Training Log Archive: nmulder

Raced with Ryno in the Czech Rogaine Champs. Had a poorish race, but still managed to come a close 2nd, about 17 points (approx 3 controls, 1.5 hours) behind the defending Czech champs.

Got off to a good start. We were pretty sure we had the best route choice possible, but set out at a steady pace due to the intense heat. Water was also going to be a problem as there were only 3 water points. We cleaned up the north first. Lots of sandstone hill tops, with the CPs on top of course. Then moved east, where I had a bad navigation patch, making mistakes on about 5 of 7 controls. It improved during the course of the night, when we were in the south of the area. We dropped our first set of 3 controls early in the evening and then left out a few more the next morning. At least we were still going strong by morning and our running was decent. Had to cut a few controls in the end as we started running out of time. Left out 9 controls in the end. Came home after our last extra one with about 1.5 mins left.

We both suffered from the heat and ate poorly. Not helped by the need to conserve water. Ryno had it the worst, as I had at least partially adjusted the week before.

So, we are happy with 2nd place. We made 2 hours of mistakes and estimate that we could have got enough extra points to win with an extra 1.5 hours, so the Czechs are beatable? Good prep for World Champs about 50km to the west later this year.

GPS log attached (from passive GPS data tracker).

From Orienteering Maps

Running around Stare Splavy on some of the forest trails. Nice area with fast forests and some sandstone koppies.

Onward by bus to Czech Republic. Met up with Ryno and then drove up to Stare Splavy, a few kms away from the event centre for the Czech Rogaine Champs.

Out to Nuernberg, Germany for a conference. Not much time for training, what with all the eating, drinking, etc.