Transition, Adaptation and Compensation

Having the physical side in mind, my transition period went well. I could take it easy for quite a while and had a good rest from systematic high volume training. To this time span I could fit various out- and indoor activities that spiced things up a bit. Among the traditional training tools I was biking, swimming (more like bathing), climbing and paddling. I used a flat based sports kayak for the first time in my life, which is pretty difficult to handle for a beginner like me. Guess how long it took before I was upside down in the flowing cold autumn river water? The correct answer is 10 minut... oops, seconds. But with proper gear, this was fortunately not a problem and hours of wet action was guaranteed. After this period I felt recovered, incredibly fresh and hungry for training again.

It took a two week cycle to adapt to a proper level of training regime again. I began with the already traditional KoKu race - a long team competition (duo/trio), using retro maps. 24 very enjoyable kilometers teamed up with my brother. We tried to find out which one of us could tire out the other one; this time it was a tie. Results, map 1, map 2, map 3, map 4, map 5, map 6.

A week after that, I took a step into the wild and had a long hike-jogging journey through the beautiful nearly untouched nature in Haanja highlands. This region just amazes me! Just when I though I was having the time of my life, I met a very-very rare species in Estonia (and elsewhere) - a wolverine (ahma)! Not at a distance, but just about 5 meters. Thankfully, we parted our own separate ways peacefully. This made my day! Map.

And then, the most prestigious event of the year: TuMe-Võru-Meridians Club Match! This time on home soil. The individual event was held on one of my favorite terrains in Estonia and I didn't have to disappoint. The only downside was a wrongly placed control, but shit happens. Results, map.

I applied for Võru 2nd team in the relay and after finishing the first leg, I continued and ran through almost all three legs and witnessed the tight battle for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place. Results, map of the first leg.

The competition was even tighter in the overall, Võru won only by 1,5 minutes (0,33%)!

KoKu race prizegiving

Since then I've tried to follow a basic routine, but it's been difficult to get a grip on myself with a lot going on. School takes up a lot of time and because of it, I've occasionally had to alter my plans on the go, just to compensate from the main trainings. It's pretty darn annoying when it's going smoothly, but something else stirs things up. Studies have quite a high priority, so compromising is not much of an option. I'm really hoping to finish my bachelor studies this year, so there's more work ahead. I guess this is one of the big differences between a pro and an amateur. Nevertheless, I'm laying a good foundation for the upcoming season and now that the autumn semester is thankfully done with, I can put more effort on training and sufficient recovery.
Anyway, the last cycle included a camp near Helsinki, with some map trainings in Jukola relevant terrains. Also, a very long quest by Mr Pete Forsman, where I aborted my mission after 2 hours and 37 minutes of freezing.
Night mass-start map
Line, cut areas and butterfly map
Quest map 1, map 2, map 3, map 4
Jukola night training in daytime map

Best swimming style for the Predatorius aquatilis (pictured) is the "dead swan"

Now I'm beginning a new cycle, but this time with a different approach that I want to try. How it works for me, will be evident in a few weeks' time or maybe not before the season begins!

Conclusion

The season ended with one of the technically easiest races at 25manna (map), where our team finished 3rd! Now it's time to look back and ask myself if I'm satisfied with the course of events during the last year?

Photo: Olle

Duel with my good friend Jonas

As a young newcomer it was very difficult to set any measurable goals for this season, so I focused more on just introducing myself to the world elite and prove myself that I'm able to reach the desired level if I put my mind to it. I'd say that I managed to do that and can be satisfied in this aspect. I guess the most spectacular highlights would be Jukola, WOC (middle final map, relay map) and also Finnish Championships in September (middle qualification map and final map; relay map). These races weren't perfect, but in a way they helped me find where I am as an orienteer and that's just what I needed.

Photo: from organizer's webpage

Hanging with some world champions

To be honest, I did set some measurable goals in the spring, when I filled a questionnaire for Delta. For the short-term goal column I squeezed some numbers out of myself and wrote: "reach top 25 at WOC long- and middle distance; reach top 3 at Jukola; become Estonian champion at an individual discipline". As a prediction I'd say I was pretty accurate: two out of four came true. 50% is a good optimum in reaching goals, this way there's joy in accomplishment and still leaves the wolf hungry. As for the two goals that I didn't reach, perhaps the easiest of them was also very close: right after WOC I was 2nd at Estonian long distance Championships with a rather crappy run and lost 1:15 to my brother (map). The other unreached goal was indeed a fail: everything fell apart at WOC long distance (map), which was one of the poorest performances this year. Psychologically it was too big a bite to chew: mistakes in control areas, wrong route choices and not being ahead of myself. Also, I wasn't in shape. Was it the wisdom tooth ache and the painkillers that took the power away? I can only suspect that it was... I didn't even consider this option until the World Cup in Czech (middle map; long part 1 map, part 2 map), when I had the same symptoms and the same problems during the races.

Other stuff:
A negative thing worth mentioning: I unexpectedly mispunched for the first time in my life. I've been disqualified for missing a control at 10MILA in 2005, for what I could forgive myself, but this was the first time that I punched at a wrong control and for what I can never forgive myself. It all happened at Latvian relay Championships (map), where I was already too far ahead in my head and wasn't in the moment enough. I always check the codes, but what happened? It's difficult to give any reasonable answer, so I'd just like to apologize to my team mates and my club. I am truly sorry!
A much more funnier thing happened on the previous day, when me and my brother won the middle distance (map) with a big margin and since we both had the exact same time, we both became Latvian champions!

Right after WOC I set a new altitude record: me and Jürgen reached the summit of Le Buet near the border of Switzerland, which according to different sources is about 3100m above sea level. Starting from about 1350m, it took us 3 hours to reach the top and the whole fantastic "expedition" in near perfect weather took a bit over 7 hours. In that time we ascended over 2000m. Good way to relax actively after a tense week in France. Here's the map and photo proof:

Despite all the drawbacks during the last year, the accomplishments weigh them over and I can be pleased with the season. Now I can peacefully lay off systematic training, rest for a while and have more fun! Farewell, season 2011!

Photo: Niels-Peter Foppen, Ultimate-Orienteering
Tired after the season

Shape is a Rollercoaster

Setting goals requires a lot of planning in order to be in top shape at the right time. This is what top athletes strive for over and over again. It is possible to reach top shape with the first try; or it might take years to learn the the individual differences and then succeed; or it might even never be achieved at all. This is the art of sport.

I've always found use of my training diary, from which I've benefited a lot over the years. The combined statistics of subjective and objective aspects can surprise a lot, while making perfect sense. My latest confirmed discovery was my reaction to heat. It doesn't even have to be extremely hot to lose control of a sound body and mind. Of course hot weather makes it difficult for everybody, but there are people who tolerate it better and others who can't handle it at all. I've found that in warm weather I get tired quickly, the muscles are stiff and I make a lot of questionable decisions in orienteering and get overall exhausted. These symptoms usually occur already way before the start. On the other hand, the starts that I've had in cooler weather, have usually been much better. Might even say that especially in rainy weather... Though I can accustomize myself to hot weather and get better, I'll still have problems handling it compared to those who prefer hot weather. One's stronger side will always be stronger than the weaker side. While I must improve the weaker side, I must still cherish the strong half and use that to my advantage. The peculiar thing about the human body is that it can't be accustomized to tolerate hot and cold at the same time - since I handle cold well, it's the opposite with hot. But it can be seasonally manipulated with. While it's far too late to deal with the problem this season, I can start working on it in perspective. 

Don't get me wrong, I can still have a good race in hot weather, especially in good shape and at an important start. At less important events, when I feel that it's not just a bad day, but the mentioned exhaustion, I don't push the limits as I would on important events. I consider the "gunpowder" for that as a resource that is not limitless. This has a lot to do with timing the shape.

The ride of the past two months:

21-22 May, Baltic Championships, Lithuania

The recovering sore knee didn't bother as much as the really bad overall feeling, it was like using only half of my lungs. 

Long map 1, map 2; results

Relay map, results

Warm weather after some period, disappointing results.

The best in the Baltics

29th May, WOC long selection race Nationale Savoie, France

A bit better feeling than the week before, but no reason to cheer. Pulled myself together enough to have a more-or-less OK race and secure my WOC ticket. Check out other France WOC camp maps from the maps page.

Map, results

Warm weather, modest result.

5th June, Latvian Championships long distance

Very nice terrain, this was something that should have suit me really well. After quite a good beginning, the tremendous heat got me after 2 controls and I suffered til the finish. Lost 15 minutes to Timo. It's not so much fun with this kind of feeling. After the race I felt like being ill. 

Map, results

Very hot weather, very poor result.

Til this point I'd tried to find out the problem. All the activities in aerobic zone were just like they were supposed to, even some strenuous trainings were fine, but when it came to competing, the outcome was 0. This couldn't have anything to do with fitness. During the week I went to see my loyal physician to find out what was wrong with me. We suspected of some virus, possibly borrelia. Over some time, we found nothing, everything should have been in order.

11-12 June, Suunto Games, Finland

Again hot weekend with fantastic terrains, I burned totally (again). On the middle distance I could keep cool for some time in the beginning, until it struck again...

1. middle map, results

2. shortened long map, results

Very hot weather, very poor result.

After this I withdrew myself from Delta's 1st team at Jukola. No point in risking a good team's result...

15th June, Tallinn Championships in relay, Estonia

Last intensive training before Jukola. Ran the 1st leg and beat Timo, who ran a different forking on the last leg. Since he had a good race and I had over 1 minute better time on an easy course, he suggested that I run instead of him at Jukola. We would talk it over with Ahma, The King of Lohja and decide after the last trainings on Jukola terrains.

Map, results
Cool rainy weather, good result.

18-19 June, Jukola
And it was decided - I run the 4th leg instead of Timo. The feeling on the race was nothing supernatural, it was just good. The mind was set to be my own master, make my own race, switch off the rest. The result made me and my club happy. And a podium finish to top it off with! Though I won my leg with 2 minutes, let's face it, it's the easiest leg of them all...

Map, GPS tracking, results
Cool humid night, good result.

Leo is missing

25-26 June, WRE Middle + 100KP, Estonia

Now it was time for trainings again. These two competitions were a lot of fun: nice middle distance and a long distance with 100 controls. First day I felt well, too bad many of the best in Estonia weren't present. Second day was difficult already from the beginning - running was hard and orienteering didn't flow (which is crucial in this type of competition).
WRE Middle Map 1, map 2, results (rainy weather, good result)

100KP Map 1, map 2, map 3, results (warm sunny weather, modest result)

1-3 July, Kāpa 3, Latvia

Again very hot weather and fantastic terrains. Planned to run first day ~100% and the others ~90% of power. After very bad beginning, I decided to take it easy and not to strain the organism. Instead I ran ~100% on the second day, when it was shortened distance. The last day was great running weather and even taking it easier I had a good run.

1. long Map, results (very hot weather, powerless feeling)

2. shortened long Map, results (very hot weather; powerless feeling)

3. long Map, results (good running weather, good feeling)

11-16 July, FIN5

Trainings continued, with the plan of taking it seriously on days 1, 3 and 4, the other days easily.

1. day, middle: The race can be titled as: "Hot water kettle." The first half went well, I was at 2nd position. At controls 7-8 the first bubbles started to appear. Then it reached the boiling point. And what does the kettle do when it starts to boil? It switches itself off of course. I recommend taking a look at the GPS tracking. Map, results (hot weather, poor result)

2. day, long: Good training. Map, results (rainy weather, OK feeling)

3. day, sprint: Stiff legs, felt a bit tired. Otherwise an interesting race. Map, results (warm weather, good result)

4. day, middle: Quite good race, didn't exactly get the rhythm, but I can be satisfied. Map, results (rainy weather, good result)

5. day, long: Wanted to have a good technique training on my own, but I got some company all the way. Tried to get rid of my companion and I did at the 6th control (check the GPS tracing), but he caught me quickly again. Map, results (cool and humid weather, good feeling)

Enjoying the rain

24-29 July, O-Ringen

Now it was time for a serious effort, I was thinking I could get in top 15. Hälsingland terrains have been difficult for me, this time it went a bit better.

1. day, long: Average feeling, quite OK orienteering, 15th place. Map, results (good running weather, good result)

2. day, sprint: Very fast sprint, with an interesting last part. I'm satisfied with my race, especially with the tricky part. Lost some time with the last controls though. Map, results (cool weather, good result)
3. day, long: Crashed and burned after 20 minutes. I just couldn't withstand the heat and just wanted to get to the finish. Map, results (hot weather, pathetic result)

4. day, middle: It was time for an experiment. Before warming up, I first cooled down in a lake. Laying in cool water doesn't make things better for the muscles, but it sure has an effect on other processes in the organism. I felt tired and fresh in the same time. Tired enough to lose 1 minute and fresh enough to finish 2nd. At least the mind worked! Map, results (hot weather, good result)

5. day, long: It was starting to remind the 3rd day. Even if I wanted to be in top 15, I didn't care much if I was 12th or 18th. So I didn't step into a man-to-man fight with anyone. Map, results (hot weather, modest result)

There are some more GPS tracking links on the maps page. Unfortunately, the tracking wasn't very good at O-Ringen, especially the first day.

Participation fee

Anyway, this is my way of looking at some statistics that need thinking about. Now it's time to tune in for WOC middle and long distance and see if I can shape up as planned.