Training Log Archive: nana

Up to Gurten and from Wabern back home. Took the train down the steepest parts.

Event: 4. Nationaler OL, Ruosalp
 

jogging to Tisvildeleje and back along the beach... nice!

yes, we finished 2nd!!

the british girls were much stronger than we are (they were 2nd and 3rd in the individual run, their senior runner also did pretty well), so they had the last change about 15' before I could leave for my leg.
I started in 4th position, close behind Bulgaria (about 30") and a few minutes behind Denmark.
Already on the way to the first control I saw Bulgaria running about 150m ahead of me.
Took the wrong path to the first control (one that was not on the map) and ended up at the forking, quickly relocated and just saw Bulgaria leaving from my control. Caught up with her shortly before the 2nd control, suddenly the danish girl was there standing, obviously with not much clue. I overran the control, quickly relocated on the path just behind the control and punched just before Bulgaria. Left quickly but with no haste, obviously a different route choice had 3 well, on 4 I made another larger bubble, had to relocate and again punched just behind Bulgaria. Denmark was way back, we didn't see her anymore after the 2nd control.
I felt that the bulgarian girl was not very sure, also her speed was rather slower than mine. So I didn't push the pace, stayed behind and expected to fight and push towards the end if necessary.
She hesitated a bit when leaving to path to the 5th control so I was ahead again. Punched first and left straight line for number 6. Ran perfect. On the way to number 7 shortly before my attackpoint (leaving the road) I saw Bulgaria again behind me, maybe some 200m). I took enough time to properly use the compass, left my attackpoint and just stumbled over my control that was a little bit hidden behind a tree. I had the next leg already prepared so I could quickly leave. Added some speed to incerase the gap to Bulgaria and didn't see her anymore after that. =)
the 8th control was very tricky, I took enough time to use guiding lines and use the compass carefully. I spiked it, and knew that I was in a good position. Left perfectly to number 9. Came a little bit too high, misinterpreted again a turning hill and lost maybe a minute or 2 at number 9. 10 was already the spectator control. The speaker confirmed that I was 2nd, so I pushed on the open parts and then very carefully prepared the finish loop. Had the same two controls as in the beginning of the individual race. I took them carefully again, but not as hesitant as yesterday. Made absolutely no mistake on the finish loop and thus we finished 2nd, almost 10 minutes before Bulgaria =)

It was just a great race. The speed was not very fast, but I had a nice rhythm, was very focused could easily handle and even enjoyed contact with the other runner. There still were some smaller mistakes, but I think a race like that is close to my optimum right now.
I had run the third best time on this leg, only a few seconds behind the 2nd best time, and about 1.5' behind the best time on the leg.

C • Great! 2

5/20 winning time ~46'

Was the first runner of the D21 category to start. Thought that would be a good thing in terms of doing my own race and not being influenced by other runners.
Already made a smaller mistake to the first control. The hill was turning 90° right before the control and I misinterpreted the contour lines.
2/3: a bit shaky, there was not much inbetween, just relying on my compass.
4-7: perfect
8: a bit shaky, lost some time there
9: largest mistake. thought I would see the border of the green, I didn't and had to relocate on the path. about 2.5' mistake.
rest was good.
So without mistakes maybe a time close to 50 would have been possible, but certainly not 46.
Ok but not perfect race! More focus on the relay will be needed!

official O-training

Had really troubles with the other runners. There were so many people in the forest. The german girl was testing route choices with her coach, so they discussed at the control. I just had the same speed (although not same route) and when I arrived at the control there were 4-5 people standing around the control. It's not much fun like that.
My concept was to define checkpoints on the route where I would take direction/plan route to next checkpoint to keep control.
Unfortunately there was some old finnish guy who I met every now and then. Everytime I slowed down or stopped because I was at one of my checkpoints he thought that I was lost and wanted to tell me where I am (with acutally taking my map out of my hands). About the third time he talked to me/took my map I got really angry!
So it was a rather frustrating experience and I'm more than ever aware that I have to handle to contact to other runners better (especially for the relay!!)

morning footing to the sea and back with M

very easy O-training on Valby Hegn
Had problems with keeping the direction and finding runnable microroutes. Astonishingly the 4 controls that I properly raced were much better...

evening O-race in Denmark

Finished 2nd pretty close after a young girl (she had been at eyoc and won some medal there I think).
Just loved it! Made a mistake to the third control (didn't take in enough map information), and made a route choice mistake when M caught up. He was behind me for about 4 controls but coudn't overtake, I always had the slightly better microroute. Then came the route choice, I didn't want to just run behind him so I tried to get away first and took the wrong route because I decided too quickly...
In general I got confident that I can handle that terrain without bigger mistakes and that my legs are ready!