EOC
Interesting week with mixed feelings about the races
and in some cases not really feeling anything at all about the races which is
not normally what happens…
Flying as group from Heathrow someone was bound to do
something retarded and that came in the form of Will Gardner - sending me a
text about 20minutes before we were boarding asking when we were getting to the
airport. I thought this was cutting it fine and rang him hoping he was already
in the airport somewhere. Nope. Still on his train. Retard right. So willy got
confused between the departure time and the check in time...had to re-book into
another flight later on in the evening!!
PORTGUAL WAS HOT. But with my base tan from Lanzarote
I turned into a bronzed goddess hahaha. We stayed in this estate in apartments
- no idea how Liz found it but it was incredible! We had our own pool, use of
mountain bikes and kilometres of forest to run round - I saw a fox on one of my
runs!! Although it was awesome, introvert Helen picked up on how the extrovert
within me possibly needed some more excitement where at junior events like JWOC
I was used to having teams stay together, feeding off the atmosphere, at the
senior competitions, the teams keep themselves to themselves making this a fair
bit harder for me!
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| Feeling like a little troll... |
Arriving on Tuesday with my races in Thursday and
Monday meant we could go training in between- the middle model which we went to
Wednesday was literally fine. Just fine. Didn't have any feelings...just kinda
trogged round it, not expecting anything just orienteering...slowly. Wasn't
really inspiring terrain, and I went into the middle with no feelings - which I
now know is not great for me. I need to be excited, nervous and I need pressure
of which I didn't have any, I knew I wanted to get to the A-final but didn't
feel that determination or grittiness that I would turn myself inside out to
get it. So there was no real surprised when I bumbled around the qualifier that
it wasn't good enough - technically it got sloppy towards the end when I got
tired but my legs felt like lead from the start. Oh and the last loop by
spectator control was horrible. I felt like AN OGRE! Trying to run but feeling
like my body was made to do anything but run. Anyhow I had my parents at the
end to rage at which it turned out I had more to get off my chest than I
thought!!
With people asking me how I did, I never really knew
how to answer...it went fine really?? Was I just being a weakling and needed to
man up? and it was annoying me that I didn't know how to answer...I didn't want
to make excuses and say it was
travelling that tired me out or the long call up or crappy nights sleep. It was
just the best I could do on the day, with mistakes or ogre legs I'd raced and
something hadn't worked.
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| My support team <3 |
So anyway this was all in my head and speaking with
people wasn't really helping, instead just confusing myself more on what I
should be saying and to be honest making me feel shit that I understood so
little about how I orienteer. HOWEVER the following day I had the best day away
from the squad and all these mental issues on the beach, in a jacuzzi and
sauna, going for a walk, playing 'Push, Pull, Marry' with my mum ;) and eating
ice cream with my parents!! Me and Mum also ran out the car to go pick some
oranges on this tree…they tasted VILE though L Not only did i have my parents for support, fellow friend FLorence, was a BABE and convinced me in was not a chunky monkey, showing me what i would look like if i was one <3 She is a complete hero!
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| A true chunky monkey... |
The day before the middle qualification I went to
watch the sprint final which was great, there was excitement and team GB felt
united whilst we supported our athletes perform...it was the first day I felt
the buzz of being part of GB at a major competition! The following day I had
some more feelings-felt nervous before which was excellent news. I started at a
decent pace, trying to ignore the previous races ogre feeling and kept this up
and orienteering smoothly :) I finished and was happy with the race but a
little frustrated with the result, but enjoying the fact I didn't feel like I
needed to find time to see where in the results I could have come - I also
liked how close the juniors - me, Zoe and Charlotte (to me your still a junior Charlotte)
were close to some of the seniors. I ALSO WAS RAPID ON THE RUN IN!!
The following day was awesome - although promising
myself I was going to work, I spent half the day making paper chains and cake
to celebrate the HEROIC performance of cats 3rd place in the long distance (who
me and Charlotte have put down to our great boy chat the evening before ;))!
Although excellent news, the travel back from the prize giving was interesting
with BOTH the minibus and car breaking down! Complete nightmare!!
Also I would like to note the organization was
historically awfull...four controls having problems/being in the wrong place in
the qualification so after a series of protest and complaints lasting until
Sunday everyone was bumped into the A final with the qualification race being
voided.
In the sprint, a control was wrong - but it's
okay...only by five metres which totally doesn't matter right in a senior world
class championships ;)
Before the long the maps with the courses were
released onto the official website...meaning new maps and courses had to be
made
We were told at our team meetings that this had not
been it, with more organizing flaws brushed under the carpet. Our final team
meeting was the best with Dave giving an incredible performance of a particular
official ;)
Anyway back to the racing...relay day last which was a
bummer as it is the most exciting and I had been the most excited I had all
week!! I missed out on getting into the GB women's relay teams but was kindly
offered a place in the Canadians with Louisa and Emily Kemp :) I was last leg,
meaning the most climb and distance - WOOOPPIIEEE but tbh for the first part of
the course I felt decent...again half way round noticing the ogre legs creeping
in but the terrain at the end stayed fast so I didn't have to test my
toughness. I really enjoyed this race, so glad I got a run and yes even though
not the fastest or cleanest I ENJOYED ORIENTEERING!
We had a quick turn around to get to the airport even
though we arrived with plenty of time (which meant I left 'half my wardrobe' at
the accommodation...getting a text after I left from Charlotte) giving me and
Peter time for some great chat...and he apparently claims he doesn't objectify
women. Complete joke - Katie Reynolds, want to comment on this ;) all in all
great weekend, learnt a lot about how I need an atmosphere and to feel
something to perform! Also I learnt that Charlotte has the most hilarious face
when she brushes her teeth - honestly if you have a chance check it out...she
moves her head more than her arm and her eyebrows do something funky ;) and
Peter has an unfortunate eating face but then we just realised no one looks
good when they eat...
