Training Log Archive: nmulder

Event: Stirrup Glen Short Course Series
 

0940 - The Quarry at Stirrup Glen. 1:5'000. Long Course. A superb short distance race by Albert. I ran quite well, but not good enough to beat Jeremy (46s). Finished 2nd. I had no major problems, but 1 or 2 poorish route choices. Quite often I found that I did not have enough time to read ahead. I lost time gradually to Jeremy from about halfway, about 4 or 5 secs per leg. Very good map and brilliant planning.

1020 - Ran the short course as a warm down. Also wanted the extra practise. Was also a very well planned course that I thoroughly enjoyed. The rest of Stirrup Glen is being felled, but at least most of the quarry section should remain, so we'll have a great Short Distance area for next season. Position 1st!!! (unofficially....)

1000 - Delta Park. 1:5'000. The Original course, on the original map, as used for Africa's first ever orienteering event on a full colour map. It was the 25th anniversary celebration of the first event on the highveld and the formation of the Rand Orienteering Club. I stuffed up 2 controls, both on embankments beside the river. Interesting too see how little of the park has changed. Also interesting to see how much course planning has changed. There was a distinct tendency for longer legs, with no concept of short legs with quick changes of direction. I ran fair, finishing 2nd about 1min 30sec behind Dylan who broke the course record. I was 1s off Steve Kench's 1992 re-run time, 3rd best ever. Only the first time I've run the course, having missed 1982 (too young) and 1992 (too wet) and 2002 (off adventure racing?).

0730 - Easy run through Berario with Liz.

0800 - Nice and quiet this morning in the gym. Was able to push on with my exercises. Am trying to focus a bit more on shoulders to build strength in my left one. It's still giving me a bit of grief (weakness) following that bike crash in October last year.

1745 - Went flat out for the time trial. 4:01 through 1km and burnt out by 3km. Hung in from there. Could have pushed the last km a bit harder to get under 35 min. Felt good though and quite chuffed with the time given the last weekend.

0800 - Paddle from Ndlokovana to Hot Springs. Due to the low water levels and cold conditions, the paddle was halved and finished at the hot springs instead of Aliwal North. The start was also delayed so that we could warm up. The weather didn't seem that cold after we had started paddling, but I had icicles forming on my cap and ice on my pogies, splashie and front deck for at least 2 hours. Martin dissapeared into the distance immediately after the start, with Jeannie and Andre close behind a K2. Steve Black also got ahead of me and all I had in sight was Donovan and Garth in a K2. I caught Don after about 20km when they started grinding onto sandbanks at the end of the gorge and took the lead to show them the way. Being heavier in the water didn't help though and they soon dropped off. From there it was a horrible meandering slog between the sandbanks to the finish. Water level had to be lower than African Quest in 2004. Overall I finished 2nd, about 1h30 behind Martin and 30 minutes ahead of Jeannie. Felt that I had a poor run, a brilliant bike and a okay paddle, given the none existance of my paddling training.

C • Good race 2