Training Log Archive: KFish

In the rain

In the rain. Threw in a couple sprints

In the rain

Event: Adventure Rage
 

Event: East Fork Challenge
 

East fork challenge 12 hr - 2 coed with ccmarie as Topo the Mountain

5AM check in for maps. Race was split into 2 parts. Part 1 was checkpoints 1-21, obtain in any order and with any mode of transport you want. Part 2 was singletrack and had to be done after Part 1, checkpoints 22-28. Everything optional.

We decided I was going to nav this time so I can improve on USGS and improve naving in a team setting for potential longer racers in the future.

1.5 hours to strategize and boy did we bomb the strategy. Our minds said to stick to our strengths - foot and bike versus paddle. But the race was really set up to a paddle race, so forcing a non-paddle strategy was not a good idea. This became apparent a few hours in, but it was too late at that point.

The basic plan was to grab the points that had to be done by boat early before the wind picked up, then go get the rest on foot and bike. Headed to the E part of the lake to get 13, which was pretty much boat only. Made our way back towards the start, pulling off to grab 9, and then headed up to 7, where we parked the boat. Hit 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 mostly jogging trails, mostly pretty clean. Big fail #1 was decided to get 5 from 12, which was a long long way. The trails in the park were not easy running, lots of horse trails with very muddy sections, some ups and downs, and it was a LONG way, but fit with the strategy of minimizing paddling. From 12 to 5 and back to the boat took 1:45, instead of probably 20-30 min just going back to the boat. Also, went out 2 wrong spurs looking for 5, which shot my confidence and really messed with me.

Once back at the boat we headed to the island, grabbed 6, and then back to start area to drop the boat. Headed E on bikes dropping the bike to do short treks to 21, 22, 19, 18 and 17. This part went pretty well, but it was backtracking along the area we had already canoed along to go to 13. 17 was a long way in and out, and was pretty thick for parts of it. Biked to the end of the road, and dropped bikes to hit 16, 15, 14. This took an hour each way and was a ton of walking. Wasnt able to run much of this due to fatigue. And mentally we were pretty upset, because at this point it was very clear we had made a bad plan and were probably going to have to start thinking about skipping stuff.

Once back at the bikes headed back, passed the start and single track to hit up 4 points on the W side of the lake. Accidently passed the turn to 1, so we skipped and kept going to 2. Biking over the dam was beautiful, and something I bet no one else got to do! Got 2, which was right on the water, all the way down the hill, and it was clear we did not have time to continue on to 3 and 4, which was a bit more biking and hten 2 decent length treks. Headed back to get 1, but we were tight on time and it was a long trek too (again right on the water), so we skipped it.

We hopped on the single track with an hour and a half to hit these 7 points. Started off pretty well, having fun bombing around. The trails were single track wide, but could be traveled in either direction, and lots of people with the 6 and 12 hour people all on at the same time, so it was some stop and go. Had a good map of the single track, and the punches were all right on the trail so just had to make the right turns. At about the half way point i started to bonk HARD. I had kept up electrolytes well, but not fuel, hadnt eaten in a couple hours and couldnt convince myself too. Started taking frequent stops to sit and rest, and the time was eating away. No really good bail points eithers. Fell a couple times, and then endo'd on a sharp down-up, scaring syd. Luckily it didnt hurt at all. I was able to push through to the finish and get all the points but felt pretty terrible. Just a few minutes to spare in the end.

Our strategy just killed us, shouldnt have tried to force a strategy so different from what was clearly intended by the RD. I think we could have cleared it by hitting 1-5 and 14-15 by boat, and then doing 17-21 by bike/foot as we did. Knownig a little about the park would definitely help for future planning.

Was good with electrolytes and water and didnt experience any cramping, but bad on fuel which led to a really rough last hour. If I can just get both in one race I should be good to go.

Nav went pretty well, a couple annoying mistakes mostly getting used to USGS and relying on confusing trails over features. Syd said she'd let me try again, so thats a good sign. Mostly upset with our strategy, but live and learn. Would definitely go back if we are still in the area, we have unfinished business at East Fork SP! Top 3 teams cleared, we hit 25/28.

Note: one gps jump from 19-16

Map: http://imgur.com/3wTV1Vj

9th/17 teams

Dropped the car off at the shop and biked home

been too long again, need to get back into it. V0-2 without too much problem, wasnt able to string a comple V3 together, but a couple halfway

Event: Michigan Adventure Race: Sleeping Bear Edition
 

MAR: Sleeping Bear 10 hr

2 coed – Topo the Mountain with ccmarie (syd)

Bike 1, 6.5mi, 25 min
Everyone took off! We were flying and we weren’t even in the lead pack. Then forgot to check the clue for cp1, followed everyone out to the beach, and ended up at the back of the line to punch. Dumb.

Trek 1, 2 mi, 21 min
Hit 2 and 4 easy, then the trek up the dunes. Luckily the sand was well packed from the rain, so it was a relatively easy climb. And we were just far enough behind that everyone climbing up the wrong hill confirmed it was wrong so we didn't make the extra climb. Run down was fun and didn't even get that much sand in our shoes. Strategy was to do the dune climb and rest in the canoe, but given the wind picking up not sure if it was the right choice, but no way to predict that.

Paddle 1, 5.9 mi, 90 min
Got in our tandem kayak right behind MRA and tried to keep them in our sights for the whole paddle. Went CCW. To 8 was quite shallow, then across the lake the wind picked up. Thought we’d have it at our back for the return trip, but nope- really got pushed around and had trouble keeping a line. Left arm got quite sore.

Bike 2, 2.4 mi, 17 min
Short bike up a big hill to TA2. Wait I thought we were still in flat MI… Got passed by single trackers and a few others on the hill. 5 or 6 in the TA before us.

Trek 2, 9 mi, 2hr 35 min
Did the W loop clockwise and then the E loop clockwise. Syd nailed the nav on the W loop and kept us high to avoid climb when possible. I made a few minor suggestions, but all was good. Ran roads and trails all the way to 15. Knew 16-18 would be tricky, so we slowed down through the woods. Unfortunately Syd also decided to eat here, which tends to interrupt focus. I held a bearing and pace counted, but when we were close we started talking and I lost track, and then we got confused. Realized it quickly, found the hill N of 16, and reattacked. Probably our biggest nav mistake, and it was only a few minutes – ill take it! Focused more closely for 18 and 17, took the straight hilly route because following the contours seemed tricky – probably paid for this choice a little later in the race.

Bike 3, 18.5 mi, 1hr 38 min
Oof. So many hills. I think I asked Syd how many more at each crest, and I think she kept lying to me. Still, was able to stay on the bike, which is a huge plus. In discussing on the car ride home, I think it would help me mentally to do the bike nav, or measure out all the distances, so I have something to focus on besides the hills. Tried to scramble to 19 assuming we’d have people right behind us, but got it and left with no sign of anyone. TA staff had told us we were second, but we thought they must have counted wrong… Debated W burdickville rd instead of S dunns farm, but it was slightly longer and ultimately the same climb but maybe spread out more. Anyone choose it?

Trek 3, ~4 miles, 90 min
TA staff again informed us we were in 2nd, 15 min back. Started heading up the trail while planning. Got to 23 with a mess of 5 hour people, all saying they had been there searching a while. Also ran into RaceTC (eventual winner), so we had caught up to him. He had been searching for 15 min. Scouted the W side of the hill for a reentrant, didn't see anything, so I suggested we head back down the center of the reentrant. Hit it on the way out, phew, second, very small blunder. 24-26 were good, then on the way to 27 I started to feel pretty bad. I ran out of water (forgot to check at the TA), so was intermittently sipping at syds. Tried to eat some food, including ensure. By 29 I was totally checked out, just following syd with no focus, and stopping every few minutes to almost puke. Eventually I got enough water back in me to make it up out of 29 and to the TA feeling slightly better. I think it was mostly a result of running out of water, I had taken a bunch of ecaps on bike 3, but I think I waited a little too long, should have been taking them from the start. Still working on the body management.

Bike 4, 5.7mi, 42 min
Well, stomach had settled, but then cramping issues hit. Getting on my bike sent my calf into really bad cramps at each CP. Must have been electrolyte deficiency. Then scrambling up the reentrant to grab 34, the last checkpoint, both my calves completely locked up, had to sit and take a breather and coax them back into movement. Getting on the bike without falling took several attempts. Got to the finish in the middle of the 5 hr raffle, so had to embrass ourselves interrupting and getting our card to MarkVT.

2/42 overall, 1/15 coed, 35/35 CP, 9:14:20.

Had a blast, really really fun race. Still working on the body management issues though, I think I just need to stay on electrolytes from the start instead of waiting until I start feeling things. Also need to stop and refill water at TAs. Tights for the win. Syd’s nav was spot on except 2 quickly corrected blunders, probably our cleanest AR.

C • great job! 1

quick spin to make sure everything was good to go for this weekend.

C • that sounds like a really good idea 7

3 person canoe with W4J and ccmarie5, I took the front. Synced up really quick. Whenver I looked over my shoulder i thought I was going to get whacked in the face, but I didnt. Also got pretty wet, so in race situation maybe plan for that. Great weather and had a lot of fun.

Thanks to Jens for another streamer course!

This one didn't go quite as well for me though. Had trouble getting the scale right in my head, and also had trouble moving quickly in the wet woods.

1 - good
2 - way overshot, got really confused, and backtracked all the way to 1. ouch..
3 -OK
4 - Good until the end, went over to teh wrong spur
5 - good
6 - good
7 - drifted too far east and overshot. Found the clearing and corrected from that
8 - good
9 - went by way of 12 and 13 to scout for later. not sure how much it helped though.
10 - drifted slightly E and found some trails, probably on the private property? walked directly W and stumbled on it
11 - good
12 - OK, hestitated at the end
13 - hestitated, got confused, but was able to correct
14 - good
15 - hestitated

Not terrible besides #2, but not great either. good practice though, maybe i can work these kinks out before SMOC starts up

SMOC Silver Lake Permit Obtained

easy jog

Chenango Streamers

Thanks Igor! I really liked this course, maybe i should always do green.

1 - swamp was squishy, chickened out
2- good
3 - good
4 - good
5 - ended up one bend to early, got stuck in the mud, and had a brief panic that I was going to have to turn back shoeless
6 - good
7 - good
8 - good
9 - good, very happy with that
10 - almost got sucked out on the W spur
11 - good. usually i struggle with the longer legs
12 - fell apart. Turned it off the wrong swamp and really struggled to figure out where I was. Had to relocate all the way back, then I found it fine. 12 minutes lost, ouch.
13 - a little trouble near the end
14 - good

Overally really happy, just 1 big blunder which was a stupid loss of focus.

Notes on apparel:
Wore tights to test them out when no one would see me. I'm sold as far as moisture wicking and thorn repelling, but the BURRS. Gahh

Shoe insoles bunch up after getting wet. I think its time to retire these ones.

C • Salomon insoles suck 2

Registered for East Fork Challenge.

Well after a fiasco dropping Syd off at the airport and then turning around to pick her up when her flight got canceled, my plans were cut short. And then between the heat and humidity and the hills I was hurting with multiple cramps, so i cut my short plans even shorter. A little pathetic, I was happy with teh taste of fall!

It has been a long time since Ive done some real extended singletrack. It didnt go quite as well as I hoped. Started out OK with a loop of appleton, and the first part of Murray Lake. Lots of sandy spots had me on edge, and by the Lost/Found loop I was struggling with the focus a little bit. I wiffed a few more times than I'd like to admit, but nothing major. Was able to stand back up and keep going without any trouble.

First run on single track with map board v2, and it needs some tweaking, came loose twice and had to stop and tighten. Also very rattly. But i think its an improvement over v1.

Fast run. Really pushed the last half mile.

HILLS! The way out was pretty rough because I wasnt quite ready for it. The way back went a little better. The plan was to do about 9 miles of single track around the resevoir, but the trails were poorly marked, and barely there in some spots, so we only hit a few miles of them. The ones we did hit didnt have much flow compared to stuff around here. The two track around the resevoir was fun.

A slightly modified 1 hr dirt road loop. Headwind going N.