Training Log Archive: MSoutham

Event: WCOC Gay City
 

9.888miles with 442m climb in 2:02:53
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Today really personified why I enjoy Orienteering in a very similar way to Rock Climbing. Sure I could have picked a course that was at my level but the most memorable rock climbs I have done are those epics that were above my grade and took all day. Normally the enjoyment I got while on the climb was minimal but I always seem to focus well to overcome the challenge. They also make for the most exciting chats in the pub at the end of the day. This is also how I progressed to HVS grade and didn't lounge about doing vdiffs.

Back to today. I chose the hardest longest course because I really wanted the challenge and I got that not just from the course but from my shoes and my head also.

I found #1 ok as well as #2. #3 was more of a challenge because when I got to the path, I wasn't sure where I was but I got there in the end. It was about at this point that my left sole started to pull away from my shoe which I just took as a challenge to overcome and I pressed on undeterred. Pushing on to #4 I completely missed the trail and ended up nearly back at #2. I retraced and found the switchback trail up the hill but thought I was on a higher loop to the one I was on. After about 10 minutes of faffing I figured it out and found the control at the same time as feet. I found #5 ok and #6 as well after the long run North. #7 was the highlight of the day with great navigation. I kept taking bearings the whole way and came right to the control. I overshot #8 a little but found it as well as #9 without too much heartache. By this time my sole was hanging to my shoe by about 1 inch so I did some wilderness triage by tying my lace around my shoe holding my sole up. Worked perfectly. Found #10 ok and chatted for a moment to the 2 gentlemen on a break there. Now I headed for #11 which I thought was the toughest technically of the course. Very hard to know when to leave the trail. It was at this point that I notices a slight blurred spot in the middle of my eyes. This can only mean one thing. A halo migrane which I normally get when I'm super dehydrated and always end in a ripper headache. Not the best control to be looking for with no eyesight. I did however find it after my blurred vision moved to the outside of my eyes and a lot of trial and error. Now came a catastrophic blunder. When I left #11 I had taken my bearing with the map upside down so went of in the opposite direction to the way I wanted. I usually check twice so this doesn't happen but I guess I still got it wrong. I decided to go the scenic route to #12 as I didn't fancy loosing contact. Found it no problem as I was following roads and back to the end.

The good news is that my halo migrane did not turn into a headache but more importantly, just like those epic rock climbs, I really enjoyed the day.

Red - Splits

Easy going today. Still around 8mph

Good pace at 8mph

2.932miles with 58m climb in 43:02
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Not quite as hot as yesterday but still can't wait for it to get a little cooler.Famous last words.

About 8 mph I guess

3.023miles with 54m climb in 43:26
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Very hot with no breeze. Not much fun today.

Started slow and picked it up to about 8nph.

2.978miles with 60m climb in 45:10
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Very muggy after the rain so walked pretty slowly.

Noticably easier after 3 days off.

2.581miles with 55m climb in 32:31
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Took advantage of the cooler weather to put some effort into it. Almost the fastest time to date too. I should take 3 days off from training more often.

Something in app screwed up the track. It started and stopped at 3/4 distance putting the last leg on a seperate track.