Mrs Garmin and Robert Merl

I was given a Garmin 305 as a present for my 40th birthday and to be honest it's one of the best running watches I've ever owned. It can't do what a Polar can do with regards to heart rate, but bearing in mind that it costs a third of the price (and that I'm no longer a performance athlete), and I think I can suffer that loss. A friend of mine also has one and he has started calling it "Mr Garmin". I'm more inclined to call it Mrs Garmin as it is a particularly fickle and more often than not a little inaccurate.

The first thing that bothers me is how long it takes to find the GPS position. Literally 5 minutes of standing in EXACTLY the same position and it will have found enough satellites for me to start running. If I start running during this process, then it never actually settles down and I don't get any files for this running. This means I often switch the watch on 10 to 15 minutes before I go running.

The second thing that gets me is that it only records in 2 dimensions. I mean WTF...... Why is it not possible to develop a software that does this all correctly. I understand that climb is not so important to the average Joe, but for a mountain runner or an orienteerer, climb is exceptionally important. Honestly, quite shabby for a top GPS to be fair.

And thirdly is this "auto pause" option which drives me to drink. I used to have it turned off, but then it measures the entire time you are out, which is often not actually your running time. Then I turned it on and it works more or less OK, but NOT if you are running hills (because it only measures in 2 dimensions). The "auto pause" function doesn't work on position (go figure) but rather on straight line speed. I have yet to discover what the speed is at which it starts recording, but it is definitely faster than I can manage at the moment uphill, so it is often stopping even though I am actually going uphill at the time.

Point in fact is yesterday’s small hike up the stoawandel. Although I took almost exactly the same route, the uphill was apparently 600m shorter than the downhill and took me (downhill slightly longer - time wise) than getting up the hill. Oh well. The missus in still in fact the best watch I have ever had, so I'll live with her fickleness a bit longer :)

And now to Mr. Merl. WOT a performance he has given over the last week. World Champion and Vice-World Champion - WOW. Well done Robi, keep it up! Next hurdle is the Elite World Champs!

A small injury....

I'm always the one telling people to go slow when they start running again..... Ha Ha, I should have followed my own advice. The problme with starting to run with ambious people is that they always want to push push push and so you get a bit dragged into it. And so it was this time.....

I haven't written for a while but started to think about it a few weeks ago when I started running regularly again (i.e. more than once a week). My new job takes me to Zurich and we sort of got a small group growing where the 3 of us (Max, Tom and myself) run form the hotel in the evnings after work. The problem is that both of them are over achievers and always pushing that bit more, so I have to struggle to keep up. I noticed already the signs on Monday last week after the Salzburg sprints that I was doing to much and mostly too fast. Start slow I always say.....

Oh well, during an easy run on Saturday I slowly felt the rip coming on, and pretty much nothing could stop it. By the time I got home I was in agony and have been limping since then. I'll take a walk / jog to see how it is tonight....

Bummer, hopefully it's not too bad and I can get back to training soon again, otherwise I'll never catch Max and Tom......

Just a short word to the Salzburg sprint champs. My level of fitness is probably at the lowest it has been since I was ten. I'm a good 10 - 15 kilos too many and my resting heart rate is now over 60. But I still try to get out there occasionally. The sprint was in a great little town called Hallein, perfect for sprinting. The map is tricky and difficult to read at full speed and so it was on the first leg. I made 90 s mistake to one control on a course that took me 20 minutes and Robi 14. TTTOOOOOOOO much I would say. I was very disapointed that I forget my routine and calmness so quickly. My aim was then to settle down for the second run, which went perfectly well. No errors and a clean run...... I was still some 4 minutes behind Robi - our shooting star.

Oh well, no more orienteering until August I think, so I'll have some time to get back into shape.

Cheers for now,
Richard.

Salzburger X-country Champs

Salzburg and Cross Country Championships - now there is a story. There is always something that adds spice to these annual championships and this year was no different. It all started way back in March when they were supposed to be held. After months of preparation the day of the champs dawned bright and beautiful - not! We had a massive storm move through our area and the champs were postponed.

Until November 22. And so it was that the day of the champs dawned bright and beautiful again - not! It was a typical Salzburg winter day - cold, snowy and windy. That did not, however, deter the 12 henndorf runners who made their way direction Eugendorf in the cold wintery conditions.

The track was worthy to be called a x-country loop, so much better than the normal dribble that gets served up around here during winter. It was a curvy loop with up and downhills over a soft field bottom, that wasn't yet frozen. Total length 1 km (maybe a bit short) and a height difference of 25 m per loop. The track was also very slippery and difficult under foot and so I knew our orienteerers would be perfectly suited to it.

The first race was the u16 where we had two runners taking part, Laurenz and Clements. The race started well and after the first loop Laurenz was 4th. By the end of the second loop he had moved into the lead, and won the LM title U16. Clements had a great "first time" run for the club as well and finished well up.

The second race was the juniors and the Men short, where yourstruely decided to take part. As most of you know I haven't been well for more than 2 years now and am still suffering some bone infection that the operations were not able to remove. This means I haven't trained since god knows when and am fairly unfit *putting it mildly*. Here we had the most entries, the field been lead by Felix "gogles" Breitschädel and lead by Richard "mad dog" Gathercole (me) from the back as well. Felix eventually finished in 3rd place, followed closely by Warti and Wolfi. I lead up the back markers.

In the junior race Mani finished 3rd and Luki was 4th underlying our strength in the junior classes. Which of course didn't end there. We only had one Lady running today (in the U18 champs) and she came away with the title, so well done also to Alexander Breitfellner!

That left just the main (long) race where we had 4 official entries and 2 unofficial ones *grin* Our best runner was Andreas "German import" Eberhardt who finished an excellent 5th place and proved that he is getting back into top shape again. Reini, Andi and Arthur challenged for positions in the middle of the field and generally had a great time.

Once it was all said and done, the general feeling was that we had fun and enjoyed ourselves. In some areas the results were not as planned, and in some they were substantially better. The racing at the next LM cross will certainly be interesting.

So enjoy the winter training,
Richard.

P.S: Results here!
P.S.S: Photo's here!

Humble Pie

I been thinking about how to write this post for months, since last year November in fact, when I was in a angry and very disappointed state. I didn't however post the original blog entry I wrote (and saved) but rather waited and waited so that my anger would subside, and so it has, and I'm so glad I didn't post my original thoughts on the matter - sound cryptic to you - let me explain....

During late 2006 the Austrian orienteering committee approaced me and asked if I wanted to take over the post of Elite chief for the national team. I was a bit surprised and decided to take on the roll after various discussions with different people. Problem was that at the time the team and team management was in a complete and total shambles. There were a lot of different parties all blaming each other for various problems.

I was thrown in the deep end and struggled for months just to get to grips with the problems and bring harmony to the team, which I'm sorry to say I was really struggling to do. I battled on through this and did my best but I was definitely not having the easiest of times. Having said that I was slowly starting to make sense of the situation and was getting to grips with it.

There were a lot of undercurrent problems with the trainers, there were problems with the performance of some team members, there was a major budget issue and I was constantly being made aware by the orienteering public in Austria that they felt various team members should not be on the team (in particular the ladies). I took as much of it as possible in my stride and started to try and sort out the problems. We had an excellent meeting in late September where many of these issues where talked about at length.

And I had started to formulate a plan for 2008 (and to my shame) it was a hard plan. No more trainer from the Swiss, no more ladies in the team, a reduction of team members (only those that made the cut), a slimming down of the junior team. I had hoped that one of the trainers would stay and that I would be able to get a previous top trainer back onto staff. And this is the plan I started to go forward on....

And then in November it all changed. The committee elite decided to step down, leaving me with no support. And I was voted out of office and replaced by Richard Schuh. I was bitter and twisted, it wasn't fair, it wasn't right, not after all I had tried to do and so I planned to write a damming and hurtful blog post.

However, with hindsight I could not have been more incorrect. Richard turned out to be the perfect man for the job. He was able to hold the team together, and with the full support of the new committee he built an excellent training staff. They started the year full of motivation - all my original plans out the window (to be fair I never shared them with the new staff) - and moved forward with purpose.

And it really seems to be doing the job. The austrians were very good this year (including the ladies) and the improvement is there for all to see. The trainer team is working well together with all the involved parties (Junior team, Army, Youth team) and has gelled into a strong and well organised team.

So I must eat some humble pie. I have been impressed by the way Richard and his team have worked this year. It was a hard year and they have handled it well. Additionally they have believed in the ladies and brought in a top trainer, both for the men and the women. I could not have got it more wrong.

I admit that I could not have done a better job this year - well done Richard. I am impressed and wish the entire team (athletes and trainers) every success for the future.

FYI I have had many inquiries this year as to the reason why I steped down from the post, and I just wanted to clear the air and put my thoughts down on paper (so to speak). I am no longer bitter and twisted, and this is NOT the reason why I haven't been at orienteering events this year. This has more to do with the lack of condition (I'm fat) and the fact that I have two very small children. I have put the issue behind me now and look forward to the next few months of slowly getting back into training *grin*

Finally, a restart....

Yes, I've actually managed to get myself out on the road after humming and harring about it for the last 6 months. I haven't been completely inactive, however I haven't training since middle of last year (due to health problems) and now I find I need to start again (due to health problems) - vicious circle.

So what is going on? Well, my weight has crossed the 80 kg line and I need to get it down, and I've been having heart rhythm problems over the last week. I need to get my weight back down to normal levels and get the old ticker working correctly again.

I'll be doing a bit of cycling as well but not as much running as previously (I just don't have the time anymore).

So stay tuned for more postings....

100m hobby racer

Yes, hello - I've finally found the time to sit down and write something on my blog :) And you guessed it, it's a special occasion that is forcing me to do it!

Over the last weekend, the senior provincial championships were held on the track! As trainer (and used to be athlete) I always love going to watch athletics meetings, and it was no different this time. Friday produced perfect weather conditions for running and my athletes used the situation to their full ability. We had entered the 800m (Mani G) and the 5000m (Mani W, Wolfi and Warti) - also Ladies (Elisa and Vroni).

Mani G started the ball rolling with an excellent 2 min 16 s for the 800m (which won't set the world on fire, but for a first time EVER 800m it wasn't bad) - which also brought him 3rd place in the senior championships (he can still run u18). Alas (as you might have guessed) this was also the last place. This didn't dampen our spirits - no it just strengthened our resolve.

Along rolled the 5000m, and I was sure that Mani W would produce an excellent result. And so it was. Mani ran a good race for an in-experienced track athlete (his first ever 5000m) and started maybe a tad too fast. He was running under the top 3 until the first km, which they went through in 3:06 (a little too quick), and then things got progressively slower - 3 km in 9:45 and finishing with 16:32. These are still early days though, and I expect that this will get faster before the end of the season. Wolfi ran a very controlled race, rolling the 3:30's off perfectly and going through 3 km in 10:32. The 4th KM was a bit slow, but after overtaking some athletes and going on his own, he was able to do a blistering last KM and finished in 17:25s - also a nice PB for him. Warti had a bit of a shocker - due to his foot - and was disappointed with his run (and it was the only bad run over the entire weekend)!

In the ladies, it was left to Elisa and Vroni to hold up the Henndorf flag, which they did with style finishing 4th and 6th respectfully in their first ever track race, and hopefully not their last. Unfortunately Elisa missed the 5000m time she had to run by 1,2 s and so she was very disappointed, but the time was still OK, and she has enough time to reach her goal!

Saturday dawned bright and early and we had the first shock immediately. Warti was injured and could not run, which meant there was a person missing from the relay. 1st replacement Reini wasn't answering his phone, so it was left to me to pack my shoes and head for the track in what would be my first ever relay event. That is not where the afternoon started however.

First there was the 400m, which both Wolfi and Mani G were contesting. They finished 5th and 6th respectfully, both of them dipping under 60 s. Following this was, for me, the highlight of the racing weekend, the 1500m for men. Here Mani W was running and I was quite nervous as to how he would go (and so was he.....). The race started nice a slow (tactical - good) and Mani was able to keep up well with the bunch. At the bell things really started to happen, but Mani didn't lose contact with the first athletes. He moved up to third place on the back straight and started to challenge for 2nd place on the final straight. His superior strength saw the day through and he beat the 3rd place man by a whisker of a hair (0,07 hundreds of a second) for second place.

And then in a moment of stupidity, I let the boys talk me into running not only the 4 x 400m, but also the 4 x 100m relay. We had NO chance in the 4 x 100m as the US team are considered one of the best teams in Austria, but it would be fun. After getting tips on how to do a change over from one of the marshals, we were ready. Wolfi started and handed over to me. He arrived about 3 s after the US team had gone through and so I started my "very slow speed wobble" towards Mani G and in the process I passed the US team who had failed to make a correct changeover - ha ha ha ha - we were leading. Our changeovers went well and you guessed it - we were crowned provincial Relay champions in the 4 x 100m relay, in the scintillating time of 56s - and yes - we were the only qualified team!

In the 4 x 400m, there wasn't much difference, except this time the US team didn't drop the baton and so we were relegated to second place - still not bad. I ran the 3rd leg and pushed quite hard, hard enough that I knew the legs were completely sour by about 300m. I pushed on to the finish but my inexperience at changeovers showed and I over extended myself and fell to the track hurting my arm quite badly - however I was able to give Mani the baton and he brought our relay home.

So all in all, a great weekend, and one that will go down in the history for us, when 4 hobby orienteerers and long distance runners won the Salzburg championships in the premiere team sprint event - the 4 x 100m Relay! Cool!

Here are the results - when they get put up!

And here are some photo's - thank you Wolfgang!

The first steps

to recovery have finally been made (I hope). I decided that I must try and start to run again before we head to South Africa so that I can ensure that I actually still can run :) Was running with Aisha on Saturday and Sunday just easy round the back of the golf course, but it was a real struggle....

I hope that the next few days will bring an improvement :) but tomorrow will be a rest day. However, for my boys, the next few weeks will be hard and long - I wish them well as I head off for a well earned and very relaxing 4 weeks in South Africa...

Anyway, have a good week all,
Richard.

My Venice Weekend...

... was excellent. We had a great time and the race was very good for me.

As this is really the only race that I've actually concentrated on since the summer, I thought that I would write a few short comments here. Venice is definitely one of my favourite races, and I seem to be back year after year to give it a bash. I think, however, that we might give 2008 a skip this time as with two kids, one of them still very small, I'm not sure if we could manage it.

The race itself was good. I knew that my training would last for maybe 30 minutes of hardish running, and then I would be just trying to keep a good, stable walk-jog to the finish. I think that this type of racing has always been my favourite and I always look for a good result at Venice, so I did not want to disappoint again.

Many years ago (1997) when I first went to Venice I was given various "top" tips from runners who had run this race many times before. Since then I have developed my own strategies, which seem to work very well here, but one thing I never seem to be able to solve is the tourist problem. And this year was not different - so many people - so crowded - it was like ... well ... Salzburg at Christmas!

I had a mid morning start, so I knew there would be tourists, and I planned that in, and got off the main street as soon as possible on the way to 1. I was lucky, I had optimal route choices (no errors at all - even route choice) until 9 - 10, where I bumped intro a young Swiss guy and lost concentration for a second, and took the slightly longer route, so lost maybe 10 s here. Every thing continued going well, except my knees started to hurt, and my ankle was not feeling so good.

Approaching 16 I made a 3 / 4 s error, and leaving 16 I miss read the map, didn't see a bridge and ran round a block of buildings on the left, instead of the right. I guess it cost me 15 s. The last small mistake was the exit from 20, where I went north instead of south and this cost me maybe 10 s. So all in all a good, error free run. After about 14 / 15 my running abilities got less and less and I wasn't able to push anymore.

When I finished I was in 2nd place, and eventually finished in 12th place, which is great for the condition I'm in. The winning time was 65 minutes and I was less than 10 minutes behind. I made a total of 60 s mistakes, which I think is great, and pushed as hard as possible most of the way. There was no stopping and no uncertainty - a good race for me.

I ended up with a KM pace of about 5:35 min / km which is almost 40 seconds down on my KM pace from last year, and a full 2 min (and more) down on my best KM pace (when I was still running Elite), just showing how unfit I truly am at the moment. I'll be back - the question is when!

Maybe I'll see some of you in the next years in Venice! Here you can find the website!

Keep well,
Richard.

Quick Update.....

Well, I had the operation last week, and unfortunately it did not go as well as the first one. The "anti pain" injections started to wear off after an hour, and so the last 20 minutes I could feel almost everything. And then the stitching.....aaararrrrgggggg!

Anyway, he had to give me another injection before I went home so at least the pain went away again and then lots of pain killers (3 a day for a week) have kept it mostly away. Unfortunately it appears that the infection has spread back into the left side of the jaw again, and so it's a good chance that I'll need a third operation pretty soon. Additionally, after the first operation I was pain free in a little less than 2 days, but after this one, 1 week later, the pain is still very present - this is not good! Another hospital visit on Friday.

And to top it all, I've picked up a cold (it's going around at the moment) so I'm feeling quite miserable at the moment. Anyway, I should be able to run by the weekend, albeit very slowly, and I'm chomping at the bit to get started again.....

Thanks to all you who sent good wishes and SMS's - it was really kind of you!
Later guys,
Richard.

P.S. In the future I think I'll post these sorts of post to our family blog :) Most of you know where it is!

it's been so long

Yup, really it has, since I last posted something here. The lack of news has also mirrored my lack of training over summer, and this entire year has been a complete write off. However, I'm hoping that after next week, things will start to improve.

You might ask what happened, well let me summarise:
1) After a good winter, the performance was not what I expected!
2) Lots of tests (blood / physical / mental) didn't really help.
3) Doctor then discovered problem with teeth, Dentist said operate
4) It appears that my 4 false teeth were very badly handled when they were capped, and they have formed large infections within the bone in my upper jaw.
5) The first operation, that took 2 hours, was only able to remove the infection from the left side of the jaw, after which I needed to recover, and get the second side done.
6) That is happening on Tuesday.

This has meant that my summer has been one of NO training - why should it? No amount of training can help me here. So I basically stopped training, just occasionally running, and here and there the odd race.

It could also explain the reason why I get so very sick, when I get sick. A normal cold or fever can hang around for 4 to 6 weeks with me, infecting my sinuses, chest and throat. I hope that this will now be a thing of the past, and that I will feel generally better as well.

So there you have it! I'm confident that I will be able to start winter training in 1 or 2 weeks and am looking forward to a great winter. We already have a lot of snow (more snow this year so far than the entire of last winter) and I even managed a small jog with Frank yesterday.

Watch this space and keep coming back for more,
Richard.