Training Log Archive: BigWillyStyle

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2012 IS/IC re-run, Day 2 @ Lord Hill. Magnus won in 85 while Thomas ran 87; given the advantages of new trails this is probably somewhere in that ballpark. I also have the advantage of knowing LH pretty well (better than I know Ebey) and remembering some of this course. Lord Hill is a much better venue than Ebey; the contours are far more interesting and while the terrain is demanding and slow, you can actually move through it without questioning the entire chain of life decisions that have led you here. However, Ebey does have the most spectacular arena I've seen.

Again really pleased with this. I felt surprisingly good after the tough effort yesterday, and ran some FIFTY-THREE minutes faster than eight years ago. 2012 Will was most definitely not physically up to the task of tackling two monster venues back to back.

Splits:
1 - 2:08 (-13)
2 - 2:40 (+26)
3 - 6:53 (+2:52) - Could not find the small rock, though I surely ran past it multiple times (on a new trail). Probably covered in moss and debris.
4 - 0:53 (-1:15) - Splits for 3 and 4 aren't real; forgot to take a split "at" 3 so hit it somewhere on the way to 4. Unclear if I was in the absolutely correct spot, but surely close enough.
5 - 2:31 (+25) - Hesitant and again unsure; looking at GPS I may have been too high. Could be only real "miss" of the weekend.
6 - 4:04 (+29) - Got lucky here; had lost contact and was about to go into panic mode, then the massive boulder appeared ahead.
7 - 4:10 (+21)
8 - 1:41 (-16)
9 - 5:07 (+31) - Bad out of 8. New trail here meandering up the hill to 9.
10 - 3:48 (+8) - Too bad this one wasn't placed higher up on the hillside so that bailing from 9 back down to the trail wasn't a clear choice.
11 - 1:29 (-8)
12 - 2:02 (+19)
13 - 3:54 (+38)
14 - 5:03 (+1:52) - Got completely confused by the trails leaving 13, then also bobbled in the circle.
15 - 4:21 (+41) - Confused again; the mapped trails in this area seem to bear little resemblance to reality.
16 - 2:27 (-18) - Hits from nettles starting to break through defenses.
17 - 0:56 (+14)
18 - 2:13 (+13)
19 - 1:50 (+10)
20 - 6:37 (+40) - Tons of nettles on the top here. Shields critical.
21 - 1:35 (0)
22 - 2:12 (-1:23) - A new trail basically goes straight to 22; you couldn't build a more direct trail from 21 to 22 if you tried. Probably should have avoided using it for purposes of intellectual rigor.
23 - 2:32 (-1:02) - Same trail also went much of the way to 23.
24 - 1:27 (+14)
25 - 0:57 (+6)
26 - 3:09 (-4)
27 - 1:03 (-8)
28 - 1:53 (+7) - This boulder is now within a large patch of a thick brushy plant, maybe Scotch broom.
29 - 0:57 (+23) - Again here, way more bushes than in 2012. Floundered around a bit in the brush, then located the rock within the circle and figured that was good enough.
30 - 1:25 (+40) - Ibid. These last few perhaps cancel out some of 22 and 23.
F - 0:47 (+10)

C • Day 2 16

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In honor of the 2020 Junior Nationals not happening next weekend, I re-ran Day 1 of the 2012 IS/IC Champs, also at Fort Ebey. Wasn't sure what I could do but hoped to challenge Magnus PI's 104min second place (Nipen was always going to be out of reach at 91) - though of course the comparison is not entirely valid. Still, super happy with the result.

Most comically, 2012 Will was some 27 minutes behind 2020 Will v2.0. 2012 Will was not at all into running, and could pretty much take it or leave it when it came to orienteering. Little did he know he'd soon embark on an eight-year journey that would bring him many great experiences, travels, and friends. And the journey continues.

Splits:
1 - 0:45 (+7)
2 - 7:17 (-44) - Aced this route choice.
3 - 8:59 (-6)
4 - 6:47 (+3:27) - Bad mistake here.
5 - 5:07 (+1:12) - On the 2012 map the control location is openish; that spot is now a massive sea of salal.
6 - 8:48 (+2:22) - Horrible route choice fighting through more super-thick salal.
7 - 4:01 (-35)
8 - 7:00 (+17) - Didn't find the large rootstock here; likely no longer exists as I also failed to find it in Feb.
9 - 6:57 (+35) - Several MTB trails here that didn't exist in 2012; unclear if they helped not.
10 - 3:40 (+4)
11 - 7:06 (+1:53) - Salal...go around, idiot.
12 - 4:06 (+31)
13 - 4:49 (-6)
14 - 4:38 (-10)
15 - 2:02 (+18)
16 - 5:40 (+48) - Aced this route choice, still got smoked by Thomas and Peteris.
17 - 1:51 (-9)
18 - 6:41 (+36) - Magnus crushed everyone here with a great route choice.
19 - 2:47 (-8)
20 - 0:21 (+1)
F - 0:27 (+2)

C • memories 4

"That is the plan: just try. If we can do it, wonderful. If not, then fail in the most beautiful way."

MONSTER WIND

MONSTER SPEED

C • Wut 2