Training Log Archive: iansmithIn the 1 days ending Apr 25, 2015:
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Saturday Apr 25, 2015 #
Event: NEOC: Needham Town Forest
1 PM
Orienteering 44:29 [3] 6.27 km (7:06 / km) +69m 6:44 / km
18c shoes: 201410 Inov-8 Oroc 280s
NEOC local meet Red course at Needham Town Forest, set by Jeff Schapiro; listed as 5.7 km.
I had signed up to pick up controls; I planned to arrive at around 11:30 and run a course or two before pickup at 2. When I woke at 10, I shot that plan down for a bit more sleep, and arrived at the meet a shade before 1. Jeff kindly let me run the course, and I finished before the 2pm course close time and with a number of people still in the woods. I have long advocated the start window be 10-12 in NEOCland to make it easier on meet directors, and I'm a bit ashamed to have abused that.
My run was ok; I didn't warm up to get out earlier. I didn't feel like I was moving very fast, and I think given the high visibility and good running conditions, 6:00/km was attainable for someone in shape. I had decent flow, with good exits and reading the full leg before leaving. Some bobbles: I was pushed around by a marsh leaving 3 and found myself further north than planned, losing 20-30s. I did some unnecessary climb leaving 7 and couldn't make sense inside the circle at 8. I was pushed around by green en route to 11 and swung right, 20s. I made a dumb route choice and crossed a green marsh on 12-13 instead of going around, 30s. I hesitated for 15s in the circle at 14 when I saw rock that wasn't on the map.
I learned a while ago to use contours, major trails, marshes, and some rock features for navigation at Needham, so I wasn't bothered by the numerous excess mountain bike trails. I think my biggest gripe with the map is that the contours seem strange in places, and remapping this with LIDAR contours is a priority. It's a small but fun patch of terrain - especially early or late enough in the season that the vegetation is hospitable. Very good course by Jeff.
I had signed up to pick up controls; I planned to arrive at around 11:30 and run a course or two before pickup at 2. When I woke at 10, I shot that plan down for a bit more sleep, and arrived at the meet a shade before 1. Jeff kindly let me run the course, and I finished before the 2pm course close time and with a number of people still in the woods. I have long advocated the start window be 10-12 in NEOCland to make it easier on meet directors, and I'm a bit ashamed to have abused that.
My run was ok; I didn't warm up to get out earlier. I didn't feel like I was moving very fast, and I think given the high visibility and good running conditions, 6:00/km was attainable for someone in shape. I had decent flow, with good exits and reading the full leg before leaving. Some bobbles: I was pushed around by a marsh leaving 3 and found myself further north than planned, losing 20-30s. I did some unnecessary climb leaving 7 and couldn't make sense inside the circle at 8. I was pushed around by green en route to 11 and swung right, 20s. I made a dumb route choice and crossed a green marsh on 12-13 instead of going around, 30s. I hesitated for 15s in the circle at 14 when I saw rock that wasn't on the map.
I learned a while ago to use contours, major trails, marshes, and some rock features for navigation at Needham, so I wasn't bothered by the numerous excess mountain bike trails. I think my biggest gripe with the map is that the contours seem strange in places, and remapping this with LIDAR contours is a priority. It's a small but fun patch of terrain - especially early or late enough in the season that the vegetation is hospitable. Very good course by Jeff.
3 PM
Orienteering 50:00 [1] 5.0 km (10:00 / km) +44m 9:35 / km
22c shoes: 201410 Inov-8 Oroc 280s
Control pickup, including a 1.5 km loop by the finish that I didn't record. I saw a majestic woodpecker at split #1 with dark, patterned wings and head and a lighter underbelly. I suspect it was a female Downy woodpecker.
5 PM
Orienteering 56:07 [1] 6.68 km (8:24 / km) +190m 7:21 / km
shoes: 201410 Inov-8 Oroc 280s
I'm the chair of the NEOC A-meet planning group and the NEOC Mapping committee. I don't know that I'm the most qualified; it's apparently relatively easy to assume authority in non-profits.
The A-meet planning group, which in my mental model of the organization drives the major mapping initiatives, meets about twice per year and discusses plans. We're currently planning on an A-meet at High Rock in April 2016, at Mt. Tom in Spring 2017, and in north central MA for 2018. One of my current tasks is to figure out where else Marcello should map once he finishes the new High Rock map.
Apart from discussions of possible maps, my primary method for finding new map possibilities has consisted of browsing google maps and searching various public land listings. It turns out Trustees of Reservation's website has a number of candidates at a glance; it's unclear if we can always get land use permission, but they do let us use Powissett and Rocky Woods.
I found two neat places: Noon Hill is a mix of Trustees land and town of Medfield, but the patch of terrain was fantastic. It's very reminiscent of Rocky Woods and maybe Blue Hills West. There were vast swaths of open forest, some light green areas, and a few dense marshes. The terrain was more runnable than Needham Town Forest, and the topography was interesting and varied. Apart from a number of trails, stone walls would allow for beginner courses. While there isn't an arena site, there are two possible start locations. Both have limited parking, but I think we could park along the side of Noonhill Rd, which is a slow gravel road. The patch of terrain is only about 1 - 1.5 sq km, but this is fine for a standard local meet map. Also, Noon Hill is in Medfield - a 40 minute drive from Boston.
I also drove by Moose Hill Farm - which would be a great name for a map. "Moose Hill." I get chills. It was getting dark when I arrived, so i didn't get out into the terrain. It's conveniently located next to I-95, and it has a little farm with some extant parking. It has a large field that would be perfect for an arena, and it also measures about 1 - 1.5 sq km. At a glance, Moose Hill looked a little thicker than Noon Hill, but still inviting.
The A-meet planning group, which in my mental model of the organization drives the major mapping initiatives, meets about twice per year and discusses plans. We're currently planning on an A-meet at High Rock in April 2016, at Mt. Tom in Spring 2017, and in north central MA for 2018. One of my current tasks is to figure out where else Marcello should map once he finishes the new High Rock map.
Apart from discussions of possible maps, my primary method for finding new map possibilities has consisted of browsing google maps and searching various public land listings. It turns out Trustees of Reservation's website has a number of candidates at a glance; it's unclear if we can always get land use permission, but they do let us use Powissett and Rocky Woods.
I found two neat places: Noon Hill is a mix of Trustees land and town of Medfield, but the patch of terrain was fantastic. It's very reminiscent of Rocky Woods and maybe Blue Hills West. There were vast swaths of open forest, some light green areas, and a few dense marshes. The terrain was more runnable than Needham Town Forest, and the topography was interesting and varied. Apart from a number of trails, stone walls would allow for beginner courses. While there isn't an arena site, there are two possible start locations. Both have limited parking, but I think we could park along the side of Noonhill Rd, which is a slow gravel road. The patch of terrain is only about 1 - 1.5 sq km, but this is fine for a standard local meet map. Also, Noon Hill is in Medfield - a 40 minute drive from Boston.
I also drove by Moose Hill Farm - which would be a great name for a map. "Moose Hill." I get chills. It was getting dark when I arrived, so i didn't get out into the terrain. It's conveniently located next to I-95, and it has a little farm with some extant parking. It has a large field that would be perfect for an arena, and it also measures about 1 - 1.5 sq km. At a glance, Moose Hill looked a little thicker than Noon Hill, but still inviting.