Training Log Archive: Sudden

easy run around Brunnen, Lektors Kulle and Hårdasjö. Foot better but ran on bigger trails.

Stage 5. A lot of uphill today. Twisted my ankle again, not as serious as what I did on the blaze, but I did it already on the way to the starting point and it did have an impact; I was very careful running down hill and where it was rocky. I did no mistakes on the first two controls but I was not better than 41st and 51st on those legs. Several small mistakes after that but not bigger than I was keeping my overall position. That was until I made a huge blunder. Plan was to get to a north-south going trail and then head right. I came to a east-west going trail, but I still went right. Probably lost 4-5 minutes on that one. I did better the last 2K and I caught a couple of runners, but I had nothing to give in the sprint. I dropped to 28th, which is a bit disappointing. However, overall, I really enjoyed the week. Great orienteering all five days, pretty much from start to finish. even though only two different finish areas were used. I am very impressed of the course setting and the maps. Of course having Isak with me every day, even the days when we had to get up at 6 a.m certainly helped. He prepared his running clothes every night and he brought extra clothes to change to after each race, just like the big guys and girls.
I quickly read through the discussion about the lack of juniors in NA. It is a bit off topic, but if NA runners ever get the chance (=time and $) to travel to Sweden and O-Ringen, they should do it. It is such an awesome experience and motivator. Juniors for sure would have a blast (and I am sure they have it at this very moment since the 6th stage should be in full swing by now - I watched 'Wedding Crashers' with my mom, Times have definitely changed). I have never been to a JWOC, but if I was a junior or a parent, I would consider going to O-Ringen instead.
The US had three runners in the top 10 in M18 today. Sure, there is M18E and M18 Long too, but I am guessing that these guys are feeling much more confident with these results and races than how they felt after their JWOC performances. If they ran JWOC.

C • Oringen as a junior 2

C • excellent! 2

Stage 4. Middle distance. Early start. A relatively easy course, but I did two mistakes when I didn´t slow down coming off a trail/power line. Looks also like I lost some time on two route choices, but overall pretty good. Finished 25th. 23rd overall. It will be difficult to reach 20th but I will give it a go. Another tough day tomorrow I´ve heard.

C • tougher than the blaze right!? 2

Stage 3. Another tough course. Several tough climbs and couple of controls in light green area. Legs heavy the first few kilometers but gradually felt better. Was around 15th place halfway but I drifted off to one control followed by a 2-3 minute mistake on the next one. Finished 29th at on the stage, but climbed to 24th overall.

Stage 2. 8.3 km
A tough course. Pretty much the entire course was in the woods and I could definitely feel that I am not a strong forest runner at the moment. More hills today as well and several challenging controls, so it was a tough stage. I did pretty good two thirds of the course, looking to be a similar race as yesterday, but I did a big mistake at the end. Legs and brain were too tired. I probably lost 4 min on one single control. I finished 36th on the stage and I am 28th overall.