Challenges of 2012

Thought I would get back onto this blog page as I am setting off on another adventure.  As a way to record what Im up to.   

Next week I am heading off to Europe for this years World University Orienteering Championships in Alicante, Spain (http://sd.ua.es/en/orienteering-championship/)and the World Orienteering Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland (http://www.woc2012.ch/).  It will be exciting to race where the atmosphere is so high.
In Alicante I will race the Sprint, middle, and relay.  The sprint is in the city and willl take in small alleyways and possibly Monte Tossal which is a castle like maze.  The middle. relay and long will be on technical, open, scattered shrubby terrain.  Compass bearings will be useful I expect.

I have a map database here: It is where I upload my routes from races and trainings.
http://www.numberoneaucklanddoma.com/maps/index.php?user=Angela

In preparation this year, I have been doing lots of aqua jogging.  This is because I suffered a shin stress injury.  The pain developed over summer is slow to heal.  The best way to recover shin stress injuries is by not running, not a pleasing recommendation when I have races to train for.  So aqua jogging and biking have kept me fit. Two hours solid aqua jogging last week was a mental effort.  These sessions including lots of intervals have taught me mental strenght and how to listen to my body responding to training.  Sports phsycology coaching through the Hillary Scholarship has been a new experience and I plan to use these techniques to make stronger race decisions with focus, and in particular avoid distractions during spectator legs.

Over the summer, I competed at Sprint the Bay.  Awesome unique courses once again make this a highlight event.  I was in the yellow jersy going into the final stage and planned to keep it but accidentally ran past a simple control during our map change and thus lost the lead.  Well, next years Sprint tthe Bay should be bigger with international competitors likely as the race follows on from the World Cup and Oceania series.  http://www.oceania2013.co.nz/  http://www.sprintthebay.org/

NZ National Championships held by NW Orienteering Club were another highlight lead up event.  The middle distance map Middle Earth is now one of my favourite NZ maps.  Such tricky detail to simplify, all on a hillslope so you have to keep an eye on height also.

And more recently Queens Birthday weekend events were held at the start of June in Waitarere forest.  The loops race on Monday was the best.  A mass start loops style race made
 for close head to head racing and put pressure on everyone.  Just what we need before heading off to Europe.

On the local scene, I have arranged evening club training sessions to talk about orienteering techniques and do paper exercises.  Now, I am of to Kairangi for the final event before I fly out.  Plenty of mud, and chillyness likely. (-: