Training Log Archive: RLShadow

Event: ROC - Powder Mills Park - Regular Event
 

Green course, Powder Mills.

Start to #1 was a road run 90% of the way. Then on to #2 ... started going up the hill to the N of the park buildings but was intimidated by the steepness of the slope, so I went around to the S of the buildings. Then I couldn't find it even though I sure thought I was in the right spot ... looked and looked, kept going up the hill until I saw a knoll that looked potentially promising, even though I knew it was way too high. I realized I was at the very top of the hill, by the trail, at a mapped knoll. Headed back down hill. Found the two small knolls (who mapped these tiny things anyway? Oh, it was me ... sorry!) on the map, one of which was supposed to have the control. I saw a small streamer on what should have been the right one, but no control, of course, because if there had been, I would have seen it on my way uphill the first time. Then Mike Lyons showed up. I told him I wasn't finding it. He confirmed that we were in the exact spot by his reckoning, so at that point we both decided to give up and head to #3.

To #3, I went to the N of the swamp, headed up the hill, but got off line a bit and come out on the trail to the E of the control. The map showed a rootstock almost on the trail, close to the control, but I didn't see the rootstock. Maybe it's deteriorated sufficiently to be non-prominent. Finally headed in the direction of the feature (tree) and found it fine.

Pretty easy trail run/walk to near #4, then climbed the hill, and nailed it. #4 to #5, I took a pretty straight line route up the slash green hill, but in retrospect I believe I should have taken the moderately long trail route.

#5 to #6 was pretty much trail all the way. Then down the reentrant to the trail, got across the marsh on the boardwalk, headed towards #7. Got to the trail junction just SE of the control, headed up the hill, was a little surprised to see the reentrant looking as prominent as it did (on the map, there is a very modest curve in one contour only, suggesting a pretty shallow and indistinct reentrant). Got to where the control should have been, but no control. Kept heading up hill -- spotted a streamer way up high, got there, no control. I headed back down, ready to give up. At that point, Mike Lyons appeared again, heading straight to where the control was shown on the map! I told him that the control wasn't there. He spied a control much lower on the hill, certainly outside of the circle, and definitely not in a reentrant. I said that can't be it ... but we checked the code, and sure enough, that was the control! Quite misplaced.

On the #8, pretty much straight line. I hadn't read the control description and it looked on the map that the center gully was where the control center was, but it was actually the southern gully, as indicated by the control description and also by closer inspection of the control circle later. So I lost a few seconds peaking down into the wrong gully.

Pretty much straight line to #9, although I came in a bit to the right. Then down the hill and through the parking lot to #10. Then long run N to the main road to cross the creek at the bridge per instructions, going to #11. Probably took an inefficient route, cutting through the field by the playground, staying close to the creek for a while. Looks better to have just taken the park road all the way. Back to the park road to #12. Somewhat inefficient route to #13, going well right of the line, past the lodge.

No real navigational challenges to #14, but I was a bit lazy and not pushing along the trail, then when I got to where it was time to leave the trail and head downhill to the control, I was intimidated by the steepness of the hill, so I bailed out and took the more modest slope down to the point, then back to where I could cross to get to the control.

Green - Splits

Mid afternoon run in brand new running shoes.

Indoors, rec center.

Alasa Farms, with Hanna and with trailsnail. Stuck to some pretty uninteresting sections (eastern section which is mainly scrub brush with a few trails through it), but it has to be mapped to at least show the trails, even though it's not real interesting from an orienteering standpoint.

Dog walk at Four Mile Creek area (Phillips and Lake Roads). Much of the trails were fairly dry but there were several very wet spots. Many huge new rootstocks, presumably from the early March windstorm.

Mid-day run on roads with trailsnail.

Long-ish, slow, and reasonably steady run. Went better than the last time I tried a long-ish run in that I didn't feel any real need to insert walking breaks. A bit drizzly at the beginning but mostly precipitation free.