Training Log Archive: Nieuwy

NOL Ultralong at Prelinna.

My goal from the start was to finish, and hoping my navigation and experience in the terrain would get me off the bottom. Started outt too fast, although it seemed comfortable, first 4km in 22mins. I was doing fine until losing my direction at the start of the long leg 10-11, not a big issue, just ended up at the track, although slow and careful coming back in to 11. A pack of about 6-8 guys formed here and just lost some of them 13-14. Was in the map change with Blair and Jim, and did the first leg together, then Jim had a different split and Blair got away from me around 4. Was too far left on 5 and had no clue until I saw Simon go past going to 12 and I worked it out. Gradually caught back up to Jim to 6, but should have taken a lower route. Track would've been better to 7, green hash was too slow and scratchy. Slow for the rest of this map, heat and yesterday were getting to me. Had a brain fade leaving 13, couldn't remember if I had punched before drinking. Stopped and started to go back, but was sure I had, so kept going. This made me lose sight of Jim, so I didn't see him take the track to 14 and I ended up losing some time in the vagueness before the control. Coming in to the map change I saw Jim duck behind a tree and couldn't work out what he was doing, then realised he wasn't going any further. This had come into my mind, but I was determined to finish, because this would most likely be my best chance to. Nav to 1 was better than the first time, just slower. Started to cramp going to 2 and looked at where the next water was, what, not until 10! How did the litre of staminade I just had not re-hydrate me? Slowly, slowly. Wait 5-6 goes past the carpark, my car has water in it, I can get some there :-). Yay water at 5! Stayed way too high to 6, went to the green saddle, then dropped, although did hit the control well. Saw Zara on the way to 7, nice to see someone else. Eeugh back to 10 :-(. Thought I was going ok to 11, but was 1 knoll to the right. Wasn't sure, so went to the track and came back in. Butterfly seemed to go quick, yay 16, almost done. 17 was ok, got a bit of energy back to 18, ended up a bit left around the green and home.

Very tough to stay mentally focussed for so long. Glad I finished, but would have liked to be a bit faster. Was on track for 3:30 in the second loop, but slowed. Was sure I would do under 4 hours most of the way through the last loop, but 5-11 was just too slow.

I think I will need some convincing to do another one of these, or any long distance.

Event: NOL Round 3 - With Wildfire Sports Ultra Long
 

Camped at Mulga Valley (2015 Easter day 3) last night, and had the lovely sound of diesel 4x4s with trail bikes rocking up at 10pm and trying to get up and down the embankment of the main creek. They then set up camp and decided to play loud music until 2am.

Got up early and set off to put out tapes for the Monday event of the June long weekend. Nav was pretty good, although wasn't going too fast, trying to save some energy for the rest of the weekend. Didn't put out 1 tape, because people were camped at the feature, so will probably move that control in case that happens for the event. Really enjoyed running here, didn't so much at Easter because I was so stuffed from the long the day before.

NOL Middle at Mannawarra.

I was given an early start time, so that I could help on SI, but everything was ready early, so I started even earlier. Bearings were a bit off today, sometimes left and sometimes right. Got to where I thought 3 would be and it wasn't there, so just went a little further and saw it in the next gully, very little time lost. I was doing ok and felt like I had energy to run until around 10, where I just seemed to slow and lose focus. Just made little silly errors, not reading the map properly. I put this down to the run in the morning. The splits confim this, as I was in 10th up to 9, the dropped to 17th. A bit disappointed, but putting out tapes now saves another trip to Burra.

I was sure at the time that 3 was in the wrong spot, but having errors later in the course made me second guess. I should have said something about it to Bob when I got back, but I got sidetracked with SI. Maybe it could've been fixed before any other starters went out.

Plasma donation.

BP 134/77 HR 55 Hb 151

Not ideal to be doing this just before the ultralong, but should be ok.

Yay, I get to do the middle this weekend all by myself. Starting 80 mins before the next starter, so I can do SI duties.