I am back to blogging ;)

It is a long time since I have reported my orienteering adventure on this blog. After my injury last September, I took some time to think about my goals for short- and long- terms. I have decided to take navigation and physical out of my main focus for 2011. There are several psychological/mental barriers that stopped me from performing even better in 2010. As many professional orienteers comment that it is about a mental focus on a course, I have decided to spend some time to deal with such issues. I will focus more on mental preparation before/during/after the race rather than on technical and physical conditions.

I believe I should comment about the change of my blog. On December 2010 few great Ontario orienteers gathered together and decided to create a new orienteering club in Central Ontario based on Toronto, Aurora, Newmarket cities. We named it “VO2 Orienteering” with a slogan “Run to the Max.”




VO2 max is the maximum capacity of an individual's body to transport and use oxygen during incremental exercise, which reflects the physical fitness of the individual. The name is derived from V - volume per time, O2 - oxygen, max - maximum. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VO2_max

After five out of six Winter Thomass series races, VO2 team was leading at club ranking, and even though VO2 finished second with a few points behind the club, which won it 4 years straight, our team did a great job with only few members. VO2 cooperated with Ukrainian Orienteering Club, which raised its membership to ~40 members. I will expect to see more members coming as soon as the real spring comes and orienteering season starts.

In the end, it will be interesting to see how my new focus will cooperate with a developing of a new VO2 team.
See you in the woods ;)

The toughest "Raid the Hammer" so far

Map#1:
The event started with 3 mass-starts 2min in between and only one runner from the team. I started first because I had to go to the farther CPs (B and E). There was a small delay on busses, so I did not have time to warm up, but still managed to punch both CPs first. On CP#1 (meeting CP) I was waiting for Nikolay Rybkov (6th place in Toronto Marathon 2010 - 2.37.28), who came 1-2 min after me, and Nick Duca (Canadian Orienteering National Team member) came little bit behind after his mistake at CP (A). So, we left CP#1 on 16th place and 6 min behind a leader. In the next 20min, we caught back all teams except leading team.

Map#2: Nick missed info about CP#2, which was moved from original place to exchange maps point; plus, it took some time to relocate too (we had only one map, so I could not lead). We got passed by another team, and we were third at that time. But after CP (A), Nick picked up the pace and we started to move faster. We got lucky to pass the railway just before the train, so we did not lose time on waiting.

Map#3A:
This part of the course was really hilly, rocky and slippery. We had to cross the river several times and the water there was really cold. My muscles felt exhausted from that climbing; so, I got my power gel. The only good news was that we dropped a minute to a leader (we did not know that both teams were running together).

Map#3B:
That map was flat. It was perfect timing because I got tired of climbing, and I was really happy to use my long legs on those trails. Really fast, we got team2 and tried to leave them behind, but lost ~1min on CP#11 (I still believe it was in a wrong re-entrant). We finally got team2 on CP#12A and ran away on a different route choice to CP#13. We did not stop on CP #13, which was food/water station, with only one reason- to lose team2 from our tail. It was funny to see Nick and Nikolay running non-stop through that station full of all people, when I could not find/see CP flag to punch it. We did lose the tail thanks to rough vegetation to CP (C), where I broke my brand new Adidas pants. Running to CP#14, I thought that this race is over, but in the same second I saw leading team1 on the top of the hill. I got really motivated; I ran that hill like I did not race for 2 hours before. I saw team1 crossing the road, so it was only a minute difference. We got the team1 on the Map#4.

Map#4:
I got really tired and exhausted when we got to map4. I wanted to take it easy for few CPs and then run away in a way back to map3B. But Nick’s experience told him not to give any chances to other team. He punched CP#15 and started to run to Cp#16 so fast that I barely keep up with him. On CP#16, we could not see team1, so we took time to recharge/rest. I realized that I broke my compass, but still wanted to lead in my pace. We did ok on CP17 and 18, but I got frustrated close to CP#19, where were a huge path, which was not marked on the map. I did a small extra loop, and team1 caught us back. In our way to CP#20, Nick and Nikolay ran forward and I got behind, when I got caught by Robbie Anderson, who passed me and started to slow me down. I got really “pissed off,” so I got my second push and ran like crazy for whole way back to map3B (that trail between maps is ~3km). My team got the best split there with around 3 min lead.

Map#3B (Finish):
On the way from Cp#21 to our last matrix Cp (A), we saw team1 coming down to CP. I knew that it was around 3 min lead already. It was funny to see my teammates stopped on CP#22 for food and water, for short talk to volunteers and other teams. I was happy to see them so relaxed after 3.5 hours of a tough chase. We jogged down to finish (even though I checked our back few times- just to make sure). So, our team “Foreigners” won with little under 5 min lead - 3.44.28. According to GPS, we ran 30k; there are only two teams, who ran it under 4 hours. It was a great experience and good lesson from Nick – NEVER GIVE UP!!!

Results: http://dontgetlost.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=93

Organize is fun, get injured is not!

The last few weeks were quit a ride for me. After Canadian Orienteering Championship, I was really busy with organizing two last TOC Wednesday Night trainings. My first WNT was in Earl Bales Park (right map) where I set the same course as I had on Summer Training Camp http://vimeo.com/15346460 There were lots of positive feedback and few families came back next week again!

My second and last 2010 TOC WNT was in Taylor Creek East. I presented a new updated map, which included some new parts that were never used for orienteering before. The main course included middle (left) and sprint (2d map). On both trainings I had 35+ participants. After the training, TOC had a pizza party, and I was happy to see more than 10 juniors there. Some of them represented TOC at Ontario Orienteering Championship in Hamilton.

All my next week I spent for organizing Turkey Trot event.
Review of this event by Robbie Anderson (a winner of $100 main prize): http://teamcanadaorienteering.blogspot.com/2010/10/turkey-trot-2010.html I, personally, did not have a chance to control this event on Sunday because I got injured day before during course setting. I had spent 2 hours in hospital, where I got 5 stitches on my left low leg (little bit under the knee).

I did not run for a week. On eight day, I went for 20 min run and felt very sore next day. After one more practice, I felt discomfort; so, I took stitches out by myself.

And in a day, I was racing Ontario Orienteering Championship in Hamilton. My first race was World Ranking Event- Sprint. I did my best and finished 6th. Such a result could be a lack of energy or even a fear to get injured again, but I can say for sure there was lots of climbing.

I skipped Middle course and ran Long on Sunday. I finished 6th again with few minutes behind third place or 1st Ontario. After the race, I saw that I lost 3 min on the first CP, which was a long leg. I lost on speed and small mistake in the middle of the leg. The rest of the course was really clean. Results and maps are here:
http://dontgetlost.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=221&Itemid=263
In the end of the day, my coach and I are happy with my results. Hamilton area is phenomenal orienteering terrain and with this year new map, it is truly a gold reservoir for Canadian Orienteering. I am sure that we will see lots of great juniors and elites coming out from Hamilton (GHO club) in a few years.

PS: I got great news that my comments for COC long were posted on North America Orienteering newspaper :) Super happy!

Athlete is nothing without coaching/training

I realized that I was writing about my-self and did not mention about my coach. I am a lucky athlete, who does have a real coach, who can listen, analyze and provide valuable feedback. I have a huge personal respect and trust to this person.

When I compete, I try not to put down, first of all, my coach and only than my-self. For the last 1, 5 year, my orienteering and running shapes have been improved in my-own eyes and I start having fun in the forest. I wrote it before- “More fun you have, better your results are!”

My coach is Andrei Logvin. I believe he is THE BEST and most knowledgeable Orienteering coach in Canada or even North America. This year his athletes got 3 medals in the most competitive groups at Canadian Orienteering Championship in Ottawa. Serghei Logvin got Silver at Sprint M18 and both of my medals (Silver at Sprint and Bronze at Long M Elite) are his achievements too. He does spent lots of time to coach Serghei and me; and his price for that is personal performance. I promise that next year will be much easier for Andrei to deal with us (b/c we are better with every training), so he can fully compete at COC11 in Yukon. But so far, Thank You very much for your time, energy and trust!!!

My next post will be about positive and negative sides of organizing O-events.

Second in Canada or 50/50 Sprint

It is almost a month after COC10 is over, but there is no even a day for me not thinking about that Sprint race. I spent lots of time to analyze what happen and why I get so far behind a leader. I asked myself what could be done differently and why I did not do so. There is only the part of my analysis:

As soon as I get to the sprint area, I realized that there are lots of buildings and most of the choices will be 50/50. I knew I should not stop even for a sec. I was starting the last, so I tried to avoid the finish area because there were announcements about present winner time. I changed and warm-up perfectly as I planned. I did not feel any pressure; it felt like it was training. I had some empty feeling though.

I started behind the building across the finish area. As fast as I turned around the building, people started to scream. I ran straight and was hoping to run so in the woods, but they were too green and I followed the path on semi-open area till road and to CP#1. CP#2 was easy to come back to field and run downhill with fence corner as an attack point. CP#3 was the most surprising for me. I lost on it ~15sec to a leader. I ran hard till the trail and uphill till the flat, than right on the boulder. I probably should go straight as a leader did, but I remember it was a rocky area, I still do not understand, how? CP#4 was easy. CP#5 too, but on a way I checked 16 and 17. From CP#7 I could go right or left. I went in the way I should not stop (left), plus I should not stop on CP9 after. It was a smooth run. I lost to a leader ~ 1-2 sec there on speed. CP#11 was my only mistake at this race. I should not cross the line. On CP#14, I checked the legends and I knew that the flag is in the bottom, so I stayed low and picked it up with no lost. CP15-16-17 was same routes as I ran before. Coming to last CP, I saw many people were cheering for me, so I pushed hard (5 sec to a leader :).

I punched last CP and started to finish, but I realized I did not see a light flash (b/c people was taking photos) and I did not hear a noise (b/c of announces that I am running for the top place). I was so focused on punching all CPs clear that I even did not realized how, but I turned and punched it again. I lost few sec there, but it was not close anymore.
I lost around half a minute on a 2.8k course. It is a lot. I was losing 1-2 sec at almost each split. I could not run faster- b/c of sickness I had few days before or not training harder. I had cleanest Sprint race of my life at NAOC (9th place overall or 5th North American with 2 sec lost to 3d), Sprint Chase was phenomenal race (I won it with 15 people running in 1 min chase), and COC Sprint was another perfect race, but just not my day.

It is a right time to go through it and move forward for Ontario Champs by GHO (Long and WRE Sprint), US Classic Champs (total of 2 long courses) and Hammer Raid 25k in Hamilton, as the last race of the year.

I am at the news...

Ottawa citizen posted a nice article about Canadian Orienteering Championship and I am the part of it! ;)

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Gaining+ground+competition/3430214/story.html

Bronze at COC 2010 Long course

In my opinion, Elite runner’s goal is to simplify the map, in such a way that makes orienteering fun. So, before the start my goal for the race was to indentify the most obvious features on the map. In my scenario, it was top of the hills and lakes- those are most dominate features on the map. I was happy to see most of the top hills were rocky and easy to run on. From the course planner notes, I knew that there are no trails in the beginning of the course.


So, my 1st route choice was really simple because it was along the trail and up at the reentrant. On the second leg, I ran slowly with an idea to adjust to the map. I caught Nick Duca (Stars), who started 3 min before me in the RED GROUP. After 2d CP he ran away and I caught him again at Cp 6 (long leg). Legs to CP3 and CP4 were simple as to stay on the top of the hills and make sure I was running on a right compass bearing. CP5 was easy one around on the road. CP6 was the longest leg, and it usually the main leg on the long course. Again, I was running on top of the hills with the lakes on both sides. Cp7 was short and it meant to be a turn point, so no problem with it.

CP8 was another long leg, where the good route choice could save you few minutes. I went straight and was running strong there, but in the last 100m, where I should cross the beaver dumb, I could not do so- it was too thick. In the end, I ran around to CP8 through CP9 (2min lost). It was ok because I ran through CP9 and half of the CP 10 leg without looking at the map after- that extra loop to CP8 saved me time on the next 2 splits. CP10 was a map exchange point.

CP11 was a 50/50 choice, and I went right- almost to the road. After CP11, I could not find the beaver dumb between the lake and marsh, so I get caught by Nick again. I ran straight till CP14. To CP 15, I ran left through islands; I did not check the compass bearing, and went to much right on one of them, so I had to cross an extra dumb- I lost 1 min there.CP16- two towers, two hills, marsh, and under two cliffs.
CP17 had two possible route choices (left or right). I went left to the broken fence (good feature on this map), two hills, marsh, three hills, beaver dumb, hill, beaver dumb and hill with CP on the bottom of the cliff. I passed John Torrence- another RED GROUP runner. CP18- beaver dumb, 2 hills and another dumb, followed the cliffs till the control point.

CP20 was easy and good for me because I could use my speed a little bit. I ran fast and got CP 20 without mistake through the semi-open area. To CP21, I ran straight, even though I had a choice of the road- but I was confident on my orienteering skills. CP 22 was a classic traverse leg. I stopped to drink water and got caught by Nick again. To CP 23 I went straight through the top of the hill and trail as a catching feature. Running to CP 23, I got a felling that there is something different with the map and I thought it is because it is a forest part. After the race, I saw that the last forest part was mapped by a different cartographer. So, I had to slow down and use trails as a save feature. I ran with Nick till CP25 and after it I ran as fast as I could. I knew it will be a good result because I was running clean and had fun. I finished third, and as I like to say: “More fun you have, better your results are!”