Training Log Archive: Tobby

My most disappointing run. The flagship mistake was the useless ~14 minutes spent on #10 repeating yesterdays headless chicken (#3) act on a much larger scale, and ending up relocating off the fence, after which I nailed the control (maybe that's the silver lining). #3 I lost a little time on confusion in the gullies. A few reasonable controls, until #8, where I started off on a good route, pushing just a little harder than I would usually due to the presence of Matt Doyle who had caught me at #7, lost concentration and ended up on the wrong side of a vague saddle, followed a path back on track and then crossed across the hill off the track closer to the control, but ended up on the wrong sup and lost at least a minute getting back on track again, again. Took a bit of a risk that didn't rally pay off by attempting to go straight, in the end just lost track of where I was and was lucky to find I was pretty close to the right spot.#10 was of course the worst leg of the carnival, spending almost 5 times what I should/could have. Looking back at the maps it is quite obvious what I did, and why nothing made sense. In fact I am lucky that my relocation technique worked, as I may well have headed off in completely the wrong direction and hit the wrong fence. My main error was not having a concrete plan and again attempting to run straight which failed dismally. This was compounded by the catching feature that I thought would be completely safe an reliable being far smaller and less reliable than I had originally thought (something I should have learnt from the previous 2 days in the bush in the area), being stubborn and not willing to relocate of the nearest unchanging, definite feature (i.e. the fence) earlier, and completely disorienting myself by not stopping and instead continuing to run in search of something distinguishing. After this massive blunder I was intent on running as hard as I could manage, with no mistakes and try and make up as much time as possible. In the end I almost managed it, with only a few close to control muck ups on #13 and #16. In the end it was a very disappointing result overall, but with a few highlights.

Positives from the carnival:
- physically I felt ok to good
- there were times when I could get it right and be competitive with the top runners

Things to improve:
- Compass work, specifically at the start and when orienting the map on the run
- planning a route for a leg and following the plan
- relocating earlier
- identifying areas around the control and on the route that could be confusing, especially similar features to the control/attackpoints

Miscellaneous things to check out:
- ways to minimise chance of blisters (especially at start of bush season), possibilities: use long socks, run in o-shoes in lead up to first events.
- fitting in more technical training, possibly not possible until after HSC final exams, definitely possible after.

Day 3 Course 3 - Splits

My best race of the carnival, but still not completely happy. The first section of a few short legs was worth forgetting. Started with a bad line and got quite confused when I hit the creek, spent a little time figuring out exactly where I was and then getting back to where I needed to be. #3 I headed in an alright direction, aiming off to the left. I was then confused when I hit a land form that looked very similar to the one I was looking for, and did not find my control. Proceeded to spend time running up and down the creek like a headless chicken. #5 I was again confused by similar looking land forms. #9 came way too high, losing time both climbing and dropping unnecessarily, Aidan caught me here from four minutes behind. I was then just a little faster close to #10 when I chose to enter from the bottom of the gully and he headed a little higher. I managed to stay ahead of him until #11. I started to feel something (I thought it was a twig or stone or something, but it was actually a small blister) so stopped to try and fix it and he go away from me (was always going to happen). Slow to #14 across the really vague terrain. Went to the wrong erosion channel at #16. Nailed #17, straight compass bearing hitting the bend almost perfectly (something I used to be able to do relatively consistently, but haven't been able to do recently) probably my best single leg of the carnival. next few legs were unremarkable, however at the last control I was confused by the small watercourse that was apparently on a spur, and so I was looking for a gully, and slowed down here. Overall a an ok race, but with some definite areas for improvement.

Day 2 Course 3 - Splits

An ok run to begin with, didn't quite hold a good line o the first part of #1 but didn't cause any problems. A bit slow on #2. Stuffed around close to the control on #3. Then managed to string a few reasonable controls together. #13 I didn't quite get the interpretation right and lost time pulling up too soon. A few more reasonable controls, and then completely blew #17, coming far too far to the right and then turning more right , instead of left, ending up near #13. Another disappointment, but not quite as much as yesterday

Day 1 Course 3 - Splits

Event: 2015 Australian Three Days
 

Event: Public Prologue: Jamestown
 

Pretty disappointed with a mispunch. Wasn't the best run ever, and then managed to follow one of the girls to the wrong control (theirs but not mine) without thinking.