Training Log Archive: Nathan

Well earned. JK write up done, feel fairly positive after the weekend but a bit annoyed to have made mistakes on such easy courses. Happy to feel physically good but think I've got more to give speed wise.
On a side note, pretty annoying to hear of some fairly unsportsmanlike supporters at the relay slating SHUOC. It's not in the spirit of orienteering in my opinion.

C • Remarks 3

JK Relays. Trophy, 19th (6th team).

In the first team for the first time with SHUOC and was looking forward to it. Probably wasn't as settled as I should have been before this and so set off pretty hard but thought it was just the nature of the event. Really good through 3 and felt like I'd settled then but ballsed up my control in the woods, had a plan but compass wasn't there so just overshot and ran clear before reloacting off another gaffle and having to go back against the grain. Knew I'd lost a lot and from then I really tried to work myself hard, orienteered well and could see the pack in the open. Gap didn't really open and I maybe lost a little time in places but worked as well as I could. Clean through to spectator but I was hurting and I think the other days caught up on me. Got the long leg fine and found the navigation pretty easy for the rest of the course other than one BS control circle. Had Will about 20s ahead by the end so had managed to close some of the gap but sent Potter out way down and finished angry disappointed and feeling like I'd let the boys down. Thankfully him and Matt ran really well to come in 6th in the end but for me it was a bit hollow.
I don't think I like first leg, second seems to suit me well, I can settle in a lot more on that. A basic error cost me and there's no excuse for that, but you live and you learn and next time (the British), I'll know what to do. Realistically there's a lot of positives in this, eg mentally keeping pushing and navigation after being pretty good but it has to be better.

JK Long. 3rd Brit, 4th.

Felt more settled today, but it was a pretty tough run. Started ok, but a bit rushed to 1 then hesitant, probably because of the scale to 2. Lost a minute in the circle on 3, overshooting from the low path (didn't see the straighter option). Grind up the hill to 4. Bit lucky on 5 going straight, had little reference until the path end. then was careful on the compass to the control. Messed up my route to 6, taking the straighter but worse path. Should have pathed more on 7 but made myself work through the undergrowth before pushing on the path, similar to 8. Mistake on 9, went in too early and messed about before relocating off of an open strip which I followed to the control. Annoying and basic mistake, no AP. Grind to 10 then pushed on the path to the crossing. Nearly rushed off but took my time to gather myself and had a gel with the water because I knew we'd be through the green. Fine but nearly missed my route to 13, then good through to 14, messed up the circle on 15. Very poor wobbly line to 16. Running legs basically through to after spectator and it was tough to keep working, hadn't seen anyone at all but hadn't been caught so made myself keep working but legs felt pretty tired. few wobbles on 24/5 in the circle losing some more time. Pushed from then to the finish but lost time on my line in to 26/27 bad exit from a path, then bad across the open but kept working.
Good mental battle today, had to keep fighting on my own because I didn't see a soul on my way round. Too many mistakes though and again despite the position I finished I wasn't happy with the basic errors I let creep in to my race. Have to be more disciplined especially in and out of controls. Garmin also stopped at some point so distance is a guess.

JK Middle, 3rd Brit, 4th.

Last start which was a bit alien to me and a bit of confusion in the start box meant I was really forcing myself to focus. Slip in the circle on 1, just not quite going far enough to see the control then attacked 2 well. Little confused on 3 with the bushes but readjusted fine. Straight to 4 which was good other than the circle being different to what I expected, then fine through to 6. Tired over to 7 and line was a bit wavy but held it together. Fine through 9 but a little unsure on my line in to 9 itself. Had spied 10 before and so was lazy on planning 11 meaning a banana and lost contact. Very bad exit to 12, biggest real mistake then checked the compass, as a result of this, limited planning for 13 so missed it losing a bit more time. Half cocked plan for 14 meant second half was unformed so banana. Fine through to 16 but felt tired and slow in the terrain. Bad exit to 17 and missed the veg boundary meant through the green and more time dropped, correcting off the hide. better to 18 then bad compass to 19 being led North but correcting off the junction. 20 seemed odd, higher than expected then just tried to gut myself to the finish to claw back a bit of time which I did to get 3rd.
On paper, with the result this looks a good run and a lot of people said so after but I'm really quite unhappy with it. I feel like I rushed a lot and didn't take my time in and out of the circle which is what I told myself to do beforehand. Could have saved a lot of time and been a lot closer to Sasha. Legs also didn't feel good, never felt like I got moving, similar to Bentley, stuck in 4th gear. Happy to have gotten away with it to some extent but I know I can do better than this and I plan to.

JK Sprint, 2nd 20, 8th overall.

Really looking forward to this one. Preparation had gone well, took quite a long time making a map for it and planning but still felt a bit nervous going in. Made sure to watch spectator control/run through/ start etc beforehand and that meant I could settle in early on. Flowed well through the first couple and it was nice to be able to open the legs up early. Nearly missed the blocked end on 4 but readjusted losing only a few seconds. Mulled over 6 a bit long but got my route well which allowed me to plan through to 10. Saw Tim going in to 9 which was a bit of a boost and got the tricky buildings fine which allowed me to catch Ali by taking the faster southern route. Made myself stay focused though and didn't get distracted through the run through but focused on the next leg. All fine through to 20, possibly missed a route or two. Only real mistake was 21, only one I didn't check descriptions and lost time beginning to go round the top of the bridge before turning back. Annoyed but knew I was going in to the last section so switched back on. Not enough drive through 23/4/5 but got them fine, should have attacked a bit more, then clean through the finish.
Little annoyed about 21 but this went well today. Stayed focused on my own race plan and didn't get distracted despite catching Ali and it being a very busy area. Think this settled me down a bit for the next few days.

Planned and ran a middle course up at Outwoods. Kept the pace nice and chilled and tried to focus on the nav but the map was a bit shit and the grot meant I watched my feet more than I'd have liked to, but that's fine with keeping safe. Navigation was good but could have planned a smidge more, one miss in the circle where the forest had been felled and I was looking for a rootstock and another taking the path round because the forest sucked. Nice though, orienteering well and a nice confidence boost.