Training Log Archive: MJChilds

Played Disc Golf at a very strange course at Strathgartney PP. It seemed like a ghost park--maintained lawns, but everything else seemed abandoned long ago, including the disc golf tees and (post) holes. It took us quite a while to find the holes, then we played what we thought was the course. Quite easy since it was both short and out in the open. That aside, it was lovely to be playing with Ethan, having Carl spot our discs as they flew over a crest or around a corner. I continue to be impressed by how good Ethan is. I love that we have fun playing together, lame as I am at the sport. The views from the highest point were lovely--down toward the bay by Charlottetown. A nice break in the pace from the orienteering schedule.

Event: ONB Ocean Floor Sprint, HPP fun raiser, Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, NB
 

Event: ONB Fishbones 1, Hillsborough, NB
 

Loved, loved, loved it! Running on the sea floor at low tide info the Flower Pots was amazing. Great that we could go back afterward and take photos before the dozens of tourists came.
Had a good race until I turned the map over and had a hard time keeping track of the clues as they were necessarily in a different part of the map than the front side. This meant unfolding, checking the code, the relocating myself in the map each time. By #10 I was confused, by #11 I was again confused but found it OK, then just ran to the finish chute and in to the finish. Once there, I thought I had missed the last control. My brain was fried. It took me a while and some effort to realize that #12 WAS at the top of the finish chute. Oh well. Enjoyed it immensely. Estimated to for now. Difficult Internet.

C • It's the most fun sprint... 3

White Rocks map. Did only 11 of 22 controls. Went well until #11, then I had a hard time reading the map and did not take the route I thought was optimal (left route on trail). Went downhill instead, thought I'd go up the spur but it looked too crappy so I ventured down further to go around the crap then saw a reentrant that also looked crappy so I tried to find a way to enter it, but then saw someone running on a trail nearby so I popped out to the trail. Very bad choice. I figured I'd go along until I found a gap in the cliffs to ascend, but when I finally came to one, the gypsum cliffs looked 100' high and I realized I did not have the energy to climb such a daunting slope. A minute later I decided there was no good way to get back to #12, so I threw in the towel and headed to the finish. I could barely get into the finish I was so wiped out.

Took a bad spill going to #9. Tripped, dived forward, and rolled over. Afraid I had hurt myself at first, but everything seemed OK. Two days later, the bruises on my left calf and hip are pretty impressive. Could have been a lot worse.

I knew that successive days of orienteering would be hard on me at this event because I have not been able to run well this summer--every run has been a struggle and I can't tolerate the heat.

It was a little disappointing to quit, but I think it was the right choice for me that day. I thoroughly enjoyed the course up until #11. In looking at splits, I see I was in 3rd place when I bailed. I take a small bit of consolation in that.
I continue to have huge respect for the numerous very fit Canadian women in my age category. Their performances are inspiring and they are great group of sports women.

Event: ONB COC2015: Middle Distance, Hillsborough, NB
 

Had a pretty good race. Very careful in the detailed terrain where gypsum was mined leaving piles and pits everywhere. On the last control I made a small parallel error searching a depression just off the main trail. Quickly recovered, lost about 1 min. Happy with my course.

Middle 5 - Splits

Event: 2015 Canadian Orienteering Championships
 

The usual w Carl. Pretty warm. Spent the entire day getting ready to head up to the Canadian Maritimes (NB, NS, and PEI) for the COCs. Looking forward to seeing a new place and to running in the Bay of Fundy on the Sea Floor. Bucket List item. Hope to take photos while on course since I won't be particularly competitive anyway.

Went with 2 groups at the Dartmouth team building program, this time for the FO&M department. Walked the course 4 times. Feet were pretty tired and legs were stiff by the end with a day that went from 6:46 am to 6:15 pm. Fun to see beginners work out the skills and work together to achieve their goal. My second group WON today which is surprising because their route choice for the course was terrible, but from control-to-control was surprisingly good.

Most of them really enjoyed it, so I was happy to be a part of it.

Set out controls for tomorrow's Orienteering course. Nice to be on the water.