Training Log Archive: DWildfogel

The Presidio, San Francisco. Qualification for the National Event part of Sprint SF. 2.7km, 38m climb, 21c. Start at 9:20. Cool, but no rain - good conditions for me. Ground is wet, especially the grass. Course is obviously 50% too long for a Brown runner like me, but we knew that going in: same course for everyone, and the course is designed for M21.

First race ever on the new ISSOM map of the Main Post, made by Matej Sebo.

Given how much I'd worn myself out the past two weekends trying to organize this event, and given that I stood out in the rain for 5 hours yesterday at GGP, I wasn't expecting much of myself, at least as of last night. But we stayed in a hotel near the Presidio, got a good night's sleep, and I was actually feeling pretty decent. But things went awry big time in two spots and I wound up with a MSP. Maybe the last two weeks did have something to do it. But I also think this was a factor: Tapio was starting one minute behind me, and Aron Walker one minute behind him. It's rare that I run against people who are so much faster than me in terms of running. I figured they'd both catch me around the middle of the course, and I think I let that throw me off my game. I didn't do a lot of things I almost always do, e.g., there were probably 6 to 10 controls I didn't check the code or the clue. I was in too much of hurry. I ran really hard, figuring that at best I had one run in me, so it was pretty disappointing to have it go to waste. Had I done what I usually do, I might have been under 19 minutes, challenging Steve G and Daniel for 13th.

I ran off the map going to #2, costing me over a minute. Worse, going to #16 I started focusing on the circle for #3 (one building S of #16). Navigated there perfectly, and from there to #17. But never checked code or clue at #16 (actually #3), so had no idea I was in the wrong place. I was in fact where I thought I was, it just wasn't where I was supposed to be. Hence the MSP.

Leaving #1, I was facing terrain that wasn't on the map; perhaps that threw me off. Francois and at least one other person had the same problem I did. (When I went back and looked later, seems like the map is fine and I should've handle it.) Problem was I ran past the first left and took the second one, not realizing something was wrong and that I was now off the map. As I started going up a big hill, I knew that wasn't right, but it took a while to figure out what probably happened (and I kept running hard). Probably should've gone back, but figured I'd be able to make a left somewhere. However, it was a long way up the hill (which caused a loss of energy in addition to time) before I found a stairway going left and down the hlll. By the time I got down to the road at the edge of the map, I could see #2 to my left - and Tapio punching in.

Chased Tapio to #3, but lost sight of him on the long leg to #4. As I got close to #4, was catching up to Fyodor (who had started a minute ahead of me) and caught him just as he punched - at which point Aron caught both of us. I'd already scoped out #5, so was able to stay ahead of Aron to that one, but there was rough terrain going to #6 and Aron powered past me. To #7, I went around the N side of the olive green and out towards the grassy area; Aron started off S, but must've had problems because as I was getting to #7 from the N, he punched in from the E. By the time I got to #10, though, he was well out of sight.

#11 - #15 was a tricky little loop. Did the first 3 of those very well. (Funny, though, I spotted #13 from 30m away, and I shouldn't have been able to since the map shows it behind a small thicket.) Thought I did #15 well, too, but it appears that I lost about 8 seconds. Went around the N side because it looked simpler, but perhaps going around the S side was shorter - very hard for me to see the details that way, though, without slowing down drastically. (now that I've looked at Route Gadget, it appears that many people went over the crossable wall at the end, while I went around it - probably the difference. Also looks like going N around the building to #10 was slightly better.)

Then the disaster at #16. Hard to know why I didn't check the clue or the code.

Did a good job the rest of the way, checking little details while maintaining my speed, and hit all the optimal routes.

[Orienteering sprint race]

Cool down, partly with Steve G and Tapio.

Good warm up (before the race, of course).

The Presidio, San Francisco, again on the new ISSOM map of the Main Post. Still cool and dry. Started at 12:38, the last starter of the whole event. B-Final (same course as A-Final): 2.9 km. 60m climb, 26 controls.

I conducted the Award Ceremony between the A-Final (which went out first) and the B-Final, so took the last start in the B-Final as a meet worker. Either way, I wouldn't have seen any other competitors.

Legs didn't have a lot, but really focused and ran a near perfect race (wiping away the bad taste from the Qual). Ran decently to #13, but after that, even the mild upgrades slowed me down. But hung in there, read all the details while I was running, and pretty much nailed all the routes, with excellent work inside (entering and leaving) the circles.

Wore my running shoes because my trail shoes were still a bit wet from the Qual. This cost me several seconds trying to go up a slippery, grassy slope leaving #22. Only other time losses (at most a couple of seconds each) were: (a) leaving #2, took several steps due N before realizing I needed to go NNE, (b) going to #1, had to slow down for a few steps after the start triangle because I hadn't yet found my place on the map, and (c) took the N route, past #8, to #2, rather than the diagonal one. However, this turned out to be fortuitous: Going from 7 to 8, I refolded my map and had a hard time finding my place on the map, but since I already had been past #8 on the way to #2, I knew exactly where to go and never slowed down, finally finding my place a little before I got to #8.

Finished ahead of all the other Brown runners, behind most of the Greens, almost all of the Reds, and all of the Blues. No way I can make up for my lack of running speed (check out my time in the chute).

Jamie Parkinson, the overall winner, said this was the best course he'd encountered all year. Indeed, it was delightfully challenging (though I'd have to say that the WMOC Final in Old Town Tallinn was more challenging).

[Orienteering sprint race]

Didn't quite allow enough time beforehand, as I needed to go over the Officer's Club and use the restroom. Don't think it mattered, though.

Didn't do a cool down afterwards, just some stretching.

Presidio Sprint Qualification - Splits

Presidio Sprint B Final - Splits

Presidio Sprint Qualification M65+ - Splits

Golden Gate Park. Sprint SF 3-Round Tournament. Lots of rain.

Arrived at 9:30, helped start each round, and generally directed volunteer activities. Despite the rain, it was a fine day and things went well (despite a stolen control right as the semifinals were starting). The non-qualifiers had gone out in staggered starts for Round2. The last of them was Chris Brew, who later told us that a homeless person queried her as she punched #2. Seems almost certain that he then swiped the control. Not knowing this, we started the first heat of the semifinal. But, three minutes later, just as we were about to start the second heat, all 8 runners from the first heat came back and told us that #2 was missing. With all 16 semifinalist there, I decided to tell everyone to just skip #2. We then started the second heat, waited about a minute and a half (it was chilly and raining and no one wanted to stand there any longer) and re- started the first heat.

Great camaraderie throughout the day, and enjoyed chatting with several locals who hadn't orienteered before as well as with several orienteers from far flung places.

Exhausting, though. Glad I decided to stay in the city for the night.

Event: BAOC: Sprint San Francisco
 

The usual weekly accumulation of morning exercises: stretching, strength and balance. Tapered off as the week wore on, partly because of the race on Sunday, but mostly because I was in manic meet director mood.

Starting to come out of the manic mood, mostly because I think we are actually going to be able to pull off the whole weekend.

Front of house. Easy warm up, just loosening up for Sunday's race.

I'm still in manic meet director mode. :-(

2 x loop: 614, 537

[Easy distance]

Hadn't wanted to go for a jog today, but I'm in manic meet director mode and Louise has a cold. We thought about going out, but decided against it.

Really shouldn't go for a hike (like yesterday) the day after an orienteering race.