Training Log Archive: GlenT

Dirty Bird 15k Trail Race. Postponed from Nov 30 (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) when they decided that sending 300+ runners into the woods on the opening day of rifle season wouldn’t be a good idea.

Parked at the pool area to alleviate the parking issues from previous years when we parked by the playground area near the Park Office. So the course started and finished at a different place but mostly followed the same route as last year. There was one re-route since we couldn’t use part of the Six Penny Trail where it gets wet and muddy (because it’s relatively flat) and there was concern about the damage done by 300 runners. So we used another trail to route around, adding significant climb (70m more by AP’s calculation). My GPS measured today’s course a little shorter.

There were some muddy areas but far less of a mud fest than last year. Temperature was in the mid 30s so there wasn’t any frozen stuff (helped by the upper 40 temps of the last two days). There was about a 15mph breeze, so open areas and hanging around before (start was delayed about 20 minutes to let the port-a-potty line dissipate - hooray for interval starts) and after was chilly.

My race went pretty well, although I was fading at the end. Got passed by 10 - 15 people from the second aid station at 11k until the end. Finished 73rd overall (229 finishers) and 2nd (of 12) in M60-67 (1st M60-67 was 20 minutes faster! - but he’s a 62 yo youngster). About a minute slower than last year, but on a course with 70m more climb.

Since I was already at French Creek, I went out to check a few control sites. Legs were pretty dead, so it was a slow wander through the woods (navigation wasn’t particularly good either butI eventually found the stuff I was looking for).

To the start of the HNY course.

Happy New Year 2020 course designed by Sandy F at Fair Hill. 103 control points but no flags or streamers. Most points were obvious; several were more subtle. The biggest challenge was keeping track of which leg I was on since there were many controls which were visited more than once (only missed once - on the “A” in “Year” - but caught it pretty quickly and backtracked). The GPS track came out pretty well. There was some thicker vegetation in the upper part of the “A” in “Happy” which pushed me to the left. Looks like I stopped a bit short on the “E” in “Year”, but other’s tracks are similar. Upper 30s and some breeze but lots of fun and a great way to get out on New Year’s Day. Thanks to Sandy for the course and to Tom O for hosting the after party.

C • Orienteering? 3

And back to the car from the finish.