Training Log Archive: gwilliams

Event: BAOC: Joe Grant
 

This was a red course at Joe Grant. From the start to #1, I made a bit of a route choice error, and lost perhaps two minutes. Around the area of #2, I misread the contour lines and was confused for a little while. I probably lost about a minute. #3 and 4 I found with no trouble.

For me, the leg from #4 to 5 was a complete disaster. I was running along a hillside, but ended up lower than I intended. I was looking for a fence that was perpendicular to how I was running, but it just wasn't there. Other runners told me that that fence was still standing higher up, but it must have just ended farther up on the hillside than mapped. I found myself with a valley in front of me, so I knew my general area, but I had no idea where exactly I was. There were many rock features that I tried to use to find my location, but very few of them were actually on the map. I eventually figured out where I was by identifying a pond and reentrant in the distance on the opposite side of the valley. I found the control, but I lost at least 15 minutes on the leg. I haven't been that lost on an orienteering course for a long time.

I had no significant mistakes from controls #5 through 10. To #11, I chose to go more or less straight, which took me through a ton of thick vegetation, including a huge amount of poison oak. This all slowed me down a lot, so it definitely would have been better to go around. I had no significant mistakes for the rest of the race.

Overall, I ran a very inconsistent race. It looks like some of the time, I need to slow down a little and read the map more carefully.

Two of the controls were water controls, so I ended up carrying two gallons of water for most of that distance.

Event: BAOC: Joe Grant TrailCross with camping
 

This was a great Trailcross race at Joe Grant, with some interesting route choices. From one to two, I had to choose between adding significant climb or significant distance. I chose to run more distance, and I think that was optimal in this case. There were several other long legs with route choices, and for the most part, I think I chose well. Great course!

Huge homework day...

Recovery day after Run Black Diamond...