Training Log Archive: StK66

Final day of SOW on Sils Maria/Segl Maria. Wet, slippery and cold. After a heavy fall downhill early opted for sliding on my bum down slopes later in the course! Worked well on three occasions!! But my back is very sore and stiff right now!!! Technically my best race for sure. Took more time with route choices and thought this helped me visualise what I would see in the circle. I still missed a couple of better route choices in hindsight but time losses in the circle at least felt smaller as I felt I minimised the damage pretty well. Long way behind but I am a C/D grader in this company for sure. Very satisfied with my effort - and that of the Saints!!!!

C • I see 1

SOW day 5 middle distance event at Furtschellas was cancelled due threat of thunderstorms. No one with a start time after 12 noon got to start. I was in the group about to get on the cable car when the announcement came through. We were to be orienteering way above the tree line at 2400 to 2700 metres and it feels a shame to have missed such an experience. But given the planning and organisation of the past years that would have been sacrificed, this must have been a really necessary decision by organisers I would think. The location would have been very exposed, not to mention the conditions for a cable car ride to the arena.

SOW day 4 at Maloja. I took longer for the less than 300 metre leg 9 to 10 than the first three place getters did for the whole course! During this time I observed groups of 3 and 4 competitors looking at maps together, I was, I believe, because I only speak English, asked on numerous occasions where I was on the map and after I finally found 10 I allowed an M18 runner to look at my map long enough to relocate himself. I was just too down and frustrated to give a shit by that stage. Did actually improve a couple of places from control 10 onwards so I kept having a go, but despite seriously wanting to pull the pin I am pleased I persisted and completed the course unassisted. The terrain is intimidating me and I am making very poor route choices and then not executing them. In hindsight control 10 was so simple. I need to spend a little more time considering route choices in the next two races. Really stuffed right now when you add 20 minute return walk from buses to arena and 30 minute walk to start. Noticed the guy that came 3rd today was Oyvin Thon, and he is nearly 4 minutes behind first!!

C • Feeling your pain 1

SOW day 3 at Diavolezza. An event at 2000 metres and above the vegetation line. I liked the area and the course was great. Very embarrassed by my time and result. I was hoping for maybe 75, but a 12 minute error at 5, a long downhill leg which I thought I afforded necessary respect, put pay to that. Actually got a bit down as I have been O'ing for many years now and still continue to do things like this. I went back to my attack point just short of the circle 3 times before accepting it was not the attack point I thought it was. Then a parallel gully error. Just hopeless. I wouldn't have got 75 minutes anyway, but feel reasonably pleased with all other controls. I worked harder today in very physical terrain but boy I am losing chunks of time to the winners splits even when I think I have had a good leg. Then again, if not for our sport I wouldn't be travelling overseas. I guess I will keep persisting.

SOW day 2, middle distance on God da Staz. I was insipid physically today. Had map contact 90% of time, so handled navigation well. But physically the terrain was so tough. In the white my quads were yelling. On the up hills they screamed. Vegetation on forest floor less than knee height but riddled with stones and holes you couldn't see. So tough to lift your legs. Needed to go with track options more and limit time off tracks, especially leg 5 where my route choice was appauling. Without that route choice and with a hell of a lot more guts I could have got 45 minutes and I would have felt satisfied as navigation was sound enough overall.

Swiss O Week day one and accommodation with wifi again. Long distance at S-Chanf. My most satisfying race since my travels commenced. Only one real stuff up, a pit yet again! Pushed hard all the way and read the contours well by my standards.