Athlete Profile
Hayden Smith
Team Canada Program Athlete 2023
About
- Born: 2006
- Hometown: Ottawa
- Currently Living: Ottawa
- Orienteers for: Orienteering Ottawa
- Occupation: Student
- Instagram: @hayden_smit_
- Training Log: Attackpoint
Q&A
Q: How did you first get involved in orienteering?
A: A family friend heard of the sport and put their kids into the Orienteering Ottawa youth program. They invited me to join them, and I've been orienteering ever since.
Q: If you had one tip for young orienteers what would it be?
A: Don't be afraid to make mistakes. In such a technical sport that orienteering is, they're bound to happen. The important part is to recover and learn from them for next time.
Q: What would a typical week of training look like for you?
A: A typical week of training during the spring consists of 5-6 running sessions, with a mix of trail running, interval training, orienteering, longer runs, moderate runs and shorter recovery runs. I generally start my day with a weights session in the morning before school, as this frees up the rest of my day for training, school work and other tasks.
Q: What is your big life orienteering goal?
A: My big orienteering goal is to stay active in the sport for as long as I can and continue to improve my skills. I want to continue exploring the beautiful forests around our country, and eventually around the world.