Training Log Archive: slauenstein

Day 4 SOW: Maloja

I found my orienteering feet and a brain between my ears. Yeah! And this terrain was SO beautiful. The only mistake I made today was because I got distracted by how beautiful it was and didn't know how far I went. 2 minutes there is too bad, but at least I had a good run, felt in control of my orienteering and enjoyed the process. I have never been to the Maloja pass and I am asking myself how I could have missed such a beautiful place all those times I have been here in the Engadin!!

2 more days, I think my body will survive, but I have to do some stretching today.

C • I think this area has never been mapped. 2

Some e-biking to do a bbq and swim, but nothing strenuous. Should have done some yoga and core... my back doesn't appreciate all this orienteering. Nice relaxing day:-)

Day 3 SOW: Diavolezza

Hum... I kind of expected myself to get a bit better at this orienteering thing, but my head just does not seem to find the concentration needed to do a good job. I think the JWOC week really did tire me out. Today, I already lost 3 minutes to the first control. I just didn't understand the map there. Afterwards, I told myself to take a new start, which only half way worked. On my way to 4, I had so much trouble getting through the rock fields and through the bushes, that I just kind of stumbled in the direction of my control. I was lucky and figured out where i was fairly easily, but I did not execute the control well after that. I ended up at my number 5, already certainly losing around 3-4 minutes, but at least I knew where I was. I hurried to my 4 and punched a control not quiet where I was supposed to be. Didn't realise that I mis-punched until at the finish, luckily I guess, because I really enjoyed the 2nd half of my course. looking at the splits, I was not that great even on controls that i felt like I was moving well. I think I am particularly bad in that type of rocky above tree-line type of terrain. Felt embarrassed about the MP and the kids in the club all wanted to hear how I managed to take a wrong control. I had to laugh about my inability to orienteer well and hope for the best in the next 3 stages. Still having fun, so that is what counts.

Day 2 SOW: Middle distance on the map God da Staz.

I was really late for my start, so I got a good workout in before my race ;-)

I really wanted to have solid plans to each control and not take any risks, but I failed to do this in the beginning of my course. At 2, I didn't execute my plan as I should have, but I still knew where I was. I just didn't want to drop too low on the slope, so I searched for the control about 4 minutes because I had to courage to go down where it was. Opps. Afterwards it look another 2-3 controls before I finally started to orienteer well. 6 minutes out of top 3, probably not possible (my legs feel horrible and I have to walk lots of hills), but I could have gotten much closer than I was. I think I am just out of habit and I need to learn to get into the map faster in the beginning.

We rode our bikes, including the kids in the chariot to the race today. On the way home, we did a detour so that both kids could take a nap, before going to the swimming pool. A really fun day:-)

After surviving the responsibly of the JWOC party (I was only at the hospital once...) and in general after surviving the whole week, now the Swiss O weeks starts. Yesterday there was a sprint for a the elite. I was just happy to have arrived and see the kids. They had to take naps, so I missed the elite race.

Today, we had a long distance on the map S-chanf. The course setting was not my favourite, because we had lots of mandatory passages. My legs felt like lead and I suffered. This is however no excuse for the mistakes I made in the nicest part of the terrain. I think I lost 8 minutes on three controls. Opps. Looking at the splits, I seem to have been running fast enough for a top 3 position, but I made way too many mistakes. Better tomorrow?