The World University Orienteering Championships was held in Bulgaria this year. As my last year eligible, I had been aiming to compete at this competition since the last time it was held in Switzerland two years ago. I had successfully been selected for the team in Spring but shortly after picked up a stress response in my shin which wiped me out for most of the season and many of my other competition aims of the year. My goal was to be back training and ready to compete in Bulgaria. After a few setbacks, I wasn’t close to where I’d hoped to be physically but I was confident I could complete all the races and give it my best.
I arrived in Bulgaria a few days early to compete in a local race, do some training and acclimatise to the 30+ degree weather. The competition centre was located in Bansko, a very picturesque ski town at the foot of the mountains in Pirin National Park.
The first race was the individual sprint around Bansko. The town had a reasonably simple layout so the sprint was going to be fast and furious, not particularly suited to my strengths but I felt confident in my technical ability. After a cautious start I found a nice flow and committed to a simple route on the long leg. I had not seen a small cut through a fence so it wasn’t the shortest but I executed it well. The simpler navigation also gave me time to plan ahead. I had to work hard to maintain some speed through the final part of the course as I really started to feel my lack of speed work. I was pleasantly surprised to finish 17th out of a field of over 100. It was bitter sweet knowing that had my training gone to plan this season it would have been very possible to get a top 10 or better. But it was nice to know I had maintained some form through all my cross training.
The race I had been most looking forward to was the middle distance. Again, feeling a little out of practice moving through terrain, the aim was to have a navigationally clean run. The first few controls were the most difficult of the entire course, on very complex rocky slop. I tried to start conservatively but still lost a couple of minutes due to scrappy navigation in this part. The rest of the course was executed fine, but a bad route choice on a decisive leg meant a few more minutes were lost. My end result was 28th, not exactly what I’d hoped for but there were parts of the course I could be happy with and I’d started to feel like I was racing again.
The final day was the relay, I was in the first team running second leg. I had learnt a lot about the terrain in the middle distance and felt ready to race head to head. Unfortunately our first leg runner had a tough time and set me out a long way behind the lead. This meant my job was to have a stable performance and catch as many teams as possible. I felt very in control and overtook a large group half way round. I pushed hard towards the end and closed the time gap to the next runners. After a great performance on last leg we finished the race in 8th. If our first leg had come back with the second British team, our overall time would have put us in the fight for the medals, so there were plenty of positives to take away.
Overall the week was a great experience. It was a good chance to catch up with international friends in similar age groups and explore a new country which really pleasantly surprised me. I will definitely be coming back to Bansko, for running, orienteering or maybe even skiing. My results weren’t what I had hoped for at the start of the season, but I’m happy that I managed my injury well enough to get back racing in time and that all the cross training gave me some base fitness to work with.
As my last year eligible for the Jack Bloor Fund, I want to thank all the trustees and volunteers involved in making the race and fund happen. For many outdoor adventure sports without much funding, this financial support really helps young athletes chase their goals. This year I will finish the season in Finland for the final World Cup race, before focussing on making the World Orienteering Championships team for the first-time next year after what will hopefully be an injury free winter of training out in Sweden where I am now living and pursuing a PhD. The continued support from the fund, year after year has undoubtedly helped me gain competition experience and develop as a junior orienteer to an elite senior competing on the international stage.
Jack Bloor Race & Fund 