Training Log Archive: syd

Red Classic - 7.3 km (270 m) - 18 c
Superfly Marsh

Kevin and I volunteered to prerun the course today. We got up early and started just after 7 a.m. The cooler temperature was great! It was nice to not have the distraction of other runners, but at the same time I definitely have more motivation to move quickly when I'm out there with other people. Really enjoyed the course. The terrain out here is so cool!

Used the marked swamp crossing on the way to 2 as we were told the marsh was really deep in places. Not sure it was necessary - the marsh didn't seem that bad. Chased a herd of cows around the S part of the course. The flag at 6 had been knocked over, so I paused to set that back up and unvelcro the flag so it hung nicely. Felt like it took forever to get to 7. Navigation was smooth, but my legs were beat. Slow approach to 9. Overshot 10 although I did realize it before going down into the wrong reentrant. Mistake on 12. I read the clue as marsh and decided that it should be in a low spot. If I had read the map that was clearly not the case. Ran to a big reentrant and then slowly meandered my way back to the correct location. Went to the wrong boulder on 17 - quick correction. Not a great route choice to 18. I should have gone to the field on either side of the hill, but instead I just chugged through the scrub brush.

Had a great time in Wyoming this week. Sad that it's over, but my legs are definitely ready for a break!

Western States Day 3 Red - Splits

Red Classic - 8.1 km (265 m) - 19 c
Twin Boulders

Happy with my run today. My navigation was solid and I was able to keep up a moderate pace. It didn't feel very fast - my legs were pretty beat from all this fun orienteering! Another map/course that I thought was quite enjoyable. There was a good mix of long and short legs and varied terrain. It also required a lot of focus in the circle.

I had a few mistakes, but nothing major. Slow on the approach to 4. There were way more rock features in that area than I was expecting. Some weaving through boulders to find 5 and 6. Biggest error was on 8. Almost the shortest leg on the whole course...I really need to work on those short legs. Followed someone in the wrong direction out of the control and then got very confused about where I was specifically. Lost at least 1 min. Small error on 9. I overshot slightly and went to the cliff in the reentrant. Turned around and saw the flag. Happy with my routes to 11 and 12. Could have done 13 more efficiently. Went to the cliff NW of the correct one on 14. Quick correction. Smooth through the rest.

Went back to Browns Landing to do a little more climbing. Steve wanted to go all the way to the top, so I happily agreed to go with him. This was my first multi-pitch route! It was super fun :) The pitches were short and easy, so it was a good introduction. We did 3, scrambled up to the top and then rappelled back down (in 2 sections).

Western States Day 2 Red - Splits

Red Classic - 8.2 km (390 m) - 18 c
Pelican Bay East

Really enjoyed the terrain again today. It was fast running and technical enough that it required constant focus. Happy with my run overall. I felt good physically and only had a couple bobbles/poor route choices. It just didn't feel very smooth - but I think that is something that will come with more practice.

Clean through the first set of controls. I was a little worried about 3, so I slowed down on the approach and hit it right on. Very slow on the way in to 8. I came across the field and thought I knew where I was, but once I climbed the hill things didn't look quite right. Slowed down to confirm and found it no problem. Ate a Gu on my way to 11. Did a little extra climb after I left the trail. Came in to 12 from above, which required a bit of scrambling. Poor route choice to 13. I should've just gone straight. Mistake on 14. Decided to go around the hill to the E (silly choice), but I drifted pretty far E on my bearing and ended up at the hilltop N of the flag. Figured out what I had done when there were way too many boulders on the hillside. Refocused after those 2 controls and the rest went smoothly.

Western States Day 1 Red - Splits

Red Middle - 4.7 km (220 m) - 25c
Granite Planite

This race was a lot of fun. Very cool terrain and I finally felt like I was able to run at this altitude. Navigation went well. I had some hesitations on a few controls in the first section, but nothing major. I then stopped paying attention and made a 180 mistake out of 11. Only the second time I have ever done that. It should have been so obvious for a lot of reasons, but I was just running without looking at my map. Made it all the way to 16 before turning around. Ugh. Lost at least 3 min there. Only other error was on 18. I thought I had drifted on my bearing, so I turned N. I should have just trusted my compass as I was on the right line. Found the control no problem, it was just a very slow approach. I was happy with how well I read the rocky terrain. A little bummed that I made such a silly mistake.

Control pickup. A short loop around the finish area with Kevin.

Middle Red - Splits

6.7 km - 26 c
Rattlesnake Hill

One man relay with a mass start at 10:30 a.m. We received a packet with 5 maps at the start and swapped out for the next one each time we returned to the S/F area. Kevin and I ended up with the same order of maps and went back and forth for a while. Navigation went well. I had an error on 1-3. I went to the wrong flag first. The next 2 loops were very similar iterations. The 4th loop was only 2 flags! And I had already been to both, so that was a nice break. The last loop was in a different area with more challenging navigation. It was fun, but I had very little energy left. I drifted on my way to 5-1, but corrected once I hit a reentrant and not a spur. I drifted too far S on the way to 5-3, but it was an easy correction once I hit the field. The rest went smoothly. Won a cool rock as a prize!

We joined Steve, Angel, BJ, and Julie for some climbing in the afternoon. This was my first time climbing outside. It was a lot of fun!! The crag had a lot of easier routes that were still enjoyable climbs. Routes we did ranged from 5.7 - 5.10a. I started off with top-roping after others had set a rope and then I led my first outdoor route :)

Event: 2018 Rocky Mountain Orienteering Festival
 

Red - 7.7 km - 15 c
Lights of Cheyenne

We had a very eventful flight to Denver, but we made it and so did our bags (the next day). We got groceries in the morning, picked up our bags, and drove to Curt Gowdy SP to find a campsite. Made it to the start of the event with plenty of time to spare.

The race was a mass start red length course. After a few brief instructions we all took off at 4:00 p.m. Terrain was really open and runnable. It was mostly follow the leader, I only had to navigate to a couple of controls. I had a lot of hesitation coming into 7. I should've just paused to study the map and realized that the control was in the valley, but I thought it was up higher. I then came in to 8 too low. Everything else went smoothly.

This race was a good way to learn the terrain and it was cool to see how micro route choices can make a notable difference. The elevation didn't feel as bad as I thought it might, but it was so dry! Coming from ridiculous humidity for the last month I was feeling the lack of water.