WOC 2007, Kyiv

Ukraine Training Camp – Day 4 (20/08/05) by Aislinn

AM: CNOPTNBHE OPIEHTYBAHHR - 4.8km (1:10000, 5m contours)

Relevance to WOC: Classic and Sprint

This area featured very steep spur/gully terrain with a well mapped track network throughout. As Bilbo mentioned, the gully sides are cliffs of earth in places and very difficult to climb. It’s easier to stay on top of the spurs than running down the deep gullies. The forest is generally very fast with high visibility. Where it is marked as green there is some undergrowth, which is slow but ok to get through. Veg boundaries were marked reasonably well. Like many of the other areas there was a fine littering of glass, cans, rubbish and sunbathing Ukrainians in various places throughout the map.

Relevant Techniques: From this training we found that no serious route choice was available but the key was to chose a sensible option and execute it well. Also we found that going straight seemed to generally be the safer and fastest option. Planning ahead is essential and parallel errors are easy to make as the spurs/gullies can be numerous and very similar in size.

Physically: This day was definitely the toughest physically for me. The hills are extremely steep and serious hill sessions will need to be done before WOC!

PM: IIEPETNH – 6.4km (1:7500, 5m contours)

Relevance to WOC: Classic and Sprint

This map was quite similar to the AM training. It featured the steep spur/gully terrain but the map was greener. Again the green was penetrable but had some nettles and undergrowth. The veg boundaries were fairly distinct and the map had a good path network.

As we had our first race the next day everyone took this session a little easier by doing the exercise in pairs to compare route choices. The course was planned as a series of long legs so before leaving each control different route choices were decided. Although Allan and Dan found ‘going left’ to be a good option, the girls found it best to go straight unless there was a serious amount of green in the way.

Relevant techniques: You need to be aggressive in this terrain. It’s really steep and green in places so you need to push yourself hard through the terrain and remember it’s the same for everyone else. Again planning ahead is essential and simplifying a leg if possible.

Note: Don’t be surprised by what you see in the terrain. Expect anything from horrendous amounts of litter; to picnicking Ukrainians in the most unlikely spots in the forest to army men in camouflage trouping round the forest with guns.

posted by daniel @ 1:09 pm