Training Log Archive: Nieuwy

Easy recovery run with tyson, jenny, fern, simon and troy.

A bit nervous at the start, mass start and all, but it was all good. First loop was fine, i stayed with the pack. It was a bit wierd when 2 packs met up at common controls, people coming from different directions slotting in between each other.

One of the funniest things ive seen on a course was running with the pack of about 40 guys throught the burnt stuff towards #8 and seeing Regina off to the left wanting to cross our path! It was never going to happen. I asked her about it after and she said she could hear a thudding noise coming from a long way away and didnt know what it was, maybe kangaroos, then suddenly a mass of colours came out of the bush and there was nothing she could do but stand and watch. But she said it was amazing to see!

Stayed with the pack for the first loop, but the pace was a bit much for me, so i slowed down a bit after that. I could still see craig dufty til #5, but lost him from there. I was on my own for a while, until i stuffed up #10. I thought i was left, so i went up to the right, but i went too far and ended up back at #8. Then i went too far right and got flustered at losing so much time. I eventually found it after lining it up from the fence junction, but patty, nick and a couple of others caught up, i was so annoyed.

I led this pack into the final map exchange, but took a gel, so didnt lead out of it. Stayed with nick until #5, but then he got away going up the hill through the green. I then pushed too far right, but realised when i hit the yellow and patty and a couple of others caught up again. The queenslander was leading the pack for most of the last section north of the road, but as we left #13, the third last control, he dropped back. Patty had the most left in him, so he got back first. I thought i could sprint to get 2nd from the pack, but i stuffed up punching the last control my SI stick missed the hole), so i lost a couple of seconds and it was all over. So 3rd out of 4 in the pack.

Not quite as happy as yesterday, i wouldve liked to be about 5 mins faster or at least stayed with nick on the last loop. But overall a great weekend of races.

Event: SILVA National Orienteering League
 

Didnt sleep very well the night before as i was a bit nervous about the weekend, not really the best preparation for 2 races in 1 day. Felt pretty good when i got to the event though and legs felt great during the warmup.

Got the map and i was having a bit of trouble reading the detail whilst going up the hill to #1. Went too far left almost to the road, then went right around the bush as i wasnt sure about getting through the gap, not much time lost. As i was coming into #2 i saw David Brownridge going into #3, which wasnt far away (dont know how i caught up that quick). Almost slipped dropping into the creek at #2, but just kept upright, then had to find the SI unit as it was on the ground!

Hard slog up the hill to #4 with David in my sight the whole way, i had been there before on the summer series last year, so it was pretty easy to find. I was going to go straight on #5, but decided to go right around the houses instead of dropping and climbing again.

Slowly making up time on David, then eventually passed him just after #9. #10 was a tricky one from one side of the school to the other, but i had been looking at the old map the night before, so i was pretty sure about how to get through and put on a burst of speed. Missed the first gap throught the zig-zag buildings, but got the second and was happy about my route. Almost went right between the buildings between 10 and 11, but saw the control and stopped myself. Didnt see the gap straight to #12, so went right around the building. Possibly chose the wrong route choice from 14 to 15, but couldnt see another way at the time.

Feeling pretty stuffed at 15, so couldnt really run that fast along the road to #16. I was surprised when i saw Toph coming out of #17 when i was coming in, as he started 2 mins in front. Almost went across the garden bed at #18, but went around it at the last second. Couldnt push very hard to 19, 20 and finish as i was stuffed, lost a few seconds.

Very happy with my run, finished 17th out of 34 finishers, but 34 seconds from 6th and only 3 seconds behind Reuben.

Chasing start from the morning sprint results. This meant that i was starting at the end of a massive pack of 12 ppl within 35 seconds! We all just headed off straight down the track to #1, then Reuen decided to go right around the lake instead of left, but i decided to leave that alone. Got to #1 at the same time as Ruebs, so it made no difference. Everyone split at #2 on either the left or right loop, i was on the right with dave and ian meyer, nick and a couple of others, cant remember now.

I stayed with te pack for the first loop, then started dropping off a bit after that, or more like a couple of the faster ones got away. Stayed with dave and nick until #16 where i was a bit slower going up the hill. Lost more time on #18 when i walked up the track, and blair and bruce went past. Stayed just behind them on the last small loop and caught up to dave again. Didnt have anything left for a sprint finish, so i didnt try. Found out after i finished that nick was behind, so i dont know what happened there!

Finished 16th out of 34 finishers, so i was very happy again.

Climbed approx 50 flights of stairs today and yesterday (so 100 total) at work. Most of the time i was carrying stuff, including doors (2 at a time) and timber. Not really training, but still hard work.

Belair with Lauren and Zara. Went up long gully to the redwoods, then up the single track and back down sadlle hill. Nice easy run before the weekend, didnt try too hard, except for one downhill coming back down to test my confindence at going fast downhill.

Went a totally different way this week. Up the valley to the top of first falls, then to the fire track and up to the junction before third falls. Down to Kookaburra Rock, then back up to Hogan's hill, and down via the southern edge and the mtb track to the top of stradbroke rd. Nice run! Took it fairly slow for the first half, just running with the others or in the second group, but pushed on the steeper hills. From centre track i tried to push a bit harder on the downhills, as i dont do that enough lately (mostly ankle issues). Couldnt feel my injured toe much tonight, yay!!!

Jog to Morialta and back.