Training Log Archive: KFish

Event: QOC Hoyle's Mill
 

Event: Crooked Compass Adventure Trek
 

Crooked Compass by Rootstock Racing, Cunningham Falls State Park, MD

Somehow we've lived in Pittsburgh for 4 years and this was our first Rootstock Race. Actually signed up for it 1.5 years ago, and then COVID, and after a few date changes it finally happened. Timing worked out, but defniitely not in the Rogaine shape we would have been at the original date, so we set out ot have a fun day in the woods with no aspirations of coming out on top. A change in mindset for us, but a welcome one this time around.

Without planning to clear, planning was pretty straightforward because we were able to pick routes that minimized climb by just skipping a few points. All controls were equal, which also made the strategy a little easier than trying to look at point scenarios. During planning we planned a clockwise route, and then at the last minute we decided to go counter clockwise instead to get the second mandatory point, and bonus map, earlier in the day. Turned out to be a really good choice, but one a lot of teams made, so we were with a pretty large pack for a lot of the day. A little strange to be by so many people, but i guess thats what happens when you walk instead of run out in front.

The race started with a prologue trail run to pick up the passport, which I did alone and packless. Picked up sydney and my pack and it was a 45 minute trek up a mountain to the first control. Not a lot of options, so basically a train of 200 people doing this together.

From there We turned W with a large pack, and the other group turned S and we wouldnt see much of them the rest of the day. The next 5 controls were largely following trails, although we did cut some corners through the woods, and were able to make up a little time on people that were doing the longer trail routes. The first and only problem of the day was E, where we either missed a trail crossing, or it didnt exist, but we ended up doing some circles in thick rhododendron until we finally found a trail. From there we were able to find the trail we wanted, but then the flag eluded us for a while because we were attacking off an unmapped trail bend. Should have paid better attention to the contours, and less attention to the other people around us - out of practice.

From there we picked up 3 more controls and got back in the groove before reaching M2 and the bonus map. The bonus was a tight area with 6 controls, and a mess of MTB trails. Syd did a fantastic job navigating us through these 6 quickly, and bypassing a lot of lost and confused teams.

We continued S for 4 more controls and made a decision to cut the 4 southernmost controls. I was a little concerned about time, although our calculations told us we would be fine. We werent really in the mood to be rushing at the end tho, so we bypassed it and decided there was one we could add in later if we were feeling up for it. At W, the southernmost point, a rattlesnake was sitting about 3 feet from the flag on the rocks. Fun. Hightailed it out of there expeditiously.

CP Y went well, and then a huge downhill bushwhack to U got in my head and I got pretty frusterated. Syd suggesting eating some food, which definitely helped. After that we were on trails the rest of the way, which was a welcome mental break for me. We changed our plans, skipping P, which looked like a tough uphill bushwhack, and replacing it with K, which was a road taking us in the right direction -fantastic choice. Then it was a really long trail slog back with just 2 controls to pick up.

Had a really good time being out in the woods on a 55 degree December day, racing with syd again. It's been too long since we've had a good race together. Even though we werent pushing to win, we had fun and still did reasonably well. We finished with an hour to spare, which could have easily netted another 1, probably 2 controls. Didnt have any electrolyte or stomach problems - further evidence I need to just give up on racing in the heat and stick to the cooler months.

C • surprised 2

Bike boot camp style

Recovery ride

Resistance band workout with Hannah corbin. Shoulders are screaming

Pretty easy ride