Training Log Archive: Sandy

Lost Lakes UsynligO course that Greg Ahlswede put up. This was so much fun. I had several not so great legs but nailed several others and it was just such a blast being in new terrain that was challenging and tricky but perfect orienteering terrain. More details later.

Later:
Took a while to find the start. I started the app and put the start on automatic and headed off down the trail not really paying attention figuring the app would let me know when I was there. But there must be a timer on it since I blew past the start, eventually realized I had gone too far down the trail and checked my phone to see that it was no longer looking for the start. So futzed around a bit trying to figure out exactly where I was, reset the app to automatic start and went back to the start.

Headed to #1 on what I thought was a good bearing and it probably was, but I wasn't really understanding the terrain and pulled up short wondering what I had done. I was actually heading pretty much to the control but nothing I was seeing was giving me confidence so I circled around for a bit until I found something I was sure of and then went right to it. If I had taken a safer route I would have nailed it. Nailed 2 and tried to be careful to 3 seeing features on the way but then really wasn't sure what I was seeing and was sort of wandering when the app said I was there. The control was a distinct tree - coniferous - but I couldn't see one anywhere near where I was.

I then learned that the light green was rhododendron and/or mountain laurel and had to hunt a while to find a passage through it, backracking to where the map showed a gap. 4, 5, 6 and 7 were okay although the spurs on 5 and 6 weren't particularly distinct.

Crossed back across the creek with the rhodo/laurel and decided to be careful and attack 8 from a stream bend, but I missed. I found lots of small marshes but not mine and eventually made myself head back to the stream bend and found it.

Long leg to 9, but nailed it and 10 and 11. Another longish leg to 12 and I thought I knew where I was, but again stopped a bit short. Wandered around for a while thinking well this must be that reentrant and this must be that bit of green but never really felt like I understood what was what. I headed in what I thought was the right direction but there was no reentrant that matched what the map showed but suddenly the app signaled I was there. Good enough for me!

I think that rattled me a bit though since 13 should have been easy but again I misread things, backtracked and tried again and again found myself saying this must be that so I need to go here but then the app said I was there when I didn't really see what the feature the map showed.

When to 14 strictly on a compass bearing sort of seeing the series of spurs but wondering if I was fooling myself when the app again said you found it. And then to the finish finding a swamp that was definitely not on the map.

Despite the less than stellar navigating, this was just so much fun. It's been so long since I've been in new terrain and these woods were great so I had a fabulous time. Perhaps I just need to do more of these KP maps that Greg makes to get used to the mapping standards. But I am so grateful to him for posting them and making the courses available.

C • Kudos! 2

I was liking the Classfit workouts a lot and feeling guilty for getting them for free, especially knowing that they had decided to close their gym, so contacted Kelly and set up once a week personal training over zoom. Today was the first session. It was great; I worked hard and felt motivated to push through everything.

LA Fitness, the gym I was going to, is opening next week but it will be a while before I will feel comfortable going there so this is a great alternative.

My arms were sore this morning so I skipped everything except the heel drops/calf raises.

Then I worked in the yard for a couple hours.

Didn't want to face the bugs in the woods so just walked the streets.

Classfit.
The kneeling leg lifts were not easy.

Another sweaty outing but at least there's more shade in the late afternoon.

The bugs were annoying today.

Once around the neighborhood. Didn't sleep well last night so I know I won't want to do this later.

Classfit. Since I was all warmed up.

Morning stuff.

UsynligO course at Hickory Run. Better than last week but still too many errors. Left the trail too early on #1 and took way too long to sort it out. Was good for 2 through 7. And then screwed up 8 - the same area that flummoxed me last time. I drifted left and got on the east side of swamp that I thought had to be another one which sent me in the wrong direction. Trying to recover from that I was still too far left until I finally found something that let me know where I was. Bleah. Was good to 9 - took a safe route by some obvious features, but left in the wrong direction, got turned around and had to go back and try again. Settled down for 11 - 13 but then drifted right and hit a trail in one place thinking I was in another and had to back track when I finally convinced myself things weren't quite right. Fine to 15, 16 and the finish although my route to the finish wasn't that great.

Found it really hard to focus after about an hour. But felt good physically.

C • HRun 2