Today, the JWOC team concentrated on Long and Middle distance model training.
First up was the long distance map, at a 1:15,000 scale. The group started at a restaurant and viewing tower on a hill top, Jiraskova Chata.
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| Start of the long training. |
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| Tough route choice legs. Which way would you have chosen from 8 to 9? |
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| The ladies discuss route choice after the training session |
Afterwards the team had a packed lunch and time for some
relaxation before moving on to the afternoon session on middle distance
map.
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| Nice view for lunch! |
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| Relaxation time! |
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| Jennifer tackling a steep hill! |
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| Map sample from the middle distance training |
Here are some athlete quotes after the training today:
Today's training for the long is physically really challenging. I think it came as a bit of a surprise to everyone that the running in the white forest was faster than running in yellow, due to long grass. Also, the woods were more tick free!
--Pia
The mental approach to the middle and long terrain is quite different. In the long, one must struggle to read through closely packed contours to plan ahead. In contrast, the middle involved intense concentration on the terrain underfoot. It was easy to ignore the "rocky ground" on the map but unwise to forget the mossy mess attempting to trip you up. Crossing the Polish border on both maps was really fun.
--Adam
Man I am going to have a great bum after all this hill climbing!
--Jen
The long will involve climb. I plan to RISE to the challenge.
--Adam
I have never seen such clean forest under my feet.
--Jen
The Polish border looked a lot more open than the Czech side. Of course, that may have been because it wasn't mapped.
--Trevor
The difference between a distinct tree and a non-distinct tree here is that one is a bit bigger than the other but that doesn't make a world of difference in dark green vegetation.
--Jen
It's like learning to orienteer all over again in these areas and the way they're mapped.
--Robbie
Where is this vegetation boundary they speak of?
--Robbie
The long terrain is very hilly making route choice very important, trying to get a balance of as little climb and distance as possible.
--Alex
Les terrains de la longue distance resemblent un peut aux terrains de Saint-Etienne ou Emily s'entraine. Les terrains de la moyenne sont vraiment sympas, c'est tres agreable de courir sur des terrains difficile techniquement avec de nombreux rochers. Le temps etait ensoleile, en esperant que cela continue.
--Remi
Looking forward to the long and all that climb, well not the climb exactly, but I seem to be dealing with the route choice and long terrain better than the rocks, rocks, rocks and individual trees (which one are they!?) of the middle.
--Kendra
Today I got a lesson on how to descend quickly from a herd of wild goats.
--Alex
Sounds like they're having a good time, at least!
Stay tuned to the Team Canada blog for all the behind-the-scenes action, as our Canadian athletes prepare for competition next week! You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You can catch all the JWOC action on their website, and also on Facebook.
Go Canada Go!
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