Training Log Archive: Lizzie

Event: Australian Middle Distance/Relay Championships
 

What to say?
I think a long year of orienteering caught up with me today. This was my favourite distance to race, the final individual race of the season, and the Aus champs. Not to mention an awesome area. But I just couldn't get myself amped up or in a competitive mind set for it. I was too relaxed at the start, especially for such technical terrain.
Having said that, I nailed the first control. But I was expecting the control to be 100m further on, and just happened to check a control's code as I passed, double taking when I realised it was mine. That should have sent alarm bells off, but I ignored them, losing direction half way to #2 and losing myself inthe rock detail. I found #2 3mins later after relocating, but then got lost in the bermuda triangle of #3, not relocating well in this instance, to lose another min.
At this point I knew the race was gone, but was also getting angrier with myself and hence more focused! Got sucked low on #4, having to climb back up to the control. another 30s gone, more anger. Then didn't have a solid enough AP for #5. Another 1min, yet more focus gained. I took a bad route on #6, getting sucked low again. Here I was completely caught by Jas, as she punched ahead of me.
And yet from here on I nailed the course. I was so annoyed at myself for the first half of the course, that I finally started planning and executing the course as I should have from the start. Yes I had some small hesitations, but nothing that I'd call a mistake.

So yeah. Happy to be beaten by Jas and Grace. Not sure I could have beaten Grace today anyway. Disappointed that I didn't do the map and course justice. But also not sure I can blame myself, it's been a long year, both work and orienteering wise, and today the motivation just wasn't there enough to put together a complete performance. You can't do it every race!

On the bright side, my leg gave me minimal grief today. It was navigation, not physical fitness that let me down.

Oz Middle Course 2 - Splits

1 person relay after watching/supporting/helping at the schools relay. Once again, leg was achey getting through terrain and my compass bearings were pretty shocking.

Headed out on the senior boys course after standing doing the starts in the biting wind for an hour. Was too cold to bother warming up, and paid the price on the first two controls before my brain clicked in!
Just cruised around enjoying the area. My brain faded a bit on the compass bearings, but all in all was ok. Nowhere near the top schools boys, but didn't really expect to be so all good :)

Wild Deer Hard1-Women - Splits

Was good and had my glute stretch out/coffee stop on the way down to Slap Up Creek. Was still achey from the sprint before starting however, as expected really.
First 5 controls were control picking and went smoothly enough. I lost track of where I was exactly on the way to 6, but got there eventually. First really felt my leg on this control, and was the continuing theme for the entire run really. Just had no strength in my left leg to get me through the terrain, especiallywith all the fallen logs on the ground! Ran a full circle around no.8 without seeing the control, for my only real near-the-circle mistake of the run.
Other than that, my route choices were off on 14,15,and 16, as i tried to find cleaner running to give my sore left glute a break.
Really happy with my run and result considering my physical state. Grace and Hanny both had good runs and there's no way I could have beaten them on the day. Pleased to stay ahead of the rest of the field :)
Really look forward to returning to this area when I'm fully fit and on form!

LONG Course 2 - Splits