Training Log Archive: TheInvisibleLog

Not the best of races for me. I normally love running the red line in this terrain. The comedy of errors.
1. Last weekend I fell and broke my standard compass.
2. I used the second compass today, forgetting that I had previously rejected it because I found it unreliable, sticking in the wrong direction every now and then.
3. It stuck in the wrong place on the leg to 4 and I failed to pick this up until hitting a road unexpectedly. Lost 5 minutes plus.
4 Same thing happened again on leg 6. Lost another 5 minutes plus, losing confidence in my navigation. At this point I remembered my previous problems with this compass. Put it in the pocket and just navigated with contours.
5 No more navigation issues, but noticed that my Garmin watch had died (as seen on Livelox).
Tonight I have ordered a new compass online. Its not my first choice, but anything will do before next weekend, other than my NOT Str8 compass. Quite a few people told me they had ditched their same model compass some time ago.

88
Glass half full - exceeded my target score
Glass half empty - after 12 holes on track for 80. Then the wheels went walkabout.

Cactus killing at The Granites. The things you do for an Easter carnival.

6 Hour rogaine at Kara Kara NP. Julie was under medical instructions not to run for two weeks, so we walked every step of this one. Not one step of running. Even finished half an hour early to avoid any last minute rush. Walking speed means few navigational issues. We made one parallel gully error in an approach across flat featureless country, but recovered quickly. Made some longer than necessary route choices to maximise ridge walking opportunities in glorious weather with views to enjoy. In other words, were were quite relaxed about scores. Despite the reduced effort, I was well in bed and asleep back home before the 12 hour event finished. Really tired. I might have been walking but there were some brutal climbs which got the pulse rate up to 150.

As one would expect, with Derek and Ted involved, every checkpoint was absolutely accurately placed. There were even map corrections!!!! Was this a rogaine or retro orienteering? Chatting with Derek and Ted revealed that there was a combined 3 weeks work in getting the controls placed and checked. Helps me feel comfortable with the work involved in setting an orienteering course. Lots of extra volunteer work involved as it was a 12 hour event. I have organised one six hour event in the past and am musing about another - but it won't be longer than 6. Everything to streamline the work. An assembly area with existing structures to make tenting redundant is a must. Not sure if food supply is required. Would prefer not, or if unavoidable, really simple. Time will tell. There is an Easter to get through first and an area to map.

After a great first 9, an abysmal second.

These tempo runs just reveal how much fitness I have lost.

91. Almost acceptable

Sedgwick.
Took a fall between 5 and 6 which disrupted my thinking for a while, but other than that, no navigation issues. Unable to run up modest hills.

After Sundays event, decided I needed to get some hills into me.

C • Fast 4

Event at Eppalock. Spiked all controls, with one slight hesitation approaching 4. Despite this, was disappointed with my result. Used the duel feature on livelox to try and understand where I am failing to perform. Two issues emerged. One is that I am just slow in the first half of the race - 1 minute per kilometre slower than the second half. Some of this difference can be explained by the second half being flatter. But not all, not even half. The other issue was conservative navigation. I made a few choices that were safer but slower. Did the same analysis with Julie. She is running as fast or faster than me, but lost time on two errors, and almost as much time on hesitations approaching the controls. Livelox and duel are great tools. Buy the subscription!

Mapping at Old Tom. The walk book is almost finished.

Felt like really running for a change.

Along the river near Tocumwal.