Training Log Archive: Ralph

My "worst" ever HR reading this morning. Great start to the day

WOC Middle - 13th

"A positive surprise"

I know that I am usually slow and unstable to the first control, so when I saw it I actually thought "great, a straightforward leg that I can't lose much time on". Woops, parallel error, maybe a minute gone.

This obviously played on my mind, and I wasn't sure of the start interval (because I am an idiot), so I knew that Gernot was probably coming. I was ok through the next couple, but got no action from the cameras (as expected) but could see them getting ready for someone behind me, and then going into 6 I heard someone (Gernot). So a bit of a "get on with this", too myself and tried to run hard and aggressively on the long leg.

Got in with a bit of faff, and then a small struggle on the next one, before running quite well on the next section. Crossed the bridge, did the flat area without any big issues.

Suddenly I was in the arena with not much to run, made some simple decisions and worked hard. Into the finish to a surprising 2nd place.

Angry/happy afterwards, how on earth can I possibly be 2nd after that race?? I was badly focussed during it, I made a mess of 1 control, I faffed about through various bits of green.

I will reflect more on this after WOC is over, but great to know that my base speed on this day was mixing it near the top. So. Taking steps.

C • Great stuff! 3

Middle model madness

Jog

Faster jog

Event: WOC 2018 - Latvia
 

Standard Taper O Session with Sponge for company

Here we go

Checking out Ratnieki.

There is a music festival going on in Ratnieki so I had to go and park in a different location, and consequently run a different course. On the way into the forest around some fields I was waved back to the car by a Latvian woman.
"Something Latvian"
"English?"
"No..."
"Deutsch?"
"Ein bisschen"
Hmmmm, "Is everything ok?"
"Why are you running on the field?"
"I am running to the forest"
"Why are you going to the forest?"
"I am going running in the forest"
"Why?"
(Why indeed), "I like running in the forest"
"Why are you here, running in the forest?"
(Oh dear, being forced to drop the O word) "I am doing orienteering"
"Why are you doing orienteering in the forest?"
"Well my parents introduced me to the orienteering cult at an impressionable young age and I have now got quite good at it and so I was able to make the British team for the World Championships which the International Orienteering Federation have allowed Latvia to host"
"..."
(Maybe she didn't understand my mix of Norwegian/Swedish/German/English) "It is the World Championships"
"Where are you from?"
"Great Britain"
"No, where did you come from today?"
"Sigulda"
"So why are you not running in the forest there?"
"Well I'm not allowed to run in the forest in Sigulda because it would be unfair as I would gain an advantage, and the forest here in Ratnieki has been determined by the organisers and many other teams as a forest that is similar in characteristics to the forest in Sigulda both in terms of the vegetation and the technical challenges so therefore I am using it as a short refamiliarisation training today before I go and run fast tomorrow"
"..."
"It is a similar forest"
"I own this field"
"Entschuldigen sie bitte, I am so sorry"
"It is ok, just you, and just today can run here"
"Ok great"

Why wasn't my orienteering great today, because I was thinking of what to write on my attackpoint log. Top focus as usual.

C • Enjoyable read anyhow 5

3k T [105] 4x30/30 on Damefallet
Felt good.