Training Log Archive: Rosstopher

Middle Distance WRE. I got a chance to run in the Men's Elite class which was really fun, if a bit undeserved. Spots were awarded a bit differently than normal, and having WRE points from running WOC qualifiers last summer got me a slot in the much better category.

I started out well, mostly in control and running at a good speed for me, but my race came off the rails at control 14, when I really ran hard out of the control and down the wrong spur.

This error threw off my game, and I spent the rest of the race running hard but not thinking clearly, probably a reaction to trying to catch Robbie Anderson, who started 2 minutes after me and passed me on my mistake at 14.

So, a few more mistakes and a fun sprint down the finish chute (didn't quite catch up to Robbie again, but it was close), where a temporary power outage resulted in the inflatable finish arch deflating and hitting me on the head as I crossed the line :)

A fun day, good weather, great terrain, challenging course (set by a friend of USA orienteering, Anders Björklund) and I am satisfied. 3 seconds faster would have been nice, as I would have liked to beat Erik, even if he did seem to be jogging the end of the course.

Splits

A massive 45% behind the leader and 870 WRE points.

After the agonizingly long van ride back to Uppsala, we were discussing going for a jog as a positive way to erase the cramped driving feeling. So I quickly changed and ran into the lab to check on some samples that I couldn't remember putting back into the fridge on Friday. Everything was as it should be, so I turned around and came home. Chill night, but good to stretch the legs.

C • I agree with the jogging me... 1

Long Distance. I ran in the Elite 2 course (E1 is the elite, the rest of the field is split randomly into E2 and E3.) After a slightly shaky start (missed 1 and 2, each by a little), I had a pretty good run. Really enjoyed the forest and the challenge presented by the steep hills.

After the race, I was discussing route choice with my clubmates and they told me that my route to 16 was probably the worst of the various options. I guess I just got used to going straight, and it can be hard to know when going around is worthwhile.

Splits

20% behind the leader, in the less competitive E2 class

Travel day to the Silva League opener at Göteborg. This race series is a big deal for the elite categories and so, for me, it's also a chance to compare myself to the best in Sweden.

A long drive to the hostel. The west coast is rainy, cold, and far away :)

Orienteering Intervals on a really beautiful evening. Felt quite warm and the tiredness I was feeling going into the training evaporated as soon as I started running.

We split into groups of 4 tonight based on mother's mother's first name, alphabetically, and that had me running with Fredrik, Joel and a newcomer who's name I have forgotten. ( Lelah, got me in 11th out of 12 guys)

After the first interval, the new guy broke off and did his own thing, and for the rest of the intervals the three of us were fairly evenly matched, which made for a super fun training.

At the end there was a 3k technical loop that I did at a relaxed pace, though the last few controls on the slope of the valley were quite physically demanding and I was getting a bit tired.

Garmin ran out of batteries partway through. The only time my 305 charges is when I update my AP log, and I haven't been doing that enough recently.

C • Garmin charging 2

Wednesday night orienteering course at Hagby. Interval starts on an unforked course.

I started well, taking a very secure route to the first and getting into a nice flow in the wide open woods. Lost quite a lot of time on the 4th control when I hit a set of cliffs that aren't on the map which stopped me much earlier. I was hesitant to move on because the cliffs looked like those in the control circle and the field below me matched up too. I did eventually climb up and realize that I hadn't gone far enough along the hill. Then fairly good orienteering until the last control where I had a hard time reading the contours.

A blah cold rainy day. Hill Intervals with some of the guys, running up and down the slope in Nåsten at the edge of the valley. I should have brought my compass, as it wasn't always easy to climb the right hill while doing these intervals.

Legs didn't feel so very strong on these, and the slippery conditions were even more encouragement to not push as hard. I did the first 4 climbs, but then got very lost on the 5th, and it took a long time to recover and make my way back to the valley below. I skipped the next two to catch back up to the group and we ran the last short one together as a pack.

Weather was gross and legs were tired, so one loop was enough tonight for me, and I jogged home with Johan and the Henriks. Very nice to be back home only an hour after getting to the clubhouse, record time I think :)

In the evening, Sam and I watched the Hunger Games, which we both thought was excellent.

Kolmårdskavlen, on the OK Linné team 4. The relay was 5 legs, 8k, 8k, 6k, 6k, and then a final 8k. I ran 4th, on a team of Ulrik, Björn, Olle, and Daniel, and I had a very good race. Only lost a few seconds on a couple of controls, and my legs felt good. Our team ended up 64th, and my run gained us 11 more spots. Very satisfying way to end the long weekend!

C • Yes! 7

We arrived home from our race in Kolmården just in time to go to club strength training. It was an updated version of Rockgympa, with 8 minutes of our normal exercises, followed by some crazy hurdle drills, hip stretching, core work and explosive jumping, capped off with the last 16 minutes of our normal exercises. I think Sam took some fun video on her iPhone of the various exercises like the wheel barrow pushups.

Guest star Patrick Higgins was in attendance, and afterwards we had a cheese heavy dinner back at Bloden with our normal household plus Mari, Patrick and Mats.