Training Log Archive: bbrooke

Event: RMOC Fox Run Regional Park
 

Red course at Fox Run Regional Park, set by Leif Anderson.

I got mixed up on the trails between #1 and #2, and I found #8 before #7, but otherwise I was very pleased. I was seventh overall (out of 17), second female (behind Alison).

Results

C • Looks like Troy ate that co... 3

Walking to and from the start location.

Another fun training course at Devil's Thumb, courtesy of Leif Anderson.

The intent was to focus on contour reading and to not use a compass. I used my compass a few times at the beginning just to orient my map, but I put it in my pocket for good about halfway through the course. Leif set controls on the northern portion of the map which is mostly very open, so the lay of the land was visible for a long distance (despite the annoying shoulder-high grass...).

I finished just as it was getting too dark to see. The wind was kicking up, which doesn't bode well for the fire...

- I missed the streamer at #2, so I had to circle back to it.

- I veered north on the way to #3.

- #4 was placed a bit southwest of the control circle shown on the map.

- I decided to skip #7 to save time.

- I veered north again on the way to #12. I realized my error when I happened to spot the berm around the pond; that made it easy to relocate.

Rocky Mountain Goat course at Pelican Bay.

Sigh... Not the greatest day.

I helped give out bib numbers, so I was caught still fumbling with all my "stuff" when the mass start went off. I started about 90 seconds after everyone else. Then, after blowing #3, I stopped for a few more minutes to pin on my punch card. Meanwhile my map blew about 10' away in the wind. DOH!

Another bad move -- I deviated off my line to stash my jacket and get my visor on the way to #6, not looking ahead and not realizing that the line to #7 would take me directly past my car without any time-wasting required. DOH!

Things were OK for a while after that. I passed Ardis and Peg Davis, and then I caught John Crowther, Joe Maffei, and Marina Keating at #10. Catching a few people motivated me to try to open up a gap between me and them. I managed to do that for a while, but I lost time at #14. I also made a gigantic error as I left #16. I still have no idea how I left at almost 90° off my intended bearing. I didn't figure out what was going on until I hit the fence and saw the road just beyond, and I realized how badly I had screwed up. DOH!

I did OK for the next few controls, still managing to jog whenever it was flat or downhill. My brain was starting to "smell the barn", though, and I let down my concentration when I thought I was getting close to #20 (and, looking at my tracks, I was pretty close to it at one point). I spent about 20 minutes ping-ponging from one 3m boulder to the next, repeatedly tripping over sage brush due to being so spent, until I finally (kinda) relocated and found it.

The wind was really unpleasant (wind makes my eyes water so badly I have trouble seeing), and I didn't get to see the badger. On the bright side, I'm glad I did not see the mountain lion, and I was pleased to see I can cover 10 miles without too much pain. FUN OVERALL!

Red course at Superfly Marsh.

A few small mistakes -- a smallish bobble on the way to #1, and I came in a little high at #8 -- but overall another good day. Leif happened to run by just as I was starting to worry about where I was on the way to #11, so that probably helped me avoid a big time loss.

Update: Looking at my tracks, I wasn't off-route on my way to #11 after all. I was just moving VERY slowly and tentatively, since I had lost track of where I was (until Leif ran by).