Training Log Archive: HGaston

US Champs green course; not one of my finer navigational moments, but a really interesting course.

The trend of the day: slow/accurate control --> faster accurate control --> too fast (lost). And repeat.

evidence:

Controls 1 & 2 were solid; control 3 was terrible (10 min time loss)
Controls 4 & 5 were solid; control 6 was terrible (14 min time loss)
Controls 7,8,9 were solid; control 10 was not as terrible as above but a near miss (4 minute time loss)
Controls 11 & 12 were solid, then I missed the trail to the finish control (13) and had to go through the parking lot...(seemed ridiculous, but looks like just a 15-30 second time loss)

These errrors are way too big, and I'm a bit frustrated since I seem to be inconsistent again this fall after finally having a pretty consistent summer.

I need to be more in control, especially of speed/navigation balance. As soon as I start to do well, it looks like I shift toward speed and lose map contact.

It took me awhile to relocate out there, although I'm happy with the catch on control 10. I was heading toward another ridiculous error but recognized it faster and returned to a known point before I'd completely lost the map-terrain-memory connection.

The trick: hit the optimal compromise between speed and navigation; learn where it is for you. Seems like I haven't found it yet. I'm too often unwilling to slow down for accuracy, and it can cause these sort of rollercoaster runs. Same problem in Rochester.

C • Trail to Finish 6

Green Y Day 1 US Champs - Splits

Event: US Individual Champs 2009
 

Model event. Pretty good, though I made a mistake on control 10. I wore my garmin on this run, so will post Quickroute soon.

A good day. End of classes, packing a little, attempting to catch up in chemistry (yikes! It's a process), & Butternut Squash with Amelia and Mallory. I tried sweet potato fries for the first time, and they're delicious.

C • sweet potato fries 5

Battle Park and part of Bolin Creek. Really nice day :).

Map work: routes on a Wisconsin map that turned up on one of the USOF email lists awhile ago. Fun negative terrain :).

I ran on the treadmill for a little while at the end.

Went to the gym and did some free weights (arms) and core. Decided to give the legs a rest today. They're tight from yesterday, so I did a short jog on the treadmill after this, and then stretched. Maybe I should stretch more often....

It was good to get to the gym for a short workout because for some reason I've been super restless all day. Probably has to do with Fall Break in two days and freeeeedom to go orienteering :).

C • Fall Break 9

BOK local meet (red). I had a pretty good run with a couple of mediocre controls (10 and 11, I think). I was surprised at having such a long time when I got back, but I thought this was correct. Maybe I'll check it once they have the results online.

Managed to completely knock off the scab on my arm while running (ouch!), and get tripped up by barbed wire (complete fall), and run full-speed into a thorny vine (slashed upper legs). Other than that, good fun.

Before running the red, I ran the yellow course with Omar (it was his first meet). He did a good job, and it went pretty well. We practiced pace-counting along a trail to one of the controls, aimed off to a set of power lines on another, took a fine bearing in from an attackpoint (a cairn) to find a pit for another control, verified our position along trails with the compass, and practiced recognizing general contour formations like reentrants and the usual following handrails.

I felt like explaining why each technique could be used in each situation helped me focus better in the first part of my course later...It helped me be deliberate and not so haphazard.

Time is made up, but distance isn't. I helped pick up controls after the meet.

There was a looong meeting afterwards to plan the 2010 schedule and talk about the A-meet. But it was fun, and there was pizza :).