Training Log Archive: cmorse

Fiasco - Probably my worst effort in years. No idea what really happened out there.

First couple pretty smooth, trying not to push too hard on a steady uphill progression, minor bobble around 3 when I didn't notice the boulder on other side of stream even though I was looking for one. Good through #5, then struck out for the more northerly of the western control. First half of leg was clean, picking off features then got into an area that apparently has more single track than mapped (I wasn't given that bit of info at the beginning) plus more water features than I could relate to the map. Then it just all went out the door and I pretty much spent the next 25+ minutes with absolutely no idea where I was (was I even still on the map?). Tried to the south up to the base of the steeps (nothing matching). Eventually picked up one of the main trails heading back down - trying to match contours or something - and while they were matching up somewhat, I was also congnizant that numerous other reentrant systems up here could look very similar so was never really confident that I was where I thought I was. And the fact that I might not even be on the map was a concern too. Wasn't until I got down near the pond near Chmura Rd that I knew without a doubt where I was, and at that point just gave up and ran back on the road.

On a different day, perhaps I would have relocated securely and moved on, but for some reason on this day, once things went off the rails I never became confident of position and just floundered way, way too long before calling it a day. Oh well, there will be other days..

Event: Boston Park Series: Fresh Pond Park
 

Event: Billygoat 41
 

Billygoat - approached this with some trepidation compounded by running late coming down from overnight spot in Bath. Rolled into parking as crowd was assembling to walk to start. Hopped out of truck, super quick change of clothes, grabbed compass, glasses, buff etc, ran over to registration to tell Lex I was here and confirm SI, then off to follow train into woods.

Racing out of question as the terrain is strenuous and too great a risk of crashing - I generally tuck and roll to my right shoulder, but with an IV just above the elbow a crash would likely not end well.

Considered just walking, but terrain difficult enough that getting a t shirt was not a gaurantee.

So easy run it would be - chase no one, but not a bad idea to keep visual tabs on who is around.

About halfway between 10 & 11 I felt a flush of liquid run down my arm from the elbow. I was with a group including Tori, Izzy and a few others. But slowed down significantly to pull down sleeve and check dressing - no blood or obviously torn out lines (whew), but definitely something going on as sleeve quite wet (relative to left arm). Jogged, periodically checking arm - no attuned to navigation and alone at this juncture. Missed crossing small trail, crossed larger trail and floundered well west of control, not focused at all. Eventually relocated to main trail and in.

Easy jog to 12, quite shaken and unsure what was going on, felt fine, but a catheter to the chest gives one some cause for concern regardless. Considered dropping, but elected to motor on, falling behind Peggy approaching 13. And up to 14.

Still feeling unfocused, paused for a moment to consider skip options and also looking for good bailout trail options if the need arose.

Seeing no good bailout options and considered the reality that if I had done something bad to my line, being by myself in the middle of Burnt Mountain if things went south would be a very poor choice. So jogged back to #12 and dropped out, requesting a ride back instead. Lex came and fetched me. Saw a black & white ermine darting about the earth bank while waiting. Very cool.

So I guess this means my fork choice was "none of the above" and my skip was 15-24...

But more importantly, no damage done... I hope...

For those that care:

1 - slightly right of line, decent woods, sort of paralleling JJ, I think Jim & Rich were behind but no one else. Through 23 taking a mental snapshot for later then on to trail, joining a crowd, don't recall who. Off trail W of marsh, in cleanly, near Ed iirc.

2 - stayed just out of green right of line, no issues.

3 - followed small stream down, steering clear of rocky stuff, hopped trail S of line leaving trail by small pond, I recall Ed & Izzy in vicinity. Slightly N of control, but in the circle, quick correction.

4 - straight, spike

5 - south of marsh trail run, solo, picking up a group as I left trail heading for 21 - saw Anna, Nancy& Janet heading to Kindergoat #1. Glanced at 21 in passing (another mental image) Almost second guessed myself and started to pull up short to regroup but JJ nudged me onward and got it shortly thereafter.

6 - no recollection, but presumably straight along stream.

7 - slightly L of due N, eventually catching trail, looking for junction W of control, found a sign, but only single trail, no sign of branching. Kept on trail which wound up being left fork I guess, then up a rentrant system N of circle. Noticed a few folks heading N and quickly deduced my location, heading S to flag, falling in with Alar and a few others in here

8 - N with a group, not doing a lot of my own navigation, trusting to my adjacent co-conspirators. solid, but decided I needed to be doing all my own navigation, if just for safety reasons.

9 - straight, still with group, but paying attention to my own navigation.


10 - NW to stream, followed it for a bit, then climbed gap in cliffs, trail for a bit then straightish toward flag but slightly R of line in green, hitting tiny yellow gleck, but clean from there.

11+ - rest of it, such as it is, in my main log entry.

Post shower and IV notes. Everything looks ok, and all the stuff went in...

My best guess (& ED nurse sister-in-law concurs), what may have happened is my occlusive dressing, designed to keep all manner of nasty stuff out of the catheter site, also serves to keep everything in. And since I tend to sweat profusely, and today was no exception, it appears I built up a 100 minute "blister puddle" under the dressing and some sort of muscle flex may have caused the sweat to squirt out where the catheter enters.

So I probably could have continued, but not knowing, and being totally distracted from the navigation which would have likely left me making some huge errors with no one else around, I think taking the DNF was the right call. And I don't mean "Did Not Finish".

C • DNF 2

Billygoat - Splits

Walk to the lake w/ El. A bit further than the Lake & back route.