Training Log Archive: Rosstopher

A really fun outing at Ansonia with Boris and Sam. For the first section of the training, I ran an old course backward and dictated to Boris (running behind) all the things that I was seeing and thinking and planning. This was pretty hard actually. It's hard enough to orienteer but then to add on an extra layer of needing to be coherent and verbalize (and also not wanting to make any mistakes when being watched) is tricky. I think it slowed me down a little and I did a pretty good job mostly. I had some rough patches. One downhill control was especially tricky and I ran it a few times before getting it right.

Also, got off on a control when I missed the trail that I was depending on seeing.

Spent some time doing distance estimation ("how far away is that rock") and learned that I think everything is much closer than it really is. Spent some time doing elevation estimation ("how many contours up is that rock") and did well at that.

Then followed Boris without looking at the map and periodically had to describe the route that we had been taking. That was an interesting memory exercise as well as highlighting what stuff is worth looking at in the woods. I did the relocation/route recall section quite well.

Love those woods.