Canadian Orienteering Championships

     It has been a week since the Canadian Orienteering Championships wrapped up in Hamilton, Ontario. It was a great weekend of racing, on some of the nicest terrain in Canada. The courses were very well planned and the weather was great (nothing wrong with rain for the long to keep you cool).

     One of my major goals this season was to win the Canada Cup Elite series to prove to myself and others that I can be consistent and have many great performances on all different types of terrain and I managed to fulfill that goal by the skin of my teeth. I ended up tying Will Critchley in points with 134 but the first tiebreaker rule says that whoever scores more points in the WRE events wins. I ended up scoring 30 points in the WRE Sprint and 23 points in the WRE Middle for a total of 53 while Will scored 40 points in the sprint and 12 points in the middle for a total of 52 points. The $300 prize for 1st place will definitely help with my orienteering expenses from this summer's training and racing, thanks Orienteering Canada!


                                                                    Canada Cup Elite Series Champion                              Photo: Jennifer Hamilton

     After barely running for 3 weeks prior to the championships due to knee problems from a hard fall I took earlier in the summer training in Slovenia I didn't quite have the fitness or speed to perform to my full potential but I managed to pull together three solid races.

     The sprint was very good for me with two 5 sec mistakes and maybe one not so great route choice and of course loosing valuable time on the longer legs due to my lack of running speed. In preparation for the sprint I spent 30 plus hours planning course, analysing route choices and updating the map I had from the 2006 North American Orienteering Championships. I was very well prepared for the sprint mentally but could not do anything about my fitness situation. 
I ended up with the silver medal for the second straight year which I am satisfied with but the gold would have been much sweeter.


                                                                      Sprint- Leaving the 9th control.                                       Photo: Adrian Zissos

                                                          The fastest sprint finish shoot you will ever find!                         Photo: Adrian Zissos



                                                                            Sprint Podium (2nd)                                            Photo: Jennifer Hamilton

     I knew the middle would be very technically challenging so my plan was to take it easy at the start since I guessed the start would be very technical based on where we were starting. I managed to get thought the very technical part of the course in great shape but made about 1:10 sec mistake on #9, 30 sec on #11 and somehow missed #17 losing another 1:20. It turned out to be good enough for a bronze medal but I am convinced that of I had no problems with #17 I would have taken the gold.


                                                                                  Middle                                                      Photo: Adrian Zissos

                                                                      Middle                                        Photo: Adrian Zissos

                                         Post Middle Distance (just a little bloody)             Photo: Jennifer Hamilton

                                                                      Middle Distance Podium (3rd)                                      Photo: Jennifer Hamilton

     For the long my legs were pretty tired and sore from the previous two days of hard racing. If I was in proper shape this would have not been the case but after three weeks off it was to be expected. The course was very physically demanding and I didn't have the speed and endurance to perform. Despite my physical condition my navigation was not perfect either with a few bad routes unintentionally from the added fatigue of not being in shape and somehow I managed to skip #21 and headed straight from 20 to 22 and had to go back which definitely cost me valuable time. Despite the circumstances I ended up in 4th place which I think was the most impressive result for me considering everything.

Thanks GHO for a great weekend of racing!

Maps and route choices:

Sprint route- McMaster University Friday Oct 11, 13

Middle route- Mineral Springs Saturday Oct 12, 13

Long route- Mineral Springs Sunday Oct 13, 13

 

                                                                                     Middle                                                              Photo: Adrian Zissos

Results:

Sprint:
http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/en/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=28193&categoryId=7

Middle:
http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/en/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=28202&categoryId=20

Long:
http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/en/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=28219&categoryId=20



Train on,
Damian

COC Preview

The Canadian Orienteering Championships are set to start tomorrow night in Hamilton, Ontario, starting with the Sprint (CC/WRE) at McMaster University followed by the Middle (CC/WRE) and Long (CC) in the Dundas Valley area. After struggling with a lingering knee injury from July that happened while racing in Europe it is finally getting back to normal. I have prepared for the Sprint more than any other race and I am feeling confident that I can fight for the gold and hopefully pick up two more medals. It looks like it will be a very fast course tomorrow. Another goal for this season was to win the Canada Cup Elite Series and I am in good shape to achieve that but these last three races will be the most important as they are worth double the points. I would have extended my lead even more if the AOA Champs did not count for CC points but apparently they are counting those races for points now which is the opposite of what I was told. I planned my training and racing schedule based on the fact that there would be no Canada Cup point at these races. None the less the competition looks fierce and the fall weather looks to be superb racing weather.

The current Canada Cup standings are here: http://www.orienteering.ca/pdfs/2013/2013_CanadaCupEliteSeries_Scoring_Sept.pdf

Results will be posted here:
http://dontgetlost.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=501&Itemid=263

 
Train on,

Damian

WCOC's It's a Wrap

     The WCOC’s were held this past weekend in Spruce Woods Provincial Park on the tricky, tricky Hog’s Back map. Three races were held over three days on the most technically challenging terrain Manitoba has to offer. Despite recovering from an injured knee and jet lag, I was very happy with my races.

 

     Another challenge added to the long distance race was the pouring rain at times which made reading the 1:15000 map very challenging. I was happy with the long race considering my circumstances and the fact that my body was not use to running for such a long period of time after 2 weeks of doing very little. I did make some very silly mistakes which is a bit annoying but that’s what happened. I think the mistakes were from not being cautious enough and trying to convince myself where I was when I was really unsure. The generally flat East side of the map with small depressions, light green forest and clearings in between was a whole new challenge of its own.

 

     The next day my body was very sore and very tired for the sprint race but I managed to have a great race with no mistakes. I felt slow in some places but that might have played to my advantage since it was very tricky terrain and going a tad slower could have been an advantage.

 

     I scored some valuable Canada Cup point in all three WCOC races which will extend my overall lead in the series and help me towards winning the series! Now time for some recovery to let my knee fully heal and be ready for the Alberta Championships (Middle and Long are Canada Cups) in September and the COC's in October.

Results: http://www.orienteering.mb.ca/WCOC2013/results.html

WCOC Sprint August 5, 2013

WCOC Long August 4, 2013

 

WCOC Middle August 3, 2013

 

WCOC Sprint Podium- Manitoba Sweep!

 

WCOC Medals (chocolate medals)

 

Train on,

Damian

WCOC Middle

     Today was the WCOC Middle at Hog's Back. My knee was sore to start but the adrenalin kicked in and I wasn't thinking about it so I didn't really notice it too much. I think I am still a bit jet lagged, I felt tired but that was also probably from not running for about two weeks. I would have liked to be able to run faster in some sections. It was tough to keep in contact with the map in spots. I made a few hooks on #2, #6 and lost around 4:30 on #7, followed a parallel clearing and didn’t look at my compass carefully enough. I really felt my knee after I finished, it was a bit more swollen but I iced it and it is feeling a bit better. I placed 2^nd/8. I do not know if my knee will be able to handle 14.7 km and 470m climb tomorrow!

     We were not allowed to keep our maps because we will be in the same area for some of the course tomorrow. I loaded my tracks into the map file that was provided by the organizers on the website. It is not the best quality but it gives you a good idea of the terrain.

Results will be here when available: http://www.orienteering.mb.ca/WCOC2013/results.html

WCOC Middle August 3, 2013 (Time: 37:56, 5.6km, 85m)

Train on,

Damian

Back to Reality

     After 42 day in Europe I will be flying home tomorrow August 1^st to Winnipeg where I hope to compete in the WCOC’s http://www.orienteering.mb.ca/WCOC2013/ if my knee is up for the challenge. It has been a very enjoyable past 42 days in Europe with tons of great orienteering races and trainings on unique terrains. I feel I have brought my orienteering abilities to a whole new level. My goal was to improve my orienteering technique and I think I have succeeded which is exciting for COC’s this fall in Hamilton where I hope to be fighting for gold in all three disciplines.

I      was unable to compete in Day 5 of Bubo Cup due to a severe knee contusion and missed all five days of OOCup because of the same injury. I went to the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana Slovenia to make sure nothing was broken or cracked in my knee and the doctor said I was lucky nothing was broken because there was a lot of swelling. I was given crutches and sent on my way. I was impressed with how fast the emergency service was, in and out in 3 hours. After a week of rest my knee is doing very well and healing faster than expected. I can see and feel improvement on a daily basis. There is a good chance I will be healthy enough to compete in the WCOC’s despite my right leg being weak and out of shape after not using it for a week. I expect my leg to bounce back quickly and despite it being a bit out of shape/weak I think I will do just fine. My bigger worry will be fighting off jet lag. I arrive late Thursday, August 1^st and will be racing the Middle Saturday, Aug 3^rd followed by the Long and Sprint Sunday and Monday respectably. This is not much time for my body to adjust its internal time clock and recuperate after a very full day of travel but I think I will manage just fine.

 

Lets go tot he top! I didn't make it out of the parking lot. Near the top of Mangart Mountain (as far as we could drive)

Mangart Mountain on the Boarder of Slovenia and Italy

Sheep near the top of Mangart Mountain

Some random lake in Italy we past driving to Ljubljana



Trebon Center

Trebon

Train on,

Damian

Bubo Cup Day 4

     Day 4 of Bubo Cup was held high up on the Bisaga map. I decided to walk the course today which was a bad decision because my knee was very sore and even worse after the course. It was very unique and difficult terrain today, so it’s too bad I couldn't run. The ground was uneven, rocky and steep so it was not easy to walk on (or run on I guess). The only upside to today was that since it was so high up the temperature was cooler, around 22C. I finished the course and I wasn't last!  I placed 22/25 if it even matters. I may have to go to the hospital tomorrow to remove some fluid from my knee if it doesn't improve (so I was told by the paramedics today). I will probably walk to the start tomorrow to pick up my map but will not start. I will try to make it to the start even though its painful to even walk now.

My route (some mistakes because I questioned why I was out there and stopped paying attention)

My swollen knee, looks worse in person

View from our camping spot

Train on (well actually off),

Damian

Bubo Cup Day 3

     Today was day 3 of Bubo Cup at Vipava at 1:4000. The sprint race was held in the village of Vipava. It was very warm 32C. My goal was top 5 yesterday before my knee started to really hurt later at night after falling and smashing it on a rock during the race yesterday. I thought nothing of it and expected it to be fine. Well it wasn't fine, it was very sore before my start and I thought about seriously not racing. Well I put some topical pain cream on it and started. I didn't think a top 5 was possible anymore but during the race I didn't feel it hurting much. I ended up having a very good race with two bad routes and a few hesitations. I lost 5 sec on #2 because of a bad route choice, 3 sec on #8-bad route, few seconds on #9-going too slow and 5 sec on #18- too careful and hesitated going though the small passageway. I ended up 3rd/30, 18 sec out of first and 10 sec out of second place. My knee is was very sore after the race and I have been icing it all night. I will see if I start tomorrow...

     We spend the morning enjoying the Adriatic Sea. The relatively cold water was good for my sore knee. I spent most of my time there soaking my knee in the water of sitting in the shade because it was very warm.

Results: http://www.orienteeringonline.net/Results.aspx?CompetitionID=816

Bubo Cup Day 3 Sprint July 21, 13

Photo: Martin Tichy



Photo: Martin Tichy

Adriatic Sea

Train on,

Damian