Training Log Archive: GraceE

Paddy Pallin 6hr rogaine on “Kindervale” near Captains Flat with Clayton Balmain. We had a lot of fun and it was a great day out with perfect weather. We decided on a route pretty easily, it was about 25km straight line and seemed a bit ambitious but not unrealistic. We also had a “maybe” 70 pointer which we ended up getting, and two 20 pointers near the end which we could get if we had spare time.
Clayton wasn’t going to take any food on the rogaine as he wanted to fully appreciate the hash house meal at the end but I talked him into taking some gels and a muesli bar I’d brought along for him.
We set off and got the first couple of checkpoints ok but had a bit of a scare on the third which was a tricky one on a small spur off the side of a ridge with many watercourses. Clayton suggested we were possibly too far left which turned out to be true so it was good to know we could work together on the navigation. It felt like we didn’t get very far in the first hour so I doubted slightly that we would achieve our plan, but once we got into the pine forests interspersed with the open valleys we made good progress.
It was fun to run with someone who cared more about keeping their shoes dry than me, and while I joined in this avoidance willingly, on three or so occasions I couldn’t be bothered and went through. Clayton made it round the whole way keeping his shoes dry and anyone who did the rogaine would know that this was no mean feat.
At about 3.5hrs in we had a choice whether to go out of our way and get a 60-pointer that wasn’t in our plan. Clayton and I were slowing down and we didn’t want to risk getting it and then getting back late so we left it. The final hour was easy going in the farmland and it was clear we weren’t in any rush. We got one of the extra 20-pointers and then both agreed we couldn’t be bothered / were too tired to go way down the hill and get the other 20-pointer, so we headed back to the HH finishing with 20 minutes to spare. I don’t think I have ever finished a rogaine without a horrible sprint to the line so this was much more enjoyable.
I achieved my goals of having a good time, testing out the body (held up pretty well considering everything and that I’m still sick and had only 4hrs sleep), and surprising Clayton by getting a score worthy of the top half of the results (we came 2nd mixed and 3rd overall!) because I don’t think he knew I’d done much rogaining or was any good.

I did a run on Stirling Ridge and then headed to Weston Park. The purpose of the run was to loosen my legs and clear my lungs in anticipation of tomorrow's rogaine. Luckily I had just downloaded this masterpiece by Duke Dumont onto my shuffle so I was able to turn a dull run into a pleasant cruise.

Another full-on training, working the whole time and effectively another grading session.

Travelling back to Canberra in the arvo/evening.