Training Log Archive: bl

Masters’ Champs, Sunday, cold early, OK later. Gray sky, no rain. Brown X, 3.1K, 150m climb. I was pleased with this - no mistake time, went to all directly, if slowly. As physical as yesterday, more climb, less white alternating with yellow ski slope traversing.

Up the path to #1, straight/straightforward to #2 though going slowly in the terrain, #3 pretty much straight also but went left enough to hit the open area on the path and then across the swamp just beyond. Carefully up the slope, saw the boulder triangle in front & rest was history.

To #4 began the climb. Again straight to the second path. The climb to that path seemed endless, traversing up the slope til finally… Then along it to the end of the wall and attacked from there. Could have improved the final approach by using the path to the SW. Straight to #5 which was just about all up. Straight seemed the most error-free route though, for me, the climb was “over the top” physically.

Then the route leveled off & straight to the point. To #6, straight to the yellow, mode my way around the yellow “U”, seeing the boulder, the small RF and finally the larger one, tho it was hidden in green. Then a rocky traverse, but an “animal” path, too, for help. Could see point from 25m away. To #7 (which for all the world looked like a #4 when viewed upside down): back to the same slope I’d come from, down to the jct. marked by rock features and then down the steep slope to the stream, along it a bit and up when the terrain smoothed out. I could see the forest corner, and entered the woods accordingly, finding to the point.

Pretty much straight to #8, sorting out the yellow but some confusion as the white separation lines of forest did not seem quite right. But I could see the lift and the reentrant was supposed to be just beyond that. A moment of breath-holding, then the land dropped and the flag showed itself with a smile. Straightforward to the next as anyone could have noted where it was from the finish area.

Thought I could “run” in but could not. Again pleased but leading times were much faster. But no running equals no “speedy” results. I remember the days where the “battle cry” was beat Sharon C or 10’/k. How far I’ve (we’ve) come.

Great to see old faces & friends. Always regret not getting around enough to visit with as many as possible…the way of A meets. Hans Bengtsson and Oskar spent Friday and Saturday night with us and that was most enjoyable.

UNO made me proud. I wasn’t able to be a meet helper with other demands for my time.

Brown X Sunday - Splits

Event: 2019 Orienteering USA Masters Nationals at the Older Dash
 

UNO US Masters at Gunstock. Great day for it with extensive sunshine. Late start & so I was as warmed up as I was going to be. Being ‘“adrenalized” meant practically no bad back feedback. Pretty good run, estimate 4-5’ mistakes. Nothing big anyway. Didn’t have any physical umph though. On the first long contour leg, it was clear this was a physically challenging course. At the first flag, the code did not match. I knew I’d navigated to the correct point and was sure of the 2 boulders. I “punched” and moved on but with one hell of a lot of uncertainty. What could be wrong? I looked at the clue sheet and there was my answer, day 2 clues, duh. And too clueless to think to look at the map. I’ve haven’t resorted to that in many years. From then on, just navigate to the center of the circle with pretty much 100% assurance. I then lost almost 2’ on #2 due to lack of concentration. A few times, more time was lost from the edge of the circle in then I’d believed possible.

Getting into the first leg was sluggish - to right or straight? Chose the latter and vegetation soon fit and I was "launched". To #2, straight but distracted and allowed myself to descend, off route with confused recovery. #3 straight, ok. #4, a long, sort out white & yellow traverse. Attacked from the large path bend to north. #5, was deceived by the yellow as mapped just to the NW. Went the longer way. #6, another long sort-it-out traverse that went OK - so physical though. #7, 2 runners ahead to help. #8, same 2 runners in tandem. They were low. I thought I was right on. Into the woods, no knoll. So, after some soul-searching, climbed a surprising amount and the spur turned into the knoll. A bit of a "phew" when I saw the flag. #9 was surprisingly hard to find. There was a group. Charlie Schabazian led the way in the green, low vis area. #11 and 12 were "follow those ahead". Download, no MP, phew again.

Brown-X Saturday - Splits

To Rockland and return with Beth to pick up the Volvo from Saturday.
Two cars driving back - Beth did a good job of keeping close behind. She later said it helped her stay awake. 380 miles RT in a day is not my cup of tea. We went up via the coastal route and returned via 17/Gardiner. The back was better than I might have expected.

It was the last of Rockland as a boat owner. Tonight is yet another gale to even storm on the New England coast.

Nottingcook OLLI hike. Stiff as can be this morning after three nights aboard boat on chilly October eves. The hike worked out some of the kinks. The weather was perfect.

A short walk on New Castle Island yesterday to Urbanek's to get the car. Like learning to walk again after 3 days in an effective living space of 10' by 35'.

Orienteering? like I've been disoriented in a time warp. Hopefully focus away some of the blur before the end of the week. I think it's really a go-thru-the-motions and enjoy it, too, but not much more.