Training Log Archive: slauenstein

warm up and cool down for the Middle distance race. chilly and raining, yuck!

This could have been potentially one of the best results of the season. Up to control number 15, I was on track to run under 40', after my 9' error at # 15, I had good splits again. ahhhhhhh! At least I know I was only one control off of a really great race. Of course it only counts if you can be good for the whole thing, but I know i am getting closer. What bothers me the most is that the control was a simple control, not in the technical stuff. I think what happened is that I just came through the first technical bit, and I relaxed because I knew the control was "easy", I was off to the right and misinterpreted the trail system (which was also tricky to understand one you were off track, since there were lots of Mt. Bike trails not on the map). I do have to admit, I could not control my mistake, when I realized I wasn't at the control, I just lost my head. I couldn't think logically about what had gone wrong, if I had, the control would have been found within 1', and I would be complaining about loosing 2' not 9'. Finally I convinced myself to bail to a certain point and attack the control again, which resulted in finding it without a problem. Stupid me!
There no excuse for this type of mistake, I need to stop doing this type of orienteering, I am better than this!!

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warm up and cool down for sprint-B final

Sprint B final.
12th place, my first world cup points ever!!! wahoo!!
I had a good race, made very minimal mistakes, but there is always room for improvement. It wasn't a tough course, just basically physical. Felt the legs from yesterday, but not bad. All in all surprized how well I have been recovering from each event.
Last event tomorrow, kind of sad really. Really looking forward to Japan...

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short warm up and cool down for the classic event.

Classic race
Winning time (Simone Niggli w/ 3' lead) 1:13:16
30th place time 1:34ish
I was 46th.
I had a solid, conservative run. I was a little intimidated by the distance, rough running and climb, so i never full out pushed, some thing I am now sure I am in good enough shape to do... tonight I am not very tired. It's a good learning experiance to know I can push on these types of distances, and shouldn't be intimidated.
Main focus today was technical anyway. I wanted to follow my concept and be concentrated. I did this for the whole race. BUT... I still had one goof up control, ran right by it, and it was in the end of the race so I was getting tired (lost 2' 30"). I also, when comparing the splits, found that for most of the controls I was in tempo with about 30th place. I made about 5 x 1min to 1 min 30" mistakes. Really could have been much faster, and I didn't realize I was loosing so much time on these "little bobbles", really taught me that they are taking a lot more time than I perceive.
Anyway, I feel positive about the race, it will help me in the future.
Tomorrow, sprint final, I am looking foward, I like sprints!!

I felt like I made a good mental preparation for this race. I was motivated, had a concept of what I wanted to do, and was excited to see if could hold speed for a while with the pack. I (unfortunately) was not that nervous. At the start I couldn't find the start triangle, or the first control, and was in the woods running frantically for about 50 meters before I finally found the direction I should be running. It took me another 50 meters to figure out where I was, and then I finally was on track going to my first control. At this point I had lost the pack (clearly). I guess this happened because I have very little, to no experiance starting in a relay. I just wasn't fast enough figuring out the map.
After that I was basically alone, mad at myself, and under negative stress to catch up some time.
This did not set me up for a good race, and I made mistake after mistake, and didn't enjoy the course. I also felt physically tired from yesterday, but I think it was more mentally influenced, because I knew I wasn't running well. I also had trouble visualizing the terrian. I would come into the area of where my control was, and it would look so different from what I expected that I would loose time getting to the control.
But now I have to move on. I know I can do better than what I performed today, and I am looking forward to my next chance tomorrow.

Event: World Cup round 1
 

Model event for World Cup races. really fast and nice terrain. Looking forward to the races.

warm up and cool down for Spring quali

Sprint Qualifier in the first race of the World cup round 1 in England.
15th place. 2' from qualifying, top 9 qualified!
I am fairly happy with my race. I certainly didn't have a perfect race, lost time on two controls, combined probably over 1 min. 15", should be more dissapointed, but I felt really good physically and technically was very in control until the end where I made these two mistakes ( one after the other). I could tell that in the beginning my race tempo was fast enough, but at the end I don't have the same kick. Need to do more speed training.
I started with Simone Niggli Luder in the last start time. I was nervous it would throw me off to start with her (I have started with her several times and every time I have made a mistake to the first control), this time around I could really concentrate on myself and my race. I could also hold tempo for a while, and then kept seeing her in the race, which gave me confidence that I was doing well. Obviously lost her at the end when I made the mistakes (plus she had a different course, so it is very hard to compare..).
Tomorrow is the relay, I am running the first leg, starting at 11am. 8 km with winning time of 45 min, should be wicked fast. I am looking forward to it!!

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