Race Evaluation
DVOA French Creek East: Blue
Nadim
| 1. | Waited for 40 minutes to get a map because they ran out. Started just after noon with lots of all-stars behind me. Started out easy because I knew it would be a long hot day. This leg was common w/Orange so I found it w/o trouble. | ||||||
| 2. | +02:00 | Got off to the right a bit as I passed a couple, then I saw a bright control on my right and ran to it only to find it was wrong. Coming back to the left I spotted the faded bag a little down from where I was. | |||||
| 3. | Ran up the trail to the intersection w/the intermitant trail. The intermittant trail lasted longer than shown on the map. I went up from it and followed the rocks in. | ||||||
| 4. | I was slow going down due to the bad rocky footing. I kept a straight line and hit the road at a pullout which was on the map. Going straight again, I crossed the creek. Just after seeing it ahead, I saw Karl Alswede coming in from below on my right. I tried to be quiet but I probably keyed him in a little. I was surprised to see him catch me so soon. | ||||||
| 5. | +01:00 | Crossing the creek, I turned left at the trail and took it to the road. From there, I went straight up however I missed going to the right. I checked a boulder which was wrong then turned around to my left and down to another boulder which was right. Karl had gotten there just after I punched. | |||||
| 6. | +04:30 | I should have stopped longer at #5 to drink but I only took a quick one-gulp before rushing off in hopes of staying ahead of Karl. I wanted to cross the power lines on the trail. The first trail I hit curled up and around. I thought it was heading back to the power lines but before I knew it I was all the way back at #3. Vytenis came through, then Wyatt Riley before I realized it. Sulking back down, I crossed the power lines and located myselt at a low point on a trail. I followed a reentrant then some rocks down until the rocks ran out. The control was just ahead and so was Karl. I thought he'd seen it because he was just 30 ft. behind him but he hadn't. My noise punching alerted him and he chastised himself. | |||||
| 7. | +13:00 | Karl and I stared at the leg ahead neither very confident. Karl moved ahead straight. I thought about goind down to the trail but it didn't appear to offer a great attack point (for me any way) and with the heat, I didn't look forward to making any more climbs than necessary. Having took longer to read, I followed Karl for a few rocky steps then climbed higher to get above the rocks more, knowing we had to climb any way. Going across, I had no idea of my exact location except when I passed the green area. I planned to keep a line and know where I was when I ran into the clearer area. I must have pulled-up short. Having reached a charcol terrace, where another Blue runner had just left, I guessed our location and presumed he was heading up to a rock cairn shown to our NW. We both reached a rock cairn but found no control. Next we ran to another charcol terrace which also appeared to be on the map near the control. Thinking now that it was misplaced, I decided to make sure by relocating on top of the ridge. Reaching the top, I realized I was short and ran the trail to just near the knoll at the trail bend. Dropping down on bearing, Vytenis had up come the opposite direction. He turned around and started following me (a bad idea). I missed being too far left. Though I was pace counting, I was going slow enough that I didnt trust it so I kept going. When Eddie B. came up the opposite direction, Vytenis turned to go w/him but unwisely, I kept going. I finally turned around when Wyatt came through. Climbing back, I was surprised how close the control must have been to the knoll. | |||||
| 8. | +02:30 | I took 1:30 just to drink 3 cups of water, eat a power gel, then took off. I did an about face when I realized I'd left my map on the ground while drinking. Starting off again I could see Wyatt far ahead for a little while then lost sight. As I bottomed out, I started to think I was too far right so I adjusted. I saw some no trespassing signs and looked to my left where there were the 2 pits. Turning back I hit it. | |||||
| 9. | +00:20 | I crossed the rocks, went along the hillside, hit the trail and took it to the intersection. From there I went on bearing but hit the creek sooner than I should have. I was tired a slow on the wet rocks. Not knowing for sure if it was ahead or behind didn't help but I at least didnt' have to back track. Time lost for hesitation. | |||||
| 10. | Very slow going on the wet rocks. I stayed mostly on the right side of the stream and crossed at a bend. After seeing the control far ahead, it took me a while getting there. Another guy was sitting shirtless with his back to me and staring at the map while sitting on the ground. | ||||||
| 11. | I asked the guy sitting if he was okay and he smiled and acknowledged that he was. He was older than I expected. It wasn't until after finishing that Peggy told me an older guy had been out on the course for 4:30 and still wasnt' in. Crossing the creek and rocky marsh, I took the trail. At the next feeder creek, I attacked or more like crawled up, walking the whole way. | ||||||
| 12. | +03:00 | I started off on bearing but followed the contour around a little before dropping. My gaiters were dropping so I fixed them. Lack of water was quickly becoming evident. I crossed a stream before I realized I'd left the map when tying my gaiters. I found it after what seemed a very frantic couple of minutes. Going on again but walking, somewhat straightish, I crossed the trail at the ditch and followed it up until it ran out. I then read the contours for the drop-off, and followed them up to the left further. Pulling away, I "spiked" it if you can call my stumbling around and walking "spiking it". | |||||
| 13. | +01:00 | Across to the trail, the down to the bend. It was good to run again. I was hesitant about where to leave the trail but decided on the last bend before the stream. Jogging and walking across, I at one point started to turn off to the right following a feeder stream but corrected myself and found the real stream and control just afterward. | |||||
| 14. | A long slow slog up the hill walking most of the way. I went straight at it. As I neared the top, I realized I was off to the left a little. Since the control was just about at the top, it was easy to correct. | ||||||
| 15. | +01:15 | I was very disappointed that there was no water at #14 since I was thirsty back before #11. I jogged off and got way far more left than I thought was possible for such a short leg. I must not hae let the compass settle correctly. Going right on instinct, I luckily found it. It took me well over 2 minutes getting to the this control but I forgot to take a split. | |||||
| 16. | +08:30 | I set of straight just intending to cross the first trail and turn right on the next. I got a little to the right so it took me longer than I thought it would. The thorny ferns glens and rocks didn't help. I attacked from the trail bend to the Bear knoll. It was indistinct. As I went on bearing, I could see trampling evidence of people before me but I missed the control and ended up at the dropoff. Circling around for a while, and walking a lot, I decided to relocate on the trail. Luckily, I hit the hunter's stand. Coming back I found it hung low. | |||||
| 17. | Tired, thirsty and dizzy I walked on bearing a bit to the trail, then jogged as it started to go downhill. Lucky for me, I spiked it. | ||||||
| 18. | Really glad that this is downhill and an easy control near the end I cut across slowly down the rocky hillside and took trails, shortcutting a little. My brain was dead. I had to pause longer than normal to verify where I was. Sandy F. had just punched before I got there. | ||||||
| F. | I picked it up a little to catch Sandy - sorry Sandy. It's instinct. |
Total Time Lost - 00:37:05