Training Log Archive: Nathan

UKEOL Rusland Beeches Middle
Felt dead up for this. A few months of good consistent training with a good amount of time spent in terrain and orienteering. Felt settled at the start despite it taking longer to get up there than expected. Process was flowing well from the start and I was picking up the features and taking my time just as I wanted to. Focus was certainly on the orienteering not on the running. Caught Pete B at 13 but stayed focused and got away on 15 with a different route. From the turn around on 18 back to the finish I started clocking that it was going well and despite hitting them up to 21 with the same, almost defensive, approach, when the orienteering got objectively easier on 22, I left the control without a real plan. Bumbled my way through to the wall with plenty of opportunities to regain composure and take a second to get my process back in order but I blindly ploughed on, losing all contact and confidence in where I was. Lost 1:30-2mins (bimbly orienteering took me to the 1 feature before the control) and recorrected off the open re-entrant to the north. Tried to keep pushing to the finish and got the last control well but was already quite frustrated.
95% of today was great and I felt as though, technically, I didn’t put a foot wrong which was a nice change for me in a middle to have that much control. My discipline needs to be better when I recognise that the control has gone and to take proactive steps to make sure I’m applying my process. The mistake could have been saved by investing 5s when I hit the path on the way to 22 which would have put me comfortably 3rd, potentially in the mix for the top spot. 5th isn’t too bad, but I felt as though the rest of my performance warranted a better position and one I am capable of giving. Loved the course though and really enjoyed being back racing in the Lakes.