left to get accredited and go training immediately after breakfast and I didn't reach the accomodations until around midnight after a thrunderstorm gave me a big scare that my flight from London would be cancelled.

Warmup/cooldown.

Same thing as the precious evening just to remind my body what it feels like to move my legs quickly. Flying to London overnight tonight then on to Aarhus tomorrow evening.

C • Have a great trip! 3

Work commute again. Will do a bit of runningish stuff tonight but the taper is definitely on.

Silly walks and 7x100m strides.

Work commute.

C • At SSS last Saturday 1