Training Log Archive: expresso

NAOC Long. M35-44 finished 14 of 27. A better race than yesterday's middle but not good. I was pleased with my planning and route choices. I continue to struggle with the mental translation between the map and the ground. For instance, where I see a pile of the rocks the map shows a knoll. Although I knew this would be the mapping style and I practiced on the model map and in the middle race yesterday, I had still had great difficulty with the translation no matter how slowly I navigated. I am sure this will improve with time and practice.

C • Good job! 2

Just enough to get my legs warm.

NAOC Middle. M35 - 44 finished 22 of 27. I implemented the fundamental race strategy that I planned. I identified my routes in advance, forced myself to maintain map contact by picking-up the large features along my route. However, these features didn't look like how I pictured them because the preponderance of rocks (i.e. limestone pavement) had the map showing them as contours rather than what I was used to (boulders, cliffs, etc.). I was well alerted to this mapping style and practiced on the model map but I had a lot of difficulty making this mental translation.
My lost time was not due to stupid errors but rather spent on the map vs. ground visualization and a lot of relocating back to known positions when the map started to deviate too much from what I was seeing. Multiple times I relocated and took the same route past my previous "fuzzy" position and continued on to find the control as I had originally planned. Basically I was "second guessing" my navigation skills way too much because of my small comfort level with the mapping style. I just need a lot more more practice in rocky terrain.

Model event plus jog out, back, and out again to start area because of equipment issues.

Event: 2006 North American Championships (Golden Leaf Orienteering Fest)
 

NAOC Sprint. M35-44 finished 16 of 27. On the McMaster University Campus. A lot of fun but certainly my worst race of the weekend. This assessment is not because of the results but rather because I did not run the race that I planned. I was too tentative and looked at the map too much for such and easy course. Even after all this map study I missed a key stairway between large buildings and thus made a suboptimal route choice. Another poor route choice resulted in a few minutes of confusion in finding an easy control. I'll chalk this one up as a learning experience, albeit a fun one.

Jogging the model course on campus as well as miscellaneous other warmup running. Also jogged parts of the race course after the event as a warmdown and to see about the other route choices.

Carmel Lap; modified so I didn't run on any pavement. Changed tempo a lot and even did a few strides to loosen-up but not get fatigued.

Called "hill intervals" (level 4) but the speed stayed the same and only the incline changed.

easy ride to/from gym.

Machines (lighter cuz tired from yesterday's swim).