Training Log Archive: Torino

Sprint race in Johanngeorgenstadt:
A very intense sprint with 28 controls which required constant map-reading as every few meters one had to make a decision here or there. And then were other riders, pedestrians and dogs roaming around. Made a mistake to #1 which I could easily have avoided if I pad closer attention, but the trail came way too fast and I went too far and turned around. After that, I held back my speed and checked on all the features such as hedges, bushes, walls, etc.
I had it in my hands (or wheels?) to get the gold as I almost caught Monika who had started just 2 min ahead of me and who had a déjà-vu from last year.
Oh well. In the end, I "only" lost less than a minute on her, but everybody seemed to have made mistakes. (some stairs were also my downfall in the end instead of speeding around)

Mass-start race on the Fichtelberg on the Czech border in a cross-country ski center (there was a big ski-O race there).
What dreadful weather. On the parking the wind almost blew me away, but it definitely blew the bike around. And it was SO cold with rain or sleet hitting us before the start. I put on everything I had no matter how I might look! Windpants over winter tights; windjacket over a winterjacket and the x-c overshoes over my shoes.
I hate mass-starts, don't know who invented them for older women! However, here, the first 6 controls were to be taken in free order on the cross-country ski tracks. I studied and studies the map and decided on an order which was strange at first as it required backtracking after the first control. However, then I could take the higher controls in order before I dropped down to the lest ones before heading out to number 7. Going through that area was good as we realised that hitting the paved little loop was better than cutting on one of those numerous shortcuts which were quite muddy to very different degrees.
Leaving that area I saw Monika not far ahead and the Finnish woman was behind me, yesss! We now did a big loop on various trails, some worse than others and I always stayed quite close to Monika which amazed me. The Finnish woman had taken a steep shortcut (muddy) which required walking) but she was now ahead of me. And that was the last time I saw her.
After finishing the loop, we went back into the cross-country tracks but had to do a butterfly. Nobody knew which order loops each one of us had to do.
It always came together on #3, 7 and 11 which was on a slight slope and FULL of deep mud. I could ride to the control first and tried to get out further below but got stuck and sank up to my knee into the mud. From then on I decided never to go back down but approach it from above and leave it upwards again. The pictures there were incredible as everybody seemed to have to go to that flag over and over again.
I did my loops though it was really hard to make out which one of the controls I had to get as the numbers were printed really far from the circles and like on number six I just couldn't find the circle belonging to it. I stood and studied the map for what it seemed like 2 minutes and still was not sure I made the right choice.
Eventually, I could leave the butterfly area and head over upwards towards the finish. I was so proud but also so cold. I still had to wash the bike before going to the car and change in those icy-cold winds and rain. With new clothes on and something warm in my tummy, I gathered my bike and holder and everything outside to put it into the bike bag. What a day!

Long Distance race

Middle distance race

Event: World Masters MTB Orienteering Championship