Training Log Archive: PG

So the plan for today was similar to yesterday, except just to execute 100% of the time and not 90-95%.

And the results? Better, maybe even much better. Still missed about 20-30 seconds at maybe 4 points, but was always under control, always knew where I was, always had a plan, always simplified the navigation, and almost always executed well. Despite legs that were totally dead, like yesterday, the mind was on the ball.

Not quite perfect, but very satisfying. And a great forest (especially for summer vegetation conditions) and a wonderful map. Thanks Mark.

So here's my course, Green Y (M60), 6.8 km. Haven't drawn my routes in yet.

And here is my route. A few comments --

1. A scary control to start on, but right on it.
3. A left swing to avoid the green. Couple of short marsh crossings were quite bad, made me want to avoid marshes thereafter.
5. First miss, just a little careless, control was so easy.
6. Safe route.
8. Easy running but not an easy approach. Careful on the bearing, had a very precise picture of the terrain before the control, right on.
9. Trails were too much out of the way. In control all the way and moving well.
10. Approach using the elongated knoll. Just about to stop to really read the map carefully when I saw the control 30 meters in front of me.
11. Reading the map well, knoll-knoll-knoll then drop to the control.
12. Ran around, then careless on the approach.
13. Right swing offered more white woods, little marsh or green. In control.
15. Woods were real nice until the last 100 meters, then visibility closed in. A little off to the right but not much.
16. Only bit of mental laziness. didn't really read map carefully at the end. Across the narrow marsh, knoll, knoll, and then not sure. Saw a control ahead but it was up high, knew it wasn't mine. Probably stood still for 15 seconds being sure, then went right and saw it.

Really wonderful terrain.

C • route 1

A little before and after.

Another good day for Gail. Last night she thought it likely that she wouldn't go out today. This morning, well, maybe she'd start, but probably just do a little and then come in. We started about the same time, and when I finished I didn't see her, so I asked the results crew if she had downloaded. Nope, they said. Good, I said, and they seemed a bit surprised as usually you hope that your spouse is already in. But I was hoping that she was feeling good enough to do the whole course. Which she was. She came in about 15 minutes later, once again beaming, 5.2 km in 84 minutes, just walking all the way.

And told the following story. She'd had my #5, but going the other direction, so after she punched she needed to head east out to the road and then south. Just as she punched, so did Eddie Bergeron, very fast she said, also very fast leaving, just a flash and he was gone, but WTF, heading northeast, did he know something she didn't?

But she followed her plan, walking out to the road and then heading south. And much to her surprise, a little ways up the road, here comes Eddie again, still very fast, zooms by her again.

Eddie it seems had not meant to do his WTF route to get out to the road. But he was careless with his compass, and when he popped out through the bit of green forest, he could see the road right in front of him, just this narrow marsh in the way. WTF, he was almost there, a moment later, WTF, he was in up to his neck. Got across, pulled himself out, took off up the road in pursuit of Gail, by now well up the road.... :-)

A side benefit of the weekend is that it raises the possibility of more future O' trips, like maybe Europe next summer?

C • Swamp 3

In case you didn't see, this is what all the fishermen were after...



In this case, it was catch and release, and the fish went back in as soon as the photo was taken.

C • What is that thing?! 6

Green Y - Splits