Training Log Archive: NSW Stinger

warm up

Eureka Challenge NOL 3 Chinaman Flat
What a great race! I know I'm a little off peak form but I thought the standard and speed at the front of the pack was as good as any mass start race I've done in Australia.
The first loop was fast. I had Craney and Oscar pushing the pace for the first half to pivot #163. Then I got pulled slightly off line as they continued on another split and I headed to #188 chasing Shep and Bryan. My legs began to feel the fast start and I was a bit tired heading to 6. I thought the leaders were heading too far to the right but still got sucked they way. I recovered quicker than some of them Shep didn't catch up til 9. (it wasn't until I checked the splits that I knew Bryan found the control and was actually 45secs in front).
Coming into the first map change I was just behind Shep and there were a bunch of others around still. Parto was in front for the start of the 2nd loop and we were a bit sloppy but coming into the next pivot there was Bryan and Shep again. Ran behind them to the final pivot and then BANG then was Simon, Oskar and Craney not far behind. Muz was there most of the way too.
I was a bit slow thu transition as I wanted to drink some secret potion. But the pace was so fast on the 3rd loop I never really got back in the lead group. Craney, Oscar, Shep, Simon and Bryan were all stepping on each others heels while I fought to stay with them. Just behind was Muz and Parto but they weren't there for very long. Ev wasn't there cos he's a pussy and gives up too easily. I was broken not far into the loop and started to drop off. Keely was hurting too and I needed to keep yelling at him not to back off. We were still in site into #32 but lost them leaving the control and finally I had to do a bit of nav. On the track route to the right and suddenly Craney and Oskar were there again about 50m in front. I told Bryan he had to bridge the gap. Despite a bit of whinning he did make up a bit of ground at first but then we both faded up the hill into the control. Was really surprise to see Shep and Simon in front as I thought there was no way it could be quicker to run straight through what was meant to be green and green stripe. Again I lost sight and I had to lead Bryan to 33, the type of leg I hate, vague compass bearing through flat spur gully. Popped out on the track and ran along for 100m then into the control. Got a pleasant surprise to see the leading 4 coming into the control from the right. Game on. I lead the race for a whole 100m before we all formed a pack on the track to #35. I thought it was going to be interesting to see if the leader left the track and nailed the control. Craney did, but then it was 6 person scrum climbing out of the steep gully. I was off to the left a little and dropped a few seconds and knew my day was over. Surprised to everyone but Simon head too far to the right heading to the last control. I really thought Simon should have got it from there but the others had the speed at the end. Oscar, Craney, Bryan (owes me a beer for getting him back to the lead), Shep, Simon and me a long way back. Cracker finish and great race all round. I just wish I had have had an extra 2% running fitness to be able to compete with the top guys, rather than be a passenger. But with only 22hrs of running since 6th Jan it was a pretty pleasing effort.
Since I'm not going to Easter my next major races will be the WOC trials. Should be more competitive there I hope.

C • Ripper 1

Long Distance ME 1 - Splits

Event: Eureka Challenge, SILVA NOLs
 

warm ups and cool downs

NOL race 1- Sprint @ Ballarat University
Made some typically poor sprint route choices. It still amazes me that I can score well in those aptitude tests that involve rotating weird shapes or picking out the odd shape but have no idea how to pick the best side of a building to run around.
The course was pretty physical with a few climbs and I took it pretty easy on them trying to save some energy for the afternoon race. Result was about where I deserved to be.Great win by Oskar.

M Open Elite - Splits

Middle DistanceM Open Elite - Splits

morning training session on Cotty Creek. Map memory/relocation exercise in pair with Ian Lawford. This session was really good, much harder mentally than I expected. Despite my efforts I couldn't get Ian lost!

warm up from Creswick School of Forestry to Creswick Diggings map.

Creswick Diggings
Training starting in pairs (with Ian Lawford) with some relay splitting. Aim was to go hard on the 3 easier long legs and then slow down (traffic light) through the short technical legs. I was pretty happy with my run, just a few small detours. Great return to technical training.

Afternoon training at Mt Beckworth.
Downhill training session (after walking up the hill a bit) with short legs. I was pretty tired physically and even worse mentally and got fooled into thinking it would be all downhill. But the first half was more contouring and a bit of climbing. I was pretty disappointed with my effort, just not comfortable like the morning.

Mt Beckworth 2nd course. Was more determined to give it a good go, so put a bit more effort in. Almost perfect run this time and much happier than previous effort.

quick evening run.

morning commute on the Chiru to the Summit. Got shockingly muddy going through the plantations at the end. SHould have stuck to the road bike.

morning jog. managed to dodge a few showers of rain.

nice evening commute home from the Summit. Via Ryans Rd, Narracan, Mcdonalds track, past the site of the worlds tallest tree- 114m, they even cut it down to prove the measurement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_regnans
then up to the Strezelecki Hwy and home. Didn't get passed by a car for the last 75mins. Serenity and great views.

C • Bloody foresters 4