Training Log Archive: possum

Felt really good today. Some issues with heavy breathing, but I didn't have to stop to catch my breath. Carried water, and tried out the Stinger waffles recommended by my trainer. This was probably my very best race at this distance.

Again at Little Truckee Summit, but some route choices possible today. Still a lot of compass work, and longer legs.

Control 4--went a too far south, and had to return. Better choice would have been to read the vegetation, which was much more accurate on this map than the rest of the week.

Control 7--I was somewhat concerned with this one, because it involved a long slog across the marsh and not much in the way of topological change. I ate my chocolate waffle on the way across the marsh, thought I was still in good alignment, and saw the control flag from about 150 meters away. This made me very happy.

Then, another long leg to 8, where I messed up. Took the road and angled off. Saw a control flag, with water stop about 150 meters away again and headed for it. Not my control and water stop. I knew it was too far south, so strike up one for very poor judgment. I knew where I was, however, and walked straight to the correct control.

On control 11, I was distracted by lots of runners going too far north. I knew they were too far north, but I didn't go south enough. When I intercepted the reentrant (supposed to be a stream, but only a ditch on the map, and hard to discern) I did go south and get it, but lost several minutes.

My best long race, significantly under 2 hours. I was second overall for the second day. I had done courses several years ago at Little Truckee Summit and did very poorly on the terrain and altitude.

I flew home this afternoon feeling like a real orienteer.

C • Great job Reta!!!! 1

Brown - Splits

The Middle distance of the Sierra Summerfest. This course was mostly all about the compass. There were short legs, but not really any route choices. I was slow, especially on the first two with uphill climbs, but steady. Had to stop and rest going to control 2. The only one that I wasn't steady on was control six. I was too far up the hill. I knew this, but wasn't quite sure how far to go down, so I went back to control 2 and aimed south.

All in all, for me this was very good compass work. I carried water and I'm sure this made a lot of difference. Came in second in my class in a field of 5. I had hoped to do the course in under an hour, but was 18 seconds over.

Brown #2 - Splits

Today was the Donner Sprint. Still adjusting to the altitude, and sprints are definitely not my thing--no fast-twitch muscles here!

Still, I did a very poor job, and blew three of the controls, including the first one. Overran and had to walk back. On number 6, I went too far north and had to go back, and on control 11, I went way far north. Prescription for improvement: READ THE MAP. Also, I don't adjust well to different scales. Something to work on. I was third of four at this race.

Came back in the pm for another training event. This was the Burton Creek Motala, in California, but close to the Nevada line. The Motala was four loops. Since I was still adjusting to thin air, but feeling much better, Amy and I again walked the courses, as we needed to reserve strength for the next two days' races.

The event was described as mainly orange, but we didn't find this to be the case. The first loop, A, was very easy and we spiked all five controls. The B loop was something else. We did the first control, 6, without difficulty, but had a very difficult time with number 7. This leg had all controls on boulders, and we were in an area without much in the way of topo features, plus very had to relocate. Eventually, 25 minutes later, we found it. The rest required navigation, but were not as difficult. We walked too far down the road before cutting.g over to get control 9--our mistake--the placement was not that difficult.

After the second loop we stopped, but good practice.

Brown/Orange Sprint - Splits

The beginning of an intense four days of orienteering. After a long airplane flight, and getting up at 0400 central time, I went to the Spooner Scramble which was in Nevada, my first orienteering there.

Since I was somewhat jet-lagged, but mostly just needed to acclimate to the altitude and thin air with my breathing problems, Amy and I walked to some of the easier controls in this Score-O event. We did try a few controls that required navigation skills, but mostly I had to stop a few times and catch my breath on the hills. We did get 100 points, so I felt ok about this.

Back to training with Jared, but on Monday since I missed last Wednesday, because of lots of sweat packing & cleaning in St. Paul. Hope to get back to regular training again now. We ended up with pushing the sled today--practice for pushing uphill next weekend.

C • Rope 1