Training Log Archive: brycec

Event: WARA 6 hour Rogaine
 

So I thought I was in reasonable condition – keeping in mind I haven’t done anything for 3 weeks legs/cardio wise, have had a flu for 2 weeks and had food poisoning hospitalisation on Monday… Prep was ideal :P I was hoping to set for 30 and get in about 25-28. We set a bit more aggressively with a straight line route of about 33. I knew I was up for a hard slog.

Dave was keen to go hard and I told him I would give him what I had and I was happy to go hard too. We came out hard and fast and definitely was the first to control 54… (I have briefly put this through QR while I wait on the more accurate TBT) We must have run right over the top of the control then proceeded to be headless chocks for 7-10 minutes. We aborted that control #nothappyjan, #terrabadstart.

To make up the lost time we ran. Went hard down to 105 I was basically just holding on the back of Dave’s pace whilst he navigated. Interesting to watch him go – was just using the land and rough bearing, did it well too. I double checked him every so often but was pretty comfortable with the nav and was just trying to keep contact. Eventually hit 105 and made quick move through to 83.

Overtook a heap of teams on this leg even though I know we had covered more ground. I think this is when we started tag teaming controls with McClintock and co.

83 around to 103, down to 33 and only maybe 15 minutes behind schedule. Round the road and up to 72. I think this is the point or might have been the next leg but I got minor cramps in both Calves on a steep bit of ascent – wrote it down to the strain and angle of climb. 72, 93 not too many dramas. 53 Is when I next recall seeing the McClintock’s back instead with us as we had taken different route choices for the past 2.

82 right behind the others but on slightly different bearings. 82 > 101 we opted for road not straight line. We busted into a jog and no more than 200m in major cramping in my right leg… Oh dear and we knew we were majorly behind schedule and looking at drops now. Still came out at 101 exactly same time as others. We went back down road when they decided for straight line to 61. They met the track early so we started jogging… So they started jogging, we overtook them and no more than 50m past that CRAMP. So they jogged a bit passed us and started walking again too. Arrived 61 same time.

61 was a water drop – I had already gone through 3L in an attempt to get hydration happening against the cramps. Our transition was good and we got away earlier than the others. Down to 52 with them right on our tail. Over to 100 = a bitch of a climb, was really not in good mental or physical state atm was feeling probably the worst I have felt in a rogaine. Trudged up the hill over the top and down to 100. Think Shane and co passed us on this leg higher going opposite direction.

Over to 92 we felt we took a line off north slightly so we would hit track and turn right – somehow we also managed to pass the others here. We came out (again waiting for tbt conf) pretty much on the point just south of it. We had been drifting right all day and … blah blah should have known better, both turned right and ran down the track – hit the watercourse and realised crap its 500m back. It was on this jogging leg I pretty my chucked into my mouth but didn’t go fully sick. Was feeling pretty awful, doubly so when the others went passed and smiled and said its back there… yeah we know… Grabbed 92 and was on the back foot more so losing a good chunk of time.

Down to 41 on the track. Then the first major cut. Dropped 40, 63, 44 – Down directly to 11 – another water refill. I had been smashing the liquids and gone through another 1.5L. I think it was this leg I had my groin left side cramp insync with my left calve – Good times, I think Dave had a chuckle at it because I looked like some sort of retarded duckling!

11 > 90 we drifted way right, lots of searching and eventually found it. We also started to realise how time poor we were and started working out what we could salvage. I think it was about now we realised going back out to south west was not going to happen. Which was basically a drop of 80,91,81,106. But 102 might have still be viable. Grabbed 71 then 94. At this stage I said 102 and 42 not looking good rather go 50 and if time grab 32. Was really struggling cramping all over my legs now. Turned in on the wrong point on 50 at patrol road instead of next track… Seems a lot of people did that. Searched to the east of the point – I was completely directionally challenged, had no idea what direction I was facing. I knew we had to go west as did Dave but we never went far enough when we did. With 12 mins remaining we called to abort it and proceeded south to the patrol road.

Had to cover some ground now, intermittent running whilst I could… Was not getting in late. Heard the horn and thought all good. Worlds of pain now but home was within site and within time… however as we started to see the parked cars both Dave and I heard “1 Minute” and chaos ensued – the nikes got turned on and a hobble sprint was put into gear. So fast we where we got back with 1 minute 30s remaining… Whoever called out 1 minute that was cruel. Would have been close if it was real I think we would have made it with about 5s.

We had also discovered we mispunched a 100 pointer and had to hand in the alternate punch card (my map) yes I double punch everything now… However was most disappointed that after they had confirmed the controls punched and calculated our score that they would not give me my map back – insisting if I took it back they would use the punch card… Pretty disappointed at that, I keep all my maps for all events (sentimental value) – they gave me a spare map later… really don’t see what the fuss was I am sure they are just going to bin it – they have done the scoring give me my map back! /end rant/ - that said if anyone knows/can recover it, I would appreciate that!!!

Post mortem - Blisters not too bad, pretty standard really, Heart burn the whole race and still have bad sensations from it a day later, Legs are destroyed from the cramping and cancelled the idea of a MTB today. Oh and after going through >6L in the 6hrs + a bottle to and from the event I don’t understand how I was so dehydrated guess residual from the food poisoning… but I have to say I was shocked at how bad it was – pretty sure dark brown to black isn’t on the colour chart and means drink more water. Dave and I also agree neither of us felt on our game and he acknowledged that he knew I was way off mine haha - hopefully next time I do it with him I can maintain something more reasonable I am sure he was hoping for better.

Also gutted to find out if we had found the first or the last point we would have been 4th not 6th Also the McClintocks (I am guessing) got the first 50 pointer and got 63/44 and not 11… They got in 30s late and ended in 2nd place – well done to them… I don’t think we were far off their pace but score speaks volumes.

C • Retarded Duckling 2

C • Double punch 4

Felt like this was harder than the rogaine!

well the food poisoning has passed but the pesky flu symptoms want just f-off and die. Going to make the 6 hr interesting tomorrow!

Mmm things were only supposed to get better... Maybe by the 13th is the drs recommendation... Makes for an interesting 6hr :(

C • 6hr 8

Home - yay, supposed to start properly again today with training - but still sick :( hopefully last day off.