Training Log Archive: dlevine

West Point Classic

For the third time in two days, I blew #1. Biggest gaffe yet. Immediately to road, then up to intersection with dirt road just SE of control. Went in on a bad bearing, got confused, found Brown control on fence by small swamp. Never looked at compass (BAD) and relocated improperly. Eventually, my brain caught up with me and I worked my way to the control. 6:44.

While getting ready, I had seen several green runners come through the parking lot. I just couldn't see my way to doing that and I went NW and then hugged the fence. At first that was good, but then it got gnarly. I climbed early, using the two cliff systems that were NE of the control as handrails. From the second I was able to contour/pace count in perfectly. 10:41.

Climbed too much and was just below the cliff system N of the circle when I saw the reentrant and saddle. Down two contours into the control. 5:14.

Back up the same track I came down (How I hate that!) into the saddle. Got drawn to the knoll just SW of the circle, but realized my mistake and headed in. 2:57.

More or less straight to 5 following what seemed like a deer path when I could. Saw saddle, then control. 3:01

Down hill through rocky ground to the edge of the swamp. Counterclockwise around hill mass, then backwards along the 8-9 line and down the road to the gate. While drinking, I was caught by two women. Down the spur, I saw the cliff mass NW of the knoll and turned in. 8:47.

Straight to it with one of the women, using clearing to get altitude correct. 2:07.

Up hill due S, then turn at the fence and run to the gate. Skip water and head straight in, searching for reentrant to right as I approached. 4:23.

Veered a bit left and hit fenced in cleared area, cut south back to line and once I was between the hills, I saw it right in front of me, albeit, a good bit higher than I wanted to climb. 6:19.

Slightly N of E towards the radio tower. Through end of stony reentrant and up to W corner of tower. Around tower and down road until I saw the access road cutting in from the left. Then gingerly down the grody stuff, passing Robert Buracynski on the way. Hit reentrant and followed it down to flag. 8:53.

Up hill so as to pass N of compound, having bad memories of having tried the green S of that compound during last year's middle. Stopped for quite a while for water. Bearing in to control as a small group punched simultaneously. 6:38.

Down hill and around through rocks. Thought I saw the double-rock, but when I got there, NO control. Headed on, but saw what looked like a second spur, so I turned back. Passed by Susie DeWitt, Sharon Crawford and some other woman as I retraced. Eventually decided that retracing had been a mistake and headed forward, coming to the control the same time as Robert. 8:38.

Out of control to right side of reentrant. Planned to drop into reentrant with control very near the circle, but I was on the wrong spur. Headed down and hit the green just above the trail and road. Fortunately, I was able to figure things out quickly and headed right to control. Again, punched just ahead of Robert. 4:36.

Down to trail any way I can get there and then run as much as possible to the go control, telling myself to look at/check off nothing on the way. 2:48.

Run in, but get caught for a second at the road junction. Pull out map, determine that the right fork is correct, head up and see the control about one step later. Listen to folks telling me to run harder. :52.

A pretty sloppy race, but it was nice that all of my mistakes were less than five minutes. So I probably got out of a West Point weekend with a total of fewer than fifteen minutes of errors - a new low.

Green X Long Distance - Splits

Event: USMA West Point A-Meet 2010
 

Normally, I don't count the walk to the start, but this one was physical and my shirt was sweated through by the time I completed it.

West Point Middle

Bad start, down the trail, but high (and a bit short) to #1. Relocated off the big hill, still having issues when I decided to check the road and the swamp. On my way, I saw the cliff as I passed it and saw Bernie Breton punching as I went in. 4:51.

Following Bernie as he went right down the line, past the cliffs and in. 5:01.

A group was heading up the hill, mostly going left (N). I went over the 1-contour hill and approached the knoll from the south. After I spotted it, but before I punched, I saw Bernie coming in from the left. 2:46.

Following Bernie and a bunch of others along the cliff line. After we turned in, there was a bit of a train showing where the control was. This was lucky as this was probably the toughest control of the day. 4:09.

Found the rockiest exit from the circle at #4; following this finding a small, but wet swamp on the way. From the flat above the control, I was able to see #5, but I found the rockiest way down and lost ground to others descending closer to the control. No navigational issues, but I thought I lost a minute or so and splits analysis confirms. 4:36.

Surprisingly, the crowd was down to three for most of the trip to #6. I was beginning to feel winded/heated and tried to focus extra hard. One veered off after the stream and the second missed it, but I was slowest and though I went right to it, punched second. 4:34.

Group headed in the general direction of #7, but seemed to be drifting left. I was pulled a bit, but saw it a bit ahead and to my right. Punched alone and never saw any of those folks again. 1:40.

Bail to road but drifted N more than I should have. Angle in to the stream/stone wall junction, past another control (on hill by stream) and contour in. 5:16.

Slight uphill trying to find broken down stone wall for path through green. Came in just slightly high and took it through the thick stuff. Attacked what I thought was the site, but turned out to be unmapped rock a bit below and I had to make a steep climb at the end. 4:32.

Bail downhill to road. Alas, the road was a path with a stone wall and I was confused. Finally realized that I was 30m N of the bend in the road. Went right in, getting confused by the extra stone wall until I realized that it was the curved stone wall on the map. 4:06.

More or less straight to it with an assist from a walker heading on the right line. 1:50.

In. :41.

All in all, an acceptable run.

West Point sprint

Blew first control for the second time today. Ran right to the obstacle and didn't see the flag on the NW corner. Went to next obstacle even though I thought it was wrong. Again, no flag and I turned back in disgust to see that the flag was on the other side of the obstacle. Tough call on whether that side is more N or NW, but I should have checked "around the corner" My fault. 1:04.

Past the boulder by the pipe and right to it. 1:27.

Heat is already getting to me as I climb towards #3. Did stop at the intermediate root stock even though I didn't believe it. (Mostly, I couldn't bear the thought of returning if I was wrong.) 2:31.

Down trail, L around first barracks, then NE between last two barracks. 1:04.

Through first and second barracks and in. :40.

Over one barracks down sidewalk, left turn and in. :48.

Down to road; then road too far before going left around building at edge of parking lot, through grove of trees and in. 1:38.

Up road to #10. (I'm supposed to be heading to #8 for those who lost count.) Realized my error as I started to check the control description as I eased in. CRAP! Back down driveway to beach. Across beach ,but don't see the flag on the hill I expect; instead it's on an awfully small knoll at the end of the peninsula. Alas, it has the wrong code! Turn around and see my flag in the shadow of the little hill. ARRGH! 2:15.

Across parking lot, up hill between the whole set of barracks, turning right to get the flag. Thought about going under, but the buildings were marked as uncrossable. 1:24.

Straight to it. As I looked down from above, trying to figure out where to place my feet, Jeff Saeger says, "You're almost there". Not sure if he meant to this one or to the end. :48.

Through parking lot, right to it, cursing my mistake at #7 once more. 1:19.

Under barracks on straight line to it. :57.

Edge right slightly to go under barracks again and right to it. :54.

Up on sidewalk around one more barracks than necessary, but right in. :53.

Down hill and through tennis courts to flag. 1:13.

Pushed it in, but was dying of heat. :23.

Mild heat exhaustion and moderate depression (about two goofs) when I was done. Mostly, though, I just wanted to be cool.

Green X Middle Distance - Splits

Or/Br/Gr Sprint - Splits

Pool was warm. Too bad, as I felt decent for the first time in a while.

Cutthroat with Jerry and Jerry's (novice) son, Steve. Not much of a workout, but there were a few good rallies. Won all four games easily,.

Once again, the second set was the slowest as I had trouble opening my lungs. I need to work out a better warm up (using "none" for the swims) before this weekend.