Training Log Archive: tinytoes

Perfectly clear and still morning and the lake was magic. Pity my performance wasn't. Nice to see "first timers to Lakeview "- the Orreos. Thinking I'll be seeing them more often.
S-1 9:55
1-2 8:05 (18:01)
2-T 4:02 (22:03)
T-3 4:34 (26:37)
3-4 8:47 (35:25)
4-5 7:20 (42:46)
Fairly dismal performance - L ankle very clunky and looks it too. Pleasantly surprised that last km was fastest, beating previous time's by 8 precious seconds. All the others were 18-45 seconds slower.

Tina stepping in for Bec (the call of the Music Festival) and used Bec's format. A few different people tried the class and they seemed to muddle the whole class - muscling in on "territory" (which was an interesting comment from mild mannered Jen who very frequently says no one has a right to a spot), not quite getting the timing right so were distracting visually as well but it intrigues me that while Tina's classes are pretty much single speed the time doesn't seem to drag.

Upped weights during Squats Track. Feeling a little better today.

A different Level 5 tonight - happier and feeling more in control 5.

No music.

Was less than enthusiastic - still feeling the after effects (physically) after yesterday's ordeal. But Cath's well structured class is a "cannot miss" and I always appreciate it afterwards.

L ankle tender and felt slow overall.

Drove to event from Sydney and was a bit flat, but catching up with many people as I was parked between Rego and remote Start, buoyed me.
Course planner Alex was on hand at the Start to apologise for the need to take a circuitous route to #1. Knowing how muddy the area would be I wasn't surprised that this plan of attack would be needed throughout.
S-1 Along track to junction then to W to find a suitable crossing point (due to washaway) then along spur - found it and pleased with reasoning and decision. Sal arrived just behind.
1-2 S to track then to major track junction and W to feature. Sal arrived just before me - Sal + 0.5.
2-3 Looong leg. Broke it up into track segments. This was the start of the uncertainties that would plague me for the rest of the event. Basically S then pick up any one of several W tracks. First false step was to think I was somewhere else and progress W along a track which didn't seem to be yielding expected results. In hindsight I probably should have persevered. Returned to junction, noted fallen fence and so continued S for a while then caught sight of the clearing through the trees and confirmed my hopes. Back to having purpose. Best part of day was walking beside the big dam/earth wall. Finally meandered to #3 Start of the real doubts.
3-4 contouring (1hr elapsed)
4-5 countoured a little high on purpose to tick of w/c rather than branches which often confuse me. Quite steady progress. Saw powA here and we both went "hmmm up, down, or contour?" Don't know what powA did but I did all 3.
5-6 Least appealing was to climb back to track but fairly thick and steep so scrambled up a bit and tried to find a ledge of sorts. Ended up being close enough to track to go for it there. Made good use and confirmed where I was. Got to junction/road branch and so took to minor track and reading vegetation started down to w/c then down to parallel rock face. NO luck and felt I was more NE. Back tracked and went uphill - still no sign. Back up to track reaffirmed my location had another go. Same deal. Returned to track and went further uphill had another go - same spot. Returned and went downhill on branch track - in - same spot and saw 3 others in train but also coming up hill and I felt certainly too far down. Looked at time and another hour had passed so bailed.
Returned to track and started the downhill trudge of shame. Had to find a convenient bevvy of tracks to follow. Got back to clearing and then at the exit from the NE corner had far too many tracks all "equally" possible to be the right one. I met up with a woman on MTB and she likewise was trying to escape the map. Another on the trudge of shame came to the same spot and we worked out which track to take. We parted company near the end as I wanted to get back to sealed road to speed up and not keep people waiting. But the downhill was virtually bare rock, the road having been stripped of any loose soil and the large rocks exposed and very uneven. When it was muddy it was muddy. But boy the rocky parts were rocky. Ankles both very sore by the end of 21/2 hours.
Poor Alex was feeling very badly with the glum looks on people's faces. Very tough going today but 2 positives: some very pretty parts and no leeches found me.