National O Series 2013

[mharky]

Graeme, presumably you think XC races should be run over 10 months of the year, and so should track races, and indoor races?

[DJM]

Mikey wrote

Surprised that the Welsh Champs at Newborough isn't on that list. Top notch area and it would widen the national spread of the 'UK' League.

My information is that there's a permissions issue which means that the 2013 WOA Champs will not be at Newborough.

[awk]

]My information is that there's a permissions issue which means that the 2013 WOA Champs will not be at Newborough.

[rocky]

Rocky doesn't peak

Furthermore, (IMO) rocky isn't especially talented compare with some of the other athletes who've passed through Edinburgh, yourself included.
But achievement is a matter of record, and as the man said Training works, kids.

Not sure why I've been dragged into this but FWIW I agree with Graeme and disagree with Kitch on this one. I race a lot so often I have to train through a race but I do (try to) peak when I need to - 5000m PB a week before WOC suggests I was moderately successful at this this year.

(and the fact that said 5000m PB was 27s slower than Mr Fraser's supports Graemes argument )

I have many other thoughts on leagues, cups, selections and orienteering in general which I might post at some point...

[EddieH]

As a lay person I don't really understand some of the theories about about peaking, although in my own way I'm not generally to bad at it.

I fully understand that you can't perform your best week in week out. However top elites physically run , and do so with a map far more than I do. If you are going to do that why should it matter what proportion of these times are races? I do appreciate that just racing without any attempt to learn and improve leads to lack of progress, but surely it is up to the temperament of the individual what suits them psychologically. Personally I would never have found a year's training for a 2 month band of compaetition would have provided me with the motivation.

It's really nice to read Rocky's take on it.

[greywolf]

Never been totally convinced about the effectiveness of deliberate peaking: as it happens most of my track and road bests come from two distinct and all-too brief (and now very distant) periods when i was running fit and injury-free, including PBs for 10 miles & 800m recorded 2 weeks apart, but these were "accidental" peaks - when you're flying you're flying - rather than planned or scheduled.
But, having said that, I can see a real advantage in focussing the junior race season into a couple of months, if it reduces the pressure on them to be racing week in week out all year round, which as others here have noted before, is not conducive to long term technical improvement. (Of course it's fine for old folk who just want a sociable pootle in the forest every week and don't train in-between times...). Ultimately while the (hopefully resurrected) FCC will be a great success (and I'd be happy to contribute too), the real "peak" for todays M18s ought to be WOC 2020 - we/BOF/whoever need to make sure that the junior structure retains/attracts as many competitors as possible, and provides maximum opportunities for long term development as well.

PS Think the important point about Murray and Scott is that they are both fine athletes who over the years (by trial and error?) have figured out what works best for them in terms of training and racing schedules

[DeerTick]

Peaking. Mmm?

If it's physical peaking, then the build up consists of big, big miles and you're tired all the time. Any O-comp is just part of that and not important; just mental relief. Ask any serious endurance athlete about the physical side of things.

Mental peaking? Not convinced at all. If you enjoy O, then it doesn't matter where you are on you are on your physical program - a good O runout will excite you (just think what I'll do when I'm fully fit and rested!).

AP

[Big Jon]

Mental peaking? Not convinced at all

Probably explains why you never won a world championship medal.

[DeerTick]

Probably explains why you never won a world championship medal.

Ouch!

I can think of quite a few other reasons.

AP