Training Log Archive: bishop22In the 1 days ending Aug 24, 2008:
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Sunday Aug 24, 2008 #
Orienteering race 3:09:53 [2] ***** 7.6 km (24:59 / km) +305m 20:49 / km
spiked:7/16c slept:7.0
COC Champs - Long Course 9 and Fundy.
Well, after yesterday, I decided a different approach was in order. So, I was going to try to stay in contact with the map, even if it meant slowing significantly at times. I started out on the trail, found the cairn and headed into some thick woods, so I left my bearing, drifted way right and became lost. Luckily I pace counted diligently, knew I was right, and went left to the flag - nope the course 10 flag, but I knew where I was now.
C2 looked like a good challenge, and had an easy attackpoint at a stream bend. I managed to snake my way thru the gaps in the thick stuff (with some of the better detailed map reading that I've done) and cruise down the stream to the bend, with nothing but white between me and the control - on the map at least. In real life I find myself plowing thru some thick, albeit short, pines. At least the branches and needles were soft.
At this point I had enough of the vegetation. So, I went around on the trail to C3, I went around on the trail to C4 (falling badly on the trail and losing at least a minute recovering), I went around on the trail to C5. I tried to run around on the trail to C6, but I was too far left, and by the time I fought thru some nasty stuff to the trail, it was just about time to leave the trail (I had trouble finding the boulder, which was the only thing I could attack from). Finally, I used the trail to attack C7.
I walked to C8 on a bearing, then I ran around on the trail and road to C9.
I really liked the challenge of C10, 11 and 12. If I hadn't been quite so tired and beat up, I could have done fairly well thru this stretch. It involved some detailed map reading that was within my capabilities, and some physical effort thru an area of reasonable vegetation. I wish more of the weekend had been like this (perhaps this is what the Middle was like, if I had had the proper approach?).
C13 was a disaster. I started on a decent bearing, but after crossing the trail, the vegetation was nasty enough that I had to walk carefully. Just when I thought I was closing in, I saw a spur that looked like it had to have the control on the other side, but no. I wandered over to a very rocky area, but was not able to relocate (I still have no idea where I was, there does not seem to be any suitable spot on the map). I finally started to go north of east (to avoid going down the hill that I would have to reclimb) towards the trail, and saw the clearing which turned out to be the one mapped with the distinct boundary, leading me right to the flag.
C14 was fine - finally a patch of light green was readily visible in the terrain, and I was able to cruise thru it, popping right out at the rocks. I was overly conservative to C15, which meant extra climbing, and I had a hell of a time battling thru vegetation to get to the trail to C16.
Overall, I'm glad I made the trip up to the COCs. I think the boys enjoyed the trip, even if the orienteering wasn't our favorite. I should have read Wil Smith's tips about Fundy before the Middle - it may have changed my attitude and behavior - but it was hidden farther back in the [60 page] booklet than I read before the Middle. Oops. But I do strongly prefer courses where I am capable of running. I probably need to work on running in more adverse terrain, so I can handle white being rocky and/or thick-ish.
Well, after yesterday, I decided a different approach was in order. So, I was going to try to stay in contact with the map, even if it meant slowing significantly at times. I started out on the trail, found the cairn and headed into some thick woods, so I left my bearing, drifted way right and became lost. Luckily I pace counted diligently, knew I was right, and went left to the flag - nope the course 10 flag, but I knew where I was now.
C2 looked like a good challenge, and had an easy attackpoint at a stream bend. I managed to snake my way thru the gaps in the thick stuff (with some of the better detailed map reading that I've done) and cruise down the stream to the bend, with nothing but white between me and the control - on the map at least. In real life I find myself plowing thru some thick, albeit short, pines. At least the branches and needles were soft.
At this point I had enough of the vegetation. So, I went around on the trail to C3, I went around on the trail to C4 (falling badly on the trail and losing at least a minute recovering), I went around on the trail to C5. I tried to run around on the trail to C6, but I was too far left, and by the time I fought thru some nasty stuff to the trail, it was just about time to leave the trail (I had trouble finding the boulder, which was the only thing I could attack from). Finally, I used the trail to attack C7.
I walked to C8 on a bearing, then I ran around on the trail and road to C9.
I really liked the challenge of C10, 11 and 12. If I hadn't been quite so tired and beat up, I could have done fairly well thru this stretch. It involved some detailed map reading that was within my capabilities, and some physical effort thru an area of reasonable vegetation. I wish more of the weekend had been like this (perhaps this is what the Middle was like, if I had had the proper approach?).
C13 was a disaster. I started on a decent bearing, but after crossing the trail, the vegetation was nasty enough that I had to walk carefully. Just when I thought I was closing in, I saw a spur that looked like it had to have the control on the other side, but no. I wandered over to a very rocky area, but was not able to relocate (I still have no idea where I was, there does not seem to be any suitable spot on the map). I finally started to go north of east (to avoid going down the hill that I would have to reclimb) towards the trail, and saw the clearing which turned out to be the one mapped with the distinct boundary, leading me right to the flag.
C14 was fine - finally a patch of light green was readily visible in the terrain, and I was able to cruise thru it, popping right out at the rocks. I was overly conservative to C15, which meant extra climbing, and I had a hell of a time battling thru vegetation to get to the trail to C16.
Overall, I'm glad I made the trip up to the COCs. I think the boys enjoyed the trip, even if the orienteering wasn't our favorite. I should have read Wil Smith's tips about Fundy before the Middle - it may have changed my attitude and behavior - but it was hidden farther back in the [60 page] booklet than I read before the Middle. Oops. But I do strongly prefer courses where I am capable of running. I probably need to work on running in more adverse terrain, so I can handle white being rocky and/or thick-ish.