Training Log Archive: BigWillyStyle

Classic @ Catalina SP. This terrain was far less friendly than the first day, but still enjoyable in its own way. Much rock and cacti abounded, and for some reason I found myself fighting my compass at times, which, for example, led to me bungling the second control impressively, losing some 10-12 minutes searching in an area some 500m from the actual control location.

Also lost time on 14, and took a critical hit from a cholla on the way to 18 - the worst cacti encounter I've had. I veered left to go around two large cacti in my path, only for my right knee to collide with a smaller, unseen knee-high cholla when I pivoted back to the right to correct course. Two of four pods were readily removable, but the other two were quite large and embedded deeply enough that I could not remove them with map and compass. Luckily, the backside of these pods were free of spines such that I could get a decent hold to pull them out with brute force - until the pod itself proved to have a lower breaking point than the spines' hold in my skin, and came apart in my hand. However, I had then undermined the integrity of the spines' base so that I was able to divide and conquer, removing the pods in pieces, a smaller number of spines coming free with each piece.

Blue - Splits

Event: Southwest Spring Week 2020
 

Mapa

First day of SWSW. Good vibes all around: perfect weather, great company, really pleasant terrain and fun course. This was what I wish every day orienteering could be. Or I guess just every day really.

I made one ~90s mistake at 3, due to simple loss of concentration. But mainly I was just enjoying finding controls, doing my thing. I felt unencumbered by the usual unproductive associated distractions: seeing other runners around, contending for a result, etc. It was as if I had fleetingly accessed the purest, most beautiful form of orienteering - a nirvana which I've only reached a few times under a rare confluence of circumstances.

LONG - Splits

Strong unfavorable winds today, but it was sunny. The river is so outrageously high right now that it's crested the berm and is encroaching near or onto the bike trail in three or four places; in one spot the trail was completely submerged under a few inches of water.