Training Log Archive: BigWillyStyle

Sage Stomp 3-hour running/navigation thingy. Some discussion occurred as to whether we were doing a Rogaine or a Score-O; no resolution was arrived at. I decided on two things - to visit areas we hadn't seen yesterday, and to go to the places that might offer the best views (unfortunately most of said places were at tops of large hills). I spent most of the planning time BSing/making fun of rogaining with Emily, Kate, and Tori, which was a fantastic use of time and much more fun than actually taking rogaining seriously, but it did get me into trouble later on.

About an hour in I was cruising right along, sort of stringing controls together willy-nilly in a general downhillish way, with only a general suspicion that something bad might happen. Then I realized I'd run myself down into the far NW corner of the map, at just about its lowest point (found my million-dollar lake view). Thusly did my next leg consist of a 35-contour climb, over about 750m horizontal. At one point I looked back and could still see the last control, like 500 feet below, and I'm like "well this was dumb, but also awesome and I kinda don't even regret it." Then a pheasant busted from a bush and scared the living crap out of me.

We might say that was the "high" point of the day, because the climb didn't wreck me as badly as expected, and I was able to continue undaunted. I felt good and strong pretty much through to the end, which was strange considering how woefully unprepared I always am for these baby mutant rogaines. I measured 18.74 km straight-line distance. Don't know actual since my watch died on Saturday; Tori very generously let me borrow her extra so I could at least keep time.

A short but sweet weekend. It's always great to see the Canadians, even if they keep moving away. The O-community will miss Magnus + fam.

C • Sage Stomp 7