The styrian cross championships took place today in Loipersdorf a location known for the thermal baths. I took part in the main category in order to test my actual shape and in order to do a good training. But I was not the only orienteer to take part in this competition. Also Matthias Müller and the guys from HSV Pinkafeld were lined up at the start.

It was a very short term decision. I had planned some time ago with my friends to fly to Stockholm for a weekend trip. On Friday I told myself, why not use one day for some O-trainings in nice Swedish terrain. So I joined my Club, IFK Lidingö for 2 trainings sessions on Saturday near Trosa, where this years Swedish championships will take place. A middle distance training in the morning followed by a discussion about night-o (completely in Swedish, but almost no problem for me!) and an orienteering interval training in the afternoon was planned.

Unfortunately I was not able to keep my page up to date during the week. That's why I'm posting now a short summary.

After one week here in Portugal i think i can do a very positive summing-up. 3 Competitions and 14 map trainings in 7 days is very good to find the right confidence with orienteering again. I saw that I'm still missing some speed in the forest with bad runnability, but in fast forest it is quite ok. From the technical point of view, I think we did quite a good work especially with direction, a technique I had always problems with. But after 2 explicit direction trainings and a lots of runs on this kind of terrain, where a good direction is crucial, I feel very confident in my skills. I have to say thanks to Bruno Nazario for well organized trainings! I think this was a nice start into the new o-season, and I feel hungry for more orienteering (but maybe not in the next 3 days :-) .

Those interested in the nice trainings we did should go on reeding. For the others I have selected some pictures in my gallery.