Maroc’s Norway section - news from Helen Palmer
Helen proudly showing off her Maroc jacket
Elite athlete Helen Palmer lives and trains in Norway but runs for Maroc back in the UK when she gets the chance. Read on for an update on her highlights from 2014 and plans for the forthcoming year.
In 2014 I have been representing the Oslo club Lillomarka Orienteringslag. With Lillomarka the highlight was our 6th place relay finish at Norwegian Championships (NM). It has been interesting working with the girls and seeing them develop through the year so that we could finish the season on a high together at NM with a result that equalled the club's all-time record in the women's relay (with 2 juniors on the team). Internationally I represented Great Britain at both European Champs and World Champs. My best race being my leg in the relay at Europeans. At WOC I finished 30th in the middle distance. It was my fourth top 30 placing in a row individually in long and middle distance finals. Unfortunately the trend is in the wrong direction (my best result is 23rd from the long distance in 2011). Various different negative things have cropped up on each occasion which I have let impact on my preparation and performance.
Although it is frustrating to still not manage to get everything out on the big day, I really enjoy the process of training, competing and developing. I have now moved down to Halden where I'm studying and training with Halden Skiklubb who I will compete for in 2015. Both the training environment in Halden and the women's team are incredible and I hope that this change can help me to take a step up to a higher level. I have always had a few races each year where I have shown more potential so I know it is possible but it will take a bit more confidence and committment to bring this ability out more consistently. A high 'average' level is what you need to have international success in different terrain types. I'm working on it! For me a big issue has been getting my lifestyle right and putting myself in a supportive environment where I can train orienteering all year round. I have decided to 'stay in my bubble' and not be part of the British Squad in 2015 but I am still aiming to compete at WOC in 2015 and 2016 at least. There are never any guarantees in sport but I will try my best. Scotland and Strømstad should suit me!
One thing that was really cool in 2014 was racing in the MAROC 1st team at Jukola and running leg 3, a long night leg. The guys on the first two leg ran really well so I was running in quite good packs around the top 200 in the race, which was a fantastic experience for me and really exciting. I had some stomach problems which slowed me down but otherwise I loved everything about it and will hopefully get the chance to do it again someday. Although I am not in the UK very often I hope that I can contribute to MAROC in 2015 by training with the Talent Squad and/or running a relay leg, perhaps at the JK. I really believe that the key to success in orienteering is working together as part of a great training group and challenging each other. We have top terrain and maps in Deeside as well as good athletes and coaching talent so let's all make the most of it, enjoy our orienteering and help each other to be as good as possible. Although orienteering is an individual sport, success is usually down to good teamwork.
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