Training Log Archive: Lexc

World Cup sprint. 20th (48th*). +49s (+1:29*).
*A and B results combined.

Pretty soliddddd. Happy with this. Was running pretty great at the start, knew what I was expecting and was shifting pretty well. I was hitting a couple of fastest and 2nd fastest times against the B race boys and then hit the long leg with the right route choice, ping ping hit the next semi big route choice with a 3rd fastest split, life is good.

This had me in 4th place (**on the B race, same time as Pete on the A) at the radio control, 12 controls into the course. Then scrappy mistakes, as with the standard procedure of recent, began to slip in. Wrong route to #13 (read it as a 50/50 when it was a solid 25/75) losing over 10s - this lead into a silly stop and get confused counting how many paths I'd crossed. There slips another 8ish seconds.

Finally finishing this pathetic excuse for a middle section of a race was the long routechoice back into the arena - chose the right route. Ran fast, read very little, into the wrong road, damn. Turned around as soon as I noticed but blew a final 12ish seconds. 3 controls, 30s waved goodbye to.

Made it around the last few controls and into the finish without any further mishaps but with nothing that was all to inspiring. So yeah, solid but not spectacular on that. Pleeeeeenty to work on.

The World Cup has been class. Great team environment and some quality GB athletes tearing it up closer to the pointy end of the races. Pretty motivating. And it looks like I'm not a million miles away - just need to cancel the scrap, keep the concentration in the middle of my races. Sprint technique in general has flowed more than it really ever has the past few weeks, really enjoying it.

Easy up a ridge with some sprinty boys.

Knock out sprint qualifier. +1:11. 26th. (50s off qualifying. 12 through to the final)

The main aim for the weekend - try to qualify to the knockout rounds to put some of the class training I've been doing sprint wise into practice!

Started a bit slow apparently..... I *think* some people skipped running to the start kite hence why my time looks ridiculously slow. #2. A fairly slow one - picked the wrong route choice and was punished, about 10s slower. After this, despite being pretty flustered by the uncrossable barrier in the castle I hit a really good run of splits splitting in the top 12 for 12 of the next 13 controls. Nice.

However... Perhaps was reading the map too much, focusing on what was coming next. Missed the right turn in the indoor corridor into #17 losing about 4/5s. No biggie... But how I reacted to it was. Ended up running from #17 most of the way to #19 before realising thats not how numbers work. Ahhh no. Bammed it back but knew that I had no chance now - that was 30s blown. Got to the finish one more small mistake (5s getting stuck coming down through the green) and trying to give it all but kinda knew it was gone. So yeah, finished 50s off qualifying.

It would have been pretty close had I been good but to be honest - nice to know that I was really in with a shout of making it. Good to know for the next one!

Chilling after the excitement of the knock out sprint on the area used for the final. Same area as for tomorrow so important to get out there!

Steep hills...

World Cup middle. +10:56. 83rd.

Frustrating! Actually not a horrific run but mad to see my result being in the 80's!

Started off trying to be cautious but just wasn't ready for the terrain feeling pretty unconfident and unsure. Missed #1 by about 1:30 despite never being more than 20m from the control in that 1:30 - couldn't work where I was or what I'd done but felt very lost as soon as I had left my attack point. Needed to be even more cautious.

Little bit frustrated but made a wee mistake on the next - was actually pretty okayly executed but my picture wasn't quite right of the circle. #3 I ended up taking the right route choice which was pretty noiiiice. Came out of the control a cautious and slow way but it was safe. Finally had a chance on this leg to get my head down, run and plan what was coming next. Started to feel a bit more in control after that.

At control #4 I was caught by Hogstrand. In my head I was thinking okay, this ain't to bad - lets buckle up and see how the really good guys do it. In reality? Pretty underwhelming - he was walking up all the hills so I was keeping up pretty comfortably and making sure I knew what was happening. Was clean through to #10 and we start running off down the hill to #11 and I know that Hogstrand is about to miss the control, and miss it pretty badly... Do I back myself?? Yep alright, go for it. Yaas. Got it good, I'm right and now Hogstrand is about 3mins behind me. Solid.

After this I was navving pretty much myself and trying to lay the pace down on the nice downhill running routes. Missed a couple of the key ones unfortunately! Kept it clean though so thats good news. Came into the finish leading which was pretty good fun.

Once I'd got back into the mentality of racing in hilly southern England terrain again then I actually ended up doing okay. I know my hill fitness and general fitness isn't great at the moment so am fairly okay with the result.

Next time I have to hit it in shape and with some nice terrain experience.

Forgot me watch so recorded it on my phone - nice one down to the KF to reccie the BUCS XC course 2k20. Lovely stuff.

Felt a lot better once I got out and on this. Hopefully I've succeeded in fighting the illness off! Good to see the boys. Fly out for the World Cup on Thursday.

Drills and strides at the end then quick in out the rain. Nice early bed and I'm sure ill be grand x

Been feeling pretty horrific since Saturday - fighting something. This was all I felt G for.