Training Log Archive: Canadian

Enough orienteering in this that I'mm logging it as such even though it included a bunch of plain running.

Meant to take this one at speed but that second loop is slower running than I remembered it being. Also tough out there without controls. I was curious to see what the new map was like so that also slowed me down a bit as I was paying more attention to features I would normally ignore.

A few rough spots attacking controls because the map was missing some point features or they were mapped but didn't look anything like what I expected (lake by 15). I should have been able to correct going into 16 - I'm not sure what happened there. 19 - I saw the giant spur between 19 and 20 and 'corrected' thinking I was closer to it than I actually was. My plan to 21 was to go left around the green and marsh and then fairly direct. I let accidentally let myself drift further left as I climbed the hill. Another spot where I need to be more diligent about my compass.

In general I was very good about using my compass more so I'm happy about that. I still need to practice using it as a regular technique more and incorporating into my map reading but it's definitely improving. I'm a bit disappointed in the new map but it was a very rush job done on short notice so it's understandable. It still feels quite old school and generalized and there are spots where there are small features missing that should definitely be on the map. There are also spots where groups of features just don't line up. The boulders around 16 for example are all around 30 degrees misaligned to north. Frustrating!

DOMA

Took a fairly easy pace and with the goal of orienteering consistently the entire time and always knowing where I am / am going. Also had a goal of using my compass through any bland bits.

Generally went well - one major mistake (took off in the wrong direction for a bit - compass!). That was about 1:45 lost.

Upon analysis there were definitely other smaller issues out there.
Started off focused on the orienteering and took the first two controls smoothly. The third control was a longer one but I missed where the channel of field split and went down the wrong one. I wish I had my headcam with me so I could look at that bit of footage... Obviously I wasn't checking my compass enough here. I don't remember thinking about recovering but I recovered fine and found the control no problem.

The first section of the 4th leg went really well - I was using my compass well and was moving smoothly. Then I got into the middle section and ran off in 90 degrees the wrong direction... Sigh... compass! 1:45 lost here which I knew about, recovered, and still didn't attack the control very well. I don't remember what I was thinking about there - just not focused enough I guess.

Took the left route to 5 and had lots of fast linear features to run along. Ended up crossing over the second beaver dam instead of the first which wasn't optimal. I saw that beaver dam from a distance and thought it was the first one. I should have been paying more attention to the field I was in.

6, 7, 8 were great. Reading along and looking ahead well.

Eric and Alex caught me to number 9 and we ran the second half of the leg together. Eric saw the control as we went through but Alex and I missed it and thought we crossed further north found the southern 'lake' and thought that was it but couldn't find the flag. We agreed it was the right lake and moved on.... oops.

Reading ahead well to 10 and 11 but wasn't reading the control descriptions and went to the wrong feature at 10. grrr... that wasn't one of my goals or part of my plan so I wasn't thinking about it.

Overall a good training. No major system failures just some things I should continue to work out. Great to see such a large group (33 people) out!

DOMA

Reran Eric's spring training session on Cité des Jeunes north on a 2m 1:7500 lidar basemap. Super super challenging. In some spots there were some extra contour detail on the map and in others (around number 4 in particular!!) where there are definitely contours missing from the map. This in particular was super frustrating. I could not for the life of me figure out what was going on in that area near control 4. The trails were also iffy so attacking off of them could be dangerous.

I bailed before the last control as it was getting too dark to read the map.\

Note: 13 minutes of this was running to and from the start and finish.

C • Challenging 1

Had an awesome time supporting Emily for CTV segment / interview this morning.
First up was a an interview with Carolyn Waldo then we did a brief discussion of what our "training session" would be. Then we hit the woods. Emily ran around a bunch and got filmed a gazillion times from different angles and with a GoPro the cameraman gave her. The we went to the second control I had set out and there's a bunch of tourists hanging out. This one guy asks us if this was some National Orienteering Team thingy (Emily and I both had on Team Canada tops). Why yes, yes it is.

The guy was curious about SI punching so we showed him how it works then he asks "What's the pinnacle of orienteering in Canada"
"This one here" I reply, pointing to Emily.

Turns out the guy wanted to know about an event not a person... Oops.
That doesn't stop him from asking Emily all sorts of questions though. Nor does it stop the CTV cameraman from catching the impromptu interview on film.

Meanwhile some of the other tourists are chatting me up. "We're from Edmonton - have you ever orienteered in Edmonton?"

Then the cameraman gave me the headcam and I followed Emily for a bit. To top off the awesome morning and unplanned active recovery a fox runs by in front of us with something large in it's mouth.

Can't think of a better way to spend a morning!

C • Well done 7

Part one of Francis workout. Started off with some strange version of capture the flag which I apparently didn't understand at all... causing us to lose horribly...
Then 4 "1 km" intervals which my watch recorded as 920 m with 1:30 rest
3:40
3:32
3:30
3:23

Between the capture the flag and the intervals we took a break to watch Emily on CTV at Francis' place. Great piece they put together!

Part 2 of Francis' workout. Circuit where the exercises were scattered across the field and we had to use compass bearings in between them to do them in the right order. Pretty cool but you just had to loop up to see the person ahead of you in the loop so the compass bearings weren't that useful a portion of the exercises. (hint: next time we should all have a unique order to do them in)

C • In hind sight...you are abs... 1

9 reps

Trail running with Dave McMahon's group. Awesome time. Intended to take it a little easier than last time but once again some of the others were taking it hard and so pushed on the way back, having caught up to the lead pack on the way out after starting at the back cause I was a little late.

Just a few minutes (lets call it 5 min) of stretching after running while chatting with Andrew, Cathy, and Dave about adding orienteering to the fitness lab schedule.

C • XC Zone 2

Goals and plan for August 27th to Sept 2
This summer I decided I wanted to write out weekly goals / plans for the coming season. I meant to write this out yesterday... not exactly the best way to start :)

1. Start getting into a more regular weekly workout schedule including Tuesday evening trail running with Dave's group, Wednesday club training, Thursday technical training, and Sunday orienteering.
2. Do a decent stretching session / some kind of conditioning session (core, knees, stretching) every day.
3. Orienteer on Thursday and Sunday and make sure to have a plan and think CAR for every leg.

C • Dave's Group 4

Generally easy bike ride around my "Canal and River" loop.

I just couldn't sit still any longer. This successfully cured my antsiness.

20 minutes