Training Log Archive: furlong47

Event: QOC Clopper Lake
 

QOC Clopper Lake/Seneca Creek - Green

On the way here I was a bit worried about the weather, as the fog was so thick you could barely see the next car (many of which did not have their headlights on, making them effectively invisible) and at times it rained so hard the beltway was basically turning into a canal.

Luckily, once I arrived at the park it really didn't rain at all and the temperature and conditions were pretty perfect except for the mud and some of the streams flowing fast/high (although I've never been here so maybe they are always like that, I don't know.)

I was just a little off all day on many of the controls - on 1 I was too far left and past it when someone else found it and hollered, giving it away. I went around the swamp to the left going to 2, then found myself directly across the stream staring at it with no easy or safe place to cross. The banks were steep and the water was muddy brown and fast flowing, with no way to tell how deep it was. So I ended up going all the way to the West end and crossing the bridge and coming across the hillside, which cost some time.

3 was okay, 4 seemed further than I expected but I see now that I think I went in after the first ditch and trail bend instead of the second. 5 I started looking too early but saw somebody punching it. Climbing the next hill up toward 6 was a mudslide adventure. It was a good thing the hill had thick grass all over it and that I was wearing spikes. I had wondered what this field was, based on the map and aerial photos, and thought I might be able to tell once I arrived, but everything was mostly torn up and destroyed now. (Later I learned it was a skeet shooting range.)

6 and 7 went well, then I let myself get pulled more into the slash than I wanted on the way out to the road due to other runners. Went by where the other building should have been, and that was demolished too. From the end of the driveway went up to 8 successfully. Ended up too high and too far on 9, at the next ditches up by the out of bounds, realized I was way too close to the barn and went back down and found the control.

Did ok on 10 following the stream and then the branch with the rocks in it. Also on 11, by going out to the powerline bend and across the right side of the hilltop and down to the control. 12 was a bit of an issue, mostly because the description was vague (simply ditch/gully) and there were several in the circle, as well as the one with the bag in it not being the one in the center of the circle. Was with several people in here popping in and out of ditches until I finally came across it.

The rest of this was pretty smooth. I picked up Jody at 12 and we were pretty much together through the rest of the course until he pulled away up the hill toward the finish.

Nice course and nice day, aside from #12 and all the mud. Not having brutal climbs was a pleasant change for once.

Green - Splits

Need to just start getting some miles on my legs. Can't wait until there's actually daylight after work (well, there's a tiny bit now.)

Clearly, even if I walk the entire time which is not the plan, I'll be able to complete the half in well under the 4:30:00 time limit.

Also evident that I really need new running shoes. (I really need new street shoes too, as I've been wearing the running pair as street shoes too often.)

C • Half 3

Complete mental burnout type of day :-(
Riding cancelled due to my trainer having the flu, but I was actually kind of happy to just come home and relax. And now go to bed early.

Squeezed in between work and another meeting

Brrrr