Training Log Archive: maprunner

I hadn't had time to sew in a long time, but today I planned to spend a few relaxing hours in my sanctuary. But when I opened the cabinet to get some thread, I saw something that didn't belong! Oh my! The horror! The image that is seared in my brain! My eyes, my eyes!

I grabbed the offending object, and ran downstairs, screaming in horror. I showed Mike what our "friends" had left during their Possum Trot visit: a Terrell Owens bobblehead! The worst possible thing to leave in a Giants fan's house!

Once the object was out of the room, I was able to sew again. However, the image is still before my eyes. Now I'm going out to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather, do some orienteering, and plot my revenge :) Hopefully, that will clear my vision.

C • To imagine the number of pe... 9

Well, that was pretty ugly. Back to Weston Bend, which had re-opened this weekend. Thick woods, sloppy mud alternated with up to 6 inches of slushy snow. I got nervous going down some steep hills, or took my time looking for safe stream crossings. Didn't push the pace, since this is my recovery week. One good thing: sixty degree weather!

at SMP after work

I started my diving class tonight (yes, as in springboard and a pool). It was lots of fun. My three class mates (Kyle, Tara and Cindy) have been doing this for a while, so they are better than me. I tried to guess their ages, but then I decided it was just easier to ask: which grade? Answers: first, third and fourth. And then the F45 :)

The instructor (Becca) looks like she's in college, but she obviously knows how to teach children and rank beginners. I think I'm going to like learning this sport. You walk onto the board, you get instruction, you practice, you execute, you get feedback. All in about one minute.

And it should do wonders for my posture: every move requires you to stand up straight, and keep things in alignment.

A fine way to spend a frigid evening.

C • diving 2

I wanted to go to a park that I haven't been to in awhile, so I drove all the way up to Weston Bend, only to find the park closed. Fortunately, I have lots of maps in the car, so I drove back down to Wyandotte, set a course, and went out.

I did a good job of treating this as a race, instead of a little bit of practice. I've been too sloppy lately. I didn't pause to admire the animal tracks, and I didn't see any eagles until I was walking back to the car.

Still lots of snow in the woods, which made it easier and fun to run downhill. I got to go fast!

2008 Goals

Last year, my goal was centered around a single race. But this year will be different (if for no other reason than I moved up to F45 today, and I don't have a chance of winning the US Champs in this age group!) This year I'm setting a process-oriented goal, rather than setting my sights on a specific race. My goal is become a consistently better orienteer.

Since I'm a numbers geek, I bought WinSplits Pro recently, and looked at my performances in 2007. What I always knew, and was shown in stark numbers, is that I'm not very consistent. I can still have major mistakes, and waste a long time wandering in the woods. My main goal for 2008 is to cut that down dramatically. In 2007, my median % time lost was 15; with a range of 0 to 57.
***My 2008 goal is to lose <15% of time in >80% of my O races.

WinSplits Pro also has a system to measure consistency ( a low number is good). In 2007, my median consistency was 20, with a range of 6 to 45.
***My 2008 goal is to have a consistency level <20 in >80% of my O races.

Now, I can easily get more consistent if I slow down to a crawl and make sure of every step. But I don't want to do that. So another measure of the year will be my USOF ranking. I know it's a less than perfect measure, but it's objective. In 2007 I had my highest ranking ever.
***My 2008 goal is to increase my USOF ranking points.

Next big question is: how? Not entirely sure. Definitely more time on maps; practice ways to improve concentration; have a definite plan to recover when things go awry. My biggest issue is acknowledging that I?m in trouble. I sometimes get the "gut" feeling that this is wrong, or I missed my attackpoint, or the map is funny. But I have a hard time stopping, admitting it, and making a solid plan of what to do next. Instead, I convince myself that I'm _here_ rather than _there_, and I continue to wander around. It's very hard to make me stop, go back to a definite feature, and start over. Any and all suggestions on how to get over this are welcome.

Another year end means it is time to reflect. This year was pretty good for O; I met all the goals I laid out on January 1st. I'm still not satisfied, however; lots of room for improvement in 2008. I also realized that I am about to start my 20th year of orienteering; how the time does fly!

I first learned to orienteer in 1983, during my junior year abroad in Dublin. (Does anyone from WCOC remember Mark Donovan? He taught me to orienteer). But I did not orienteer when I returned to the US; in fact, I did not become addicted to O until 1988. That's when I was living in St Louis, and met Nels Holmberg at work. He was wearing an O shirt, and I asked him about it. And thus an addiction was born.

How did everyone else get started?

C • starting to O 4