Training Archive: johncrowtherIn the 7 days ending 2007-06-02:
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Saturday Jun 2 | ||
| Orienteering race (Rogaine) 5:56:13 [3] **** | |
| shoes: Integrators pair 1 | ||
| RMOC Mini-Rogaine (6 hours, individual) at Buffalo Creek.
This was basically a 6 hour score event on USGS maps (1:24000, 40ft contour interval). It took me quite a bit to adjust to the map - the 40 ft contours weren't adequate to express some of the subtler features, and the mapping of some of the trails was suspect to say the least. The map also didn't show where there were large areas of granite boulders, at one point I lost over 20 minutes due to this. In addition, I tended to underestimate distance, at least at first, due to the scale. Looking at the map at the start, I identified a loop to the South of 12 controls, and then a longer one to the North, which could be extended or shortened, depending on the time available. The South loop was above the the start/finish, and also steeper, the North was below. This would mean an uphill finish but would mean the steepest climbing would be first. I ticked off the first 6 controls with only limited problems. I saw quite a few other people in this area, so several other people had chosen to start here as well. These legs were also short (and I actually picked up most points / minute in this area!). I left 36 to go to 74. Two route choices presented themselves, the first more northerly route through a saddle and up a steep slope. THe second southerly route went up a steep re-entrant, through a higher saddle, and then countoured round to the control. I chose the southerly route, but after climbing up towards the saddle, found my way blocked by impassable boulders. I struggled for a bit, and then saw someone on the other side of the ravine, with a dog. He said the going was easier on that side, so I scrambled down, and started going his way. He soon came back, and said his dog couldn't get through. I soon realized why, and retreated, eventually taking the northern route. Time lost - 20 minutes. The next leg, 74-92, looked simple enough on the map, but going down a re-entrant I soon found myself in another area of boulders. I retreated to the right, but by now had lost confidence, and was much higher (and on a steeper slope) than I should have been. This control was on the very edge of the map, and I was worried about running off into nothingness. I eventually realized my mistake, and dropped down a long way to the flatter area where the control was, and then had to re-locate (fortunately on the map side of the control). The next few controls were without incident, although I had a few problems with 38 and I'm not convinced 27 and 23 were in the right place. I saw the 4 other people in this area (the first since the guy with the dog), one of whom was Troy, who I was sure couldn't have done much more than me. 23-73 involved crossing some very vague terrain. 73 was in a re-entrant, which I thought should have been obvious. The problem was there lots of other similar re-entrants that the map wasn't detailed enough to show. I was about to give up, but I had to re locate in order to be able to get to any other controls. In doing so I found the top of the re-entrant containing 73 (in a area of the 2002 fires, so I knew I hadn't been there earlier). A large portion of the rest of my course was in the area of the fires, which made the navigation a lot easier, but the going much rougher. This was due to fallen trees, plus the first part of the revegitation included lots of yucca. The worse leg I did in this area was 83-72 - down a rocky ravine, and up a steep slope, both of which had lots of fallen trees. By now I was getting tired and dehydrated (I'd almost run out of water), and there was an ominous thunderstorm brewing in the North. It was 4:30 into the 6 hours, and I realized I needed to be thinking about heading back. So I plodded up more hill to 67, steep down and then up to 66 (really making sure I had the correct hill!), then up through more fallen trees to 34 (fortunately there were some former meadows which made the going a bit easier). The last control I visited involved 200m of decent which I would have to regain on the way to the finish. I'd thought long and hard about this, but decided it was worth it - although I made another navigational error on the way to the finish and ended up with only a couple of minutes to spare. So what did I learn? Firstly that USGS maps don't show nearly the same level of detail or accuracy as O maps (or the British OS maps), and this has to be taken into account when selecting route choice. Second, take more liquid, and apply more sunscreen! But it was good as endurance training for my big events coming up. Results Route Gadget | ||
| C • your route choice 2 | ||
Thursday May 31 | ||
| Running 1:23:48 [3] | |
| shoes: Mizuno Wave Ascend | ||
| Out and back route at North Table Mountain. Two long ascents (one each way). Not very fast, and my right knee hurting a bit. Was strongest on the uphills. | ||
Tuesday May 29 | ||
| Running 48:04 [4] 5.3 mi (9:03 / mi) | |
| shoes: Asics (pair 3) | ||
| 2 laps of Washington Park + an extra bit (about 0.1 miles - if that). There'd been a big thunderstorm earlier in the day, so it was cool (10 degrees C) and humid - nice for running but there were a lot of puddles to jump over (or get wet feet!). Faster than last week, but not wonderful.
The storm has made Colorado's weather return to being like British weather! | ||
Monday May 28 | ||
| Hiking 2:30:00 [1] | |
| Quick dash (actually at a slow pace) up Black Hawk Mountain with the Colorado Mountain Club. Excellent views from the top, including a view of a front coming in from the west (and obscuring Grays and Torreys Peaks as it did). | ||
Sunday May 27 | ||
| Orienteering race 2:10:55 [4] **** 10.65 km (12:18 / km) | |
| 25c shoes: Integrators pair 1 | ||
| LROC event at Mook's Marsh (between Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming) - Blue Course, set by Swampfox. My first visit to Wyoming, which means I've now orienteered in 15 States (if you count a Rogaine in AZ).
The area was generally open with lots of intricate contours and rock features. It reminded me a bit of British moorland (without the bogs, and with sage replacing the heather). It took me the first few controls to get the hang of the area and the map (including a relatively big mistake on no 4), but from 6 onwards I felt relatively good. Met a guy with a dog at no 11. He passed me on 11 to 12 but then veared off to the right, so I passed him again. I kept thinking I'd got away from him, but every few controls I'd look behind, and there he was (afterwards we determined we'd used quite different route choices on a few controls, hence my illusion of getting away). For some unknown reason, my watch lost my splits before I got round to writing them down! Knee not perfect, but held out (and allowed me to do a bit of scrambling at Vedauwoo afterwards). The temperature was getting hot towards the end. | ||
| Note | |
| States where I've now orienteered. | ||