Training Log Archive: boyle

Ziggy was at new vet today for shots: 20.1 kg.

In that relatively short ride, two cyclists passed me on the road. Some of the workout was on trail.

Event: OOC SOAR #2 (Summer Orienteering/Adventure Race): Wellington St. Royal Oak
 

SOAR Series #2 Some Like It Hot

Apparently some time back in the 1950's - way before my time - there was a movie called 'Some Like it Hot'.

I don't know what it was about but if the movie were being made today it could be about some 30 Ottawa orienteers who ignored media warnings to limit activity and stay in cool places. They participated in the second Royal Oak SOAR Series event out of the Royal Oak Wellington. Well, actually it was pretty cool inside the Royal Oak and they certainly provided plenty of opportunity for body fluid replenishment.

As the SOAR series evolves I'm able to try some innovations to try to make the events appealing to more people. This week I offered the opportunity for orienteers to try the long course in daylight. Mark Gibbard showed innovation by making sure his route choices took him through a park splash pad and in to the Ottawa River. For Mark and for this event only I waived that rule about not being able to go in to water where there is a black line (uncrossable) around it.
Some other highlights:

Mike Raz, the father, edged Evan Raz, son #1, to win the Intermediate Course. Despite the loss I think Evan still shared the gift certificate won last week with his dad. Of course he did.
Lars Gibbard, made short work of the Short Advanced course in the daylight but found Alexis Dallaire only 45 seconds longer on doing the course in the dark. Dallaire, coming back from a foot injury would normally run the longer course.

Tommy Iverson running the long advanced course in the dark beat Mark Gibbard's daylight time by some two minutes.

For the night event I place small reflectors on the control flags to make them easier to see in the dark. I understand a number of participants were drawn off course by seeing the reflectors on the bicycle of someone camping out in the woods by the river.

We had amazing helper support from controller Bert Waslander to Bruce Brenot, Donna Shields and Jennifer Daubney handling the registration periods, Francis Kawam helping with the remote start. Ben Chagnon and Bert greatly lessened my load by retrieving most of the control flags.

Finally, congratulations to Amber Seeds, Paul Lefebvre and Karen Tippett on winning the draw for the $25 Royal Oak gift certificates.

Now it is on to getting ready for SOAR #3 on Aug 11 at the Royal Oak Barrhaven. This event will feature Score Orienteering with a novice/ Intermediate level event with individual starts between 6 and 7 pm and a one hour time limit. The Advanced Score Orienteering participants will start all together as soon as it is dark enough, shortly after 9 PM, also with a one-hour time limit.

Hope we see you there,

Gord Hunter

Humidex was still 35 when I did warm up before the night-O.

7/7

This night-O was largely a run around Tunney's Pasture campus. My chosen first control (#2) turned out to be MIA. I lost some 6 minutes in the search for the flag, reworking the rest of my route choices and then returning to check out site again between controls 11 and 12. However, most of the other runners had the same challenge. I over ran control 1, another minute lost. With so much sweat, putting on my foggy glasses to check it out map occasionally was of little help. At 7, I decided not to back up for 6, which may have been behind fencing on a map scale I can only read the day after the race. At that point, I determined to take credit for control 2.

After the long mile run to 12, I saw no other runners, so I was likely already in last place. For 13, I went N to parkway, S on trail and overland along fence straight to flag. I had hoped to replicate overland success to 14. Big mistake as there was plenty of poison ivy, too much green and I messed up directions once I broke through to trails. I lost another few minutes on this leg.

Running along shore to 16, I woke up some guy sleeping on the rocks. Fortunately, I exited 16, S through a relatively dry swampy section. For 17, I swept around N of forest and encountered more poison ivy before control flag.

I look forward to the next event. Even so, it is difficult to sleep the same night after one races across a finish line at 11:00 pm. I have also got some negative comments at home regarding same.

humidex 34