Training Log Archive: loobey

Event: JK 2018 - Days 2-4
 

JK Middle - Brereton Spurs
6th

This was definitely my kind of middle course...runnable with lots of controls and nav wasn't too tricky/technical. Really enjoyed it :)

Clean through the first controls, apart from a bit of meerkating into #2 where I couldn't get the vegetation to fit or work out where the open area was. Caught sight of both Aislinn (4min) and Lucy (2min) as I was climbing up to #7 which gave me a bit of a boost, then caught Lucy at #8 as she made a mistake.

Pulled ahead through the next few controls until climbing the hill to #12 when I caught sight of Meg going to 11 (combined with oxygen debt from the uphill) and proceeded to completely lose myself going to 13....went out 90 degrees wrong from the control and crossed a path to the north instead of to the east. Realised fairly quickly that I'd gone wrong and managed to get myself back to the path junction where I had to stand still for a bit to check it was right, as Lucy came zooming back past again. Closely followed by Meg into 13. Lost 1min here which was unfortunate as I was sitting quite nicely in 3rd at this point.

Tried to hang onto Meg for as long as possible through the next controls. She slowly got away from me but was still within eyesight until 16. Then on 17 I went to the left and she went right/higher and missed it. So was surprised to see her come flying back past again climbing up to 19. Last loop was an absolute struggle climbing up the hill, physical ability really on the limit at this stage, and dropped back 30secs or so behind Meg by the finish.

Really happy to finish 6th. A nice improvement on last year and nice confidence boost for my forest orienteering.

Event: JK 2018 - Day 1 - Sprint
 

Morning shakeout around Stafford

JK Sprint - MOD Stafford
4th

A very fast course with very little route choice at all. Fine through the first few, taking the best routes for 3 and 4. Then approaching 11 I caught sight of Charlotte coming in behind me (started 1min in front), which startled me a bit and probably ran a bit fast over the next few controls trying to stay in front which was stupid. Lost a few seconds on 14 which was in the wrong place, as did everyone else. Then really started to struggle physically in the second half, just don't have the speed endurance at the moment. Went left to 17 and lost some time and Charlotte got a few metres gap on me which grew massively to about 20secs by the end as I just couldn't hang on. Then finally lost time on 23 when I came through the trees and just couldn't see the control behind the branches for a long time.

Initially a bit disappointed to end up 4th as no one likes to be this position and felt I'd probably lost 3rd place over the last couple of controls. But after letting it sink in a bit, I'm actually really pleased to even be able to be competitive with these girls on what was practically a running race off the very limited running training I've been able to do this year.

Work + travel

Meadows + strides

Seem to have injured my knee of overnight...hopefully some rolling/stretching will help.

Meadows + strides with Jonny