Training Log Archive: robw

World rogaining champs
Planned a route that was about 85-90 k focussing on the flatter northern area and with some regular - as possible- water stops with the option to add more controls at the end. In hi sight this was a reasonable strategy but perhaps we picked up a few too many low pointers a early on.
Got going solidly early on and felt hot in the sun, got through to water out the far end just before dark and felt like we were going well w no real mistakes. After dark we were quite conservative initially hitting controls w safe route choices but as we got more confident started taking more direct routes and still hitting controls w just one small loss looking in the wrong gully on the side of a step hill. We picked up a lot of points in this section which was fast traveling. We were also running low on water towards the end of this section and rationed it through the last tough section up a very steep rocky 100m climb and then descent. I guzzled heaps of water when we got there about midnight and filled up for the stint through to the all night cafe. We had some trouble w a 100pointer up a steep hill just after this doing a loo right round it but then got going again. We were still going along ok even doing some jogging coming into 74 when I stopped for a toilet break. Straight after this out of nothing I started vomiting and couldn't stop for a few min. I knew this wasn't good but I could keep walking and we got the control and headed to the cafe.
I'd been looking forward to this but it was the beginning of the end for me. I really didn't want to eat or drink but knew I had to try with 7hrs still to go. I filled up with water and had a few sips and very slowly ate a few cheese toasties as we walked down the road. I was a total passenger for Paul at this stage. As we headed up into the hillier spinifex I was struggling and feeling very weak. On top of this I had seriously sore feet where my shoes had been moving around on my heels. Every time I tried to eat or drink I was feeling very nauseous and it felt like a balance trying to get I tiny amount of energy on to keep me moving albeit very slowly. This was a really horrible section even after the sun came up with a spectacular sunrise. My only focus was getting to the HH to be able to stop moving but we picked up the controls on our original plan since it was on the way but I was moving so slowly by this stage and it must have been incredibly frustrating for Paul who very generously didn't suggest getting extra controls. A dissapointing finish to what was a good first three quarters.

C • bad luck 1

Rogaine model event, checked out a few controls with Paul, spinifex not too bad but hills v steep and rough. I'd just made a comment to Paul about how glad I was it was winter and not having to worry about snakes when he spotted one right in front of us. From talking to the ranger it was almost certainly a king brown - not what we needed the day before the rogaine.