WOC Middle Qualification

I would have done this sooner but the internet at the accommodation the team is staying at has been terrible lately. The middle didn’t go as planned with too many mistakes; I estimate I lost 6.5 minutes. It was tough to find the controls in the dark green because the visibility was limited to about 3 meters. It’s nice to be the top Canadian after being selected last for the team behind all the other guys and proving once again that I can perform to a certain degree at the major competitions. Some highlights were being 10^th on two splits, 2^nd on one split and 1^st on one split! Also I did improve by one place from last year’s 30^th place in the long distance at WOC in France. The relay team has been decided and I am not a part of the team as I expected back at the beginning of June. I was expecting there to be a selection race like last year for the relay team so that the guys on the team can prove they deserve to be a part of the team in this Swiss terrain because not all the guys raced each other head to head which seems to make the decision a little controversial. I ended up racing the 3^rd stage of the Swiss 5 days on the day of the middle final because it was free. I did some training on the model map for the relay today (haha) instead of the 4^th stage because it was a long distance race and I was feeling a bit tired so decided it was not a great idea to race again. I will take a rest day tomorrow and race the final stage on Friday.

Crashing into the 13th control

My route from the Middle Qualification
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Stage 3 of the Swiss 5 Day's

Relay model map

                                                        Finishing hard on the long uphill finish shute        Photo: Adrian Zissos

                                                                                       Last few meters                          Photo: Adrian Zissos

Train on,

Damian

WOC Middle Qualification Tomorrow

Yesterday between the sprint qualification and final I ran on the LA PALUD middle qualification model map. The map was very run able in sections and slow in others where it was green or rocky. The quality of the map wasn't great because there were some old logging trails that were not on the map and thought there should be some more clearings as well. The vegetation was also not that great in places but I’m sure the actual map will be perfect. Easy/rest day today and then the big race tomorrow afternoon. I have a start within the last block so I will be starting later which can be quite good with some fast runners near the end and a bit of tracking but it also can be bad if I get drawn to start last! Hopefully I can qualify for the final tomorrow but it will be extremely tough. My training partner Patrick Goeres had a fantastic result in the sprint final yesterday and finished in 36th place for a new PB result in the sprint at WOC!! Way to go Patrick!!

Middle Qualification Model from Yesterday

Patrick Goeres Cruising in the Sprint Qualification

Patrick flying in the Sprint Final

                                                                 Patrick giving it everything in the finish                       Photo Adrian Zissos

The "MEGASTAR" after a new PB in the Sprint Final 36th!!!

Train on,
Damian

Middle Final Model

Today I ran on the middle final model map where the Swiss selection race was also held. There are many spots where the running can be quite slow due to the rocky terrain but there are also sections that are rocket fast. About half of the map is more technical than the other half which was basically a series of big hills. Also I found that not all the trails were mapped but there were enough out there that you could make good use out of them. The middle qualification seems to be on simpler terrain that looks like it will have faster running in the woods because of less rocky ground.  I will take a rest day tomorrow and run on the middle qualification model map Saturday and have an easy training Sunday before the middle qualification on Monday. My foot is almost feeling 100% now but I slightly rolled my ankle today on some rocks but it should be fine by Saturday.

Today's map

Train on,
Damian

More Middle Preparation

Today I went to run on the LES PRALIES map which is very close to the Switzerland/France border. The terrain today was more technical than the other days but the ground was rockier with a lot of old logged areas which made the running slow in places. Some more open cattle fields and some very nice run able white forest in certain sections. The middle qualification is suppose to be more like the fist training I did on the MONT BALLY map which was faster running and more open with some green sections. I also found this map to be the most enjoyable so it is a good thing the middle qualification will be similar to this. I will be the running part of the men’s middle course from the Swiss WOC selection races tomorrow which will be a nice test at race pace!



Today's map

Train on,

Damian

WOC Training

Did another middle training at GRAND JORAT 10 today. It was thicker than yesterdays training but there were more trails. I tried to use the trails as much as possible because there much faster than the woods and you can feel confident in exactly where you are. There were lots of stinging nettles which sucked.  I had a few hooks here and there but nothing major. I am feeling technically strong which is a confidence boost but I wasn’t running quite at race pace.  I will have to try a training session at race pace or at least part of a training to make sure the technique is still there at a slightly higher pace.


Today's map

Train on,

Damian

WOC Preparation

Today was the first training I have done in Switzerland in preparation for the World Champs which start next week. The team did a nice middle training on the Mont Bally map. I was expecting the terrain to be different from last year but strangely it was similar. The ground was rocky and moss covered but not as much as in France but of course it was not as technical. Went at a pace just below race pace and it was fine but found that I could get within 10 meters and then hesitate before getting the control because the visibility is not perfect in places. Feeling pretty good in this terrain and hopefully will be fully comfortable by the end of the week. Special shout out to Emily Kemp who won BRONZE today in the JWOC Long Distance in Kosice Slovakia!!!! I feel really proud to be Canadian right now. Way to go Emily on winning North America's first ever medal at JWOC!! Hopefully more to follow internationally for Canada in the future!!

Today's map

Train on,
Damian

WUOC Relay

Today was far from great for the Canadian relay team. Will, Robbie and I had far from great runs, each with at least one major mistake. It was very tricky out there today. I was pretty tired today from the week of racing and my foot was feeling it too. I had a great start to my race but was trying to push too hard and blew up. I could navigate fine to the control circle but had a hard time finding the control today. WUOC is now over and I am heading over to Lausanne Switzerland tomorrow night to prepare for WOC and my middle distance race and possibly the relay if all goes according to the plan in the middle.

Relay Map Leg 3

Mens Mass Start

Train on,

Damian