Training Log Archive: Wyatt

Highlander. 2nd overall to control # 2 due to speedster (Wil, Boris, Eddie) bogeys and lead pack bobble. To 3, 4 & 5 I felt I could keep the pace of the lead pace (although I was drifting back a little), but then I mis-read a reentrant, decided the whole lead pack was blowing 5 (they were a little right of best, but not bad) and then I blew 3 minutes on the wrong broad green spur.

After that, I lost another minute on 6, and then I was mixing it up with a few chasers. I didn't risk the marsh jump at 9 (and actually started NW) and lost another minute or so. Across the Lake Welch lot I could see several people, but they were also straggling off the lead pack. Darn.

Arrived at checkpoint just after Lief and a few others left. Started NW after refueling (7 GU's total on run) but then decided on SW road and doubled back. Inhaled part of an apple and spent 2 minutes walking and hacking along that road - still coughing 15 minutes later, but I think it's out now... (Or my lungs got used to it and it's just blocking a few % of my lung capacity - I sure hope not....) Arrived at 10 with 2 guys running together who's names I should know (we were nearby while I was hacking...) Went left to 11 and did it well, getting ahead. The next hour at Polebrook and to the aid stations was fairly clean O', all alone, but I was tiring and beginning to cramp (hamstrings and hip flexors) by the end.

Drank some and ate some at aid station, only to have legs start cramping again after map pickup. Went right along trails - left along lake looked better after 100m, but I was committed. Today left looks worth turning around for even after 100m... Having a really tough time continuing to run and in fear of falling if I jumped something, due to legs on verge of cramping. Fell hard once (sore shoulder today, but it was dirt so no big damage.) Eddie went by and I picked up the pace for about 30 seconds until falling became to risky. Approaching bad through some deep blueberry my legs were again really upset, but I found it within only a little hestitation at the end - some cliffs SW of bag weren't mapped well (I didn't noticed we'd gone off WOC-quality and so it made me nervous that the map wasn't perfect.)

Overshot 25 to the NE cliffs and came back to see same 2 guys I should know punching ahead. Decided I couldn't beat them feeling like I did, and since I'd heard that cramping was typically due to lack of water, I had my last (7th) GU, and drank a lot of water. After 5 cups I was feeling full. The 6th cup started to hurt and the 7th cup made my stomach even more uncomfortable, so I decided that was enough. My stomach wasn't great (but not too bad) for the next two bags, but about that time (beginning of the long leg back) my stomach was no longer even slightly annoying, and the pace I could move w/o cramping felt better than any time in the last hour or so. I passed one, then two of the 2 guys (who had split up at that point) and I felt better with every uphill (strange...) Coming into 29, I was happy to really excited to see Mihai punching, and someone else behind and to the right. Exiting 29 I was 100m or so behind Mihai, but chasing hard (knowing he must be slowing to be that far back.) I gained continuously, but he pushed enough to stay ahead and punch 30 just before me, and the chute was too short... Deja Vu Valley Goat.

Great fun orienteering and happy to run that long and not feel too bad. It was an absolutely beautiful morning for orienteering at Harriman, and it's hard to beat those maps for quality orienteering.

Highlander - Splits

Trails and some bushwhacking