Tracking my wanderlust need to get out of town once a month

Track my O progress here

Three days to go.

After a year of training, it's time to go out and face my goal. The US Champs are this weekend.

How would I rate my training and preparation for the past year?

Physical training: A. I took one year to slowly get back into decent shape. My resting HR has dropped from 70 to 58; I've lost 8 pounds and gained muscle tone; and I can jog like a real jogger now. I think it worked well to concentrate on general fitness in the beginning, and train specifically for running the last three months. I thank Mike for suggesting that training to run would improve my form. I feel well preparing for the physical challenges this weekend. I am not in perfect shape, by any means, but I'm at a good stage where I am fitter than last year, and I can maintain a decent pace in the woods, two days in a row.

Orienteering training: C. I need more orienteering training. I spent more time thinking about physical training than O training. I have had mixed results lately. I am capable of good, clean orienteering, but I'm not able to do that consistently, yet. I should have done more O-specific training and map reading.

Mental training: ??? This is the big unknown. I have never gone into a race hoping to win a medal. I never considered that I could win a medal before. Since I've never had this level of personal (and public) expectation, I don't know how to handle it. People can get used to nerves, and expectations, with practice. But I've never had to practice this, so I expect to have some anxious moments.

So the key is to relax enough to orienteer as well as I'm capable this weekend. If I have two clean runs, but come in 4th, I'll still be happy.

We'll know by Sunday night.


posted by Mary 8:35 PM [edit]