Training Log Archive: Gswede

47th in the WOC long! Very stoked with the performance. My body gave out after 20, so I'm clearly not physically ready for a WOC long yet. That takes years though. Overall pretty happy with my technical performance. There are certainly some things I need to improve on, but it was decent.

Map (not my forking)
>

So in terms of overall error time, I counted about 7 minutes and 45 seconds.

The errors were
1) Losing contact when finishing up number 2
2) Losing contact when heading downhill toward 5
3) Poor bearing to 7 and consequently swinging too far left
4) Not finding good runnability to 18

It was very clear that living in Estonia for the past month paid off big with this performance. My early starting time meant I had to fight through a lot of green that would have elephant trails for later runners. I wasn't concerned. I had been preparing for green that thick since late May.

I took the time I needed (8-12 seconds) before the long legs to decide on a suitable route before taking off. Once I decided on a route then I started pushing hard to execute it. That strategy worked well here.

My hamstrings began to cramp on the way to 16, which is a problem that continues to occur in long distance races. I lost a considerable amount of time (3 minutes perhaps) after 20 because my hamstrings simply began to cramp too much. I couldn't run quickly or drive up the hills without a cramp paralyzing my leg. I'll have to solve that.

A big thanks has to go out to everyone who helped me to this performance. First off, my parents and family who support me and are perhaps my biggest support structure, everyone who supported me in the GoFundMe campaign for a WOC training camp, my roommates and training partners in Madrid, and countless people behind the scenes.

Many people may not be happy with 47th place, but it means a lot to me and my country. As best myself and others can tell, it's the best finish for an American man in the long since '89. That's not completely fair because there was a period that WOC competitors had to qualify for a final. But still, not half bad.

I'm excited to continue chipping away at the long distance. It's a race that takes years to master, but I'm ready to work toward that one day at time. I hope everyone who reads this will join me on that journey in this crazy little sport. Thank you.

Men Long - Splits

Shaking the legs out in Otepää

A sprint relay that was actually kinda difficult. I took a few slow routes (4, 7, and 9). But it was good to see how my body held up through a super physical course. Very fun also.

https://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/2017wocSRelay3/

Long model. Enjoyed the the terrain except for a few spots where I struggled with the veg. That'll be difficult. But we're all in!

Event: WOC 2017
 

Well even a pre-race mistake can take you out of the race. The only shoes I had for the sprint were racing flats that lacked the traction I needed when it started raining. No excuses though, I went out to run as fast as I could. I had few good spills and couldn't take the turns hard without going down. When Kris Jones caught me I stuck with him on the straights but lost time on the curves.

Not a super difficult race, which is normal for sprint qualifiers. 9-10 was the only route that I really screwed up. Everything was pretty clean, just slow and slippery.

The good news is that the nerves I had before the race are gone and I am very excited to attack the long. Training session for it tomorrow.

https://goo.gl/photos/eA9TcbZZ8N9goKeX8

Men C Sprint Q - Splits

Sprint model event with Morten

40 pushups, 5xpedestal, 5 minute plank

A closed gate at the school before 6 cut the second interval short. 2 minute break between each. The "passable" fence before 11 was a rusty fence covered with barbed wire. In the race, I'd go over it. But I didn't feel like playing around with tetanus today. Top speed was 2:40/k, averaging 3:35 in the intervals. It felt good to get activated.

http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=gsw...