Training Log Archive: Swampfox

Minnegoat, Camp Ripley, MN. I warmed up for about 30 minutes, and got to try out my legs on the flat dirt road, in the woods, going up and going down, hopping a little, and so on, and while my legs were pretty sore from all the cramping yesterday, they seemed like they were going to be basically OK to go, which proved to be the case. While there were times during the race where they felt like the cramps were going to return, it never happened beyond getting those first warning twitches.

The race itself was 100% stellar! For those who have never been to Camp Ripley--which is probably a lot of folks now, since between this Minnegoat and the VWC, the map has only been used one other time (according to what I was told)--it's an incredible area. It's an intricately detailed glacial sand area with almost no stone, with relatively few trails, and, beyond some water features (marshes and ponds), it's nearly 100% contour reading, with lots and lots of little ups and downs. The map was essentially perfect--really, really well done--and the forest is highly runnable, with very good visibility, with the only thing limiting running speed being the usual amounts of deadfall you'd expect in a forest, and then one's ability to keep up with the navigation. Quite an orienteering treat, to say the least, and right up with any of the very finest areas I've ever been to in America.

I got off to a slow start and had some difficulty reading the map as my eyes/contacts were watering up some from the chill. Other folks were doing much better than I was for the first 3 controls, and on the third control I missed entirely, and was a set of features off to one side. But still close enough to be able to look over and spot the control on top of the knoll it was on, as well as the tail end of the lead group leaving the area.

My eyes started clearing up along the way to #4, and I was back up near everyone at the control itself, and somewhere along the way to the next 2 controls, I stopped being aware of other folks around me except for one other fellow who I didn't recognize, who was a little ahead of me. He looked like he was running well and handling the navigation fine. On the way to #7, and as were were getting close to the control, he went one way near a little knoll, and I went another, and found the control directly. I doglegged into and out of #8, and somewhere well outside of the control circle I saw this other guy on the way in, which turned out to be the last time I saw anyone.

I elected to skip #18, not because it looked like so great a skip but mostly because nothing else looked any better, and with my legs doing OK but not great, I figured I might as well do what I could to keep a gap between me and the pursuit. In retrospect, to me #1 looked to be a good skip (but who is going to see that and choose to skip that early? very tough to both see in time to act on it, and to decide on as well because then you're all in) and also #9; at least a few people liked #25 best and chose that.

Other than mucking my way out of #22 and coming off line, with a subsequent need to relocate (always nice to have some helpful marshes!), the navigation went pretty well the rest of the way.

What a terrific area! And the race was both so much fun as well as looking to be a great lead-in to the US Champs terrain next weekend. I also enjoyed meeting some of the other MNOCers I didn't know. It looks like they have a good sized, friendly, sociable core group and that they have a lot of fun together.

C • splits 1

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would ever be in any danger of doing a score O' under the subjugation of Western Mass rules, but by complete accident I found myself on an endless dirt road (truly one of those "road goes on forever" type situations) in the middle of nowhere, and the freakiest thing happened: I stumbled onto an O' event being put on by, of all people, the good folks of MNOC! Adding to my good luck, I got there just before they were going to close down registration. The final, unbelievable good luck topper was that they even had Mountain Dews waiting for anyone who could find at least one control (all Meet Directors everywhere, please take note and learn from this fine example!) Well, I may be somewhat limited in both ability, capability, and competence, but I was pretty sure I could find at least one control, and I did! So I came back and proudly claimed my prize.

Pride goeth before the fall, because as I was reaching for a can, I was told the prize would have to wait, and that first I would have to go back out and help pick up controls. What taskmasters! But you do what you gotta do. I made a mental note note for myself for any possible future Laramie Daze, and I am thinking that, going forward, control pick up is about to get a whole lot easier! ; )

True to form, my legs went into fine apres' travel cramp mode even as I was running to the start, before I had taken so much as a single step in the woods. By the end of the day, my legs were really sore, and really stiff. I've come to fully expect that by now though, and that's why I came out to the North Country early. Well, that and all the North Country cowgirls, of course.

Owen Baird kept on trying to tell everyone a story about how the area was thronged with wild horses. Naturally that perked my cowboy ears, and while I'm sure Owen knew what he was talking about, I have to say I never saw a horse the whole time, wild or otherwise.

87 minutes in Valentine NWR and didn't see a single other person or vehicle from start to finish. That's desolate. Lots of prairie, quite a few windmills (the old fashioned sort used to draw up water), lots and lots of sand, and even more sand, and not so much in the way of trees.

Driving up there on 83--which is not exactly a well traveled highway--I kept on getting passed by vehicle after vehicle form Colorado. I almost thought to myself "wtf", but I restrained myself, because I was sticking to gentlemanly thoughts today, such as cowgirls, post-race pizza, and tunes that my ear likes.

I finally figured it out.

Tomorrow is the opening day for pheasant in SD, and the state goes all out to promote it (they really must detest pheasants there) and it's apparently the one big thing that happens in the state each year. Just from what I saw on that one road, they must be hugely successful in their promotion.

I thought I might see a sandhill crane (since the place is pretty well made to order for them) or an eagle, but I sure didn't.

Beautiful day in the Laramie Valley--sunny, scattered white clouds blowing across the sky, and snow falling over (where else?) the Snowies. Ran out on the North Prairie. So fine!

Not looking like today is going to be a sun-rich type of day...

C • news 13

Windy? You betcha. It felt like a river of wind, moving west to east. You know what they say: "Wind makes the grass grow." Ah--fond memories of bayonet training! I was orienteering out at Twin Boulders, on a course that crossed over itself. There was still some snow on the ground around the crossing point, and, while on the second time through that area, I saw moose tracks plain as day that hadn't been there just a few minutes earlier, the first time I was through there.

Sounds like a moose incident to me!

All the wind blew out the fog over the prairie that had been hiding Cheyenne for the past 4 days.

Add 30 degrees to Saturday's temps, mix in lots of sun, and--poof!--most of the snow in the valley is already gone. Whew! I guess the next Ice Age isn't starting quite yet. At least not today.