Training Log Archive: PrueDIn the 7 days ending Jul 24, 2016:
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Sunday Jul 24, 2016 #
Orienteering 5:30:00 [3]
World Rogaining Championships
I woke at 4.00 and got ready to go. I woke Ian at 5.00 but he wasn't ready until 6.30, when dawn was nearly upon us. I changed my shoes to see if that made things better - which it did for a while. We headed out along the centre of the map. Anyway, there were a lot more people in this area and there were well worn tracks to most of the controls. My shoes were never really comfortable (I had blisters) and Ian was dragging the chain a little, so the full-on effort was not ever going to happen.Due to our latish start, we ended up missing 3 controls we should reasonably expected to get. In the results, we were well down the results list due to returning to the HH and only being out for half the time.
Overall, it was a fantastic event and I am glad I went. Unfortunately we didn't get to go to the rocks near WP5 in the daylight. It had been my ambition to head here as I remember some very spectacular rocks, with holes in them, from the last rogaine and wanted to get a photo - but it was not on our planned route and the photo didn't happen. It was a very special area. Regardless, the scenery was absolutely spectacular and well worth the visit. The spinifex was bad (thigh high in some places) and much worse than when we were here last. Another thing I noticed was the lack of small wildlife and birds. Given the amount of spinifex, there should have been a lot more wildlife (there was more in the Simpson desert). We saw a couple of groups of horses though.
In conclusion, the event was great, the food good (I got my money's worth) and I caught up with lots of friends from when I was a regular rogainer some years back and some current friends. I'm looking forward now to the next rogaine. However, I will have to toughen up my feet and fix the shoe problem.
I woke at 4.00 and got ready to go. I woke Ian at 5.00 but he wasn't ready until 6.30, when dawn was nearly upon us. I changed my shoes to see if that made things better - which it did for a while. We headed out along the centre of the map. Anyway, there were a lot more people in this area and there were well worn tracks to most of the controls. My shoes were never really comfortable (I had blisters) and Ian was dragging the chain a little, so the full-on effort was not ever going to happen.Due to our latish start, we ended up missing 3 controls we should reasonably expected to get. In the results, we were well down the results list due to returning to the HH and only being out for half the time.
Overall, it was a fantastic event and I am glad I went. Unfortunately we didn't get to go to the rocks near WP5 in the daylight. It had been my ambition to head here as I remember some very spectacular rocks, with holes in them, from the last rogaine and wanted to get a photo - but it was not on our planned route and the photo didn't happen. It was a very special area. Regardless, the scenery was absolutely spectacular and well worth the visit. The spinifex was bad (thigh high in some places) and much worse than when we were here last. Another thing I noticed was the lack of small wildlife and birds. Given the amount of spinifex, there should have been a lot more wildlife (there was more in the Simpson desert). We saw a couple of groups of horses though.
In conclusion, the event was great, the food good (I got my money's worth) and I caught up with lots of friends from when I was a regular rogainer some years back and some current friends. I'm looking forward now to the next rogaine. However, I will have to toughen up my feet and fix the shoe problem.
Saturday Jul 23, 2016 #
Orienteering 8:00:00 [3]
After arriving by car in Alice Springs and spending a few days recovering, I headed down to Ross River. Ian and I did the last rogaine that was held here (apparently 9 years ago, although it didn't seem that long). I had thought it one of the best things I had ever done, so was looking forward to this event. In the previous event we had spent a lot of time in the mountains down south and so decided to go elsewhere this time, with a loop to the west and north west, and moving across the top of the map. We had also planned to stay out all night.
Once we started walking, I knew my feet were not going to last the 24 hours. They felt a bit tender from the start and I could feel a lot of the rocks through my shoes. Ian wasn't highly motivated either. Anyway, we collected 30, then 70 (which was a steep climb and then descent) and then moved across to the NE. I found my left leg lacking a bit of power on the uphills, possible a symptom of a back issue. I was also very careful, as the rocks were very sharp, and I didn't want to trip. We completed this circuit and made for the water point, where the SA attendant there announced he knew me, despite the disguise of hat and sun glasses and not looking at the name, from when he worked in Benalla 20 YEARS AGO! It's a small world!
We then went up north and reached 71 on dusk. My feet were quite sore already and Ian was flagging behind. We then went up a wrong gully, as the entrance to the gully we were seeking was hard to spot. We intended to follow the marked track east, but it was hard to follow and we would have been better following the creek. We went down to the next water stop. There was a mass of silver foil on the ground - yes, a row of people wrapped up in their space blankets snoozing - something we had not considered. Morale flagging, we decided to walk back to the HH and have a sleep. The return walk took an hour and was a wasted effort. In retrospect, we probably should have kept going.
Once we started walking, I knew my feet were not going to last the 24 hours. They felt a bit tender from the start and I could feel a lot of the rocks through my shoes. Ian wasn't highly motivated either. Anyway, we collected 30, then 70 (which was a steep climb and then descent) and then moved across to the NE. I found my left leg lacking a bit of power on the uphills, possible a symptom of a back issue. I was also very careful, as the rocks were very sharp, and I didn't want to trip. We completed this circuit and made for the water point, where the SA attendant there announced he knew me, despite the disguise of hat and sun glasses and not looking at the name, from when he worked in Benalla 20 YEARS AGO! It's a small world!
We then went up north and reached 71 on dusk. My feet were quite sore already and Ian was flagging behind. We then went up a wrong gully, as the entrance to the gully we were seeking was hard to spot. We intended to follow the marked track east, but it was hard to follow and we would have been better following the creek. We went down to the next water stop. There was a mass of silver foil on the ground - yes, a row of people wrapped up in their space blankets snoozing - something we had not considered. Morale flagging, we decided to walk back to the HH and have a sleep. The return walk took an hour and was a wasted effort. In retrospect, we probably should have kept going.
Tuesday Jul 19, 2016 #
Note
Not much exercise happening this week. Today l got up early, with intention of beating the snail trail and the army onto the road. But no luck. All 50 army trucks headed off at 5:30 for their 80kph trip to Darwin, so that meant lots of passing again. The snails were a little slower and those that were ahead of me turned off to Uluru. I:m still loving every second of the scenery - so many places to explore - so good for the soul. 700 kms later and now in Alice Springs at the most expensive caravan park ever - $42 for in unpowered site - though it is comfortable.
Monday Jul 18, 2016 #
Note
What a fabulous drive from Port Augusta to Coober Pedy. Brilliant scenery. I'm so glad l drove. Coober Pedy is at the opposite end of enjoyment. Horrible place, especially to camp!