Training Log Archive: LR

West Point Day 2
Aaaargh!
Well I haven't done that in about 10 years - a 180. Not only a 180 but straight out of the start triangle - have never done that. If you do enough orienteering events you will eventually have every error imagineable.

Start to 1:
All pumped up ready to go. Started to the triangle and was having a real hard time reading the map with alot of detail - note to oneself get glasses. Saw the road depicted on the route to #1 and assumed it was the road at the call up line and off I go fast. Hit the major road and things don't make sense - then the sinking feeling in your stomach - man have I botched it up. Turn around and full sprint back the other way - this leaves the worst taste in your mouth that you have to deal with the rest of the race.
1-2
Full out trying to make up the lost time - pass Bob Lux and Liz. Along the edges of the swamps into the control. Spike.
2-3
Really hard time reading all the detail. Onto the road past the junction - did not see the trail to the left on the map - so I take it trying to figure out where I am. Cut across the green in the re-entrant and get up on the ridge. Very hesitant here as I am thinking the two cliffs are the ones near the control but are higher up the re-entrant. See Tiivo just leaving the control and Tim just coming in - have lost 3min already. Try and get out as quick as possible to stay ahead of Tim.
3-4 Race with Tiivo to control. I go higher on the ridge while Tiivo drops lower. Tiivo beats me to the control - no Tim yet.
4-5 Tiivo and me going across the green. Hit the clearing at the trail - keep going down the hill across the road and hit the marsh up through the green and climb the hill. Make sure I am at the right level and there it is - Tiivo is higher up messing about. Spike.
5-6 Up on top of the hill and run across the top and side of hill up the saddle. Slide down this 10 ft cliff face - yikes. To the swamp and what am I looking for - stand around for 30-40 seconds to figure out. Circle not quite centered on the feature. Yuk. Good run to the circle but futz around.
6-7 Could not read the detail here - glasses stupid. Got too high and then saw Tim come into the control below.
7-8 Climbed out of the control over the hill while Tim went around. Got to the swamp before Tim and started the climb up the side of the hill. Tim starts pulling away.
8-9 Really hard reading this area. Bearing and hope I find something. Following Tim for the most part.
9-10 Down the cliff faces.
10-11 Swung too far right to miss the green. Lost Tim on this route - see him leaving 11 for 12.
11-12 Nice easy run. Could see Tim a long ways ahead. Spike.
12-13 Lost Tim out of the control. Bearing and avoid the rock as much as possible - use the downhill as the catching feature with the spur on the right hand side. Spike but slow.
13-14 Easy run.
14-F Chase George down the hill - did not catch him until the punch. George is fast.

Moral of the story is get some glasses - this is stupid running blind like this.

Sunday Classic, Green X - Splits

West Point Day 1

Not at bad run - one big mistake at #5 - not able to read the detail on the map. Slow in the terrrain - need to get out running on rocks again. Have spent the winter running on nice snowmobile trails. Need to dance like a butterfly on these rocks.

Start to 1:
Easy yellow control - had to check my map to make sure I hadn't picked up the wrong map.
1-2 Up the hill. Bounce off ridge to the end.
2-3 Goof run on a compass bearing. Control hung high so it was easy to locate
3-4 Easy across the road and around the spur to the knoll.
4-5 Skirt the green to the north with some fight. Hit the trail and thought I was farther down the trail at the cliff. Cut south looking for the knoll on the other side of the knoll. Hit the clearing and start swearing - back north again and see a control at the end of swamp - let's see what the code is - and behold it is mine. Swamp is not the control feature. Afterward look more closely and see that I was looking for a depression - glasses dummy.
5-6 Swing right to avoid the steep climb. Use the trail partially up the hill and then use the cliff face for my bearing.
6-7 Follow the hill side and look for a big cliff as depicted on the map.
7-8 Route choice. Took the trail all the way to the left - very little climb and good attack point. Hung high again so it was an easy in. Not sure if this was the best route.
8-9 Messed up here a bit. Across the road - stuck in the thorns and went to the first open rock which was much longer than depicted on the map. Bounce over to the next one and find the control.
9-10 Straight in.
10-11 Down the hill - find the trail and cut the corner to join up with the road going up the hill. Once up the hill cut across inbetween the knolls and see the control.
11-12 Felt like a good run across the hillside to the trail and scramble up the cliffs to the control.
12-13 Racing down the hill, across the trail and run beside the swamp. Count the hilltops to pull to the left. Hung high.
13-14 Carefull here. Run inbetween the rock outcrops and swing down the right side of the spur and thar she be.
14-15 Felt really slow here. Up to the clearing, across the road and up onto the ridge (did not use the trails). Then swing around to the bottom and control was a bit hidden on the west side.
15-16 Short spurt up the hill. A bit hidden behind some dense deadfall.
16-17 Through the swamp (not planned) and slowed down too early. A few bumps ahead of the actual reentrant to slow me down.
17-18 Road and sprint.
18-F Racing in.

Need to get those glasses.

Saturday Classic, Green X - Splits

Skatutakee Mountain
Start running up the hill but get turned back with 8-10" of snow halfway up. Punching through and getting feet stuck in crevases. Pull back and run back down. Do some sprints on the road to get ready for the weekend.

Spinning w/Rich
Out of the saddle for the whole class. Water loss 2.6 lbs.