Now, goals for 2003:
1. Stay healthy. (This does not necessarily mean injury-free.)
2. 5K: 16:50; 10K: 34:55 (either one), before mid-June.
3. I believe 1 and 2 are necessary for:
a. US Short Course Champs: Top 3
b. Moscow Classic Champs: Top 6
c. Jukola: 115% for my leg(s)
d. ERC: 1st
3a is doable. I was 4th overall in 1994, 1996, 1997, and 2002.
3b is a funny goal. It is more of an indication of running speed through woods with compass than actual orienteering, but it will be fun to try. It is also probably the hardest, both because of the competition and the possible specifics of course setting. But it is a fairly valid yardstick. I would have picked some other, more interesting Russian competition, but there aren't any that have the same field consistency and that that I would be able to get to in June.
3c is the most important one. My best run ever was 14% behind the World Champion, Janne Salmi; the second day of the pre-VWC at Afton Alps, near St. Paul, in 1997. MNOC lost the results.
It is great that there has been interest in the Jukola among the Americans. The trip should work well for the Team. I'll do my best to contribute, both organizing and competing.
3d will be interesting. I don't think too many good teams will show up, and the prestige of being first at the first-ever European Champs is something to go for. (To go with the title at the first-ever US Rogaine—yes, the title.)
I believe that in order to achieve the goals, I need to do:
Starting next week: 6 weeks of base training, average 120 km, 3 weeks on/1 off;
Interval training from there on until closely before the Short Champs, twice a week; 3 on/1 off regime, 7–8 hrs/week for "on";
One week of altitude training, most likely in February, most likely the Sierras;
80 O races for the season.
The interval training may have to get interrupted for the Arizona Rogaine. I will also probably try to do the CNYO Rogaine; the US Rogaine Champs late in the season would play into preparation for 2004.
Racing/training schedule:
*
Way Too Cool 50K;
* Junior training camp;
*
Spring Cup (unless the Pig suddenly appears, reborn);
*
American River 50 miles (if I feel like it—may encroach too much on the process);
* SVO event;
* Short Champs (may punt on the Long);
* Moscow Classic Champs;
*
Jukola;
* St. Petersburg racing/training;
* Swiss O week;
* ERC;
* Providian Relay.
I'll also do the rogaines mentioned and other A meets, just possibly not take them that seriously. I use most of my O races as training, except the ones that I have real goals for. At this point, I have absolutely no interest in the Individual Champs; I'll go but I don't care how I do. I will not be able to properly peak for the Champs after having peaked in June, and still be able to put in decent rogaine training. I'll need to refocus my training on preparing for the World Rogaine Champs sometime in September 2003.