Training Log Archive: ColmM

Lakeland Warrior Classic - Results

Not the finest start, I had seen Will head down the hill out of the triangle and as I struggled to get the map open I headed off this direction. I quickly realised this was a bad route, but I had forced myself into more climb on a steeper section. When I got up the plateau I over compensated heading too far right, and ended up coming down the wall and along the ride into the control. Not the end of the world, but probably 45sec lost. Steadied the ship and got 2 fine, contoured in, and was a tad low crossing the wall but all g. Stuck to the paths to 3, came in a little too far right but I saw the marsh, but only 15sec. Didn't climb as high as I'd planned on 4 getting a scrappy-ish line over the hill before the control but hit it nicely.

Hit the path to 5, didn't really make a clear enough plan and just headed down into the light green. Didn't hit the right clearing, and then guessed wrong trying to fix it, 90sec-2min lost and Paul unknowingly passed me. I didn't nail the line to 6 dropping a little and climbing back on the path near the control, slow entering but I nailed the control. I saw past Rhys coming in as I left so knew he'd probably caught 4mins. I was fine towards 7 and stayed ahead, found it easily enough. 8 was straightforward enough, though some minor doubts in the circle. I stayed a bit right through the semi-open to 9 which was unnecessary and Rhys passed me. I made an effort to get back on on 10 and he nailed it. Similarly to 11, I made sure to hang on and mostly just ticked off the big features and looked ahead a little. He nailed it so it was a decent split.

I had looked ahead a bit, so I cut straight down to the track to 12, went on toward the bend and straight lined it. I heard Rhys was just behind me as I came into it, having taken a straighter line out of 11. 13 was a scramble, but hit it fine. I contoured a bit on 14 which was a little rogue, I think straighter for the open would have been quicker. Paul ended up behind us as well here, I navigated fine but got a little stuck in some green and Rhys came through me at the end of the climb. 15 was alright, I was happy to stay a little lower than the other 2, but we converged entering the control and all had to climb in. To 16, I was behind Rhys and couldn't make sense of the path until he said we were on the lower one which cleared things up - never saw the high one though. I went a bit straighter than the others from near 9 and ended up ahead, actually didn't feel like the worst route in the end but maybe some time lost on the path issue. Rhys took over again heading to 17, all seemed to be going well, but I thought we were a field further than we were and ended up cutting left too early to try and hit the path route. Got stuck in some woeful dark green and knew the others were gone then. Still, I probably only lost 90sec or so in the green and hit the control nicely along my route in the end, so made sure to keep focus. Got a glimpse of Paul heading up toward 18 so kept myself spurred on. I saw him again on his way to 19 as I came into 18, which was probably unhelpful as I went for the same route (right, up to the higher ride), which I think was slower by a bit, but I at least nailed the control. Went left on the track route to 20 which was nice, came in and got it well and saw Rhys heading to 21, and Paul looking very low out of 20 as well, so I knew I'd gained back some time. A bit hesitant myself into 21 but got it fine, turns out I'd passed Paul again. Mostly seemed fine on 22 but I went right by it as it was quite tricky to spot in some green and when I turned around Paul and a junior had hit it. Oh well. And run-in.

Pretty scrappy race for the most part, especially early on. Quite a few mistakes. However, definitely some positives to take out of it, so overall I'm probably happier than not given how long it has been since I've orienteered. Physical shape seems pretty good in the terrain, and nice to know keeping up with Rhys and Paul was not a problem.
Wore the x-talons today due to blisters on my heel from the Orocs, grip wasn't as good, but not bad enough to be a real issue.

This was longer than expected, but I'll probably appreciate the details when I review the technical performance a bit more.