Race Evaluation
Susquehanna Stumble: Long
Nadim
| 1. | Start-1. Got to the registration late and rushed to get ready. I didn't have a chance to copy control descriptions to the custom punch card. Felt okay on the flat road and was not pushing. I read ahead to the first window but only glanced at the second. Surprised to be in second on the road behind Jon Torrance. Once off the road going up the gully, I started feeling the run the from the previous day. I found the rocks, downed leaves and ankle grabby foliage draining but somehow managed to get there 3rd. | ||||||
| 2. | 1-A. Jon and Clem took off. I started to drop places. I would probably have climbed up the trail a bit had I been on my own but felt like I'd lose ground if I didn't go straight like everyone else. | ||||||
| 3. | A-C. I saw Jon T. go for E but remembering lost time from the previous Mid-Atlantic's here, I didn't want to make extra climb nor finish with B and the rocky ground to #7. I chased Randy going straight. I went a bit on the left side of the rocks in the middle. | ||||||
| 4. | C-B. Still chasing Randy just going straight. | ||||||
| 5. | B-E. I started falling back slightly tiring on the climb but basically chasing Randy and going straight. | ||||||
| 6. | E-D. I ran the edge of the dropoff to the control and saw Jeff Cocker coming in from the west (left). I went around the green bits at the end--too bad there wasn't time to enjoy the view. | ||||||
| 7. | D-7. Out the way I came. I almost got sucked into the green and rocky cove but pulled around to the right. Randy and others were getting out of sight. I feared I was getting too far from the edge of the drop off so I cut back a bit probably unecessarily so. Randy punched well ahead of me and was running through the ankle grabbing foliage, rocks and leaves much better than I. | ||||||
| 8. | +05:30 | 7-J. I was tireing pretty good on the climb to the next window. We were nearly 30 contours up from the start leaving #7. I decided that going to "I" first would be best but I hadn't finished analyzing the rest. I'd lost site of Randy and all others ahead. I hit the first set of big obvious cliffs just left of the line. I was thinking poorly enough due to fatigue that I hadn't noticed that these were just the first set. I walked up and figured this out but lost a little time stopping. I aimed straight for I but had thoughts about going to the top of the hill to know where I was. The wishy washy navigation brought me in-between and missing the cliffs on the straight line that I thought I'd see. I crested in the clear cut area and really wished it were marked on the map (not that this was any fault of SVO). I didn't know where I was so I stopped and took a long time to just read the map an try to figure it out. It didn't help. I descended postulating that I was near a large rock. I was incorrect. After more fumbling, Ted Good came in and looked similarly confused. I cut right thinking the controls would be in the still wooded area. I guess I descended more. I fumbled around and finally was saved by Jon Torrance streaking down from above right to a control. Unfortunately for me turned out to be "J", well below and north of "I" but at least I knew where I was again. Ted did similarly and I think got there right after I did. | |||||
| 9. | J-G. Jon and Ted took off ahead of me. I chased them straight to G. | ||||||
| 10. | G-I. Jon and Ted went for "H" moving fast. They must have already gotten "I". I began the slog straight up to "I" and spiked it. Somewhere around here I saw Florin Tencaru. | ||||||
| 11. | +00:15 | I-H. Tom Strat had gotten to "I" around the time that I did. We set off to "H" just going straight. Tom pulled up short a bit. I went on with some slight fumbling but got there first. | |||||
| 12. | H-K. I had glanced ahead and only saw #17. I should have taken a better look because I missed the next window--probably behind my fold. Thinking it'd be best to go for #17 from "F", I made a snap decision to get "K" next, then swing down for "F" on the way to #17. I chased Tom who had taken off while I thought. We got to "G". He punched but since I'd already been there I didn't--he was kind enough to remind me to, not knowing this. Using "G" as an attack point, I ran straight to "K". I think Florin got there around the same time. | ||||||
| 13. | K-F. From K, I ran starightish to F with Florin. Along the way we passed a group perhaps led by Dave Onkst goin the other direction. Florin got there just ahead of me. | ||||||
| 14. | F-N. Realizing now that I had to go to the next window and not #17, I chased Florin gradually up the hillside. He started to get ahead. I crossed over the giant reentrant before he did and angled up the hillside into the reentrant formed by the spur south of the window and made-up ground. Jeff Cocker came in the same area from the west, my left. The reentrant was a good attack point but all three of us still fumbled a bit low. I think Florin may have gotten there first, then me, then Jeff. | ||||||
| 15. | N-M. Running around the downed trees was awkward. I could see the control long before I could get there and think I saw it first. I think I also got there first. | ||||||
| 16. | M-L. I zig-zagged following what appeared to be a sort of logging road. Eddie's comments were correct. The charcoal platform was obliterated by the recent clearcut but the control was hung high enough to see it over 100m away. Florin was close behind. | ||||||
| 17. | L-17. I took off down and hit the green hesitating before turning right to go around. I felt slow chopping my way down the steep hill with the leaves hiding the rocks. I hesitated again above the control to ensure that I hadn't passed it. Still, I was reluctant to go down so far to the obvious rock and was glad I was correct when I got there. With all the climbing we had done to get to the top of the mountain, I would have rather we took more time going down. I can run faster when it's not so steep and think it would have been more enjoyable. However I recognize the challenge too. | ||||||
| 18. | 17-18. I didn't know how bad the green would be so I contoured above it planning to use the trail east of the control to get through. Florin trailed me for a while but then I didn't hear him. I did cut through a corner of it to get to the trail and found it wasn't that bad. On the trail through the green, I thought the trail bend would be a good place to depart but thought I ought to descend more first. I was still worried about thorns and things. As I did cut over, I looked below and saw Florin coming up a reentrant or trail. We crossed routes. I kept my route heading SW and saw it NW of me. I got there first and may have given it away for Florin. | ||||||
| 19. | +00:10 | 18-19. Going to the flatter ground of forested flood plain, my confidence in navigation increased. I descended into it along the wet ditch then ran pretty straight. I enjoyed being able to open up my stride. When I hit the river, I was left of the control. It took me a few seconds to realize it and come along the banks to it. Florin was close behind. | |||||
| 20. | 19-20. I ran the south side of the stream mostly ignoring the trails. I tried to stay away from the banks and hit the bend about on the line. I just followed the small stream to the control from there. Florin was still near but I started to lose him. I drank quickly and pulled out a Gu. | ||||||
| 21. | 20-21. Florin got there so I took off without having finished the Gu. I ran straight along the hillside. I followed the ditch to the stream and caught a glimpse of Ted Good and Mihai ahead. Crossing, I attacked straight and spiked it. Florin had fallen behind. | ||||||
| 22. | 21-22. I ran straight but got a little left. The houses helped straighten me out and I also started seeing Ted and Mihai a little more. They were out of the pit before I dropped in. | ||||||
| 23. | 22-Map Exchange. I got out and ran steady, gaining ground on both Ted and Mihai. | ||||||
| 24. | Map Exchange-O. My first thought at the windows was to go right but the climb didn't look good. Exiting Q looked best and allows partial trail running. Ted turned left and was out before me. Mihai went right. I went left for "O". I gained a little ground and cut in off a driveway where Ted did. I was tiring but Ted started walking. I passed and got there first. It seemed further up the hill than I thought but I think this was due to the change in map scale to 1:15,000. | ||||||
| 25. | O-P. Straight over to the road (I got a little higher than necessary). Ted was chasing. I cut in seeing the junction ahead. | ||||||
| 26. | +00:10 | P-R. Up the trail and through the intersection to the left. I stayed on the trail too long. The circle obscured a bit of reentrant below the control. | |||||
| 27. | +00:10 | R-Q. Heading for the trail intersection, I got too high. I realized this as the trail headed south and cut left to correct. Ted was coming along the correct trail on my left. I ran ahead and attacked off the bend, reading steepness along the way. The cliff and control was higher than I thought it'd be but I lost no further time. | |||||
| 28. | +00:10 | Q-27. Through the saddle to the trail and then left. I wanted to use the trail to climb as much as was reasonable even though it was farther. When I cut in to my right, past the trail bend, I contoured and descended slightly. I hit the reentrant well below the control but kept going after a hesitation. | |||||
| 29. | 27-28. I was very worried about this one. I went right of the line to try to follow charcoal terraces there. At the trail crossing, I didn't see the one I wanted. I cut right a bit but figured I just missed it behind me. There was a slight bend to the trail so I reasoned my location and contoured level across. This worked enough to spike it though I was very unsure while getting there. I was glad I'd not lost much time on the last few controls which should have helped me put time between myself and Ted and Mihai. | ||||||
| 30. | 28-29. I started up along the line, walking much of the way. It got thicker. I reasoned that I could use the whiter woods and come below the spur to the saddle on the edge of the map. I kept checking my compass a lot and hit the trail below the saddle as planned. At the very edge of the map, I left the trail and crossed the saddle. I'd hoped to see the trail intersection with the descending trail but didn't. I crossed a ditch and wondered if it was the trail. Not being sure, I went on and just used the change in steepness to my right to guide me into the reentrant and spike the control. | ||||||
| 31. | 29-30. I went straight slowly so as not to mess up on a short leg. | ||||||
| 32. | +00:10 | 30-31. I reasoned it'd be best to contour above the steeper ground and pass above the reentrats. A couple charcoal terraces along the way assured me of distance and location. At the end, I got less sure. I was high slightly (at the wrong charcoal terrace)but close enough to see the control. | |||||
| 33. | 31-32. Looking ahead, it was dissapointing to have to head downward this late in the race with another big climb and plenty of controls to go. I ran straight, crossing the trail west of the wet ditch, then the wet ditch. I wanted to be safe so I aimed further off to the left and followed the stream to the charcoal terrace after a hesitation at the stream. | ||||||
| 34. | 32-33. I ate a Gu and drank. As I started to leave. I stopped again wanting to relieve myself but someone in a US uniform approached (it turned out to be Mihai). I took off running to the road, then had to walk as the straight route continued climbing. I spiked it. | ||||||
| 35. | 33-34. I took off quickly again but there wasn't much need. The steepness got me to walking almost right away. I angled almost straight up the hilll rather than making it more gradual. I figured if I was going to walk, I'd better make the walk as short as possible. At the trail finally, I cut right at a jog but got going better quickly. I crossed the trail junction then went over the top and past it 100m. I then cut left heading for the Appalachian Trail (AT). I cut right on it and kept going after it began climbing so that I could leave it at a known point--a charcoal terrace just off the trail. Descending, I wanted to avoid the rocky ground and the darker green by staying above them. I hit the reentrant area above the last rock--lower than planned but at least I knew where I was. Descending more steeply, my side hurt which has been bothering me more lately, became more evident. Continuing, I took a rough fall as the plastic/rubber arch of my right shoe slid on a hidden branch. I slid against some rocks and banged my right knee. Getting going, I was slower. I probably also lost my line. I had wanted to hit the reentrant high then descend along it to the control. However, I got to the reentrant just west of the terrace and was glad I recognized it as the control was tucked away. | ||||||
| 36. | 34-35. Going down, I wanted to aim off right and follow the rocks down. I couldn't make sense of them for sure but postulated location a few times. I paused high and right of the control. A glimpse of a water jug gave it away. | ||||||
| 37. | 35-T. Out almost along the line to the road, then left to the bridge. I thought about crossing early but didn't see much reason to. I planned the next window on the road. From the bridge I ran straight to T. It felt farther than I thought it'd be. | ||||||
| 38. | T-U. Just right of straight to use the high ground and spur as an attack. About half way there, I stepped very close to what looked like a well shaft that had a few sticks over it but no other markers. The extra buildings confused me a little. | ||||||
| 39. | +00:30 | U-V. Going straight, I hit the first stream crossing and stopped. I'd mistaken it for the larger creek. | |||||
| 40. | +00:05 | V-W. Going straight, I got on the unmapped trail. I cut right as it bent left at the hillside. I thought it was going to be on the first set of rocks but closer examination revealed a spur under the circle. | |||||
| 41. | W-S. I ran right of the green areas and crossed the field. I mis-read the shape and almost went in south of the control. I realized it after a step or two, came back and saw it a little uphill. | ||||||
| F. | S-Finsh. Back out toward the field, then roads and trails all the way. I went low to the lake parking and used the path on the other side to exit. Fun but physical race. I wished I'd have been more careful going to the second window but I'm not sure it would have made much difference in place any way. If I had been able to stick with someone, I may have gotten through the last loop faster but was mostly alone. |
Total Time Lost - 00:07:10