Training Log Archive: SwampfoxIn the 1 days ending Aug 16, 2017: |
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Wednesday Aug 16, 2017 #
Note
Ran the Daze 1 course at Telephone Song, checking streamers (re-streamering where necessary) and making sure one more time I was happy with the course.
It won't be everyone's favorite course/area (it may not be anyone's!) but it has its plusses, and I like it. It's of course very different from all our granite areas, this being on limestone/sandstone, and consisting basically of a uniform west facing slope dissected by several large ravines/valleys. The running varies widely from areas of medium deep sage to limber pine forest that can get thickish to the point where visibility goes down and you may have to push through areas of younger trees to wide open grassy and limestone pavement areas. Many of the terrain features that get used for controls can be small and contour features can be subtle. It requires a very different technique at times. The area is hilly, and hilly enough that whether you have fresh legs or not makes a big difference.
My own feeling is that no course is complete without some decent hills, though others may disagree. ; ) In my case, my views are undoubtedly shaped by the fact I got started orienteering at West Point, where the only flat areas are to be avoided (the Plains, the Area, the two mile run course by the always pleasant smelling sewage treatment plant, etc.) and hills were simply the norm every time we went out to train.
At any rate, this course features some nice climbs and two very fine descents!
And, as a bonus, probably one of the most spectacular views available to orienteering this year.
Scotland was a lot of fun, but both that trip and coming back home and running on home terrain reaffirms for me that I am very lucky to have this very fine terrain right here to run in!!!
It won't be everyone's favorite course/area (it may not be anyone's!) but it has its plusses, and I like it. It's of course very different from all our granite areas, this being on limestone/sandstone, and consisting basically of a uniform west facing slope dissected by several large ravines/valleys. The running varies widely from areas of medium deep sage to limber pine forest that can get thickish to the point where visibility goes down and you may have to push through areas of younger trees to wide open grassy and limestone pavement areas. Many of the terrain features that get used for controls can be small and contour features can be subtle. It requires a very different technique at times. The area is hilly, and hilly enough that whether you have fresh legs or not makes a big difference.
My own feeling is that no course is complete without some decent hills, though others may disagree. ; ) In my case, my views are undoubtedly shaped by the fact I got started orienteering at West Point, where the only flat areas are to be avoided (the Plains, the Area, the two mile run course by the always pleasant smelling sewage treatment plant, etc.) and hills were simply the norm every time we went out to train.
At any rate, this course features some nice climbs and two very fine descents!
And, as a bonus, probably one of the most spectacular views available to orienteering this year.
Scotland was a lot of fun, but both that trip and coming back home and running on home terrain reaffirms for me that I am very lucky to have this very fine terrain right here to run in!!!