Training Log Archive: simmo

Event: John XXIII College, WA Sprint Orienteering Championships
 

WA Sprint Champs. Suspected a minor calf tear after Thursday's run so wore compression socks. Felt ok until the long leg to 10 (where I was leading despite a couple of poor route choices) but started to feel the calf tightening. Was pretty stuffed by then anyway, so happy to slow down, but the slowing didn't do my orienteering any good as I proceeded to run straight past 11 and wasted a full 90 seconds before going back. Chip came through and I could not keep up with the calf threatening to tear, then we both wasted time at the last, Chip recovered first. GPS 3.03.

Noel and Richard trying to take revenge for the ECU car park at 2, but I only lost 15 seconds. Kjell certainly beatable on today's performance - if I am fit!

Detailed analysis:
Start to 1 - went right, probably not much in it - good start! To 2 I started to go left then changed my mind (breaking the first rule of sprint O), so lost a couple of seconds changing direction and 10 falling into the wrong level trap. 3 - took a good route around to the left, then spoiled it by turning in towards 15 and having to go back around the wall, lost 5-8 secs which would have put me level with Fenry and ahead of Craig for the leg. At 4 I dropped 30 seconds going in too early and searching despite the fact I could see 5 10 metres away! At 6 I admit to not reading the description and stood 3m from the control for a good 10 seconds before seeing it. Went right to 7 but missed the stairs and had to run down the rough open past the control - 20 seconds lost. 8 to 9 should have gone back down the rough open but went right, another 10 secs. To 10 I failed to spot the open gate on the straight route, and went wide right around the road, 15 seconds lost, allowing for the calf starting to slow me down. Ignored the pain and ran hard to 11, but went straight past it and then circled like a headless chook searching in all the wrong places - almost ran to 5 before realising. Wasted a full minute fifteen before punching just behind Chip.

With the calf really hurting I knew that I was probably out of the places by now, so just jogged along with Chip getting further ahead, but then caught him at 15. I actually went to the entrance, but turned around without reading the full description. Realised where it was after standing around for several seconds, another minute gone.

Conservative estimate is 3.5 minutes lost on navigation, and another minute slowing to limit damage to the calf over the second half of the course, so Oliver and Rachel's times don't seem so fast. Need to get the calves right for Canberra, but above all I need to get the concentration that I have had for top sprint events in the past.

M65A - Splits

Around the river. The Daily was a bit crowded but managed to eventually snag a table.

Hyde Park 3 x 3. Stopped about 500m before home as right calf was very tight, but then it started to rain heavily, so started running again. Watch was already stopped, so time is rounded up. The lakes were full to the brim, which makes it easy for the new cygnets to get out and around.

Kings Park long lap - first in a while. Very tired towards the end.

Around the river, avoided the rain except for a short drizzle shower at Mt Claremont. Wind not very friendly today.

Event: Foot-O Gunapin
 

E3 race at Gunapin, 5.69km according to Mr Garmin. Drifted a little wide on a couple of legs but wouldn't have lost much time until I gave up 2 mins on a short leg near the end of the course. Slow wherever there was fallen timber or rocky ground, and walked one or two gentle hills.

Expert 3 - Splits