Training Log Archive: OutdoorsMama

Event: Kick-Start and Starry Night O-CUP Races
 

I made the almost 3 hour trek to the Tri-Cities area for a day of orienteering.
There wasn't any snow in KW, unlike down in the banana belt as was the case when I left home in the morning. But I brought my microspikes, just in case!

These O meets use a handicap system based on age and gender. Your handicap tells you how many controls you can skip in the "box" (or in this case, "boxes"). Because it uses your age at the end of 2016, my number was 4. So in a "box" of 7 controls, I got to skip 4. That just seems weird to me. Firstly, in golf, your handicap represents how well you play, not your age. I suck at golf, so my handicap is huge. My husband plays very well (years of practice does that!), so has a much, much lower handicap than I do. No reflection of age or gender there. Secondly, I knowingly skipped controls, yet finished well within the allotted time (unlike a rogaine or score-O where I am accustomed to trying to get as many as I can while trying to make it to the finish without going over the allotted time). I kept feeling like I was forgetting something!

Anywho.....we were given our maps with enough time to make a plan, then led out to the starting point in the woods. It was a mass start, but since racers all had different plans as to which control(s) to get in which order, I only had to wait in line to punch at one control. I did G B E, and came across a "random" one that wasn't on our map (there was a novice course set in amongst the northern controls). Then it was off to the numbered controls, 1-7. Mostly straight forward (literally) trail and road running. The second box was next and I did a b e. I overshot e and found it on my way back to my last-known-position. Then back to 7, and on to 8-12. This was along side the Grand River, which has very steep banks in this area. So this flatlander did lots of climbing!

As usual, kilometres 2-5 felt better than #1, and I warmed up nicely as I got going.

1:5000 scale map.

C • Nice to see you! 2

Picked up 2 3 4 and a novice control. Met a couple guys who were still on the course and were worried that I was gathering up controls before they were done, but I assured them I was just getting some of the early ones.

Breitaupt Park

This was a training session. Smart orienteerers could do it as a memory-O, but I opted for a map. Lots of intersecting trails, so the magnifying glass on my thumb compass got a workout. Basically 2 sections of woods, one with more topography than the other. Then around a couple ball diamonds, and a small bit of woods around the starting point. I did them in a clockwise order (could do them in any order). I could NOT find my 2nd last control. Ironically, I had seen it from my vehicle on the way in. The dedicated organizers assured me it was there and another fellow said it had been there 20 minutes ago. Stubborn me went back out. Nope, not there. Back to the picnic shelter to tell the organizers, and someone else said it had been there a few minutes ago. So back out a 3rd time....and 2 other fellows were wandering around looking for it. I hope someone appreciates their souvenir.

And on to the 3rd pair of shoes and socks for the day..... (a pile of wet gear was accumulating in the back of my vehicle).

McLennan Park

New territory to me again. An open park, with a splash pad, a dog run area, and likely some good sledding in the winter. We got our maps shortly before the start, and the "box" was first, so I picked my 3 required controls. And we were off, headlamps bobbing all over the park. I did c d e and was surprised to find a mountain bike park around d and e (many random hills/jumps/tracks are kind of a mystery when first found in the dark!).

Then south to the hydro line and 1-8. The vegetation on much of the hill (old garbage dump, I presume) was vetch. It was like trying to run through a slightly unravelled sea of steel wool. Giant steel wool that was up past my knees. I kept telling myself that it might be like orienteering through heather in the UK. Just random thoughts that go through my head out while there....

Having been at e and d helped me find 5. I veered too far east going from 7 to 8, as I picked my way through picky plants (I find them everywhere). I found the stream so knew I had gone too far, so back tracked until I found 8. Then some even-pickier stuff around the back of the dog park, and on to the finish. It was precipitating by then.....snowy rainy stuff.

The hot apple cider was much appreciated!

1:7500 scale.

Estimated time.

I headed back out to get a and c (a was ouside the park, in a wooded area behind a school). I usually don't wander around Kitchener by myself after dark, but since it was a steady rain/snow by now, I figured there wouldn't be too many weirdos out there.

Then back out the other direction to get 1-4. I should've done them 4-1 to save carrying the posts so far, but I didn't think of that until I had picked up 1 and 2. I tried a different route from 3-4, dropping down to the mown grass, rather than fighting through the vetch. It meant battling though 5'6" golden rod and raspberry canes, then a longer run, than taking the direct route. Not sure which would be better.

Did not stretch much before getting in the car as it was a steady wet snow and I was soaked through.

All in all, a darn good day. I got my money's worth, so to speak, with 3 events plus some control pick ups. Navigating Kitchener Waterloo is always interesting (and I was happy to avoid the Expressway as much as possible). There has been a lot of development here in the approx 15 years since I moved out of Cambridge, but the number and diversity of city parks and bike/walking trails is such a wonderful part of this huge metro area.

I was out the door, heading for the gym, then I came to my senses. I realized that it wasn't raining anymore and it is probably the last night for capris and only one layer on top.
Windy, but 12C.
A good walking session to warm up and cool down, and a decent stretching session afterwards (not logged).

Lost 3-1. 0 for the night. We were just getting warmed up when the final buzzer sounded :)

Paul and I biked to McGregor and back, with a short detour on the way home to get a small bag of chips at Mac's (the protein bar and Tailwind just wasn't cutting it). It was a beautiful day (and both of us have slightly sunburned faces now). There were probably more people using the trail than we've seen on any given day all summer.
We saw either a Cooper's Hawk or a Sharp-Shinned Hawk busily devouring a white dove/pigeon (apparently the difference between them is the shape of the end of their tail, which I didn't look at closely enough). Later, maybe the same one glided down the trail in front of us for a few moments. Pretty cool. (This was near the Cooper's Hawk Winery......). I also dodged 2 garter snakes who were sunning themselves on the trail (isn't it time for snakes to be all curled up in a ball for the winter?).
We pushed the pace for the last 10k or so (pretty well 15 mph) then rode easy through town at the end.