Training Log Archive: maprunner

PTOC event at Jesse James Park. We had run here in 2010, and it was a pretty simple park with straight forward orienteering. But things have changed, for the better! They added a disc golf course, which created islands of vegetation and interesting mowed areas. Angie set a great course here and this was lots of fun.

My goal was to be clean. At one point I was getting tired (early on) and I started to worry about my pace, but I reminded myself that the goal was to be steady today. Too bad that reminder didn't stick.

I got flustered by the tall grass at the stream crossing on the way to 5, and then completely stopped reading the map and ran around the wrong copse. Lost about 2 minutes here.

Then I chased Gene to 6 and 7. He was leaving 8 as I approached, and I thought to myself, he's heading in a funny direction. After I punched 8, I stopped for a second to look at the map and see where Gene was going. I also looked up and saw an uncrossable fence. That's what he was doing! So, my eyes went back to the uncrossable fence on the map and I zoomed in on that and nothing else. And stated to follow Gene.

Fortunately I didn't get too far before things stopped making sense. I finally looked hard and the map and went Doh! And turned around and went in the correct direction. Lost about 1 minute here.

9 was off a small trail, and I stupidly went back and forth on the south side of the vegetation looking for the trail, instead of running around to the other side. Which I did eventually, but only after losing 2 minutes or so.

On the way to 11, I was counting mowed areas, and somehow got pulled into one too early (as did several other folks). When I finally found the correct area, I was looking for another faint trail, and stupidly went into the woods a short ways, before backing out. As I moved further up the vegetation line, the "trail" was actually a wide open grassy area. Another 2 minutes lost.

I tried to salvage the day by running fast from the last control. I did run fast but it wasn't enough to lift my mood. I had a sucky day and I was bummed.

Nice visiting with everyone afterwards, and enjoying some cool Popsicle. Then we all went to Panera for an early lunch. Enjoyed carpooling with Gene, good conversation made the time fly by (for me, I wasn't driving :)

http://sprintseries.org/doma/index.php?user=maprun...

Substitute teacher tonight was much tougher than the regular teacher.
No breaks!