Training Log Archive: boyle

This log entry includes a number of runs after the meet (successfully) seeking that one final finisher (non-finisher actually) who didn't run with a watch and claimed not knowing about the three-hour time limit.

I sure put a lot of time out on map 7b today.

COC Long
Carp Ridge Ecowellness Centre and the "Barrens"
mp

I visited only 16 of my 19 controls. Despite walking out from the start, I drifted right (as usual) of control 1 by about 50m and onto a parallel feature. En route to 2, I met Richard coming back to 1. With all the issues I would soon face, I worried about Richard's outing but he managed to complete the course, if outside the time allowed.

By leg five I was up to speed and running, taking advantage of the elephant tracks. As in the days of ol', I overshot, big time. I completely missed one lake and came upon control 8 (206) rather than control 5 (211). While checking my watch at control 8, I calculated that there was no way I could back-track and complete the map in three hours. In hindsight, of course, I redid the calculations and may have made the cutoff. But for what? Far too many runners went into extra time today.

In review, I had two issues but I don't know if they are from the map, my map reading or my diminishing vision.

Issue #1 - prevention - skirting south of the lake(s), I came across a significant length of fence remnant. I came to a full stop to carefully examine the map, knowing that the fence must be mapped. On course, I never found that fence on the map. In review, I can see three little sections of fence remnants, 250m farther along my course from where I thought I was. In the end, there is no way that I can fault the map or my vision. My second control was literally on the southern extension of this same fence boundary. I already had the information to use the fence as a catching feature, turn 90° and head for control 5.

Issue #2 - recovering - I abandoned the course at control 8 (206) because I did not see the mapped lake crossing 160m NE of the control. Even now, looking at the map (without the pressure of racing), the dark blue ink overwhelms a link between peninsulas that measures less than 1mm. From my calculations to abort due to allowed time, that tiny link would have cut off hundreds of metres of running. When skirting the lake(s), I'd already come upon temptations to swim across the black line and decided I would NOT...not today, B meet = no problem (but not today). I aborted because I thought the mapping NE of #206 was just another temptation.

Well there was no bronze medal for me at the long distance event at this COC. In fact, there was nothing even top-five-like at any of my COC events this year, excepting the long-event GO-control sprint after a nice easy stroll through the woods.

COC Sprint

55.3%
62/(77+1)
17/26
This must be the first time that I've run on a sprint course where the first two legs were vertical drops. By control 9, I lost one placing. As of control 12, I lost another placing.

See RouteGadget.

I didn't place well but I sure ran hard and had great fun. I LOVE SPRINTS!

Sprint Course 5. - Splits

COC Middle Event
Hidden Meadow & Spreckley's Trails
20/28+1
40.0%

With dread, I awaited the overwhelming technical navigation challenge of a middle event. I was not disappointed. Though completely convinced to walk the first leg with my compass poised, I still drifted right nearly 200m. Thank goodness that LAKE was there. The map is just too busy with trails and features. We all knew that was the case ahead of time...whatever. I can't blame the map because the magnified 1:7500 scale compensated for my diminishing vision.

After leaving the lake shore, the first six controls were straightforward and slow compass lessons. Things went south (or I should have gone south) on leg 7. I was saved by a good samaritan running my course (ahead of me) who probably got tired of seeing me. There is no justice: the good samaritan lost his glasses soon after saving me and finished long after me.

Only on leg 9 did I get to do any trail running and it was probably only 200m. There were lots of trails but the trails were more harm than help.

I caught up with Richard at control #11 and he must have been nearing the maximum running time. He can't be too happy with deciding to run his age-group and not an open course.

Route Gadget

Middle M45-54 - Splits

If USA military personnel can use the DDR for training purposes, so can we. The pads are finally back up at Qi's place and the T-storm discouraged us from playing outdoors. While I have used the workout modes many times for cardio, this was apparently done before I joined AP.

BTW, I'm very sunburned.

116/72 46bpm

I LOVE SPRINTS!!!

I have sent the results concerning the prologue sprint and the chase sprint to the sprint series record keeper.

Despite having created the handbook, I arrived at an empty registration desk and ran across campus to the arena only because I was familiar with the campus. I suspect others had difficulties upon arrival.

Prologue Sprint
Carleton University

11/23+2
79.4%

Sunny but not too hot, I feel like I've been sunburned.

Chase Sprint
Carleton University

81.4%
11/24+1

This was my first experience with a chase format. I'm a good cheater and I loved being allowed to cheat. However, my placing never changed. Two guys did better than the first time round and two guys did worse. My combined time actually drops me to 12th place yet improves my rating to 81.7%.

Prologue Sprint 3 splits - Splits

Chase Sprint 3 splits - Splits

While I know that it was relatively cool, it's much warmer than the past two weeks in NL.

I decided to go to the Gatineau for a run in the woods and pick up controls for Colin. Though unregistered, I got myself a map to run before the courses closed. However, I performed so poorly, never finding #202 that my time ran out. What should I blame: 44 hour journey from NL that ended after midnight, the heat, the lack of recent positive experiences orienteering or the usual culprit, my poor navigation skills. Hey, I had a great trail run.

I was only assigned four controls to retrieve for Colin and I couldn't even complete that task. I could only search so much for long course control 4 before a rescue party would be sent for me. Poor Colin was the only human remaining on site when I returned at 16h15.

Event: Canadian Orienteering Championships