PROFILE – Anna Sheldon

Anna Sheldon

compiled by Wendy Read

Photo: Bob Mouatt

AKA: Bomb (SMS predictive text for Anna) Club: Ugly Gully Orienteers, Queensland Age: 25 Education: Completed high school at St Peters Lutheran College, Brisbane. Is currently a full time student completing a PhD in Soil Science at the University of Queensland, with honours in gaining funding extensions to support her athletic (oops – academic) career.

Past Sports Achievements:

Gymnastics – competed in both Rhythmic and Artistic until finishing high school. Orienteering – Queensland Schools Orienteering Team 1996 – 1998; JWOC - 1998 France; 2000 Czech Republic; 2001 Hungary; Bushrangers team 2003, 2004, 2005; MTB WOC 2004 (Relay Bronze medal); MTB WOC 2005 (6th Middle-distance)

When did you first take up Orienteering (and why?)

Mum (Joan) orienteered and took me to events as a child, participating initially just in local events in Queensland. But in 1996, the Queensland Schools Orienteering team was going to Tasmania for the Australian Champs. Aged 15, I really wanted to make the team so I started doing some training. Not only did I make the team, I had heaps of fun and some good results too. That started my life as a competitive orienteer.

Describe big breakthroughs (MTBO and Foot-O)

After moving up from juniors to elites, my next goal was to make the WOC team. I worked really hard towards this goal, and had some occasional successes, but it seemed like a long four years of not really going anywhere. My first breakthrough came by improving the physical level at which I could race. While always training consistently, injuries limited the intensity of my training efforts and I could never train really hard. By switching from running to cycling for MTBO in 2004 and 2005, I found I could train much harder and achieve a much higher level of fitness than before. I also realised how much more I could achieve by structuring training properly over the whole year. Smarter training plans enabled me to cope with a much higher training load than ever before. The other breakthrough I had this year was in being able to race in Foot-O much more consistently. In past years I had some good runs, but twice as many bad ones – with races often characterized by usually one big mistake. Learning to take a calmer approach to racing, controlling speed and improved concentration have seen my results really improve. (Anna’s most recent breakthrough in Foot-O was to win the 2006 Australian Championship in WA.)

What’s next?

My main focus for 2007 is the Long-distance race at WOC in Ukraine, and also being selected for one of the other race formats at WOC. Also, I would like to compete in as much of the World Cup season as possible.

Photo: Troy Merchant

Typical training week & Diet Plan

MON: Recovery run/ride & coffee TUES: Long terrain run & coffee WED: Intervals & coffee THURS: Hills & coffee FRI: Recovery run/ride & coffee SAT: Long run with ‘Bomb Squad’ * (followed by big breakfast & coffee) SUN: O Race & beer

Favourite activities outside Orienteering

Mountain biking, adventure racing (with teams Mountain Designs and Geronimo!), bushwalking.

Favourite music, books, whatever

I’m really looking forward to reading anything that’s not to do with salinity levels in soil. I always enjoy reading someone else’s fresh newspaper and doing the crossword before they get to it. There’s usually a pirated ‘Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ album sitting in my D Drive, too. *Bomb Squad = female members of Qld Cyclones NOL Team