Training Log Archive: ShotRat

Aus Sprint Champs at Curtin Uni

Felt really good out of the start triangle only to get myself on the wrong side of some garden beds W of 1. Really suboptimal route to 3 because I couldn't see the more direct way through, which was there but I was really worried about going OOB. Had a brain fart half way to 7 when I thought "Oh fuck, which bit am I up to?", but took a second or two to confirm where I was rather than doing a headless chook impression. Was probably partly due to having over taken the guy 1 min ahead, who kept up with me to 8 but then I dropped him.

Caught site of Graeme (Harris not Labrooy) as I was heading to 9. He started 4 minutes up but I couldn't quite reel him in.

Clean enough through the rest, although I felt like I could have run a bit harder but was worried about inducing brain farts. Maybe should have just tried to hammer a bit more anyway.

Managed to beat OMT - OMG! More importantly, I beat Ceri, bloody W35A bandit that she is :)

Thanks Juffy and Bryce. Good fun. Really wanted a longer run but wasn't keen on 21E quarantine shenanigans. Looking forward to StSW that's for sure.

C • W35A bandit 1

C • STSW 22

M40A - Splits

Aus MD champs at Lover's ridge

Got right into this one from the start and only had minor wobbles in a few places. Hit slightly right of 4 and checked right before going left, probably lost 20 seconds. A little right at 7 too, again only a few seconds.

Came down into 12 to a sea of faces looking back at me obviously looking for the cliff to my right, so I figured it must be to the left and went straight to it. Then overshot 13 assuming it was one I'd seen further along and had the shame of going back to punch after the people I had just punched 12 in front of. Probably 30 seconds there.

Straight to the rest, although my legs gave out coming up out of 18.

Really enjoyed the map (thanks Juffy) and the course.

My sledging of OMT as he headed out of the spectator control didn't put him off enough to slow him down and he pipped me again. Will I ever beat this guy?

C • Beat 5

Aust MDC, Course M40A - Splits

Event: Karrak Karnival
 

M40 at Sprice Brook WA State Champs

Started late due to Kate going missing for a bit on her course. Turns out that she had gotten cold about half way around and turned back to the start. Not to worry, we got her warm and happy again and I headed for the start.

Nice smooth start, picking up 1 and 2 with no issues. Went left on the track to 3, slightly left of 5 but corrected straight away. Glasses became an issue from here on with frequent need to defog and wiping away water.

Saw a few of the M20's through 10 and 12. A little right on 14 and wasn't too sure which way it was when I got to the main spur line. Turned right but I could clearly make out the top of the hill, so went left and straight to the control. Contoured around the track and then north to 15, slogged up the hill and finish.

Probably the smoothest I felt in a major race for a while. No head scratching moments which was really nice. Only 5 minutes down on OMT who was 3rd.

Didn't end up camping at the MD event site due to the weather and cold, wet kids.

Hopefully tomorrow is as much fun as this run.

Very surprised to see that I was leading for the first four controls, not so surprised to see that that was as far as it got.

WA Long Champs, Course M40A - Splits

Mostly a cruise plus 2km in 8:26. Looking forward to the weekend.

Event: FootO - Marginata
 

VE with Lachlan.

He had fun and is starting to pick up some good techniques.

As a note to setters of VE's - avoid watercourses where possible, especially overgrown or very steep ones. They look easy on the map, but kids just can't work them out very well.

H2 at Marginata

Nice clean start, apart from a rolled ankle. Bit of a boring slog through some parrot bush to 5. Some very old school control sites. Perhaps the course was a bit straight forward at times, but that didn't stop me from making a parallel error at 12. Nice run for the most part.

Freezing cold whilst control collecting.

Took part in the grid searches for a lost junior. Did a couple of sweeps north on the start and then we did the full width of the map just south of the start area. Polair was sweeping the area as we were finishing and then the best of news that the boy was found about 10 minutes before we got back.

Bit of a tiring afternoon.

C • Nothing like a grid search 56

H2 - Splits

2 x 2km in under 8:30 with 500m jog recovery.

4 x 1 km intervals with 90 sec rests.

4:13, 4:16, 4:14, 4:09

C • Nice! 1

C • Nice! 1

C • Baby! 1

C • All right stop, collaborate and listen 1

C • Ice is back with my brand new invention 1

C • Something grabs a hold of me tightly 1

C • Flow like a harpoon daily and nightly 1

C • Yee-har! 1

C • Drugs are bad, mm-kay? 2

Event: FootO - Ngangaguringguring
 

H2 at Nganga

Started really well, but came unstuck a bit where the areas of grey were so light on the map that I couldn't see them around 4 and 5. Tom B came through at 5 and took off, so I let him go I did my own thing. Caught him and passed him again at 7 and didn't see him again after that. Really enjoyed the longer open legs to 6 and 10. The last few controls were a bit of a waste, but such is life. Lost a bit of time at 11 (121) which was definitely not on the right rock.

H2 - Splits

Nice cool morning with some misty fog hanging around the sporting fields.

Effort was for 3km in under 13min - done in 12:39. Felt reasonably good.

4 x 1 km intervals with 90 sec rests. Wow, what a difference fresh legs makes. Despite some foul weather, managed 4:14, 4:17, 4:13 & 4:09 without too much trouble, whereas the last couple of sessions I've struggled to get down to 4:20.

Event: WA Sprint Orienteering Championships (NavDash 6)
 

inc 3km in 13 min

C • 4:20 pace 25