Training Log Archive: iansmithIn the 1 days ending Sep 24, 2011:
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Saturday Sep 24, 2011 #
Event: NEOC: Nobscot Night-O
5 PM
Orienteering 1:30:00 [2] 8.89 km (10:07 / km) +200m 9:06 / km
shoes: 201006 Inov-8 X-talon 212
Please let me know if you would be willing to send an e-mail to the Nobscot administrators to thank them for letting us have a Night-O there.
This session of setting controls for the NEOC Night-O. I started setting later than I planned, after departing my home at about 2 PM. I arrived at Nobscot at 5, 2 hours before the start, chatted with the ranger, and set out. I set 12 advanced controls by 6:40, and then spent way too long helping with registration set up before bolting out to get the last 4 controls. I set advanced control #1 in dark twilight, and I seriously struggled to see anything (time 1:13-1:20 in my track).
I was surprised at the magnitude and enthusiasm of the response, particularly among beginners. According to NEOC, 30 people went out on the beginner course, many in groups. Thanks to those who copied their courses onto blank maps and to Ed who rushed to save the day with the printer and make additional copies of the beginner map. Since everyone seemed to enjoy Night-O, I plan to schedule two or three next year at the parks that might be persuaded to allow us to hold them. We owe much to the BSA people at Nobscot who graciously allowed us to hold a night event. Ali crushed the competition, and I doubt I could have beaten her time even with my foreknowledge of the course. More training to do!
It turns out that Flashlight is really bright - bright enough to compete with some of the serious Night-O headlamps. I doubt it can keep up with the $400+ Petzls and similar lights, but I'm proud of Flashlight nonetheless. I loaned it to Jenny, an OUOC member Brendan ran into only a few hours before the event and invited to Night-O. Jenny and Alee ran together, and did very well. This is Alee's third orienteering race, and she is advancing very nicely.
Much credit must be given to Pete Lane and Jim Paschetto, who manned registration and handled the throng today. I enjoy setting courses, and I put much thought into their design. However, I really struggle when I'm trying to run a meet all by myself, or even with a few helpers. While I plan to put on more events of ever increasing quality and polish, my focus will be shifting ever more toward training, because competition is far more important to me than organization.
Control count: 129/2000
This session of setting controls for the NEOC Night-O. I started setting later than I planned, after departing my home at about 2 PM. I arrived at Nobscot at 5, 2 hours before the start, chatted with the ranger, and set out. I set 12 advanced controls by 6:40, and then spent way too long helping with registration set up before bolting out to get the last 4 controls. I set advanced control #1 in dark twilight, and I seriously struggled to see anything (time 1:13-1:20 in my track).
I was surprised at the magnitude and enthusiasm of the response, particularly among beginners. According to NEOC, 30 people went out on the beginner course, many in groups. Thanks to those who copied their courses onto blank maps and to Ed who rushed to save the day with the printer and make additional copies of the beginner map. Since everyone seemed to enjoy Night-O, I plan to schedule two or three next year at the parks that might be persuaded to allow us to hold them. We owe much to the BSA people at Nobscot who graciously allowed us to hold a night event. Ali crushed the competition, and I doubt I could have beaten her time even with my foreknowledge of the course. More training to do!
It turns out that Flashlight is really bright - bright enough to compete with some of the serious Night-O headlamps. I doubt it can keep up with the $400+ Petzls and similar lights, but I'm proud of Flashlight nonetheless. I loaned it to Jenny, an OUOC member Brendan ran into only a few hours before the event and invited to Night-O. Jenny and Alee ran together, and did very well. This is Alee's third orienteering race, and she is advancing very nicely.
Much credit must be given to Pete Lane and Jim Paschetto, who manned registration and handled the throng today. I enjoy setting courses, and I put much thought into their design. However, I really struggle when I'm trying to run a meet all by myself, or even with a few helpers. While I plan to put on more events of ever increasing quality and polish, my focus will be shifting ever more toward training, because competition is far more important to me than organization.
Control count: 129/2000