Training Log Archive: PG

Control picking course at Mt. Tom, set by Alex, nice to have streamers hanging, just to reinforce how badly I am orienteering these days. Mistakes at 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 13, 19. But I spiked the other 13, whoopee....

Tried to follow Hannah for a bit, but she ran away from me, especially going up the hill to 7.

Skipped the optional line-O that started at 12.

The course.

C • 1:75000 9

And then did the Corridor-O. Never done one of those before, and it was quite good fun. And not so easy, even on a map I know pretty well.

Almost stopped when I got back close to the finish, but figured if Alex had gone to the trouble of setting it, I should do the whole thing. Started to rain shortly thereafter, and then rain hard, and get cold, and rain harder, and get colder. As a result of which I ran faster, though I probably cut a couple of corners right at the end.

What I find interesting is, after spending a little over an hour orienteering with the map, and a quick look at it before I started, it was only after several minutes of looking at it afterwards that I notice the words "Tougher corridor." Seriously. They are the most obvious thing on the piece of paper and I hadn't noticed. I'm not sure if that is appalling, or maybe a sign of very good focus. I guess I'll claim the latter. :-)

The rain let up a little after I came in, but I passed on the "downhill slalom" training. Will do that another day.

My route for both courses.

C • observant 6

Control picking course - Splits

Late afternoon ride, South Deerfield - Whately loop. First time on the bike in quite a while. Legs felt not so bad, certainly much better than in the woods this weekend. And this was right after an 18-hole hilly walk, where I was hitting the ball much better than I was managing to move in the woods this weekend.

I'm beginning to think that moving well in the woods, to the extent that I ever could, is no longer possible. A video showing me staggering/tripping/falling might drive home the point. And keep me from doing foolish things, like night-O's, and blue courses, and Highlanders....

Saturday's route. 14 and 15 were a little feeble, got off my line on both and then wasn't immediately sure where I was, but 16 is the real embarrassment. And the further off my line I got, the thicker it seemed to get. Finally relocated not so badly, but by then I'd already spent way too long traveling way too slowly.

And Sunday's route. A minute or two wasted at 8 and 22, but mainly just really tired and slow. Wasn't that hot, but it croaked me anyway. Quite badly dehydrated when I check the scale at home.

So not very happy with the two days. But all my fault. A very nice event put on by UNO, courses were excellent, map was excellent. And we (Charlie, Gail, and me) had a nice overnight visit with my cousin in Durham. So it was all very pleasant except for when I was out in the woods.

And also had a few chats with folks about the state of affairs in OUSA. And it seems like the finances may be better than many might expect. Meaning maybe enough to keep our ED, plus have some money for the teams. Would be nice, though nothing is sure yet.

C • Saturday #16 2

Some shaky orienteering, but mostly zero energy on a warm day. Just a death march and not a lot of fun.

Sunday's Blue course (M21). Routes later, have to head off to Litchfield.

Sunday Blue - Splits