Training Log Archive: Vector

World ARDF Champ's - 80m Classic: A very grueling but beautiful course criss crossing cultivated land like rice patties and orchards while climbing very steep hills with amazing mountains in the backdrop. Picture perfect weather too. This was actually my 1st ever 80m race. I had only done a practice event before. Came out of the start chute and used the high ground nearby to get good bearings on signals. #1 was clearly the closest but 2 and 3 seemed equidistant and when I got to 1 it seemed 3 was really close. Turns out I should have gone to 2 and then 3 becuase I did a ton of backtracking to get to 2 from 3. I got abused by terrible vegetation trying to get to 3 and find 3 once I got close. Sticking to roads next time given the extremely dense vegetation and unreliable mapping of trails that seem to always disappear and dead end into impassable green. Started getting close to overtime and resolved to just finish wth 3 of the 4 transmitters but once I started on my way to finish mid way from 2 I realized 4 might be quite close to finish... and then somewhere along the way to 4 I lost my map. But I already had my route to where I thought 4 was located memorized as well as the route from 4 to finish, plus the beacon helped with the finish too. I had just barely enough time to go get 4 and then haul like a mad man to the finish. Mission accomplished! Had less than 3 minutes to spare before overtime. And good thing I persevered because it helped contribute to Ken and I getting 3rd place/Bronze medal team score on M40. Czechs and other teams to follow had at least one control they didn't get, but we got them all, just barely!

USA did great all around with Vadim, Bill and Nicolai getting a Bronze for their team score on M50, Bob Cooley 4th place finish, Lori 7th in her race, and Ruth was oh so close to medaling again! Sprints and cultural day tomorrow.

Ankle still giving me pain on occasion so still a lot of hobbled running especially on the downhills. Kind of frustrating but taking a day at a time.