Training Log Archive: vmeyer

Event: Calleva Race
 

Peggy sent out an email several weeks ago about the Calleva adventure race, which I had never heard of. It was close by, fit into my not so busy summer schedule, and it seemed like the biking could be manageable, or at least runnable. And, I needed a little motivation to keep training during the heat of the summer.

In addition, the race was in honor/memory of Scott Pleban, excellent adventure racer, and local to QOC for many years. So, I signed up for the Sport event as Team “What would Scott do?!” There were three events – Expert (10 hours), Sport (6 hours), and Chrysalis (4 hours), which Amy entered.

The pre-race information indicated that there would be a central transition area, negating the need to schlep all nutrition and hydration around for the whole race. So, I loaded up everything I thought I would need and headed out at 7 AM for an 8 AM arrival.



Reminder to self – don’t wear that shirt to work again.

The Expert racers started at 9, and the Sport and Chrysalis at 11, with maps handed out at 9. So, I was there in plenty of time to get a good parking spot under a tree, and to walk around, take some pictures, and observe the start of the first race.











Expert race brief


Dagmar and Monika

After the Expert race started, we were allowed to register, get our maps, and drop bikes off for transport to the Sport race start, which was at Schaeffer Farm, as I suspected.



Amy and my bike...




We were biking first, but then paddling or orienteering in either order. I decided on paddling and then orienteering.

I went back to the O'Mobile2 and started sorting what I would need to take, and what I would leave in the transition area.



I was still not ready by the time the race brief started, so I took my stuff over and got my feet ready while listening to the brief. I decided to wear knee socks and ankle braces for the entire race, not just putting the ankle braces on for the orienteering section at the end. This was a good call.

During the race brief, and Scott's sister, Gail, spoke about Scott, and talked about his love of duct tape.

At 10:30, I ran to the bathroom one more time, and then we were loaded into a bus and driven to Schaeffer Farm. I had set down my sunscreen somewhere, and once on the road, I realized that I didn't have it. Oops #1.

A team member from 132 sat next to me.


I saw the couple behind several times during the race, and they were very supportive and cheerful.


I talked to 132 about my race plan for the biking, and as we were looking at the map I realized that I hadn't brought a compass. I had left it behind on purpose, thinking that I wouldn't need it until later. Oops #2, already missing all mandatory equipment, and also, no compass!

So, 132 offered me his spare, which was an inexpensive base plate with bubble in it. I accepted, because part of my bike plan was to bushwhack, which was explicitly allowed. I took him up on the offer after checking with some other people I knew to see if anyone else had a spare.

Dima giving the final instructions before the start of the race...

At 11 AM, or thereabouts, we were given a prologue map with three checkpoints on it. It was pretty much a blank piece of paper with the Start and three circles. We had been told that we needed to go around the field, and we could not go through any fields. So, off we all went, and it was immediately clear that the compass was worthless, so I went into lemming mode and hoped for the best.

There was some confusion in the ranks, and we ended up on the White trail, and #132 asked to check the bearing, so I gave him back his compass and said that I didn't need it back.

Here are my tracks on a satellite map...



I was shocked to get back and see so many bikes still there.

C • race stories 12

Turned in the prologue map and received the race passport.





Took about 4.5 minutes to change from ice bugs to bike shoes, where Oops #3 came to light...I had taken off my commuter rack so I wouldn't get tangled up in it if/when I fell off of the bike, but now I had no good way to carry my shoes, except by the draw strings on the shoe bag. This worked, but every time I had to get something out of my pack, I got things tangled up.

Anyway, I headed off, making Oops #4 - totally throwing out the original plan for the bike, which was get out to Black Rock Road as soon as possible and do the least amount of trails as possible.

Instead, I decided to try getting the OCP1 and 2, which were on the Orange trail. How hard could it be?

Should have abandoned the plan when I right out of the start took a side trail which wasn't on the map and dead ended. Had to come back past the photographer, likely looking very sheepish.

Then I went the incorrect (longer) direction on the White trail, and blew past the turn. Well, "blew" past is relative, since I was pretty much walking the bike this entire section.

Instead of giving up on OCP1, I went back the way I came, finding the Orange trail, getting some advice from others along the way, and found the point. About 14 minutes lost here. I mostly walked the bike all of the time on the Orange trail since it was very closed in with just about 12" of trail. However, I did clip in from time to time, and experience my first fall. Luckily, it was a soft landing. Unluckily, it was into a bed of poison ivy.

Now, here is where I was really not very brilliant...in shorts, and sans compass, I decided that I would bike whack to OCP2. I can see the creek below, so it was up and down, and I hit the next trail over just fine. Then I decide to forge on, with an even wider section of whacking, and I really should have taken the camera out for this - wall of green, thorns, and dead fall catching the tires. I soldier on figuring it couldn't get any worse, when I hit the field of pain. I am totally disoriented at this point, getting my legs shredded from knee to mid-thigh, and I kept telling myself not to cry. I somehow manage to find the Orange trail again, and thankfully, I turn in the direction which takes me closest to the road in the shortest amount of time.

I have been "on" the bike over an hour at this point, and it is a long way back to the TA. So, I head down the White trail to OCP3, getting it easily enough, and then I whack up and down a steep gully to Black Rock Road. Whee, pavement!

It starts to get better after getting on the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail to Rt 28. I am around Lauren and Mark for much of the next part, and Mark is riding ahead, and then warning of steep ups and downs, which Lauren was also no good at. The trail is a little wider on the ground, so I was able to ride good parts of this, and my confidence started to grow.



This is where I was thinking - this is fun. Unfortunately, it was also where my calves started to cramp when I was remounting the bike, so I tried to stay on as much as possible. Got to Rt 28, and proceeded to blow 15 minutes trying to go under instead of across the road. Finally sorted it out and had to return back to the parking lot where Dima was, just a little demoralized, but I was not without company.

Once on the Seneca Bluffs Trail, I had some nice sections of more confident riding, and picked up the mandatory CP for this section. Aim was to pick up option CP8, cross the creek and continue on the trail until I got to the parking lot leading to Montivedo Road. Ran into a very nice gentleman on a horse grossing the creek in the opposite direction.

Hit the road as planned and bombed down to River Road. Had to retrace a bit back up the hill to pick up the optional CP in this section. Cross River Road and Seneca Creek and head head down Riley's Lock Road, where it is clear that my front tire is losing air. I peddle as fast as I can, so that I can be done with the bike, walking the last 1/10 of a mile once I am riding on the rim. [Monday: Had the bike shop change tube and check for tire damage, which there was none. No surprise that it was likely a thorn that did the damage.]

So happy to finally be at the TA!

So, I take off my helmet and take the bike gear out of my pack, and drink some warm gatorade. I have been drinking water the whole time, like 100 oz. I also had two gels and 1/2 PBJ sandwich. I eat another gel and get the flotation device on and head out to the water with the heaviest damn sit on top kayak.

If I were to whine, I would say...Why couldn't we use this kind?!


It was so heavy, and I was trying to respect the boat by not dragging it, which I had to, except on the road crossing. It took me about 5 minutes to haul it across to the boat ramp. Then I had to figure out how to sit in it, and actually had to ask someone which way was front. And, this is where I went brain dead, or clueless, or whatever. Let's just say, I went up the creek, with a paddle. Once I got going, the same guy also advised me that my paddle was upside down and backwards. He tried to give me other advise to be more efficient, but I was having not having any of it.



I saw some controls which weren't on my map, but I somehow manage to find a couple that sort of matched up to the ones I was going for. For one of them*, I had to actually get in and out of the boat. I was curious why I didn't see anyone else from the race the whole time I was in the water. And, the heavily traveled bridge over the water didn't clue me in either.

Turned around and paddled back to the boat ramp, dragged/carried the hulk back to the TA, with a little help from Amy, who was done her race.

While I knew something wasn't right, it took talking to the race officials to clue me in that I had gone up the creek, and not down to the Potomac. BIG Oops!

With an hour left, I know knew I was unofficial, because there was no way I could do the ~50 minute round trip to the mandatory paddle CP, as well as the ~40 minute round trip to the mandatory orienteering CP. Only slightly bummed, but still so proud of what I accomplished to far.

*Turns out this control was for the beginner race that Amy did, and she had great difficulty getting back into the boat, only getting in when some kayakers came by and help the boat for her.

On the way back to the TA with the boat, there was a little bit of trail magic on the ground - an unopened berry gel. So, I scooped that up and ate it, and headed out to get the mandatory orienteering control, and maybe the optional one on the island.



Off I go and immediately see that it is a long haul down the canal path to the checkpoint I need to get. I am optimistic still, and I try to the one on the Potomac, but with no luck. It is all overgrown in there with little goat paths from people who hang out along the water.

So, I go back to the canal and with some hemming and hawing, and back and forth, and overshooting, I decide that I do not have time to swim across the towpath and get then all the way back in time. Not sure why I didn't go on the north side of the canal, but I think I it was because I was told that crossing the canal was obvious and easy.

Getting back felt endless, but lots of people on the towpath were so encouraging, so I kept plugging along.

Amy was there to greet me at the Finish.


The pink shirt I was wearing bled. I told the race crew after that if I did this again next year, then I wanted to be #139 again. They said sure, just let them know when I registered.


Prize table - all were drawn out of the hat, and my name was on a nice pair of leather adventure gloves. Will work nicely the next time I trim the holly bushes.

First (only) adventure race recap...

I didn't meet my goal of being official, but I know that with some better planning, and sticking to a better plan, that I had it in me, so I am very happy about that. I had an adventure, and I feel like I got my money's worth. :)

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the friendliness of everyone. The only harsh words I heard all day were from a team of three men who were already arguing about who left who, and this was at the end of the prologue...probably a long day for that team.

I didn't hurt anything that won't heal quickly - legs are scratched up, and right calve is covered in small bruises from hitting the pedals when dismounting. My left knee is bruised from the fall off of the bike, and being just one full fall is quite amazing, though I did save myself a couple of times.

And, while I won't ever be without apprehension about mountain biking, I now know that I can manage in a pinch.

Calleva put on a great race. It was well organized, had lots of volunteers, and plenty of hot dogs after. :)

C • Great race and great description!!! 5

Event: QOC Intro to Orienteering
 

Finally got the pictures in my camera downloaded...this was from Great Falls, VA. Love rootstocks!

This turtle is quite often on the log, but it goes into the water quickly if I stop too near. Today, I stopped further back to dismount, and then walked quietly closer for the shot. Was pleased. Ride was pleasing as well.



Zoom mode on the iphone...