Training Log Archive: bmoore

Full track here:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1137846...;

My neighbor was outside as I was loading the car, so I mentioned we were about to be gone for the weekend. He asked "Something fun?" and I replied "That's an interesting question."


Lost One Standing
> An orienteering version of a Backyard Ultra. Tackle a new orienteering course every third hour until no one else is left!
> To remain in the blue division, a runner must choose, start, and finish a new orienteering course every three hours (twelve courses available).
> The blue division continues until there is only one person left, or for 33 hours, whichever happens first.
> Any runner that falls out of the blue division will automatically be reassigned to the brown division, which is a 33-hour contest.
> Working cooperatively with other runners is allowed during the first 33 hours of the event.
> Map handout starts at 7 am. The Last Person Standing division starts at 9 am.


At 7am it was 37 degrees and raining, with some snow mixed in with the rain, as it had been much of the night. Glimpses of the mountains though the low clouds showed a snow level that was a couple of thousand feet lower than it was the previous day, and low enough that the terrain with the higher controls was quite snowy. My neighbor's question came to mind as I got out of the car to get the maps, and back into the car to plan.


All photos by Jenya.


The general plan I'd made in advance was to do a medium distance, medium navigation difficulty, course first, to see how it went before making too many other plans. But the only course that fit that description involved the highest controls on the map, which would be very snowy terrain due to the recent weather. It took quite a bit of time to even find the controls for a course on the map, since there were 109 control circles on the map. I eventually settled on a short mixed-difficulty course, & got ready to go, with most of the 2 hour planning time somehow already gone.


The weather hadn't changed much by the 9am start, so I started in full rain gear, over 2 layers. Eventually the weather improved and I shed some layers. The course went fine, though made me realize I'd have to be careful on the advanced level controls. It was 5.3 miles with 930' of elevation gain & loss, which took 2:06, so when I finished I had 54 minutes before starting the next course, to figure out what I was doing next, eat, drink, and restock my pack. My feet were soaked and I had 6 pair of dry shoes & socks remaining, but there seemed to be no point in spending the time to change since they'd be soaked again as soon as I started the next course.


The next course was a short beginner course. I had planned to save that one for the night, but I wouldn't need this course at night 'till 3am and though I felt fine I wasn't at all sure I'd make it that long given my stomach history. Plus the weather was improving and the higher ground was starting to melt out, so staying relatively low again seemed a good idea. I did the first hour and a half of the course (the uphill) with Jenya, then switched to running to get back fast enough to have some time between courses. 5.7 miles, 1,645' of elevation gain & loss, in 2:23, leaving 37 minutes between courses.





I switched to dry shoes and socks, and picked the shortest "half courses" to do next. For the courses labeled 1/2, two of those were required in 3 hours to stay in the blue division. They were labeled daytime only, due to somewhat technical terrain, so I couldn't save those for the night. Jenya showed up just in time to start so we again did the uphill part together then I ran down to start the next course. 1.9 miles with 780' of elevation gain & loss, in 1:03. Then a 5 minute transition at the car.




The next half course was labeled "creekwhacking." It was basically follow the bottom of a creek straight up for the first 3 controls, then a few more out of the creek on the way back down. 1.9 miles with 590' of elevation gain & loss again in 1:03. Leaving 49 minutes before the next start. Time to change to another pair of dry shoes (the creek was obviously wet.)




I picked a shortish advanced course next, and so did Tori and Carlo. The event rules allowed cooperation so we teamed up and blew through the course a good bit faster than I would have on my own; that was great fun. 4.7 miles with 1,190' of elevation gain & loss in 2:03, leaving a leisurely 57 minutes between courses. Some of that time was needed to change back to warmer clothes and get out headlamps since the next start was at 9pm. I was quite pleased that it was 11 hours into the race and I was still feeling great: legs, feet, and even my stomach. Also great was that Tori & Carlo had the same next course plan, so I'd have company for at least the first night course.



It was about an hour into this course that I started feeling nauseous, and half an hour later I was throwing up. My neighbor's question came to mind. Tori & Carlo were nice to wait for me, though I assured them this was familiar and I'd still finish the course by midnight. There was only 1 more throwing up stop on the rest of the course. 7.4 miles with 1,090' of elevation gain & loss, in 2:46. Leaving 14 minutes before the next start, which I had no interest in & went to sleep in the back of the car.

About 4:30am I got up to use the port-o-potty, heard a snort, and saw a moose right across the road.

About 7:15am Jenya came by & said she was starting the high intermediate course and did I want to come. Sure; why not. 4.7 miles with 2,060' of elevation gain & loss in 4:39. Then a 6 hour drive home.

13 hours was much longer than usual before my stomach went, but not nearly long enough for Never Summer. I'd hoped to try things that might fix my stomach after getting sick, but the motivation wasn't there.

Event: Sky Pilots: Lost One Standing