Training Log Archive: cedarcreek

Event: MVOC / ORRRC Adventure Night-O IV
 

Annual MVOC/Ohio River Road Runners Club (ORRRC) Trail Adventure Race.

The flyer says "No bushwhacking", but apparently it's more of a guideline than a rule.

Marek and I went the same way at the start, meaning we got two close ones and then when bushwhacking down a freshly-scrubbed but firm and easily runnable stream bed. We started right at the published sunset time, and it was dusky for the first 30 minutes or so. I had my light on in the woods right from the start, and I was surprised to see my breath in the beam. It was hot and muggy. I didn't even know it would do that in weather this warm.

Marek was out-of-sight, and I didn't see anyone else for maybe 45 minutes. I did see a couple headlamps.

Larry, the course setter, warned that taking an obvious shortcut might be steep and muddy and nettle-y, so I aimed maybe 100m up the stream so it wasn't so steep. It was still muddy and the nettles were nasty. I jumped off a little bank and got my first real surprise of the night---Unlike every other stream that was very firm and sandy, this was soft and mucky. Like 12 inches of soft and mucky. Luckily, it was limited to a few feet near the bank. Unluckily, I fell forward, nearly faceplanting, and got pretty muddy. I washed off a little in the 3 inches of water running in the stream, and got on with it.

Lots of nettles. I climbed up, which usually gets you out of the nettles, but not here. They were actually taller and stronger and more able to sting. The lowland nettles were actually stunted and atrophied from the high water. I chose to stay high though, because although I am a nettle-wimp, I wanted to get out of the nettles and mud as soon as possible.

I saw several people on a lowland trail, and my big light seemed to get them to stand aside, which I thought was funny. The mud was slippery, but not too deep, so my feet were slipping backwards. Each step made a crackling sound like bacon in a frying pan. The next control was a distinctive tree that I really want to see in the daylight. Wow. Huge.

Next was a long off-trail section through the strong nettles. (Shudder.)

Then a climb, and check of the clue sheet (sneaky bastiges).

I was watching the time, and my adventures in the mud took a lot longer than I expected. It was a major mistake risking it with all the recent rain. There was an easy trail route that added climb but would've been so much better in every other respect.

As I got close to the parking lots, I made another big mistake in planning. I was still hoping to get all the controls, and I should have been more realistic. I got 5, 4, 3, and I should have done 3, 4, 5, and just given up on 1 and 2. But, I was stupid, and did 543, and then basically ran by 4 and 5 on the way to the road.

Time was slipping away, and I was struggling to run. I decided to get the last 4 in a little square on the way in rather than just the two obvious ones. This meant running through some rough open, and it was a real struggle. One thing that really surprised me was the way my brain wanted me to go the wrong way, and how I had to force myself to follow the compass. I could barely make out a tree across the field (the clue), but it wasn't exactly on the compass line.

Leaving the tree, I again wanted to veer off to the right, and I had to correct twice in 75m to get to the trail.

Time was still left, but I knew I wouldn't make it. I ran it in, because I was losing one point a minute. Another cool detail---my lower two fingers on each hand were getting numb (from the lack of blood, I guess). This used to happen to me on the third lap of a mile race in high school. I was pushing pretty hard. I got 24 and ran it in.

I ended up with 20 of 24, minus 3 for 3 minutes over, leaving me with 17. First in Solo Master. w00t!

I've been complaining about my fitness a lot lately, and I did walk a fair amount, but I was really amazed at my finish. The last 15 minutes especially were pushing really hard, and I felt good.

Event: ICO: Marrott & Holiday Parks
 

Event: OCIN McFarlan Woods
 

MVOC Twin Valley Trail Opening --- Manning an information tent (Maybe...)

Green course at McFarlan Woods, set by Greg Sack.

It was a little hot, and again, it took everything out of me. I did move pretty well at first, but leaving the second control, I realized my compass wasn't working. I stopped for about 90 seconds and carefully banged it against a tree in an attempt to reseat the needle on its pivot. It wasn't working, and I thought, "Let's do one more hit and then leave." I did the last hit, and the needle started moving. Unfortunately, it wouldn't turn a full circle, so I didn't have a compass for the rest of the course.

I was a little more conservative, but I still noticed that I drifted. I got well left on 5, hitting the new cleared area. Going to 6 I stopped to clear the trail, and hesitated a little leaving the trail. I ended up left of the control, and it took me 20 sec or so to figure it out. I basically spiked 7 with a little help from dersu---I was on the exact line and I saw him leaving the control coming right for me (He was on Red, and it was partly a backwards Green).

I got lucky on 8, seeing it where I wasn't expecting it. I was really conservative on 9 because I've missed stuff in that area before *with a compass*. Luckily I saw a part of the park I had never visited.

Leaving 9 I basically went N to the trail, but I hesitated in the lo-vis green, more from discomfort having no compass than thinking I was in trouble.

I took the road route (wide left) on 11. I saw it as I drew the map, and I thought it would only be better for a really fast runner. Having done it, I think the obvious route was better, but I am glad I saw that part of the park.

I was again uncomfortable (and slow) going to 12, but the attackpoints were obvious and even easy.

I had the fastest Green time, and the slowest final split. I couldn't have gone faster. I was pushing a little too hard.

I really need to train more. I'm improving, but I'm just not training enough.