Training Log Archive: Anvil

Hagaby Style loop race, mass start.
Started off well, was actually reading the map and everything until the splits sorted themselves out. Was feeling pretty good and staying with the pack easily, was very cool in this first section with the three split packs crossing over and rejoining at the common controls.
Unfortunately the fun was short lived for me when I decided my pack was going the wrong way, I deviated and ended up at the wrong control on the boulder/cairn split 2/3rd of the way through the loop. I could just get a glimpse of the tail end of the pack as I punched, a 30 second error 2 controls later sealed the deal for me. Formed a stragglers pack for the last part of the loop of myself, Nicko, Leon and a few others, but once we all split at the start of the next loop it was pretty much a solo course, which was a lot slower without blokes in front of you knocking all the trees out of the way.
An occasional random pack would form every now and then but never solidifying into anything decent until John, Mark, Callum and myself all suddenly joined together on the run down to the road crossing.
They all seemed to be going faster than me here and I was a little worried that I wouldn't keep up, but once we got into the detail the pace slowed and we wearily made our way over and around the rocky hillsides.
With Callum in the pack and unsure of the other 2 blokes final kick I was psyching myself up for a push at the end, so when I upped the pace I was surprised (and pretty happy) no one challenged me. To celebrate I pretended the final fence wasn't there and spectacularly ate dirt (I was in good company with Kathryn doing it too) and killed myself in the finish chute.
So, better than the previous 2 races, but not as good as I know I'm capable of. It'll come though.

C • The coming. 4

C • better 1

Event: SILVA National Orienteering League
 

Started off well, spiked the fiest handful of controls and was surprised to see Blair half way up the hill to 4 (though given the visibility of the area I probably hadn't caught up much.
However, put my head down and had caught him once we got up to the school though I was already hurting a lot by this point. I sat behind him through the first half of the part through the school, not through choice, I just couldn't get in front. I started to get frustrated so snuck in front on the spectator controls, led the next leg through the school (to #15) into the circle and promptly turned around and ran in the opposite direction for about 150m, dumb arse. Relocate at the road crossing and head back, passing Blair (I'm impressed he didn't feel the need to sledge me, if the shoe was on the other foot.....), then heading out of 15 I see Ezy heading in (my -1 minute man), so I increase speed to stay away and decide to navigate to 9 instead of 16 (parallell legs). Realise when I'm at 9 and continue on the rest of the course, though surprised to see Ezy running into 17 from a weird direction. Finish the course to be informed I missed 16, 9 was between 16 and 17 and once I got there the 2nd time I didn't realise I was meant to be going to 16 and just went straight to 17. Dah!
So 2 mistakes, both caused by me making decisions based on what other people were doing. You'd think I'd have learnt that one by now. Shame too, before the mistake at 15 I was on target for a top ten finish.

C • disgrace 1

Have to admit I feel a little shafted by this event. As it was a chasing start based on the sprint result, about 90% of the runners started within 3 minutes of each other with everyone who DNFd the sprint (all 2 of us) starting about 10 minutes later after the stragglers. Also it was still bloody hot (~34 degrees). Complaint over.

I actually felt pretty good at the start, strong up the hill to the pivot control and across to the hill to 3. Spiked 3, except for seeing the control - ran around in the circle a bit and led the train who were doing it as their 2nd loop astray as a bonus. Tagged along with them for a bit through the first butterfly, maxi sloppy through the 2nd rocky butterfly while I was solo. The heat got to me here - stopped in the circle part way through and got really light headed, then later climbing the hill after the loops got that really fatigued and heavy feeling you get when you try to run when you're sick - I was also at my MaxHR while walking up hill!
Luckily I spotted a few others on struggle street at this point which helped me keep going, though there wasn't much speed amongst us. Just went through the motions on the final controls until Glenn caught me up (my DNF buddy I barely seen the whole course) and forced me to keep going - I had to finish within 30 seconds behind him to beat him.
So, not a great result. I didn't do much wrong, just didn't have a pack advantage and I've probably got to accept I'm gonna struggle in heat like that - though I still feel that's a bit of a cop out.

C • not quite as bad 1

Tour time again, new spot for all of us down in Collinsvale nestled in the base of the mountain.
Good group turnout, even Lee got out of bed for it. Unfortunately it was a little steeper than I expected - though I did stay true to my word with only one hill, shame the hill lasted 2/3rds of the run :)
Again, felt pretty ordinary for most of it - hope it's just a midweek, still getting used to getting up early thing.

10 x hills on the slopes of the Domain. Hard work tonight, we purposely went into tough terrain and tried to keep as straight a line as possible - lots of pushing trees out of the way with hands.
Cause that wasn't hard enough, I made sure I didn't drink much all day. Absolutely knackered by the last one, Nicko was in the same boat - wheezing like an old geezer with emphysema.
Glad to get it done.