Training Log Archive: Kat

Ran a long loop around Port Meadow, looking at a Swedish relay map from the spring. Such good terrain! It's amazing how much I miss Sweden sometimes.

My legs felt significantly better today, but I am still not completely recovered. It is surprising that this illness is dragging on for so long. The symptoms in the beginning did not seem very severe - some light fever, very runny nose, sore throat, etc., but nothing that required complete bed rest. And yet three weeks later I'm still feeling the effects. At least I'm getting better. Slowly, but surely.

C • Autumn 2

Three loops around Christ Church meadow while looking at a map of Fiby. Legs feel fatigued, although overall I felt stronger. Still coughing occasionally.

I've decided that my biggest weakness in orienteering thus far is slowness with interpreting the map. It can be hard for me to understand the contour detail and visualize what's coming up ahead even if I'm standing still sometimes, so I concluded that more than anything else I need to work on sightreading maps. (I use the term "sightreading" because interpreting maps reminds me of sightreading music.) So I'm going to try to do lots of map visualization and force myself to think ahead. I need to get out of the old and comfortable habit of reading maps as I go along. It's not easy by any stretch, because it basically means changing the way I orienteer, but I think it would make my navigation significantly better. So I'll try.

C • Good plan 3

Four laps around Christ Church meadow while looking at a Lunsen map and forcing myself to read and mentally say what I would see during each leg. Lovely weather.

Easy run by myself along the river path. Chest feels much better, but legs still very tired. Saw loads of swans today and while I was smiling at a pair of them, some guy sitting on a bench smiled at me. Almost thought about stopping to chat with him, but didn't want to interrupt the run.

C • Men by the towpath 10

Most of the symptoms from being ill are gone, but the fatigue and muscle soreness will likely be around for another 1-2 weeks. I'll just keep taking it easy in the meantime.