Training Log Archive: maprunner

GAOC Navigator Cup, day three, Mistletoe State Park. 0c and sunny.

A decent day. And finally, a decent weekend of races!

Very cold at the start, and I was a bit confused trying to find the first control. But I stopped, looked closely at the map and the surrounding terrain, and then settled down.

I had decent map contact today and reading ahead was OK, but I was starting to slip. I guess we know my fitness level at the moment: 2 races, and then I start to fail.

As I left 4, I noticed it was time to eat and drink, but I had to struggle to get everything organized with my many layers on body and hands. And I was trying to ignore Mike, who had passed me in here. Too distracted, not clear focus.

I thought I was following a rough compass on the red line to 5, but I wasn't really systematic about it, and I didn't have a clear expectation of what I would see next. I also had to pee, and it was distracting me. So I finally decided to stop and pee.

Continued on my way to 5, but didn't stop when I said to myself "I would have thought that ditch would be mapped". Duh! However, when I saw the park boundary sign, I did finally stop and assess where I truly was. This was a victory for me, to actually stop instead of wandering. Headed due east to find the stream, and quickly relocated on the ditches.

Another bobble executing 6, and walked past the non-existent depression at 11 and had to backtrack a bit. Didn't feel as sharp as yesterday, was re-acting more than I wanted, but I still avoided any major disasters. So glad to have made it three days in a row without one control costing me many minutes due to wandering all over.

http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

C • Weekend 2

GreenY Sunday - Splits

GAOC day 2, Mistletoe State Park, 8C and sunny

A very good day.

I felt a bit nervous on the way to the first control, stopped and looked at another control that wasn't mine, but after that I settled down. And I knew where I was for the rest of the course (except for a single minute of distraction). This was so nice! I could move with confidence through the terrain! Winsplits says I lost time on 4-5, but that was physical, not mental.

I was even able to stay calm when I caught my friend Sandy B, who had started 12 minutes ahead of me. I was able to mostly ignore her as we left 5, got to 6 and headed to 7. The hardest was to ignore her when I found 7 first and was on my way to 8 and she looked a bit befuddled. But I did it!

I did lose time near the end, on 11. I was coming to the road with Rick Breseman passing me, and I had in my head that I had to hit the road and turn right to the power pole. I never saw the power pole right in front of me as I hit the road, but I did look at the reentrant as I ran up the road and then the placement of the power pole, and I figured it out very quickly. One minute time loss.

Wow, this felt good. To actually know where I was and where I wanted to go, for 95% of the course. My local practice sessions paid off! And thanks to bbrooke for the Larabar recommendation. Ended up fastest woman on green today (and I'm supposed to be on brown this year, but I'm just not ready, mentally)

http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

C • Tomorrow: basics 3

GreenY Saturday - Splits

Event: Georgia O-Fest 2018
 

The start and finish were right next to the parking, so I ran through the woods on the south side of the road to warm up. I didn't have a map or compass, was just wandering around. Suddenly I realized I didn't know where I was and which way was back to the start. And I had 6 minutes to my start. Ran out to the road, guessed which to go, finally saw an O direction sign. whew! Made it just in time

GAOC day 1, middle distance at Hard Labor Creek. Pouring rain, 15C.

A good day. Slow and careful, some minor bobbles, but no big blow ups!

My concentration was pretty good today. I usually knew where I was and where I wanted to go. Some hesitation on the way to 3 when I came across a deer trail, but I kept moving. Veered off my compass line a bit on 7. But that's it. I was so happy to have a fairly clean run, it had been a long time. Good way to start the weekend.

http://sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user=map...

Green Middle distance - Splits