Training Log Archive: StK66

Aust. Relay Champs / 'Hunters Hut Station' / 1: 10000.
I think my achilles problems did work in my favour today - through to the spectator control I'm not sure I have ever had such a clean run. Found the section after the spectator control very challenging, losing time at four of my final five controls, but still a very pleasing run. Enjoyed making up a team with Geoff and Don - a 4th placing was very rewarding.

Great result for the NSW M16 team today - well done boys.
Fantastic sprint finish from Rob and Simon in M21 was another great carnival highlight for me.
Headed back to Brisbane just after 2:00pm, but got caught in some very heavy traffic, and got to the airport with only 40 minutes to spare for the first flight back to Sydney for squad members.
Then came the 'security breach' which affected 4 others in our group. Finally arrived at our family holiday accommodation on the Gold Coast around 11:00 pm.
Have had a great time with the junior squad in Q'ld over the past 10 days - great bunch of kids - but really hanging out for some R and R until flying back to the Hunter next Friday.

Aust. Long Distance Champs / 'Hidden Glen' / 1: 10000. Was inhibited by achilles pain, but I thought this might be beneficial to my navigation. Sadly though, I made a shocking start and hit control 2. This shook me up a great deal, and I thought I recovered really well. Too much stop / start on a couple of very long legs late in the course cancelled out all the good work I did after this poor start. Poor final control to complete a painful and disappointing run.

Australian Sprint Championships / 'Maryborough Showgrounds' / 1: 5000.
The best sprint race I have ever done, and not surprisingly the best result I have ever achieved, again with a lot of the regulars not at this carnival. Planned ahead really well - I think that was the key, along with a couple of careful legs early in my course. Frustrated that my achilles became very sore by the end of the run - I had been mindful not too push too hard during the course, so this was a very disappointing development.

Great team meeting with Coach Nick this morning in preparation for the Sprint this arvo. Nice time up at the shops afterwards, including printing the most sensational 'Bogun' snap taken yesterday, which ultimately won 'best 'Bogun' photo in the Scavenger Hunt.
Super sprint results from our group this arvo - maybe getting some rewards for specific Sprint focus in training activities at times this year? Thought the grandstand viewing of the junior and senior NOL races was one of the highlights of the carnival - a great show case of our sport.
A lot of fun over at Hervey Bay after tea, with the finalising of the 'Scavenger Hunt'. Junior girls dressed as 'Boguns', senior boys far too comfortable as Paris Hilton and friend, raunchy poetry to Simon - a great night - well done to Brigit, Simon and co.

Rest day for the squad, and what a great day it turned out to be. Some 'Scavenger Hunt' stuff took us to Hervey Bay for lunch, and a real lazy time at the beach, with an enthusiastic sand modeling competition.
After tea off to the 'Trivia Night' - kids had a real go, but I guess their age demographic wasn't all that well catered for in terms of the questions - but the attendance of so many Schools participants certainly bolstered what would otherwise have been a very modest turn out.

Australian Schools Relay Championships - always a colourful and exciting day, with great support for the team from NSW Orienteers as well. Terrific arena I thought. Some fine individual runs from squad members, but medals only to a very excited junior girls team. Shame about the junior boys courses.
Back at the motel, a decision was made to attend to some Scavenger Hunt items - 14 in the phone booth was a great effort I thought, but in the end not good enough.
Tremendous Presentation in Hervey Bay tonight, with some thrills for members of the squad, both individuals and as a team. Very late return to the motel after the 'Disco', after midnight, with a certain group of three boys spending a night on the floor in other rooms after locking themselves out of their room yet again!!!! Arghhhhhh!!

Australian Schools Individual Championships. Spent my time at the start - less stressful when your own kids are running and are keen to do well. Could still hear Blair at times, and realised I was missing plenty of exciting stuff, but I'm glad I was there, just in case the last bit of support and encouragement was needed. Mixed bag of results for the juniors, but their effort and desire to do the best they could was superb. It is such a big day for them, and it was great to get them back to the Motel to relax for most of the afternoon.
Yet another managers meeting, resulted in another three loads of washing whilst the team Manager was again missing in action!!!
Important team meeting in preparation for tomorrow's relays with Coach Nick after tea.

Rest day for the junior squad today. Sensational four hours on the 'Spirit of Hervey Bay' whale watching cruise for all State teams and New Zealand. Nice beach time after lunch, including what became a very willing 'Newcastle vs. the Rest' water and land based Touch / Grid Iron style game - 'the Rest' can rightly claim victory - Kazza's inability to hit a target with her passes was costly!
Start draw later in the afternoon was really well done, nice contributions from Hanny and Bruce. Important team meeting following tea. All in squad excited about tomorrows Individual race.

Q'ld Long Distance Champs / Aramara State Forest / 1:10 000. With a field lacking some of the regulars, I was thrilled to make the most of the opportunity to grab a badge - last time something like this happened a certain member of the family took a photo of the results board with their mobile phone!!! Managed a very long 1st leg really well, and got a lot of confidence from that. Technique held up pretty well over all - a very satisfying result.

Relaxing afternoon by the pool for the squad this afternoon. Finished up doing three loads of washing and four lots of hanging out after Kazza, Nick, Grant and Valerie decided to hide at a 'meeting' for what seemed an eternity. Would like to see the 'job description' for tour bus driver!!!

Event: 2008 Australian Championships
 

Middle Distance Champs / 'North of Aramara' / 1:10 000. Had some good splits today - technique did work when I got it right. Complexity of watercourses in thicker vegetation surprised me, and it is clear I am going to have to improve my 'process' (as Darvo would put it) in similar situations as the carnival progresses. Positive first event, though disappointing final outcome.

Took juniors over to Hervey Bay tonight for introduction to Brigit's Scavenger Hunt. Great start from the group, with Kas punching out 28 push ups in 30 seconds to clinch an exciting tie breaker. Things have improved on yesterday, and we have our full squad with us now as well.

Traveled with NSW juniors to Q'ld today. Great atmosphere and much excitement. Mini bus, less than 5000km on clock, broke down 30 minutes after leaving Brisbane Airport. Waited almost 4 hours, including a couple of hours at Northlakes Westfields, before two smaller replacements arrived. Kazza became a driver as well. Left airport around 10:30am - got to Maryborough around 5:30pm!!! Hope things get better from here.