Training Log Archive: dlevine

Giant's Rib Raid

A great, but somewhat frustrating race. On the one hand, the course and the weather were great - the former even seemed to feature tough navigation despite our feeling that, in the end, we were beaten by teams that were better runners than us. I guess that's the mark of good course design. (For the frustration, skip to the end.)

Looking at the maps, we were worried that we might be in a pack until the Advanced Nav Scramble at #14. Started off way back in the trail run, ultimately punching 36th out of 41. (11:33) Approaching the first flag, we started seeing other teams coming right back at us. We chose to continue on, cutting down to the pond, across the yellow and in the trail to the west off the control. This strategy of taking the safe, easier footing route, stayed with us most of the day; it must have been effective as we passed a bunch other teams here. Still, there was quite a pack and at #2 we saw our first flagrant instance of a team sending only one person in to a control while the others waited below; a couple of other teams clearly had only one person climb the last little bit. Since there was a real crowd at the control, we didn't think too much about this. (13:11)

Down the trail to #3, we decided to contour the hill. No problems, but the footing probably made the trail route better even with the extra climb. (6:37) Down the reentrant (footing concerns trumping extra climb) and through a gap in the fence to the road, and then up to the trail. Followed several teams down the trail, but only one seemed to take the long reentrant to the flag. We followed them in. (10:36)

Plan was to bounce off the trail to the east and take the slightly less steep approach in to the flag. The stream conglomeration got to us and we stopped just shy and started up the hill as other teams came up behind us. Surprisingly only one team passed us during the "death climb". At the top, there were a surprising number of teams attacking off the trail to the south. Again, we saw multiple instances of teams "veering off". At least one team behind us had two folks make a 90 degree turn shy of the flag (although we joked that we didn't like their route to #6 anyway!). At least one, and possibly two teams had participants wait on the trail above while a teammate punched in. (10:29, still can't believe that we beat our 3-4 time!) Exited southwest to trail junction and did some Ski-O type navigation through the trails at the top of the hill. Added a bit of distance to keep it flat and easy and we think this paid off. There were many fewer teams when we headed in from the trail junction 300 m SW of the control. At the trail bend, there were some confused groups, but we headed straight at it (seeing the pond) with one other team. (17:47)

After we punched, there were two other teams behind us and we all headed off to #7. We were left of the other three and eventually skirted the pond to the left of the line, heading down the dirt road. Just before we turned in, we saw one other, but we got in and out of sight before they saw us. Up to the flag (15:33) and out of sight before we saw anyone. We went out to the field and down to the house. Not wanting to intrude, we cut to "the road" and turned right. Started seeing other teams and realized that we were on the trail we took to #7. Took the blue-blazed trail to the real road and down to the Walk The Line. Let two teams pass us early on WTL and caught a third. All three were in front of us, when we cut in at the correct point. By the time we found the first flag, one of them was coming up behind us. (29:28)

The next flag was practically visible from the first so it was no problem (2:05), but we did get passed by one team and caught by another on the way to #10. We lost the ones who had caught us as they stopped on the trail. We were a mixed group of six as we punched #10 (10:37).

After a minor adventure with a fence we went down the road toward #11 behind one team and with one behind us. We cut in (trying to be out of sight when we did - as if it would matter) and too the trail to the bend to the field to the control. (15:49) We could still see the team in front of us as they when down the trail transecting the direct route, but we continued straight to the control and lost site of them. (6:10)

Wandered out to road and decided NOT to cut through Barb's property. The path in towards #13 featured a surprising (and depressing) number of folks doing the Dog Bones matrix; not even three hours in and this many folks have over an hour on us? Yikes. Saw D as we went to the junction and over the saddle to #13 (22:25). Down the left side of the reentrant due to deadfall and we ended up going just north of the property which was nice because we saw that the fenceline was very passable. Minor panic at the aid station as we could not produce our third unpunched dog bones sheet (it was stuck to one of the others). Late punch by Jim at the flag (7:25)

Decided to do the scramble CABDEF. No longer convinced that this was best, but after filling with Gatorade (THANKS FOR THE FLAVOR CHOICE) and snacks, we went off. Down the trail to C, we headed in and saw a solo runner approaching from the E. He punched just in front of us and we followed him out to see his teammates by the bridge at the east end of the pond. Ouch! (7:06) Took a poor choice (by a closed trail) towards A; things got better as we approached and we were now truly alone. (12:44)

Skirted field to B and heard, then saw a team punching as they went the other way around. (6:50) Original plan was to go right of the swamp to D, but we changed our minds. While I like this, passing so close to C pointed out why ABCDEF, using the road to get to A, was a better choice. Almost overshot D, but no real problems. (11:13)

Down the ridge to the bend in the trail which got us to the narrowest part of the swamp. We crossed with only one foot (out of six) getting wet and nearly missed E before making a 90 degree turn into it. (8:58) Out to trail to swamp and hill on the way into F. Saw a team with two folks searching low when the third cried "I got it" and the low folks headed off as we headed in (8:58 - again!)

Had an adventure trying to get out to the road between the watercourse and the fence. Definitely lost time getting to #15, a control we'd seen before! (10:29). Refueled and in to the Dog-Bones. I took FE while Jim and Mike did the other four. We went in north of the property and split up at the ride junction. I slogged my way to the hill SE of Barb and Rich's place and headed in. Curved down and around the hill, but couldn't get to the trail junction. Road ended in the field and I could see that, but the junction was supposed to be higher. I was starting down a deer path abutting the private property when I was caught from behind. That guy was no more certain than me. I skirted the field, moving in the right direction and then found the hill, then the trail beside it, then the herd path to the control. Was back on the trail headed out when the other guy came in. By the gate junction midway between E and F, I ran into another lost soul. He asked if I had been to F and I replied "yes". He said that he was looking for it and headed off to the NE despite the fact that I was clearly coming from the NW. Anyway, I headed down the trail to E which was clearly visible - then on to the rendezvous point (junction WSW of 13) where I waited about 3-4 minutes for my teammates - well done!

Out to Duffy Lane for the long run-walk to Albion. At first we were stunned to see three, then four, then five teams headed the other way. It took us surprisingly long to realize that they were finishing the scramble. Wow. We were really ahead of some folks! Down the road. Down the road. Down the road. And down the road some more. Caught another team at the cut-in and bobbled the control badly by taking a "right tack" down the hill instead of a "left tack". Found the clearing at the N end of the circle and lost time relocating. Was eventually part of a group of three teams punching in at about the same time. (1:02:02 for rest, dog-bones, and #16) SW to the "junction" in the field and more SW down that trail. We had originally intended to "Ski-O" it through the center, but noticed the unfortunately placed private property. Instead we decided for long, smooth, and simple and took the rail trail S to the road and the Bruce(?) trail in. Across the bridge, up the trail to the bend and up the heavily forested spur. (24:28)

Up the spur to the trail skirting the private property. Over the hill and down to the trail skirting the N side of the swamp. Past the cutoff to #19 and around to the little pond, up the reentrant and in. We weren't moving quickly, but we weren't erring either. (16:11) Straight at (OUCH) #19. Painful, but probably for the best. (5:52)

After an adventure with shoe-sucking mud that cost us over 30 seconds, we tried to take the trail over the hills to the N. Somehow we lost it and ended up on the hillside before just bailing out down to the ski trail. NE to junction then NW on the "highway", down the reentrant before veering off. Ahead at the junction, we saw a team with a member who was clearly hurting as they cut in to the trail. After asking if they needed help (they said "no" and finished about ten minutes behind us), we passed them at the fence and headed in. We noticed that only one of them came all the way to the flag, but figured that with injury and all, this made sense. At this moment another team came in and stopped shy of the first two folks. They saw the flag and, sure enough, only one guy came forward to punch. We were a bit surprised since it was obvious that all of us were punching and that there was only a "sprint to the finish" remaining. (17:11) Apparently, they didn't know about the rule or didn't care. In any event, we never caught the two behind us (who never really "passed us") as we headed out. The third guy caught us at the fence and they took off. We backtracked out and took the trail down and around the hill to approach the finish from the WNW. (6:56)

Before the race, all three of us had fitness concerns. Each of us had physical problems with the course, but were able to work through them. We didn't really lose much time anywhere: a marginal amount at #3, about two-three minutes leaving #7, a bit going in to #14, some by poor strategy vis-a-vis the order in the Scramble, a bit more trying to exit 14F (though it's unclear what we could have done about that), and some at #16. All in all, given our shape, we probably could not have broken 6 hours.

Great weather and great food at the finish. We all love the Fox River socks, but I was an idiot and left my pair on the picnic table so I will now "love them from afar". Overall, it was one of the best races the series has had. The "late" aid station was not a problem, particularly given the very good advance notification.


We were, however, VERY disappointed by the lack of attention paid to the "every team member must hand touch the flag rule". As I said a few years ago when I carped about this in my log, we're really here to run our own race, enjoy the challenge and the companionship - so perhaps griping is out of place. And yet, the organizers have gone to the trouble to make a rule so it would seem that teams should obey the rule. (I should note that I am not complaining about folks who walk within a meter of the control and don't touch it - or wave and miss as one of my teammates did once - but rather teams that clearly "split up" and send one runner after the flag. There is a difference between a 'technical violation' and a strategic attempt to save energy and thereby gain time.) We saw clear, strategic violations of the rule at #2, #3, #5, #14C, #14F, and #20. Given the spacing of teams, it is inconceivable that we saw them all. On the assumption that the teams we saw violate the rule once did so at other times, there is no doubt that this cost us at least one placing in the standings.

After I wrote about this a few years ago, the organizers made the rule more explicit and, for a while, emphasized it at the briefing. Things seemed to get better. This race, however, was by far the worst I've seen in this regard. Despite our "race our own race" mentality, it 'got to us' this time. Although I would have done so anyway, my teammates asked that I mention this in my log. I understand the expense, but perhaps the organizers need to consider multiple chips - European mountain marathon style. At the other end of the spectrum, perhaps the rule should be ditched since it is unenforceable. My daughter had an interesting, if a bit naive, solution. She proposed that each team member should be required to sign a statement at the end of the race stating that s/he had touched every flag. No enforcement, but... I suspect, however, that the best compromise is simply to have the organizers call out the rule more carefully and make a bigger deal out of it.

Regardless, none of this will keep me and my teammates from returning to the best series we know. But, this time around, this was what marred an otherwise flawless race. (Okay, lack of conditioning marred it, too, but even I can't find it in myself to blame others for that.)

Random @ 17

Included 4+ acceptable pull-ups

C • Nice! 2

(Discounted) Cutthroat with three novices. Other than creating a matching bone bruise on my left hand, this session had little to speak for it. Between the hand bruises and the lack of competition, I may have to rethink my handball participation.

Around the neighborhood attempting to discover the extent of the power outage. It was interesting to see how many people were out driving to get the same info. (Outage covered about a dozen houses and lasted an hour or so.)

With Theresa on the hills behind the house. Odd as it may seem, after 13 years here, this is the first time we went all the way "to the top" of the ridge behind the house. (Before we always stuck to the oil-lease paths.) So, what's at the top? A house on Morgan Hollow Road, as I had always guessed.

Nice to get out between work sessions. Hills and snow/mud footing was good training for the semi-melted ski trails we expect at the GRR next week.