AR Training from JP

[ODB]

This is something JP wrote on the training board concerning how he trains for adventure racing. I thought it belonged here.

I ride a couple times a week (at least 20 miles or more), mixing trail with road sometimes, or if I do strictly road, I focus on hill work, or I will do laps on some fairly difficult single track to continue to develop my riding technique.

In the gym, if I can, I try to get about 2-3 days a week, using the "auto-regulation" method as I learned from Bill Hartman, and I absolutely LOVE that method. I am still doing full body workouts. I focus my leg work primarily on hams, not quads since my riding has made me so quad-dominant. My routine usually consists of 5 core exercises (bench press, one-arm row, RDL's or lunges, isometric holds on scap retractions, shoulder press or lateral holds (another gem I added since working with Bill), then I may do a couple of sets targetting my tris (they have withered over the years from all the shoulder surgeries.

One of the main things that keeps you in the race is good orienteering. I'm looking for input on how to train for that. I'm a strong navigator but got there through years of working with maps in a previous job and as part of extensive backpacking. I have not been able to find anyone doing rogaines or orienteering competitions in my area. I'd love to hear of any ideas.

[sarah]

I send my husband out into the woods to flag cp's, and then go in search. He's good with maps, and it gives me practice-(plus, he'll know the general vicinity of my location, if I'm lost.) Other than that, I just go out and bushwhack.