Still looking for the answer

After PWT race a journalist ask me «What was your best ever international result before coming to Peth?»...ups...funny question... I said «I don't have any :)». He smiled to me and ask again «so what made the difference today?»
That's the answer that I'm still looking for. There are some reasons that can predict a good result but there are so much more that easily can destroy all your training homework...I've been seriously thinking about this question and after reading my coach's blog (here)I became aware of the good training job we did together for this race.Is this the answer?...Maybe that fact of only being focused on sprint... or maybe the fact of still being a better road runner than a forest runner...



Above there is the map with my route choices (red) and better routes than mine (blue) in 4 controls. I ran this course on 17'37'', 2km race, but according to the tracking I ran about 4,2km !!!
After deep analyse of my course I realize about 52 seconds mistake (that's a lot!).I ran quite slowly to the first control and to the second one I took some seconds to understand what was in the map and what I should do. Then mistake to number 8,9 and 11(stupid route choices). On the way to 13 I was running quite slowly trying to understand if 14control was on the upper or lower part of the stairs...Mistake to number 20: I was on the «only running mode» and missed the entrance to the control...and then to number 22 I thought «run to the street you already know» but this route was a bit longer and costed me some seconds more. And well, 52 seconds and some extra meters...

Next weekend I'll run the Iberian Champ (in Leiria-Portugal)on sand dunes terrain.I'm not that well prepared to run on this type of terrain and the long distance scares me a little bit:) we'll see...!;)

PWT - Park Wonderfull Tour ;)

This story begins in July when I received the invitation to run Park World Tour in Perth. This time, I wasn't really sure about what to do. In one hand I had a lot to study and to be focused on, but on the other hand running Park World Tour seemed to be such a good challange for me and for my training during these months between July and September. Besides, it was an honor for me to be invited to such a international top level competition that I couldn't say no!! So the goal was setted and I started my preparation for this race on 11th September.

But September arrived so fast and it was time to pack my bags to Scotland! I packed it with a bunch of good running trainings (PB on 200m-32'- and 400 10x intervals- 1'14'') and also a few good orienteering park trainings...but we never know if 2+2 will be 4!!!

Last saturday Park World Tour started with the qualification race at Scone Palace. Map seemed to be simple but in fact, orienteering there was very tricky. I must say that I couldnt find a flow on my orienteering and neither a moment of full concentration - I missed controls and had to run back, I run on the incorrect order, uf!...well so many mistakes that after a while I decided just to jog to the finish line- it was worthless to waste energy there.

But my preparation was to the Perth city center race (Final) and I had a hope that I could succeed well there. I was focused, motivated and aware of the mistakes that I could easily do. During the race I just tried to do my best on each control, running the fastest as I could on the long legs and the most focused I could on the trickest ones. But to be honest I never felt that I was running fast because I was too afraid to do mistakes and was so very carefull on my orienteering, reading all the details. When finishing my race I was happy and pretty satisfied, but i wasnt aware how good it was, till the first sweedish girl came and I still staied on the leading chair :):):)

I finished 6th best girl in this PWT race!!!:):) It feels so good to be rewarded for this big effort and finally feeling that such a good job that I've been doing with my coach wasn't worthless. Earing the worlds of Per Forsberg during this price giving ceremony, calling my name between such good sweedish runners was great. It had a really important meaning for me this achievment.

I took home a lot of good feelings, lessons and experiences from this race: I learnt some scotish dances :):):) ; I went to the airport on a Mini 30 years old car (!!!) ; 2x5x52x10 (maybe one day); and I hope this result push me to further challanges!!!