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Elite Athlete Winter Training Series - Interview #8: with Charlotte Watson

Winter Training and Motivation: Athlete Focus

The temperature is cold, and the days are shorter. Struggling to maintain the motivation for training or orienteering regularly? You're not alone. Getting yourself out on cold dark mornings and evenings takes a lot more motivation than it might do in July.

Pick up some tips and see what makes up a typical training week for some of our top elite athletes this winter with our elite athlete focus feature series.

Athlete name: Charlotte Watson

Athletes club: 
West Cumberland Orienteering Club (WCOC)
Lillomarka OL

Athletes age: 24

Charlotte Watson out training

Athletes biggest achievement?

25th in the Long distance at the World Orienteering Championships 2017.

Typical training week over winter (including mileage, terrains, etc)?

  AM PM
Monday S&C ~ 45mins Orienteering ~ 1hr
Tuesday Morning jog ~30min Intervals/Hill reps ~1hr 15min
Wednesday S&C ~ 45mins Orienteering ~ 1hr
Thursday Running/orienteering/mountain biking/road bike ~1hr 30min - 2hr 30min  
Friday Rest day - easy bike or swim  
Saturday Running/orienteering/mountain biking/road bike ~1hr 30min - 2hr 30min  
Sunday Running/orienteering/mountain biking/road bike ~1hr 30min - 2hr 30min  

I train anywhere between 8 and 12hrs a week depending on if it’s an easy or a hard week, with a mix of running, orienteering and cycling.

Technical training over the winter?

This year I am having more of a focus on technical training as over the last 3 years I have more focused on building up my fitness. Therefore, every month I have an O focus week where I try to get 5-6 sessions of orienteering in each week. On the other weeks, I aim for 3 quality sessions a week.

Top 3 tips for staying motivated in winter?

1. Plan out your training at the start of the week so you know what you need to get done and don’t miss any sessions

2. Have lots of variety so you don’t get bored (or injured!)

3. Have some fun training weekends planned to look forward to

4. Go and live somewhere sunny.

Athletes favourite motivational quote.

"Go hard or go home."

 

Thank you, Charlotte.  British Orienteering and members would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best with your training throughout the rest of the year.

 

Read more

Elite Athlete Winter Training Series of Interviews
More information - here.

Interview #1: with Charlotte Ward - here
Humberside and Lincolnshire Orienteers, Sheffield University Orienteering Club

Interview #2: with Kris Jones - here
Forth Valley Orienteers, Swansea Bay Orienteering Club, Lillomarka OL, Swansea Harriers, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers

Interview #3: with Alice Leake - here
Airienteers

Interview #4: with Alasdair McLeod - here
Airienteers

Interview #5: with Jenny Ricketts - here
Edinburgh University Orienteering Club, Mar Orienteering club

Interview #6: with Hector Haines - here
IFK Lidingö SOK

Interview #7: with Graham Gristwood - here
Forth Valley Orienteers

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