Lakeside Training Weekend

This weekend (24-25th November), the Lakeside Training Weekend took place based in the Lake District with some of the best areas in the UK up for use including Haverthwaite, High Dam, Bigland and Lakeside itself being used for a sprint. 

 

 

The areas were top class and the courses, excellently planned by James Williams (and myself).  Big hand to Derek and also Vicky at British Orienteering for organising anything and everything.  

I heard of only 2 controls possibly slightly out (within 5m of the centre of the circle), and due to only me and Wil Spain control hanging it was a pretty good effort, hanging the last control on the last feature as the first runners were heading towards it on Bigland.  Hector and Doug helped with the High Dam and Iain took in some Haverthwaite controls for us - JOB DONE...Phew - over 7 hours of running in total that weekend -helping with the East Mids on the Sunday morning- leaves me wanting more out of my winter training... of course, after a little rest....

Jon Duncan's talk in the Sat eve was amazing and inspiring - possibly why I'm so looking forward to the new season (- I hope I don't have to run in any brambly areas from now until then as I think my perceptions of O might change.) 

 

Thoughts on the winter and beyond... 

Technical training alongside heavy physical training this winter I think will put me in good stead for the coming season both in Britain and abroad, as I'm hoping to expand my orienteering into Scandinavia as much as possible in 2008 (with Västerås SOK and hopefully SYO, as I may change for 2008 from their local rivals DVO - watch this space!)

Also I looked at the new 2008 British Orienteering Fixture List and the UK Cup from last year.  I didn't make my target of top 20, but 26th is my best result ever (having come over 100th the year before!!)  Aims probably will be renewed with a top 20 finish again and possibly encroaching on WOC Selections in June.