Training Log Archive: ndobbs

Event: Salomon Dontgetlost.ca Snowshoe Raid
 

Don't Get Lost - Snowshoe Raid

With Wil Smith :)

Weather: I think it was -10 or -11 with decent wind, -21 with windchill. Brr. I started with a toque on (for the first five or ten minutes until we got into more sheltered woods). It went back on the last 30 minutes and welcome it was. I didn't suffer much from the cold, strangely, especially considering the escapade in the stream.

Foodwise, had a decent breakfast, then when the start got delayed by an hour I ate a handful of licorice allsorts and a bit of candied ginger. I ate the same again out on the course. I had a litre of sports drink (2*Heed+1*nuun) in the camelbak, and ran out with 30 minutes to go. Another 2-500ml of water would have been good.

The maps were given out at registration, so we had time to plan our routes beforehand. We figured the first quarter of the race would be mostly on packed trails, so we started carrying the snowshoes. That lasted until partway to the second control (the first one we punched, oops)... it was good going down the hill, but we wasted a bit of time strapping them on only five minutes in.

Then it was uneventful for a couple of controls, we were breaking trail a bit. Then we had a choice, go around by big trails or go straight... we tried straight and lost a bit of time and lots of energy. It also involved hopping a stream... my foothold gave way and my left leg went in above my knee (I fell, it wasn't *that* deep), other foot and one hand got wet too, brr.

A couple of controls later we had some trail running to do so we decided to remove the snowshoes. I wasted a couple of minutes because there was ice under the clasp on the stream-snowshoe preventing me undoing it... so I battled on in snowshoes.

I took the three northern controls in the matrix, leaving Wil pussyfoot his way up and down two ski slopes before we met up again, with half an hour to get back. The legs were cramping up on both of us which slowed us down a bit, and there wasn't much energy left. We went directly back, luckily passing by the first control, and only made it with a minute and a half to spare.

Sixth place, one down on the top masters team. The top team got all the controls but were one second overtime :) We'd need to train some to do that.

Fun times. Thanks to Wil and the organisers!

C • Snowshoe Raid 5

So a couple of days ago I asked Wil how the roads were between Toronto and Parry Sound: Good and clear, says he.

So I set off for Barrie last night and the cross-wind is pretty strong, my fingers were tense holding the steering wheel holding the direction steady, especially going through bridges or when overtaking/being overtaken. And then the fun began, powdery snow made for excellent driving conditions. Anyhow, I make it without any real issues, just slower and tougher than expected.

Going to the race this morning, a local road was closed due to a partially down electricity pole, necessitating a detour. I was lucky to have got close the night before. The main road from Toronto to Barrie was closed so they delayed start times by an hour and still something like 15 teams didn't make it.

more snowrienteering (again without snowshoes)... the milder weather meant the crusty layer had softened, seemed like the snow was shallower too.

fun stuff, despite being v slow/tired (not enough sleep/breakfast?)

C • Toque 4

Snowrienteering in Blue Mtn. It wasn't fast. The Blue Mtn green is mostly white, so veg wasn't a problem. Rather horrible ice/snow conditions in places made progress painful. Navigation was easy at that pace.

Good to be back!

C • Whoop Whoop! 3

Proof golf isn't a sport:
http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/golf/2011/0214/12...

skit
actually put on running gear today, but still tired, put on the hrm... watched for a good while... didn't drop below 65... lay in bed for a couple of hours, did hit 60, but I think I should perhaps wait before running. Aghhhhh

C • Poor Neil! 1