“So on the fourth day he
rested from all his work ..." This is how Alasdair MacLeod
managed his participation in the Portugal O' Meeting 2015. Winner of
the three first stages in the Men Elite class, the Scot had the
well-earned rest on the last day. A nice victory, although the
athlete's great desire of running in the Super Elite class.
Are you unhappy for not being
able to run in the Men Super Elite class?
Alasdair McLeod (A. McL.) -
No, I'm happy. I just feel that I was very unlucky last year, I was
injured, I couldn't run any World Ranking Events and I had a very low
score. But the rules are the rules for everyone. Still I enjoyed the
comparison between Men Elite and Men Super Elite but, of course, I
would be pleased to run in the Men Super Elite if I could.
Did you think you could have won
here as easily as you did?
A. McL. - My original plan
was I expected to run here in Super Elite and I really wanted some
good World Ranking points in Portugal. So my plan was to rest most of
the days and not run them all, but when I ended up in Men Elite I
decided I wanted to try to win as many as I could.
You planned to become year in
this time of the season. Why Portugal?
A. McL. - These are the first
races out in the Winter. I've done lots of winter training during the
last three months and I really wanted an opportunity. We've been here
for one week now with the Scotland Team, this is our second weekend
of races, we did a training camp in the middle and this is the first
great chance with quality events to get your technique and also
because there are so many international people coming to Portugal
races at this time of the winter. It's great competitions to see
where you are, how fit you are, how your technique is. It's a great
stage post before the season and some of the bigger races in Spring
and Summer to see where you are.
Are you happy with your decision?
What notes do you take from here?
A. McL. - It was a great
decision and I've been very happy. This is the best I've run in a
very long time, so at the moment I've got everything I wanted out of
this Portugal trip.
Motivated?
A. McL. - Very motivated.
This is a very big year to Scotland, the World Championships will be
in Scotland and I'll try to be there. There's a lot of british people
who are training very hard, that wanted very good results because
it's a “home Championship” and, personally, I live very near from
where the terrains are so, for me, it feels even more of a “home
Championships” and I want to be there.
What do you need to go there?
A. McL. - I think that I
need, in the next few months, more good orienteering trainings and to
stay healthy and not injured would also be good in the next six
months. It's the most important thing, yes, you have to actually be
there on your top shape, you don't want to miss any training or self
consistency.
How is the Bristish Team?
A. McL. - The british people
are all very excited about this year. It's a very good team attitude,
out of all the British Team a lot of people have known each other for
a long time. It doesn't matter who ends up in the team, because
everyone is training so well at the moment that whoever ends up there
will be in a very good place to do well. There's a big sort of team
feeling and support. It's not so much about individuals, it's about
achieving as a group, which makes it much more fun.
What will be your intermediate
steps until the World Championships?
A. McL. - After Portugal
there's a really big race called the JK Orienteering Festival, in
April. It will be, actually, a big international event because some
teams are using it as test races before the World Championships and
it's also our first british test race. We have multiple stages of
British test races and that is the first one. And then the World
Cups, later, in Norway and Sweden will be big races, and these will
be the main events before the World Championships.
Are we going to see you in
Portugal in the next years?
A. McL. - I think this is my
third or fourth time in Portugal in the past five years and I really
like it here. There are a lot of terrains that can be very
complicated but you can still move very fast. It's great for
orienteering and I think I will definitely be back next year.
Joaquim Margarido
