Day 3: Sunday November 6, 2005

Training camp race!
I was having pain in my left knee and was unable to race this course, although I was able to run the whole thing at a jog. My knee hurt most in terrain, which was really a shame, since this terrain is so nice to run though.
My first mistake was to control 2, here I went over the hill to attack the control instead of around, which was 1. steep, and 2. green. Lost maybe 30-45 seconds.
Control 7, came over the hill where we had a control yesterday and was certain I would spike this control. Came off the hill a little to the left and ended up beside the control. This area is an example of where white on the map is not constant in the terrain; there should almost be a vegetation boundary there, just before number 7 the forest gets thicker and visibility drops a lot. I remembered what Tom had told me the night before, and tried not to stop moving, turning around to have view of the hill from yesterday's control and attacking the control again, this time I spiked it. Probably lost 45"-1', I guess.
Control 10, came up to the top of the hill and just was to the left of the control. Dropped one contour line and realized that the control shouldn't be that low, turn back up and went to the right to find the control, lost time 30".




Training camp summary
This was an excellent training camp. The terrain is interesting, and also challenging. I am really looking forward to coming back to this area, and also to concentration on this terrain for the World Championships. I think this is the type of terrain I can also practice for in Switzerland, and am looking forward to doing more terrain running, hill repeats, but also intervals (speed will be important in this terrain, but hill strength as well). I wish we would have had more time, and maybe a rest afternoon on Sunday and back into the woods on Monday. But I guess it will have to wait until next spring!

I would like to thank Tom Hallowell for an excellent camp. A very thought through and organized camp with fun, yet very relevant exercises. Also thank you for the personal coaching, and taking the time to come into the forest with me.