JK 2018 and the first signs of spring

Ahh the JK at last! Undoubtedly the highlight of domestic orienteering in the UK with quality athletes at all levels turning out, in this case to the sunny West Midlands, for an Easter full of racing.
For myself, this had the added bonuses of not only being my first major senior competition, but entailed the start of selection races for the World University Champs 2018 in Finland, which is my primary orienteering goal for the year.
Preparation had been going well. My body reacted remarkably well off of the back of Edale with an admittedly cut back, but still good quality training week, which quickly built back to my normal mileage and ascent. I knew this was a good sign because if I could bounce back quickly from a gruelling race like Edale, then surely 4 shorter races back to back shouldn't be a problem?

Training since my injury in November, consistency is key!

The weekend began on the Friday with the sprint at MOD Stafford, an area that despite being close to me and often being used for local events, I'd never actually been to. Looking over the maps beforehand, I think I had the same scepticism about the race as many others did in that I wasn't sure where the technical element of the course was going to come from. It was obviously going to be quick, but given the traps which can always be thrown in to a sprint race, I wasn't just going to accept it as a straight running race. Annoyingly I'd messed up my entry a bit, entering the Open course which I had always assumed was the men's senior which also comprised the M18/20 but sadly I was mistaken and should have entered the elite, which thinking about it now, does seem somewhat obvious. No matter though, after some kind and helpful liaison with the entries officer for the weekend, I was on the startlist, although frustratingly 1st start! But as it was a sprint it didn't matter too much and I was still prepared to race it as I would any other.

Upon arriving at the area, it became obvious that what I'd thought about the maps was going to hold up and that the pace was going to be high, verging on dirty. It was an odd feeling entering the empty start lanes 3 or 4 hours before the guys I'd usually be racing against did but it probably helped me settle a bit beforehand. The race itself went by relatively problem free. I think my main qualm was that by being first start, I didn't quite know, as everyone else eventually did, that it was a running race from the go, leading to some hesitation and overly careful planning for the first loop through to spectator. Once I twigged though, it was a case of notching it up and really trying to put a shift in. I think it went reasonably well but I was possibly more leggy than I'd have liked to have been and wasn't aggressive enough in and out of controls. However, after a nervy few hours waiting for everyone else to pound around the barracks, I was surprised to hold out for =9th place with Matt Elk, which I took as a really strong start to the weekend and especially a good confidence boost as a first year senior. I quickly realised it was all to play for over the weekend and that I had the potential to outdo my earlier expectations.

JK Sprint

Pain face on!

On to the 2nd day with a middle distance at Brereton Spurs. I think possibly I smashed a string course around here at a very early age, but again despite it being a relatively close area, I didn't have any prior knowledge of it, having also missed the British Middle champs here in 2014 due to injury. A much more normal time to start today was nice and it was back to business as usual. Unfortunately I couldn't replicate the day before and for some reason my legs just didn't have it in them to move quickly over the terrain. I felt sluggish and everything just felt like a little more effort than it should have been, more stretching needed after the day before perhaps? Whilst I made a few errors, there was nothing that blew my race apart and I left feeling a little frustrated at how flustered I felt navigating and how my legs felt flat, despite my obviously good shape. But hey ho, that's racing isn't it and I still managed to hold on to a respectable 19th but more importantly a narrow 7th for the world uni's counetrs. So not a terrible result but I definitely wanted to up my game for the day after!

Grinding away up the hills

JK Middle

The biggy, the JK long, rivalled only by the British as the stella long distance in the UK and something I was relishing. Having upped my mileage significantly this year, with a greater focus on getting out in the hills for 2hrs+, I knew that physically I shouldn't have any problems with this, it was just about getting the pacing right and grinding it out when it got tough. Really cool start area inside a walled garden made for quite a serene calm before the storm. Set out fairly purposefully, knowing that if I could close down Tam (3mins) it would be a much more enjoyable race than slogging on my own. Yet this was a school boy error, I should have been focusing on my own race which you get told from the age of 5 up! This led to a series of errors that were enough to let Ali close me down an alarming amount as I saw him entering 7 as I left it. Damn. But I used the track speed I've generated this year to good effect and managed to pull away from him around 13 or 14. Since making mistakes, I was much more focused and directed back on my race, finding myself really enjoying the battle against the skog and moving well. Hit the map turnover and caught sight of Tam which was a bit of a marker for myself that I was back on the right track. We were already over halfway here and the longer legs began to suck a little but I found I was still shifting at a good pace. This continued through to the legs before spectator, where the hills got the better of me slightly and led to a small slip in the rhododendrons. Great support through there though from everyone cheering and allowed myself a quick glance at the rest of the course which was surprisingly short so just plugged in and sucked it up to the end, just nipping ahead of Tam in the process.
Really enjoyed it though despite the length and difficulty, mentally I kept pushing which has been something of a pitfall in past JK longs, especially after making mistakes. Pleased to have upped myself to around 15th for the forest for the weekend and nice to have felt this strong on my first big boy long!

JK Long

*Ring Ring*

The relays rounded up the weekend. Driving over in the morning was horrendous with fog, wind and rain lashing down, which was accentuated by the dump of snow we'd received overnight! Such a contrast to the day before. First JK relay I can remember where cags were compulsory! But I couldn't let the full white ShUOC kit down, so promptly shoved it down my tights and prepared for the race. We had a good team, myself, Sam Fielding and Joe Thomas so we had a chance of placing well for ShUOC. Set off hard from the start as despite it being a good team, there was little chance of a medal and this was perfect for testing out real head to head O racing. Settled nicely with Nixon on the track checking codes and flowed nicely through the early section. Once we hit the vague foggy slope though I went to pot a little and lost the lead I'd managed to pull out. Still, I was back with the pack so no harm done. Slightly bigger mistake on the gaffled 8 though let the group go, but apparently a lot had issues around there. Had a really fun second half though, racing Jamie, Rhys and Ben as we dragged ourselves through the field to be in a high position going back up the hill to the arena, with only Schminty bobbing along ahead of us. Turns out we were also behind Pete Bray who was as clinical as ever and had pulled out a healthy lead. A slight slip in the Rhodies again let the top 3 slip but out-sprinting Ben let me grab 4th back which I was really happy with. Unfortunately Sam MP's so a non comp result in the end but it was a great day regardless. For myself though I was a bit frustrated with the mistakes I made, especially with it being on 1st leg when I should have played it safe! But physically I felt good given the days racing so if I just chilled out a little and focused on the nav a touch more who knows what could have happened today. On a side note, really pleased for the OD guys (my home club) picking up silver! Cracking little group developing in the Midlands if everyone's knocks around.
To sum up though it was yet another great JK weekend with quality areas and competition. I was happy with my results but my performances didn't do my training justice I think. Despite easing off a touch with the O over winter, I still think laziness creeping in can be sorted easily so I need to watch it in the future.

Always fun to give Persil a test...

Since then, I enjoyed a great weekend for my 21st in Amsterdam with Harriet which was a much needed rest and reset before cracking back on with training. Again, my body reacted well and I was able to bounce back quickly to resume training as normal. I've had some really positive results as well, lowering my Endcliffe parkrun PB by 10 seconds, winning a couple of fell races and getting a massive 3000m pb at Varsity last night, down to 8:51 for the win despite racing the night before on the hills! So all in all, everything is moving in the right direction and I'm really pleased to be heading in to the summer racing months in better shape than I'll ever have done before. For now, my focus is turned to the next English Champs fell counter at Clough Head in a couple of weeks, as well as the rearranged BUCS orienteering next weekend and the British O champs at the end of May. Busy time with working as well but my dissertation is done now and I only have 1 more assignment to go and exams until freedom! Exciting times but sad to be bringing my uni career to an end so quickly! Who knows, maybe I'll carry it on, but that's a thought for another time. For now, I'm enjoying training and racing and can't wait for the next few months!

The descent on the Hartcliff Hill fell race, can't wait to get to more evening peak races!