Spring and into Summer

Once again it has been a fair while since the last update but then again this blog was never meant to be a regular thing. Last time I left off just before 10Mila, which in brief, was a very nice experience. I did the usual panic about Night-O training and, especially being on long night (4th), nutrition before the race. In the end though, as they usually do, things fell into place once I started, although I didn't have the speed to catch Gustav(!) as my manager requested.

Instead I ran with an old friend Ollipekka Heikkila for the first few controls, before forming a humongous train of runners (which we lead) and then breaking off with an approaching fast group featuring some high level WOC runners. I finished pleased with my run as I had gained places and fulfilled the goal of long night. A bit cleaner on no.1 would have resulted in a very nice run but it was good enough as it was! And my gels worked, and I was very, very satisfyingly tired by the end. Great night, and the team recovered from a very unfortunate and unlucky early slip to finish a respectable 18th. Bigger things to come!

Map

TuMe 1, order right to left

10Mila marked the start of exams for me and although some revision was done out in Sweden, certainly not enough as my first exam, 9am after flying home the night before, resulted in a 36% (42% overall) grade! I am in no way regretful though and if anything this makes quite a good story.

May was filled with 4 more exams and some good training, in fact my highest monthly mileage ever. This was down to having more time to train and although not much time to orienteer, it was still good to really develop my physical side to one that was ready to race. I ran Dumyat hill race in the beginning of May and set a good time, unfortunately GG showed up and ran a scorcher though... ;-)

Then BOC was held down in the Lakes. The Long was very exciting but unfortunately my orienteering was all over the place. I took out some positives though, especially seeing as the rough lakes had never previously agreed with me and yet I was setting really fast paces on the long legs. I knew my shape was there now, I just needed to be able to control it and get the orienteering rewired. Luckily, the first half of June was shaping up to allow for this.

The relay was again nothing special from myself and I was tired. On a good mileage too so perhaps this was it. Some drama unfolded and EUOC 2 were crowned champions, couldn't complain but felt quite sorry for deserving champions SHUOC.

Scottish champs arrived a few weeks later and this was used as Pre-JWOC. I discovered 1 gel wasn't enough on a wet 18km furious race at Gullane, but maybe the mileage was too high to expect anymore anyway. I enjoyed the relay however, testing out 2nd leg before JWOC and setting the fastest pace of the day (although a lack of GG helped). As well as these two races, Tranent SOUL was held on Friday before, the result of which really made me interested in the JWOC Sprint. My fastest orienteering race ever, just about hitting a sub-17 5km. Not that I would put any more urban training into my program but interested nevertheless.

To finish May perfectly, Fiina came up to Aberdeen for a few days of mild tourism and relatively chilled out running and walking. Think my body really needed this after a consistently high mileage month and the acting heatwave around North East Scotland was a nice addition to the plan. The highlights were Lochnagar in too much heat, camping at Linn o'Dee, swimming in just about every water feature, and a long run at Forvie (plus one really bad orienteering performance at a nice Tyrebagger middle race).

Up the main Lochnagar gully, spots of snow still about!

A final physical test that had been in the calendar for nearly half a year took place on the 31st of May, a 30min threshold test on the meadows. This was quite an exciting session for me and I put pressure on myself to deliver some. After a very chilled low 16min 5km opener I bumped the plan up to 10km and went through in 33:03. Perfect, physical box was now ticked and with June approaching, it was time to learn to orienteer. The next day, I travelled out to Finland to begin my string of camps before Jukola. I didn't return again before the 21st!