Training Log Archive: Zed

With my new Rogaine buddy, Leith. We arrived with less planning time than I would've liked with effectively about half an hour. We worked to planning for about 25 kms with options ( Leith said he could manage 30 km max not that he has done that before, Tongariro crossing at mid 20s being the longest thing he'd done, although he managed that well.)
It was easy then to leave out most of north apart from 31 and 71 at start, then planned a 23 km southern loop getting most controls to 33 which was 1.5 km straight line to HH but with several options if time allowed from there. Leith had new trail shoes that had had only 1 test run so I carried his old sneakers in case, figuring potentially sore feet from new shoes could be an issue.
So after feeling a bit pressured for time intially we were all planned and ready for the briefing in time. I offloaded some of our snacks at the last moment to lighten my pack. I had gels and sandwiches for both and nuts and chocolate. Plus 2.5 l water. Leith carried Bellis bars and 1 liter water. We both had an emergency thermal plus mandatory safety stuff.
After scrambling over the fence with many others we trotted off to 31, then 71, crossing Razorback road to 21 ( saw a woman out trail riding on a rather excited horse), log scrambled to 81, then across the open shallow gully to 53, trying to explain to L why this open land was shown as forest on the map! I stuffed up 91 getting distracted by the many teams and forgetting the plan and looking too soon as L pointed out. He was getting quite annoyed at map quality at this point! The mapped track was hard to follow but the spur east of the control was clear and led us in. We lost sight of Rob and Lewis for a while here although we saw them quite often later having very similar routes. Also saw Craig and Ev here too. Then we went onto open land ( L a bit worried we might stray into oob) for 62, 54, then road to 56, then 34. Tracks a bit confusing on way to 65. Saw water where we didn't quite expect it. Erroneously thought there was water later and didn't fill ( nor get fruit ☹️) but luckily our water held out. Clean into 65 then through the quiet forest on a bearing to 64. This was our 10 km mark and it was 2 hours in so good so far. Introduced L to gels which he tolerated. Decided to add in 43 as an in and out, then the junky 93, then 74. Lost time on 61. I thought I saw the control from a way off, probably in error but it took a while to let go that theory. Meanwhile L was baffled by how the clearing was mapped and the circle placement which made him a bit cross and not wanting to keep searching until he'd made sense of it - eventually we went a bit further south and found it. Wasted probably 15 min here. (Also saw Kate and John here on way out as we approached. ) We had a bit of hunting for 73 - gully pretty subtle and felled logs made for slow going.) After that it was time for a walk and sandwich- it was 3 hours 22 in now and I was worried we wouldn't complete our loop so hurried L a bit, with him muttering something about me being so competitive! I just didn't want to miss the 90 and 80 in the south. We were clean to subtle 82 in scrub ( yay) and I followed L's bearing to 55, the dam on Wicks hill road. We straight lined to 92 - seeing Rob and Lewis on their way out and heading to 55 as we did the opposite - I stopped wading the creek when it was clear it was heading above waist high and we both found tree trunks to cross by ( me on hands and knees.) It was now 3 pm, 2 hours to go. 33 (decision point ) seemed a long way to go. We had a sloshy fency paddock to cross to 83, then a long leg to 63. We were passing other teams now, who didn't seem concerned about time. On way to 63 Leiths shoe was caught in crossed fence wires while he was crossing and he face planted into a cow pat. He eventually wriggled his foot out with some help but then grabbed the electric fence as he stood up. Ow. I wondered if he would mutiny but it seemed to give him energy and he bravely kept running - I meanwhile ran out of the way to find the gate! After 63 we crossed busy Dashwood gully road to 45, then 72 then a fency leg to 32. Now one hour to go. We started to work out what we could fit in and managed 33, submerged track to 41, 40, 52, 20, 30 and still had 15 minutes to go so kept up a strong run to grab 22. L ran like a trouper and did not protest once when I kept adding controls, bless him. Coming back from 22 we were gaining on Craig and Ev and I said I wonder what their score is, we should try and catch them. We tried but couldn't quite run down E ( L could I couldn't ) with C yelling to Ev quick they're catching you!! As it turned out they had an extra 40 points and I nearly lost my stomach on stopping, but it was a fun way to finish, with 8 controls in the last hour. 1710 points all up. 1st family and 9th overall. It was so lovely to do this with Leith- it felt very special and was great to navigate together . I can't believe how much he's learnt this year - Stefano and Briddy's training has had a big impact.
Very impressed with the Terrific Trio of Teenagers getting over 2000 (2050) and Jenny and Steve's win on 2090.

C • Wow 6

C • Nicknames! 2

Day off today so I ran during daylight. Callum and I ran up the valley to Melville house track, left and up and over to Redwoods then up to top of QJD and home. Legs felt inexplicably tired!
Biddy I hope you read this as you will be impressed- I spent the first 2-3 km from the gate above the golf course up to Karka doing a word search! Finding numbers as words 1 -16 . Took me 20 minutes to complete and I ran slowly!! I hope my brain appreciates it's workout.

Spent rest of day until well into evening being domestic. Trying to pay more attention to catering ( until I get over it again.)

C • Word search 4

I have been studying my strava trace from Sunday with satellite background and it's quite revealing.
Bearings! Checking accuracy on control exit would help, even when 'just running out to a track.' Comparing myself with someone else on the same course (BC, also on strava) is also revealing and somewhat painful! His trace is 'Tysonesque'.

Stop start run with both dogs. Up to Karka and back.

O training exercise at Veale Gardens plus warm up and down. In a relay taking turns map reading and doing a word search. Poor Toby got paired with me and had to practice patience. Word search on the run was pretty hard! I nearly ran into a few things.

Includes waiting at lights.

Lunch time swim. Had a 50 m lane to myself felt really good to stretch out. Focused on a strong pull through the water and good rhythm and rolling my shoulders smoothly.

Course 3, 6.6 km
I enjoyed myself very much in the forest. Early on prior to making any mistakes I found myself thinking I was so glad to be orienteering rather than being on the nearby Mount Crawford trail run. My bearings varied from good to not. At times tracks were a better option for me. My time was pretty slow. My strava trace is revealing not the smooth flow I dream of!. On one leg (7-8 ) I had huge difficulty following my compass as my brain just couldn't match map to ground. I had to force reason ( represented by the compass) over ( incorrect) instinct. Annoyingly when I came across my control 12 on way to 8 I didn't realise it was on my course and missed an opportunity to take a much more direct route, continuing my clunky 'safe' / time consuming course. I was hailed on mid course. By the end I was pretty cold! I almost wished I did course 2 instead of 3 to see the higher ground and to have some longer legs.

Went home happy having enjoyed the course overall but I would like to get cleaner. More attention to exit direction, and keeping the plan together for the whole leg needed.