GUENDA ZAFFANELLA TELLS ABOUT HER ASOM

ASOM is a sprint event that has been bringing hundreds of athletes from all over the world to run on the maps of Belgium since 2015. This year’s edition was organized in Turnhout, April 25-27, and among the athletes at the start was one of our new entry: Guenda Zaffanella, who this year focused on sprint preparation, having as her season goal the European Championships in late August. Here she tells us how it went.

“From April 25-27, I participated in the ASOM. The races included a Knock out WRE and a Sprint WRE. The knock out took place between Friday evening (qualifying) and during the day on Saturday. On Sunday morning, however, I ran the sprint in Turnhout (relevant terrain for the Europeans at the end of August).

It has been a wonderful experience, I am satisfied and glad to have participated. It was definitely a valuable comparison with other athletes, and I was able to see where I stand and what to work on and what to improve.

From a technical point of view, I noticed that I am making improvements, but there is still work to be done. As for running speed, I noticed that it is still not enough, I have to hold more intense rhythms (in the quarterfinals I was “dead”).
Psychologically, I tested a new mindset based on control and confidence: I was leaving with the idea of doing the best possible performance, giving my best and testing the work done so far. Calm, concentration and determination with focus only on me and my orienteering.

All in all I am quite satisfied with the results:

• I passed the qualification, 8th out of 24 (Heat C) and took 12.
• I was eliminated in the quarters, 4th out of 6 (QF4); I definitely noticed the running gap, but significant experience that helped me understand what strategy to implement in a KO with equal paths for all, with no choices.
• Unexpected 12th place in Sunday’s sprint, 1’09” behind the leader. I started without any pressure, with the sole purpose of orienteering, taking care of the technique (since the day before during the quarters was almost all running and I did not like orienteering). So I just ran and once I got into a rhythm with the map, I accelerated by giving everything I had left from running after the previous races. Overall great feelings!

Results that show me that I am on the right track, even if it is only the beginning and there is still a lot of climbing to do!”

Team Manager Gabriele Viale says: “We’ve launched a development program that is already delivering results – and we expect even more success over the next two years.”

Proud to support a dedicated athlete like Guenda. Keep up the good work!