Training Log Archive: maprunner

West Campus Fake Walls. I added some black lines to make this familiar area a bit more challenging. I picked the wrong route to 3 and 4, should have seen the shorter route.

http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

Stanford Sprint, map borrowed from R Culberg's DOMO

Fun Sunday morning sprint. The campus was full of tents, tables and chairs from the previous day's reunion activities. The workmen taking it all down stared at me with funny looks as I dodged through them

http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

Hiking with my sister in the hills above Palo Alto. We saw lizards, s bobcat, a buck deer, and some turkeys.

Short arms-only workout before flying to CA to visit family for the weekend.

C • Your arms aren't so short. 3

Went out to Clinton to enjoy the beautiful day and beautiful fall woods. Then a quick dinner before heading out to sewing group.

It was a picture perfect, warm fall day. So I closed my work computer at 4:30 and was on my bike by 4:32.

US Nationals, Long course at Bishop's Lake

I've orienteered in Michigan before, so I knew the terrain would be hard to read and understand. So the plan was to walk with purpose. Still, I was surprised that it took me three controls to get "into" the map reading. I was really slow on 2, nothing was quite making sense after I passed the marshes.

Things finally started to click, somewhat, after 3. Still lots of hesitations when things didn't make sense, but also a few moments of yeah, it will be right up there.

Was right on track for 6, then took an unexplainable wander a bit off to the side. Spiked 7 (yeah for finally getting a spike)!

My biggest mistake was 9. Just couldn't figure things out as soon as I passed the big depression to the south. I hesitated a bit, and then did a logical thing (for a change): I walked back to the big depression and started again. This is progress. Lately I have been in a "I'll just wander it must be just around here" phase. I was pleased that I stopped and relocated. AP says I lost 2:45 here. I'll take it over a 15 minute mistake any time.

I had a hard time picking a route to 10 (good course setting!). I planned to stay on the trails more, but I was lulled into the white woods just past the marsh. After that, I executed as planned. I'm glad I attacked from the curve in the road (NW of the control).

11 was weird for two reasons: one: I saw the marker from a distance but I thought it couldn't be mine, the placement made no sense. Looked like a flat dry marsh, to me. I was quite surprised to see it was my control when I saw the code. And two: I did a 180 leaving the control. Fortunately, I caught it pretty quickly.

12 to 13 was just a slog, and I hated the green stuff here. Halfway through, I went through a patch of vines that were wrapping me up at every step. That was not fun.

Overall, I loved the terrain and the course. I'm not happy that I was tired and could only walk through this challenging terrain. But I'm very happy that I navigated decently and relocated quickly. I'll take it as a win.

http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

Quick drive to Detroit for an early flight (possum was there also). Nice to be home by 6 pm for a change.

Sunday_Long_Bishop_Lake_Oct_2018_6 Green A - Splits

US Nationals Sprint 1, Plymouth centennial park

A good race! I was able to run most of the time, I did well reading ahead and knowing where I was going.

Slight bobble at 3 when I couldn't figure out what I was looking for; and less optimal route choice at 9.

I was pleased.

http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

US Nationals, Sprint 2 Plymouth Centennial Park

I was tired for this second sprint, and it showed, in my thinking. I felt just a few seconds behind on my reading and was not always sharp. Confused at 3, walked past 4 (saw it but assumed it wasn't mine, because it looked like it was on a trail), not planning my attack to 6.

I stood a t 6 for a few seconds to decide if I truly had to run down to the bridge by 4 to get to 7. I didn't want to overlook an obvious other route choice. But yes, I did have to go all the way back down.

Going through the woods to 7 was very rough, tons of downed trees. But after that I was able to take advantage of elephant tracks to get to 8 and 9.

10 was insane. I said to myself, run past the tennis courts, cross the road and go to the shelter. I was just concentrating on running and finishing as soon as I could. I stopped looking at my map away on the way around the tennis courts, and I looked up and saw a shelter way up the road. So I ran up to it (and right past my marker). Ugh, lost 2 minutes here.

Not happy with this run.

http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

Saturday_Sprint1_Plymouth_Oct_2018_6 Green A 1 - Splits

Saturday_Sprint2_Plymouth_Oct_2018_6 Green A 2 - Splits

Event: 2018 USA Nationals - Sprint Middle Long
 

US Nationals, Middle Course, St Patricks Park, South Bend IN and crossing in to MI

This did not go as planned. It started out well, I was moving smoothly and reading well through 5. At 6, I decided to follow a young guy into the woods even though I knew it was too early.

Then it fell apart for the next few controls. Actually, my brain turned off/ Missed the elephant tracks leading right to 7, and didn't follow my compass well, so I wandered in some tall crap before I bailed out. Leaving 8, it took so long to get to the trail, I misunderstood which one I was on. Figured it out and ran to 9.

I was desperate to keep moving and I did not read the map well from 9 to 10. I got the tiny stream (on the map) and I hesitated for a bit, actually considered turning back. But then I saw some leaves about 6 inches below the surface. So I stepped in. And promptly found myself buried in mud up to my chest. Ugh! that was so unexpected, good thing I didn't lose my map or compass. I sort of swam on the surface, pulling myself along on some branches until I got out of there. Boy that was a mess!

When I got out to the road and realized it truly was an uncrossable fence, I was confused. Turned north because I thought I could go on the road to the west, but I saw that the gate was closed there. Did I see the route that went just a bit further north along the road? No, I did not. I turned around and ran all the way south. I thought I could get through the fence at the first bit of green (just east of 10) but I was wrong. So I had to keep going south to the fence end, then head back north. Lost a lot of time on this stupid route.

Lost more time on a bad execution of the route to 11, but then I relocated quickly. That helped turn my brain back on for the rest of the course and I moved well to the end.

I'm disappointed. I wanted to do well this weekend, nice clean runs, with good concentration. Let's see how the next three races go.

http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

Edit: wanted to capture that we went to the history museum and Oliver house in the morning. And were very grateful that our hotel had a washing machine, so that we could clean our muddy clothes (Mike also crossed the "stream" aka mud pit).

And it was very cool to run in two states today: thanks OCIN and SMOC!

C • Mud bath! 3

Friday_Middle_St_Patricks_CP_Oct_2018_6 Green A - Splits

Short travel day to South Bend IN. We went to the campus art museum, which was quite nice. Then an early (delicious) dinner at Chicory Cafe.

An easy session this week due to the Nationals

Quick hike around Sandy's neighborhood, being pulled by her dog Kiri. Nice to see her. Our weekend schedules are really busy lately and we have a hard time getting together.

I passed Mike on West campus as I drove home. I usually call out something from the car (in reference to his body :) but there was a woman walking on the sidewalk near him and it just didn't seem like the right time.

C • Seems to me that would have been the perfect time. 2

Mike and I went out for a trail run at Rockhaven. I got confused at some new trails, missed a junction (I now know) and I wandered a bit trying to figure out where I was. That's why I'm logging part of this as orienteering. Once I figured out where I was, I decide to go back and get through the trails I had intended, so that I could conquer this and pay attention the second time.

checking out control locations at Park University for the Pre-Possum course.
I had to completely change my courses, so I spent more time here than I planned.

Nice bike ride with Mike, although it was a bit cool for me. My toes got cold!

Some topics of conversation: KU basketball recruits, OK singlets, "Bad Blood" book about Theranos, and flu shots.

C • US Nationals 11

in the basement, listening to podcasts. They do help the time pass quickly. I find it easier to listen than watch TV or read a book (which is what I tried to do before podcasts came along)

A short jog on west campus, trying to beat the gathering storm clouds that were heading our way

and then a little bit of arm exercises

Part 1 of the course shown below. Some how my track was not saved on my Garmin. I ran from 1 through the start/finish and on to 4. Then I stopped and walked to the start of my next O session.

to and from west campus O courses

Stopped min-way to run three short sprints on the Pioneer Cemetery map.
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

Then walked to 5 on the first map, and ran through 10.
http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

Quick O at the arboretum. Ran only the odd numbered controls, to add a bit of a challenge to an easy area. Tried to keep up the pace, too

http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

Trail run on the mountain bike trails at SMP. I haven't run here in a couple of years. It was really fun (despite the heat). Felt good.

I think my arms need some more work, so I did a routine on my own at home.