Training Log Archive: Torino

Long Distance today. My start time was at 9:03, so I got up nice and early to be really awake for orienteering. Slight drizzle started at the start, then we were told that the start times were pushed back by an hour!! Oh well. Somehow killed the time and stayed warm as I was dressed for wind and rain. But eventually actually the sun came out for a very little while which lightened up everybody's mood, because the start times were again moved back by 10 min (no problem), then 30 min, then for sure to 10:45. It was tough staying warm and I was really glad when I was finally off.
Long first leg on a country road, quite easy, then control quite close to the edge of the map and it was hard to see whether a trail that was barely visible at the edge was actually connecting to where I came from. As it was allowed to go cross-country, decided to cross a meadow with a horse in it and down through the woods into a re-entrant smack to a trail intersection which was very close to my flag. Yipee, that was great and fast foot-O with a bike.
Eventually, we dipped into a deep valley with a fast-flowing stream which was at this stage quite high.
I couldn't believe we had to cross it, Searched for another way, but had to cross it, and again and again. Tried to ride through, but it was a real creek with rocks in it and up to over my knees sometimes and the current was strong. Oh well, wet is wet. We eventually crossed it 5 times I believe. Quite an adventure. Riding through deep puddles was a piece of cake by now.
When I came to #6 I saw no flag. Checked around a bit to be sure I was really at the correct place. But it was such an obvious river bend, so crossed the creek to the position I would have put the flag and found streamers. Another one missing?? What IS this?? Continued and pushed towards the finish and was quite happy with it.
Could win again, though I had 8 min at the place where I searched and maybe here and there a minute.
PS: the organisers admitted that the flag-setters simply forgot to put out that flag. the same happened yesterday. What a shame!
Later back at the event center (I was one of the first ones in) it started to rain again and the rest of the day remained grey, foggy and very wet.
I waited for the award ceremony which was supposed to be at 2 pm and continuously got pushed back until I left by 4 pm. There were less and less people in the room, I felt sorry for the organisers who must have put so much work and hours into organising and then the weather and the water and the mud and the missing controls can put such a damper on the outcome.

C • Missing flag 1

Ride to the start of Bike-O race

Middle Bike-O race. Our #7 was missing, tried to attack it from other side but only found streamers where it should have been. Continued and first discouraged, then found pleasure again in racing on mt.bike and orienteering. Very, very, very wet! Where there were trails, often water had found its way or we had to cross huge "lakes" where water had accumulated. First, I was kind of hesitant, but soon found out that staying on the bike in low gear and pedaling through was the best way. Often it was so deep it actually covered my shoeas up to mid-calf. Amazing. There was also mud, but I tried to avoid it by walking/running around it through bushes or whatever. Once, I was caught in mud and pulled out a foot full of muck. Still, I enjoyed it out there.
The course was not too hard, one had to follow exactly the trails, often they were indistinct which made it real hard. But mostly it was clear where the trails were, some though were also missing on the map. Tried to ignore that and go on. Don't know my placement yet as it was decided not to throw out the course but to take the time to #6 and again from #8 to the finish.
Sun was out for a change!
PS: forgot to stop the watch and it shows also the ride back to the event center. Real racing time was appr. 48 min.

Sprint Bike-O race in town in the evening: Felt good and pushed the pace. It was tough to keep track, counting side streets and being aware where what is when rounding the corner. Good beginning, although the traffic interrupted my concentration a few times, once, I did not remember for the instant whether I was on this or still on that street. But found the flag anyway.
Caught up with a number of women and still pushed the pace when I could.
Another mistake on #10 which was the 39, but I had already read ahead to the next one which was 47, so was confused and made a loop around the block to check where I really was, which was right where I was supposed to, then I realised my mistake and went to 39 again then continued. I thought, I had lost this group of women but I soon caught them again and led the way, then close to the finish, was too impatient for the second last control and did a little extra loop before I could finish. Still was the first one in of our group of women. And won the age class of us 3 competitors!

Ride out to Cabo san Vicente, the most south-western point of Europe (again), against strong headwind all slightly uphill and mostly on the gravelly side of the road. Was kind of tough fighting the winds from the front and side
The morning was grey and very rainy and looked as if there was no change in sight, when suddenly after 1 pm it cleared up and sunshine came out. Soon, everything warmed up and life looked much better!

Had to stay longer at the Cabo under a roof because all of a sudden a cloud raced in from the Atlantic and it was obvious it had rain in it. So we waited it out then headed back to town all slightly downhill. Warmed up with a coffee at a beach bar enjoying the sun, finally! Going back the longer way trying to find the tiny irises I saw yesterday, but to my amazement first couldn't find them, and when I was sure it was at that spot where a field of them were blooming, I saw that they were all either nibbeld away or they simply bloomed only a very short time or the cold, rainy weather made them all falter . Who knows?

Have arrived in Sagres at the south-western most point in Europe where in the 15th century people were sure that the world ended.
Did some exploratory loops, also to check on the state of my bike as we had just put it back together after being stored in the bike bag all folded up for the plane ride. The first time I did that, and we had some troubles and doing things the wrong way or the wrong sequence. In the end it all seemed to work, but when I wanted to ride it, my foot immediately hit the tires. It turned out that by mounting the handlebar, somehow the whole front wheel got turned around and was backwards. By that time, it was an easy thing to loosen the handlebar again and turn the whole thing the right way.
The ride was pleasant, some on rocky trails high above the cliffs with lots of spring flowers. Tiny irises which I had never seen so small, but the wind must be the culprit for them not being able to grow any taller.
Today, was almost a sunny day with a few sprinkles on the trip down from Lisbon with a stop in Grandola. But tomorrow it is supposed to rain again. What dismal spring weather when it is supposed to be pleasant and warm in Portugal. Hmm.

Outside Lissabon and went exploring Monsanto a little. Fun but got caught in a hailstorm, not fun. trouble finding the parking again. Had to ask!!