Training Log Archive: Craig

Event: OAWA Relay Championships
 

First leg of relays at Russell's Gully. Still got a bit of a cold so tried to take it nice and easy out of the start. Took a while to get into the map and had a bit of a pack around me for the first few controls but nobody getting away. Feeling a bit more confident heading down to the Western end of the map and then after almost making a mistake climbing the hill after crossing the gully I suddenly seemed to be alone. Kept expecting somebody to catch me as I plodded back up the hill but came in with about a 3 minute lead.

3rd leg of the relays. Ricky lost a bit of time early allowing Henry to catch up so they came in together and I headed out with Andre. Andre had already told me he wasn't going to make the mistake of not following me this time and after a few controls it seemed likely we had the same course. I just concentrated on my own course for the first half but Andre was clipping my heels the whole time and it was clear I was not going to shake him so after 10 I walked for a while to force him to the front. There were only a couple of controls that looked a little tricky (11 and 15 I think) so I tried to let him get far enough ahead on those for me to sneak through if he missed but stay close enough to catch up if he didn't. No mistakes from Andre so I had to put in a bit of a surge up the hill to 15 to catch up and then smash it down the hill to the last to come in a couple of seconds ahead. A little frustrating to have the same course but kind of fun messing around with tactics to try to get clear.
Knew that Ricky and Henry must have the same or very similar course to finish so didn't hold much hope for Ricky holding off Henry in a sprint finish.
Ricky put up a good fight stretching Henry on the uphill section but Henry got a decisive break on the last couple of downhill bushy legs to win by a second.

Planned a long slow run but decided I was too sick and I'd better concentrate on recovering for the relays.

Rosalie Run. On the front most of the way and felt much more comfortable than last time. I thought we were going much slower but it seems not.

With Rachel at lunchtime.