diff --git a/src/main/java/dev/loki/loparkour/generator/lifecycle/GeneratorCleanup.java b/src/main/java/dev/loki/loparkour/generator/lifecycle/GeneratorCleanup.java
index f2a3ba6..611d7cb 100644
--- a/src/main/java/dev/loki/loparkour/generator/lifecycle/GeneratorCleanup.java
+++ b/src/main/java/dev/loki/loparkour/generator/lifecycle/GeneratorCleanup.java
@@ -111,7 +111,17 @@ public class GeneratorCleanup {
             // Regenerate first block
             Location spawn = generator.state.playerSpawn;
             if (spawn != null) {
+                // Place first block ahead of spawn based on heading direction
                 Location blockSpawn = spawn.clone().add(0, -1, 0);
+
+                // Move block forward based on heading
+                switch (dev.loki.loparkour.config.Option.HEADING) {
+                    case NORTH -> blockSpawn.add(0, 0, -3);
+                    case SOUTH -> blockSpawn.add(0, 0, 3);
+                    case WEST  -> blockSpawn.add(-3, 0, 0);
+                    case EAST  -> blockSpawn.add(3, 0, 0);
+                }
+
                 generator.generateFirst(spawn, blockSpawn);
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/main/java/dev/loki/loparkour/generator/lifecycle/LifecycleTickManager.java b/src/main/java/dev/loki/loparkour/generator/lifecycle/LifecycleTickManager.java
index 4e4ca0c..14ce48b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/dev/loki/loparkour/generator/lifecycle/LifecycleTickManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/dev/loki/loparkour/generator/lifecycle/LifecycleTickManager.java
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ public class LifecycleTickManager {
         if (generator.state.start == null) {
             generator.state.start = java.time.Instant.now();
         }
-        
-        // Generate initial blocks
-        generator.generate(GENERATION_LEAD);
+
+        // Generate initial blocks (reduced from GENERATION_LEAD to avoid too far generation)
+        generator.generate(3);
     }
     
     /**
diff --git a/src/main/resources/config.yml b/src/main/resources/config.yml
index e3eb2df..995b33d 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/config.yml
+++ b/src/main/resources/config.yml
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ default-values:
 
     lang:
       enabled: true
-      default: "en"
+      default: en
 
     chat:
       enabled: true