Training Log Archive: iansmith

Heart mountain traverse, going counterclockwise. 3:20 total time. I started at 5:10am so I would have time to return my U-Haul. I wore X-Talons because I expected they would have better traction on the scrambling than my Asics running shoes. This was confirmed anecdotally. While not as treacherous as Yamnuska, the route up Heart (counter clockwise, so the NW ridge) was very much a scramble, with three sections of exposed, steep scrambling. I was uncomfortable at the prospect of reversing my course if needed. The ridge itself had significant exposure, but it was almost exclusively trail running.

Hike up Loder via Door Jamb. Total time was about 3:50, and I spent about thirty minutes sitting still managing equipment, eating, or waiting for an intrepid pair to traverse a ridge so I could ask them about it.

I turned back shortly north of Loder because the ridge looked exposed and treacherous. It is part of the Goat mountain traverse https://www.summitpost.org/goat-ridge-traverse-n-s...

It was an excellent day. The ridge route up Loder had some non trivial exposed scrambling with mild slab climbing.

Yamnuska traverse and descent via the West col. I was a bit terrified during the chain traverse and the significantly exposed scramble route. A lot of my terror came from uncertainty about how difficult the route might become and whether I would be able to descend the way I came in a rainstorm. I spent some time contemplating the coefficient of friction of my running shoes. However, the mountain proved to be well within my ability, though I have both an attraction and an aversion to exposure.

Total time was 2:50, of which I was running for about fifty minutes.

C • 'guides'! 3

I did not skip leg day. Scramble of Grotto mountain in Canmore.

Total time of 4:43, moving time was probably 4:20.

Monday C5 - Splits

Orienteering. I enjoyed myself, though I wasn't moving particularly well and chose a suboptimal route on the long leg. I picked up a gas can and a beer can in the woods that offended me.

Monday C5 - Splits

I jogged a little to warm up my body and my muscles before the race, as I was a bit cold in the rainy arena.

2022 WCOC Long, Lusk Creek Map, Kananaskis, AB. Unlike yesterday - which was sunny and 18 C, today was overcast with a steady drizzle and a temperature of 8-10 C. The bus took us to the arena, then I jogged a little to warm up my body and my muscles. I planned to take the race very conservatively and not try to run a race I wasn't capable of executing.

The terrain was exceptionally slow, with numerous downed trees at knee to waist height even in white woods. I think even if I had been in good shape, I could not have moved that much faster. My race wasn't exceptionally clean, as my rustiness manifest today. I had small mistakes on 2, 15, and 16; suboptimal route choices on 3, 17, and a massive error on 3 (~15 minutes). Nevertheless, I ended up having a glorious time. The weather, while cold and inclement, resulted in a quite comfortable run when overheating might otherwise have been a problem.

I saw Tori Owen about two hundred metres ahead of me on 14, then bumped into her again at 17. I chose a better line into 19 and was leading through the spectator loop, though I think we were both cooked. Later, some friendly spectators and organizers cheered for me in the finish chute to my chagrin; after being out for two hours, I had no desire to kick into the finish at all. I put on a little speed for the visual.

WCOC Long Course 11 - Splits

Some easy jogging around the start to wake up my legs.

Easy cool down jog from the finish to the arena.

2022 WCOC Middle Distance course, Lusk Creek Map, Kananaskis, AB. The footing on Lusk Creek Map was difficult, with lots of fallen trees and undergrowth. I planned to start conservatively and run with physical restraint. I struggled with climbing over fallen obstacles and maintaining speed in the woods, and my navigation skills were rusty at best, especially compass. I dropped 45s at 4, 45s at 9, then three minutes on some tricky depression controls 12-14. The rest of the course was smooth, but very sluggish. I took care on the final descent on 19-finish to spare my ankles rather than chasing a meaningless few seconds. The mountain vistas were absolutely extraordinary.

Middle Course 11 - Splits

Event: Western Canadian Orienteering Championships (WCOC)
 

Event: Canadian Rockies Orienteering Festival
 

Warmup jog around Banded Peak School campus to loosen up my legs for the sprint. My legs felt sluggish, as though I hadn't done much running training in the past year.

Cooldown jog with Danny Riley, whom I met for the first time today.

Western Canadian Orienteering Championships sprint course at Banded Peak School. This was a forest sprint at 1:4000, and I struggled with both aspects. My legs were unresponsive to my efforts, and the undergrowth was sluggish. I made a substantial mistake on control 4, a compass leg, when I didn't hit the hill I expected. I also messed up 8 - another compass leg - when my bearing going straight was off sufficiently that I hit the trail that was the other main route choice. I enjoyed the race, though my performance was frustrating.

WCOC Sprint C6 - Splits

Running through Pearson's D terminal to make my flight after a ~70 minute security line. Once I arrived at the gate, I learned it was delayed 30 minutes, but Air Canada didn't think that was important to share until a few minutes before the scheduled departure.