Training Log Archive: TheInvisibleLog

Res to Ridge.
But it didn't go up the ridge. I needed to do the 21k for that and body not up to it at the moment.

A bit of hard Mackenzie

Probably spent less time than this actually climbing rock. But the day filled with walk in, belaying, celebrations and stories. It was a 50th anniversary of first climb for one of my old climbing partners. And today he led the climb he first touched rock on fifty years ago. I wouldn't have been able to.

Skraplands run.
First run with new garmin. A very uplifting experience. New fastest kilometre. New distance record. And on this route it logged 250 metres longer than my previous garmin. This is an easy way to get faster.

Did a couple of loops of the totally empty supermarket car park just because I could.

Postscript form our second Kooyoora run this week. Julie finished her run a little early at the lower car park (not saying I actually ran up the track to the Caves). There she came across Tavish Eenjes. He was there with a lady friend on a two person picnic. He had been explaining to the young lady how important Kooyoora was to the sport of orienteering. And just at that moment Julie appeared. As if that was not enough, Julie then told them both about a certain Swedish orienteer's overnight trip to Australia earlier in the week specifically to run at Kooyoora. I think that nicely underlined Tavish's story.

C • Sacred site 5

Two laps of the test loop. Did I get it correct this time?

C • Correct? 2

Long Rock circuit at Kooyoora. Lots and lots webs and grass seeds.

The purpose of Annika Bjork's pilgrimage. Running the womens WOC individual course. I followed Annika until the Crystal Mine where I handed over to Julie.
Back story.
A week ago Julie recieved a cold email from Swedish orienteer Annika asking if someone would run the WOC courses with her. At that point the forecast was saying 43 degrees. We were a little concerned. Pointed this out to her and received a confused response. Anyway on with the story.
It seems the women's winner of WOC 85 was part of her club- Falun. Since the age of 9 Annika has seen the map of Kooyoora in pride of place in the club rooms with the winning route marked thereupon. Annika was in China with 5 days spare between events. So how do you fill in time? You pop on a plane to arrive in Australia on Monday morning, getting an hours sleep along the way. Arrive in Bendigo about 5.00pm after getting lost on the freeway out of Tulla. You run a composite relay course that evening in Fryerstown. Back to bendigo after 10. In bed by 12. Back awake at 5.30 and leave for Kooyoora to start the walk to the start a little after 7. Spend well over 2 hours running the course. Back to Bendigo, pack. Off to Tulla to catch an evening flight to Auckland to meet Matt Ogden. The purpose in NZ is to run the WMOC courses. Then three days later fly back to Hong Kong for more events. As Evan said- "Swedish orienteers can be mad".
It was fun, if challenging getting out in the terrain, dealing with high temperatures, lots of webs, keeping up with a fast orienteer (no I couldn't do that and navigate myself) and excited overseas visitor responses to kangaroos, emu, echidna, galahs.
Some great Annika quotes-
"Maybe an overnight trip to Australia was unrealistic. Its such a long way"
"What does 43 degrees mean for running? We don't have those temperatures in Sweden. Above 20 is hot"
After running the WOC course in over 2 hours, and finishing with the temperature around 33- "Glad I didn't want to run the Men's course".
"What is the best way to see Melbourne in three hours? ".
On discussing the course afterwards. "On the way to control 6 I was thinking- this is rough crap. Why did I travel half way around the world for this". [She did take the direct option rather than the suggested sideways out of the crap route I preferred]
"Quick, stop the car. I saw a kangaroo".

Postscript: This afternoon I feel very lethargic.

C • Great story :) 9

Each morning I have to choose between roof renovation or running. Neither makes sense once it warms up. This morning was running.

Ran a composite course of WOC 85 relay controls. Part of Annika Bjork's pilgrimage. Started after 7.00pm as we had to stop for multiple kangaroo photos. By the end of the run kangaroos had progress from "highlight of my life"to passe.

Walking warm up to get past the initial patella pain.

Twice around the test circuit, which someone tried to torch this afternoon- twice. Not a great feeling knowing there is a very local fire bug.
The run. Maybe next time I will break the 6 minute barrier.

C • Test circuit length 5

Back into the running. Sore knee and no fitness after long enforced break. Can't see myself going to Five Days- would be a waste of time. Maybe I will improve by then.
Once around the test circuit. My times can only improve from here.

Logging this to show how desperate I am.