Training Log Archive: jed

Euromeeting sprint, the one I actually came for. Most nervous I'd been all weekend but nothing compared to Europeans. Quite disappointed with performance.

I am normally far too hesitant at home and don't really make mistakes. At World Cup/Europeans I rushed and orienteered completely differently. Today was the same.....I ran 90degrees in the wrong direction from the start kite, sorted it and then went the longer way into the control from where I was. To tried to run down a building to early. I then told myself to get a grip. I did not need to do everything at 100mph.

3, 4 & 7 good with splits just outside the top 10. Other ok a bit hesitant for no reason. Stupid middle part of the route almost running into dead end at 8. Wrong route on 12 and 13. I tried to really kick on on 15, didn't see that I couldn't go my route (basic!) so took a poor route and then panicked a bit. Almost did a silly route to spectator but stopped myself. Hesitated at boys control at 17 even though I knew mine was on right on a tree and this was on left not on a tree. Better through the last section but can't leave it that late to orienteering properly.

Need to work out why I orienteered differently. A step forward though as was better than World Cups and Europeans as no panicking / major errors but still frustrated. A lot to think about and really motivated.

Euromeeting Long. I enjoyed this a lot more than I've enjoyed a long distance for a very long time. More nervous today as worried about going the distance. I am however really really disappointed with my mistake at 18.

I had a good chat with Dad last night debriefing the middle and had a strategy, if there was a path route I was taking it. After the 1st 20mins I was actually doing quite well. Had a couple of wee direction issues into and out of 7. Survived the butterfly and then another problem at 15 as had no plan so bailed to the ride. I went right around to 16 as my orienteering was slipping and didn't trust myself going straight and split was actually pretty good. Path again on next long one then was 18.......I lost about 8 places. There was a path route which involved climbing with no good attack point or straight up a valley which led to the control. I initially thought path but then changed my mind due to no attackpoint. I went straight and it was awful, fallen trees and really slow going. I know it's wrong to change route half way but I realised I still had time to bail as the path was parallel to me so I did. I didn't know where I hit the path though and assumed it was further back than I was as had been plodding. Attacked of a hill, saw open and realised I had majorly overshot. At least had a really easy attack point as was running in what should have been my exit with people coming towards me.

I was ok through the next few but a group of three behind got me in sight and I rushed the last bit of 21 / 22 and they were on me. This was really frustrating as before 18 I was ahead of them all by 2-3mins!). I wasn't really good through last few as wasn't doing my own thing as I was pretty annoyed I'd probably now come last because of that one control (in the end I was no where near last).

Again the result looks worse than the run actually was. High standard and one big miss of at least 5 mins. If I hadn't made that one I'd have taken the smaller mistakes with my current experience. I think the long suits me more than the middle as excluding that mistake I was doing a lot better. Physically held up a lot better than previously (no dizzy, fuzzy hands, blur, able to stand up, talk and warm down after. Didn't fall asleep in afternoon and felt fine to run again next day). I think it's coming back and I am now looking forward to doing more in the forest again too. Need more confidence.

Euromeeting middle. First time racing in a forest since May I think. I know some people probably wondered why I was doing this but I've never hated forest orienteering, I used to be reasonable at it but have really struggled especially in longs recently due to health problems. Now these are more under control I want to get back into it a bit more again.

I felt a bit more confident after the model event and I actually wasn't nervous because there were no expectations. I wanted to try and take them time to just get it right and not focus on speed at this stage. I started ok but lost time due to direction a 5 after I passed someone.

Big mistake at 8 where I rushed as I passed someone and then thought I was on a different hill and navigated from there. I managed to not panic though and had to take a deep breath before moving on. Ok again until 10 where again I rushed the end of the leg.

I have no idea what I did on 13 as I managed to run right around the hill....? Again I rushed off out the control (common theme).

Ok again to the finish with some good speed on the running legs so it's still there. The performance wasn't great, the result looks really bad due to the high standard but there were elements of good stuff. Lacked confidence as often the control was about 2 steps further on and even when made mistakes was never far away. Most importantly I felt physically able and mentally really wanted to go out the next day and build on today.

Euromeeting model.
Just a little loop steady in what I thought looked trickiest bit just getting head into the game. Confidence boosted as really good on all but one but managed to sort it out. Looks very relevant to forest races.

Early morning before work as travelling from 1pm - including strides.

Dean Village course from Rona. Good.

Less than 30mins after waking up as all time have today.

Massage.

One silly lack of focus moment as knew the area.