Training Log Archive: dlevineIn the 7 days ending Apr 11, 2009:
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Saturday Apr 11, 2009 #
Event: Salomon Giant's Rib Raid
Orienteering 7:09:09 [3] 25.0 km (17:10 / km)
Giant's Rib Raid
Roamin' Empire - with Glen Tryson and Ray Valeri
"If anything can go wrong it will" - but it won't necessarily hurt you...
After dealing with a two-hour wait to get INTO Canada on Friday night, we arrived at the event center in fine shape. Just before the race, Bash noticed that my hydration pack had a bad leak. A quick repair got us off on time with the pack.
#1: Huge pack; we went further right than most folks, but got there with no trouble. 7:13
#2: I remembered that the northern route was tough to follow last year while the southern route was a beautiful trail. We had debated what to do... After crossing the swamp, we drifted south (and accidentally clipped the north corner of the OOB). We continued too far SE on the road and our decision was made - Southern route. We executed this with no problems - even apparently dodging the guy who was apparently upset at folks in the new quarry property. We were totally alone from the moment we hit the first road. 39:41
#3: Wet handrail to the land bridge. I thought the water was too high for the bridge to be there and splashed through, but Ray (10 m to my right crossed on it and kept his feet dry. 4:07
#4: Left 3 to the SE, planning to take the trail most of the way to #4. Descending the knoll from the control, I kicked loose a substantial rock that tumbled after me. Glen commented that I got my foot out of the way just in time or we'd have been done less than an hour into the race. Caught another team on the trail but they were cutting in sooner than us. We went to the bend on the hill E of the control. As we cut in, we saw a team coming at us (on their way to #5) and they warned us to "Expect major shrinkage, boys!". The swamp was over waist deep, but only about four steps across. Yikes! 19:49
#5: SE to the fence bend (none of us wanted to repeat the swamp) and then trail around to #5. Saw three or four teams coming out of the area as we went in. 7:31
#6: Interesting to follow the directions, but not too hard. We almost descended into the crevasse sooner than we should, but Ray insisted that there would be a better descent a bit further up - and he was right. 8:37
#7: First of the "9 circles" controls. We were slowing down a bit a this point, but picked it up as we saw lots of other teams. We passed on at the first circle and saw at least two others leaving the third circle. We caught and passed them and punched first at the actual flag (7th circle). 20:01
#8: Here it all fell apart. I guess we don't read "Canadian" too well. All teams cut the corner, a bit at the eighth circle, believing that the flag would not be there. BUT, when we got to the ninth circle, there was also no flag. Much confusion reigned. Some teams went forward; others went back. After some discussion, we went back and carefully checked the 8th circle from both the 9th and 7th. By this time we were in a whole new pack. We returned to the ninth and decided to search again. After giving up, we decided that it was either missing or we would DNF, but complete the course. We proceeded to Photo #4 and had very mixed emotions upon finding the control. On the one hand it was nice to be back in it, but we lost over twenty minutes because we didn't read well. 46:59
#9: Very annoyed. After getting out of the crevasse, we try to make up some time, but Ray twists his ankle. He's able to shake if off some and we push it a little, but he begins to have trouble off-trail. We overshoot a bit and see another team leaving. Not a big mistake, but things are falling apart. 31:48
#10: Get up, get over. Nothing to it. 2:33
#11: Down through the crevasse that had a control two years ago, to travel along the bottom. Caught the team from #9 at the control. 5:12
#12: Down to the field and across the bottom of the dam to the aid station. 10:02.
Bummed at the lack of fruit, but the cheese was a nice touch. Refill Ray and Glen's water (I seemed to have enough), stock up on Smarties and Twizzlers and head off.
MATRIX:
On the way to A as a group before splitting. After I spotted A, Ray says, "Major emergency guys." Thinking that he just lost his ankle, I briefly thank the timing. We can easily get out to a car from here. Nope. He's lost the e-punch. He thinks it's back at the aid station. It was, but it cost us time. Back in, Glen peels off early to get B&C. Once I know that Ray sees A, I send him up with instructions to "punch anywhere in the word Salomon", then to follow me to D. I get D and he catches up with me shortly thereafter; this is bad - he should be moving much faster. He must be in real pain. I tell him to take the trail to the bridge while I go overland to E. I do so - though slowly as the area is grody. I take the low trail into the bridge area and meet Ray who was still on his way when I got there. In the end, we waited about four minutes for Glen who apparently bobbled B.
13: From the bridge, take the trail, the first right; jump to avoid the loop and catch another team at the next bridge. Pass them and head up the trail a bit before I realize that things are not kosher and that we are on the wrong trail - two trails clockwise! We must have missed the junction - which I suspect was under water - as we passed the other team. Once we realized where we were, we angled back to "our" trail and had no problems. Split is aid station to #13, including e-punch retrieval and matrix. 55:39
14: Leaving 13 to the north, we see two teams coming in from the trail. Odd route choice, but who are we to talk? We pick off features and go straight to 14, but Ray is obviously having trouble off-trail though he denies it. 12:23
15: N to trail, turn on northerly trail by house just as we see one of the teams coming in that way. N on trail around first swamp, L on trail at third stone wall to the end of that trail W of 15. Walk in past all swamps. No problems. 23:01
16: NW to stone wall and try to try to angle over to NWerly trail. It takes us longer than we think, but we make it. See that other team coming SE from the trail that runs E-W just S of #19. Cut the corner to the road across the swamp, turn N and cross the narrow part of the swamp just before the control. 25:35
17: We had found a bike trail E of the swamp and took it to the main trail by the stone walls and then took trails to just south of the control and then went in. It is now very clear that Ray can't walk overland, but he won't give up. 28:44
18: Different route back than coming in to #1... Trail N of swamp and then cut down to path. Here I tripped over a hidden fence and cut my knee pretty badly. (Checked when I got home; tetanus shot up to date.) We walk in. 13:26
19: Ray says that we WILL go on, especially if we can be on trails. I copy the major trails onto the master map and we proceed without incident to A, D, C, and B. Leaving B, we are okay, but we get confused for a bit at the interface between the maps. Fortunately, we find the corner after a minute or so and head right in. Alas, in the last 50m, Ray REALLY does his ankle. 38:52
To finish: Ray is now using a stick as a cane as we head N trying to find the corner trail in the unmapped zone. We do so, eventually spotting D and then heading in the way we came without incident. 27:56
Overall, the longest I've ever been out, caused by two miscues (language of instructions at #8 and e-punch gaffe) and a bad injury. All things considered, I am very happy with the results though wondering how different things might have been if we had followed the crowd out of the ninth circle. Great course - though a bit long.
One minor gripe about the last leg. This was GREAT (and a great use of the area), but it would have been much better if each team member had a map. I'm guessing that the one-map was to "change the team dynamic", but I think that was unnecessary. Since you had to "draw your own" anyway, the dynamic would have been very different anyway. And that late in the game, the degree of brain-cramping would be sufficient to change things anyway.
Roamin' Empire - with Glen Tryson and Ray Valeri
"If anything can go wrong it will" - but it won't necessarily hurt you...
After dealing with a two-hour wait to get INTO Canada on Friday night, we arrived at the event center in fine shape. Just before the race, Bash noticed that my hydration pack had a bad leak. A quick repair got us off on time with the pack.
#1: Huge pack; we went further right than most folks, but got there with no trouble. 7:13
#2: I remembered that the northern route was tough to follow last year while the southern route was a beautiful trail. We had debated what to do... After crossing the swamp, we drifted south (and accidentally clipped the north corner of the OOB). We continued too far SE on the road and our decision was made - Southern route. We executed this with no problems - even apparently dodging the guy who was apparently upset at folks in the new quarry property. We were totally alone from the moment we hit the first road. 39:41
#3: Wet handrail to the land bridge. I thought the water was too high for the bridge to be there and splashed through, but Ray (10 m to my right crossed on it and kept his feet dry. 4:07
#4: Left 3 to the SE, planning to take the trail most of the way to #4. Descending the knoll from the control, I kicked loose a substantial rock that tumbled after me. Glen commented that I got my foot out of the way just in time or we'd have been done less than an hour into the race. Caught another team on the trail but they were cutting in sooner than us. We went to the bend on the hill E of the control. As we cut in, we saw a team coming at us (on their way to #5) and they warned us to "Expect major shrinkage, boys!". The swamp was over waist deep, but only about four steps across. Yikes! 19:49
#5: SE to the fence bend (none of us wanted to repeat the swamp) and then trail around to #5. Saw three or four teams coming out of the area as we went in. 7:31
#6: Interesting to follow the directions, but not too hard. We almost descended into the crevasse sooner than we should, but Ray insisted that there would be a better descent a bit further up - and he was right. 8:37
#7: First of the "9 circles" controls. We were slowing down a bit a this point, but picked it up as we saw lots of other teams. We passed on at the first circle and saw at least two others leaving the third circle. We caught and passed them and punched first at the actual flag (7th circle). 20:01
#8: Here it all fell apart. I guess we don't read "Canadian" too well. All teams cut the corner, a bit at the eighth circle, believing that the flag would not be there. BUT, when we got to the ninth circle, there was also no flag. Much confusion reigned. Some teams went forward; others went back. After some discussion, we went back and carefully checked the 8th circle from both the 9th and 7th. By this time we were in a whole new pack. We returned to the ninth and decided to search again. After giving up, we decided that it was either missing or we would DNF, but complete the course. We proceeded to Photo #4 and had very mixed emotions upon finding the control. On the one hand it was nice to be back in it, but we lost over twenty minutes because we didn't read well. 46:59
#9: Very annoyed. After getting out of the crevasse, we try to make up some time, but Ray twists his ankle. He's able to shake if off some and we push it a little, but he begins to have trouble off-trail. We overshoot a bit and see another team leaving. Not a big mistake, but things are falling apart. 31:48
#10: Get up, get over. Nothing to it. 2:33
#11: Down through the crevasse that had a control two years ago, to travel along the bottom. Caught the team from #9 at the control. 5:12
#12: Down to the field and across the bottom of the dam to the aid station. 10:02.
Bummed at the lack of fruit, but the cheese was a nice touch. Refill Ray and Glen's water (I seemed to have enough), stock up on Smarties and Twizzlers and head off.
MATRIX:
On the way to A as a group before splitting. After I spotted A, Ray says, "Major emergency guys." Thinking that he just lost his ankle, I briefly thank the timing. We can easily get out to a car from here. Nope. He's lost the e-punch. He thinks it's back at the aid station. It was, but it cost us time. Back in, Glen peels off early to get B&C. Once I know that Ray sees A, I send him up with instructions to "punch anywhere in the word Salomon", then to follow me to D. I get D and he catches up with me shortly thereafter; this is bad - he should be moving much faster. He must be in real pain. I tell him to take the trail to the bridge while I go overland to E. I do so - though slowly as the area is grody. I take the low trail into the bridge area and meet Ray who was still on his way when I got there. In the end, we waited about four minutes for Glen who apparently bobbled B.
13: From the bridge, take the trail, the first right; jump to avoid the loop and catch another team at the next bridge. Pass them and head up the trail a bit before I realize that things are not kosher and that we are on the wrong trail - two trails clockwise! We must have missed the junction - which I suspect was under water - as we passed the other team. Once we realized where we were, we angled back to "our" trail and had no problems. Split is aid station to #13, including e-punch retrieval and matrix. 55:39
14: Leaving 13 to the north, we see two teams coming in from the trail. Odd route choice, but who are we to talk? We pick off features and go straight to 14, but Ray is obviously having trouble off-trail though he denies it. 12:23
15: N to trail, turn on northerly trail by house just as we see one of the teams coming in that way. N on trail around first swamp, L on trail at third stone wall to the end of that trail W of 15. Walk in past all swamps. No problems. 23:01
16: NW to stone wall and try to try to angle over to NWerly trail. It takes us longer than we think, but we make it. See that other team coming SE from the trail that runs E-W just S of #19. Cut the corner to the road across the swamp, turn N and cross the narrow part of the swamp just before the control. 25:35
17: We had found a bike trail E of the swamp and took it to the main trail by the stone walls and then took trails to just south of the control and then went in. It is now very clear that Ray can't walk overland, but he won't give up. 28:44
18: Different route back than coming in to #1... Trail N of swamp and then cut down to path. Here I tripped over a hidden fence and cut my knee pretty badly. (Checked when I got home; tetanus shot up to date.) We walk in. 13:26
19: Ray says that we WILL go on, especially if we can be on trails. I copy the major trails onto the master map and we proceed without incident to A, D, C, and B. Leaving B, we are okay, but we get confused for a bit at the interface between the maps. Fortunately, we find the corner after a minute or so and head right in. Alas, in the last 50m, Ray REALLY does his ankle. 38:52
To finish: Ray is now using a stick as a cane as we head N trying to find the corner trail in the unmapped zone. We do so, eventually spotting D and then heading in the way we came without incident. 27:56
Overall, the longest I've ever been out, caused by two miscues (language of instructions at #8 and e-punch gaffe) and a bad injury. All things considered, I am very happy with the results though wondering how different things might have been if we had followed the crowd out of the ninth circle. Great course - though a bit long.
One minor gripe about the last leg. This was GREAT (and a great use of the area), but it would have been much better if each team member had a map. I'm guessing that the one-map was to "change the team dynamic", but I think that was unnecessary. Since you had to "draw your own" anyway, the dynamic would have been very different anyway. And that late in the game, the degree of brain-cramping would be sufficient to change things anyway.
C • Cheese 10
Friday Apr 10, 2009 #
Note
Not sure what Mike's been up to, but I've noticed a lot of these benches around town since he became coach of the US team... (though apparently he's been working on sponsorship)
Field Checking 25:00 [1]
Area vet of sprint controls at Emery park for the A-meet. Due to a late start and future rendezvous, I ended up visiting all but six. What a pain, but I'll check those while doing other area vets in the next couple of weeks.
Thursday Apr 9, 2009 #
Watercize 37:00 [1]
Instructor was phenomenally un-psyched and there were problems with the sound system and some people's lack of tolerance for that...
Wednesday Apr 8, 2009 #
Cardio (Treadmill) 5:00 [3]
Warmup before racquetball
Racquetball 35:00 [2]
Payne
15-8 (trailed 0-4)
15-9 (trailed 0-7)
11-3 (trailed 0-2)
My serve was really on and his defensive shots were really off; a bad combo for the score. When neither effect occurred we had some great rallies.
15-8 (trailed 0-4)
15-9 (trailed 0-7)
11-3 (trailed 0-2)
My serve was really on and his defensive shots were really off; a bad combo for the score. When neither effect occurred we had some great rallies.
Tuesday Apr 7, 2009 #
Watercize 47:00 [1]
Stopped for an accident on the way to the Y and lost my time for laps. Good deed that contributes to tapering for Giant's Rib Raid...
Monday Apr 6, 2009 #
Cardio (Bike) 25:00 [3]
Random @ 17
Weights 22:00 [3]
Sunday Apr 5, 2009 #
Orienteering 1:08:31 [3] 6.9 km (9:56 / km) +165m 8:52 / km
Test Run of Red-Y course at Sprague Brook park. Time includes one small mistake and about two minutes looking for lost streamers, mostly at one location. This course WILL be longer for the A meet....
Excellent training for the Giant's Rib Raid, however. It's rare that you get to run through both dry land and knee-deep snow. It's also rare that you can practice the identification technique of "Is that snow, ice, or snow covering very cold water?" With six inches scheduled for the park over the next thirty-six hours, perhaps I should try to squeeze in a Sunday run of one of the other courses...
Excellent training for the Giant's Rib Raid, however. It's rare that you get to run through both dry land and knee-deep snow. It's also rare that you can practice the identification technique of "Is that snow, ice, or snow covering very cold water?" With six inches scheduled for the park over the next thirty-six hours, perhaps I should try to squeeze in a Sunday run of one of the other courses...