Training Log Archive: NSW Stinger

Day 3 started with a MTB criterium- 20 guys, 500m course, and last one across the line gets ejected. Then a very short break to regroup and then start again.The key was the 50m slight uphill and rocky sprint to the first corner. Keeping out of trouble here was important. Matt deBelin showed his MTB pedigree by being first every lap until he broke his chain on the start with about 5 people left.
I was happy to stay out of trouble, usually went hard at the start, got into 4th or 5th then eased to the line. Was never troubled until about 12 laps in when jarad cut me off big time and i was off the back. Worked real hard to catch up but was just lucky Sam screwed up the finish and ended up in the big puddle. Next lap I got a terrible start and never recovered as everyone left was pretty good. Happy enough as the stop/start/heavy acceleration certainly wasn't my strength.

After watching the girls crit, and having breakfast the next activity was a MTB race/foot rogaine.
First decision was wether to change pedals or not (which you had to do during race time). I decided to, but it was the wrong decision. Then i was my legs were smashed on the bike. I had nothing. Prong rode by me a few hundred metres into the ride, never to be seen again. I stuggled past the girls and eventually caught kathryn just before the decent. It didn't help that my bike was a piece of shit and i couldn't use granny gear and wasn't strong enough to ride in middle. Came into transition very dejected and well off the pace.

Of the bike, kathryn had caught up while i took my pedals off. We went to get one, but i wasn't confident of the start triangle location on the topo map so decided to skip it and get it on the way back. We then ran up the track, and missed the creek junction to #3. I'm getting more pissed off as we went. Got caught by Orla and a few other girls there. Finally got better going to 4, then 5, 6. Dropped the others but realised time was getting tight. 7 and 8 were ok, but running out of time we had to skip going back for #1 but arrived back in time, unlike some others.
Prong had another blinder and got all CP's and back in time. We would have had 2nd best result- but that didn't seem to matter anyway cos they didn't bother looking at any of the orienteering results.

Great area with some cool pagodas and tough canyons, and good tough rogaine- thanks Lazy Dave

Final activity was a big 70m abseil off a climb on the edge of Gardiners Gap orienteering map. Very specky and beautiful day.

Then final drive back to Hydro Majestic for announcement of team- Jarad, Christie, Matt Shields, Zoe King.
Zoe probably deserved a sport. The others didn't. No idea how the selection policy worked but they certainly didn't pick the best applications, maybe just the ones who sucked up to the right people or had the best profile on paper. Christie didn't even complete half the tasks because of a sore ankle. Kathryn was unlucky, so was Tom Landon Smith.

But otherwise a very fun w/e and I look forward to LRG4 2011!

C • selections 9

early morning start with a short drive to a secluded location near the zigzag railway.
First activity was 4wd push across a gravely clearing in teams of 4or5. Turns out the defenders are much lighter than the discoverys. And the automatic handbrake on the disco is more trouble than its worth (and that them continued thru the w/e).

2nd activity- an short multisport adventure course.
Started with a short swim across a lake (dam) to the other side. The water was bloody freezing and it was a real splash and bash to the first buoy. Prong should take up 50m swimming cos he smashed everyone at the start. Climbed up the edge of a cliff and then 10m jump into the water. This really knocked the breath out of you and the following swim was ridiculously slow. Into the kayaks i quickly passed Prong, but Sam pulled away like he was paddling a surfski. Prong and i had real trouble negotiating the corners in the crap boat. out of the boat and a 1.2km rugged run through a small creek/canyon. Kept missing the trail and legs were smashed from the swimming or something. Never saw Sam which was disappointing. Back to the lake for another swim, flying fox, swim, rope climb, abseil into lake and another bloody swim. Great course but to much swimming for me. About 1.5mins behind Sam and 1min in front of Prong.

The rest of the day was spent in the 4wd. I was in a Discovery with Ben, Orla and Imojen Peace (would have been good to meet some new people!!). We progressively tried harder obstacles and swapped drivers along the way. The LRers were amazing. In fact it was actually so easy you only had to steer them. At each obstacle we all got out and watched the following cars on 4, 3 or 2 wheels climbing the hills. Heaps of fun. I want a 4wd. We were behind time all day and didn't get to Wolgan Valley camp until 8pm.

Event: Landrover G4 Challenge Trials
 

Kathryn and I had a morning flight Melb-Sydney then got picked up by the G4 organisers at the airport. A few stops later we were at Land rovers office in North Ryde. The 40 or so competitors were divided into groups of 4, and each took the keys of a LR Defender or Discovery, with a scattering of Range Rovers and Freelanders in support.
First activity was the Orienteering challenge at Glenbrook. Set by LazyDave and Alina (I assume) it was a 45min score course. A mass start after 10 pushups and a 200m sprint. Ben was at the front but overan #5 and i was first to see it. After that there was a bit of fighting over the punch but i was clear at the front. Hit #4 and then #15 via a scubby creek in an attempt to split the field. Ben,Prong, Jarad and Kath still with me, but the fast start was taking its toll on me and it seemed very hot. Headed to #18 and Ben asked what I was doing. I hadn't seen #1 and 2 and folded them off the map. But quickly decided to skip them. Got #18, then messed around in the scrub looking for 17, stopped too soon. Prong got a jump on Kath and I and although we saw him a few times we kept making small mistakes and never caught him. I really struggled for the 2nd half as it was hot. Prong won after Ben and Jarad made some mistakes near the end. I finished about a minute or 2 back with Kath just behind. Good start to the weekend.

C • oing 2

Afternoon paddle in nice conditions. Warm up, then some 1km reps in the millenium. Turns out the 1km markings for the swimmers is a long way short- try 950m!
5.15 (into wind), 5.10 (with wind), 5,17, 5.16, 5.19 with 1 min rest.
Leg drive not as good because the millenium is slightly longer and i need to stick the foot padding back in. Nice short hard session though.

evening run with Kathryn. Didn't feel like doing anything today.

Lunchtime paddle. Was windy again so first i did a few laps up and down the sheltered south side. Felt pretty strong so tried to keep the average speed above 10km/h. Tired for the last 3kms. Leg drive really good for first half, then dropped off a bit. HR much higher when i use my legs (or my heart still not recovered from the cold).

evening run with Kathryn. Felt like I was struggling a little. Not sure if I believe the HR values i'm getting from the T6 at the moment.

I don't think I announced the big recent news for me. I've been invited to race the Adventure Racing World Championships in Brazil early next month. I'll be racing with Team Merrell, whose caption Robin Benincasa is a legend of the sport. Great opportunity and fully paid for so it should be sweet as :-)

C • sweet... 9

Very windy afternoon paddle on the pondage. It might only be a small lake but boy you can get some big waves on it.

Evening run with Kathryn, after the paddle. Legs felt good, kayaking seemed to warm them up nicely.
Tried out another pair of my new Merrell shoes- Overdrive 2's. Felt better than the Cruise controls, but my feet went numb after 10mins. No good....