Training Log Archive: nicki

A much better day of orienteering. Might have been the southern hemisphere compass that actually pointed to north, or the fact that I actually kept focus and stuck to my plan to read ahead and to never lose contact with the terrain. The first 5 controls were absolute spikes which made me happy. I spiked the circle on 6 but lost 20 seconds or so running around the massive pile of boulders looking for the control's hiding spot. Had I read the description that said "west side" I wouldn't have felt like such a clutz. 7 and 8 went really well and I ran fast and read the contours simultaneously....rare, for sure. Had a fantastic plan to 9 which fell apart in the 11th hour..... was trying to not be distracted by Juffy but next time I'll just follow him because he got it. I lost another 20 seconds or so when I went to a parallel boulder. 10-12 went swimmingly, especially the long leg to 12 which represented some of my best ever orienteering. Then I though to myself, "gee, this is going well", which is the first sign that something is about to go very wrong. 13 and 14 got the better of me as I had no attack point and so phaffed around inside the circle looking under rocks and down earth banks and behind trees and anywhere else that looked good. I tried to straight-line it to 15 but for some unknown reason (that involved not using the compass) I made a big round-a-bout kind of arch. Lost more time. And then fumbled the last control too...heading up into the trees and rocks too early.
Overall, felt OK. Was able to run fast in the open areas. Just got to work on my finesse!

C • Parallel boulder 10

Hard 2 - Splits

Kenine Hill middle distance. My first real orienteering on Australian terrain. Had to go without compass as I still haven't gotten myself one that works in the southern hemisphere. Very VERY open with large boulder fields and flat granite rock scattered over wide open farmer's paddocks. A few hills to work with. I had a near flawless run, except for the mondo error I made to #5. Typical Nicki orienteering. Probably lost at least 8 minutes playing a game of lottery control-spotting as I had lost contact with the map but could see 3 controls spread out on the horizon. Visited all three only the find the last one was mine. Dang it! Yep, I suck!

5 x 750 m repeats RI: 0:90

3:29
3:25
3:24
3:28
3:21

40 min warm-up run

Yah - 2 days of real training in a row. Maybe it's the start of a pattern. One can only hope.

And core

19.5 weeks until the marathon and time to start becoming a real athlete again and do things like train and drink less beer and eat healthy food.

It seems like ages since I've actually done any resemblance of run training (like 4 months) so I've got a lot of work ahead of me to get my running speed and fitness back.

C • 8-o 10

Up to Ivanhoe Crossing and back. Last day in Kununurra :-(

Bouldering and canyoneering up El Q gorge. AMAZING.

Muster street party. Danced like a madwoman to Blue Shaddy, which is definitely equivalent to an intense workout.

C • I fully support logging dan... 2

Run up and along Chamberlin Ridge above El Q station on sunrise.

Home Valley Station to El Questro via the super awesome Karungie Track. Technical, sweltering hot, super fun.

Ellenbrae to Home Valley Station. Hot and windy. I'm seeing a pattern.

Gibb River Road Race. Mt Elizabeth Station to Ellenbrae Station.

Gibb River Road race. Silent Grove to Mt Elizabeth Station. Hot and windy.

Day 1 of the Gibb. Derby to Silent Grove.

Out to Derby jetty and back to loosen up after long drive and to get ready for BIG ride starting tomorrow. Can't wait.

A quick trail run before the L-O-N-G 11 hour drive to Derby. YUCK! At least I get to ride back.

Trekked into Packsaddle spring for an overnight camp. Pad Thai and golden syrup dumplings on the campfire, beer, cheese, and a late evening swim as the sun set......it DOES NOT get any better.

C • Might have been better.... 1

Bike commuting around the Kununurra area in the stinking heat - last minute training for the Gibb ride.

1500 m swim
250 m kick
250 m fly set
100 m swim

With the Kununurra mob - barefoot, on a balmy evening, under lights...no better way to get in some speed training.

Woohooo....my trip to Kununurra coincided with the local Muster Triathlon.
750 m swim - 12:45, not bad seems I haven't trained in the pool for.....ummm......months.

20 km bike - 39:and change. Windy windy windy and on someones borrowed bike that was way too small, squeezed into size 5 shoes (I wear size 9)!!. But nothing but pleasure to be riding out in the east Kimberly countryside.

6 km run - 28:01....hmmm, not great. Definitely looking forward to getting my speed back after the 963km shuffle.

All of that good enough for a convincing win, though.
I LOVE the grassroots, small town triathlons. Over 120 competitors today out there giving it a go in the heat. I was just glad to be part of it today and seeing the smiles on the faces of the newbies and locals.
A great prelude to open air Hoodoo Gurus concert tonight.

A bit of a stroll in the desert around Fitzroy Crossing.

A bit of an early spin around Derby before it gets a million degrees hot.

C • That was a wicked story... 3

I found the Kununurra Pool. SWEET!
750 m swim
50 m run
200 m fly
500 m swim

It's hot in Kununurra. Today I ran out to a small national park and back. There is no shade, only sun sun sun, but I LOVE IT! Not sure that I'll be able to sustaine any speed training while up here though.

C • Famous! 2

A bit of a meander around the national park

Rode into town on old mountain bike to see if it works for the Gibb ride.

Due to the temperature being a balmy 38 degrees in the blazing sun, I went for a long but slow run around Broome, out to Cable Beach, along the sand at low tide for an eternity and then back to Broome. I need to get up earlier, I think. If I was training for the Death Valley Marathon then this would be the place to live!