Training Log Archive: BillD

Event: NEOC: Northfield Mountain Little Troll Cup
 

Pretty day in Northfield. I was the only one from Connecticut that showed up for NEOC's am/pm chase. The midday break brought a heavy rain downpour but it cleared up, save for some light sprinkles, before the afternoon chase. The break was a nice opportunity to chat with Gail, Janet and Glen.

The NEOC website foretold a 1:15000 map, so I was mentally prepared to use an unaccustomed scale and calibrated for pace counts accordingly. The morning event seemed to present targets a lot sooner than I expected and I overshot several controls with my pace count, most notably No. 5. Figuring that I often undershoot distances, e.g. last week's Ansonia Green No. 4, I kept going south before returning somewhat above the reciprocal to relocate at the loop trail where I had started the attack. I also got confused at the finish, not expecting the views the fields presented me. Upon downloading, someone said "you realized that the map was 1:10000, didn't you?" No one told me; the sign on the check in desk was small; and it was upside down, facing away front the registrants. Geeze. The map, which did not declare the scale, had some N-S lines between the main meridians that had confirmed my belief that i was holding a 1:15000. Not fair. But i did OK save for 5.

The afternoon course was also 1:10000 but i was aware now. Like the morning map, many legs required careful compass work and pace counting. I pretty much nailed everything in the afternoon. I just can't climb or run as fast as the varsity types crowding the roster. But i was a lot closer in time to them than I have been before. Perhaps only 17% slower than my usual, say, 50-70%.

So, all in all, a good day.

My iPhone app "GPS Tracker" seems much less accurate than my (now broken) FR. I'm posting my routes but some of the zigs and zags simply did not happen. Maybe I will try breaking open the FR and replacing the battery.

My routes: morning . afternoon.

Qualifier: Green - Splits

Final: Green - Splits

Event: WCOC Ansonia Nature Center
 

Ansonia Green. Beautiful day. Forest fully leafed. Water levels not as high as I would have expected.

Three controls represent the worse piece of navigation in a couple of years: 4, 6 and 9. And 5 was no prize. Fair amount of jogging and, because climbs were negligible, I finished without exhaustion. Just disgust.

Control 3 was a highlight, judging from splits of others: I managed second on a long leg going north. Then, to avoid climbing the hill to the west, I went around north to 4 but failed to curve south anywhere near far enough. Flailed for an eternity not knowing how to relocate. Tried taking a bearing to where I thought the hill summit was - not even close. Came upon wrong control, figured it was north of where I should be. Charlie came to it on my second visit, I looked at his map (OK, take a DQ for that), followed him south toward my 4 but stayed high left while Charlie went low right. Arrived same time as he.

On way to 5, passed well mapped stone wall, figured I was dead on up reentrant but apparently turned south way too early. Met Mike and we both roamed the area. I spotted some hot shot running from the south and decided to follow him n.e. Took me right into 5.

On to 6, I drifted way too eastward, misidentified a ridge, and came upon the buildings on east park boundary. Big backtracking.

Coming down what I thought was s.e. from 8 I came upon trail I thought was the east-west one, so turned left. Big mistake. It was the trail back to finish and I should have turned right.

In summary, I wasn't confident about my drifting compass. I need to get one I can believe then apply more care on shooting azimuths.

Other lesson: maybe climbing to unambiguous summits (if not too high) instead of going around would be better choice when heading into area lacking diverse and distinguishable features (such as where 4 was).

Grateful to have Charlie riding shotgun for the drive today. Always great conversation.

My route.

Green - Splits

First outing of the year. Great shots on the range but not so good once on the course. Walking 9 holes at Simsbury. Not bad, usual inconsistencies. Great weather and good to get together with the gang. Groin not too bad, tightness in r lower back and glute

Event: WCOC Macedonia Brook Meet
 

Walked and jogged the brown at Macedonia Brook SP. Great weather, not much leafing in the woods yet. Fairly open woods and good visibility.

Was worried that the groin strain that reappeared last week would severely limit me. Started out walking along the road, got up into the first trail, and tried slow jog on the level/down slope. Felt OK if I kept steps short. Rugged uphill for first part of course, many wagon stepped segments on the climbs. Once atop, could move along pretty well and jogged where open or on level/downhill trail. No damage through to the finish, jogging the last 2 km.

Map.

Most controls were on charcoal pits. Most moments of uncertainty came from not having gone far enough -- result of the map being 1:15000 instead of my usual 1:10000. I was aware of the effect but still apprehensive on distance. The only time I overshot the mark was on 8 because I expected to see the control below me on the left and didn't. Turned back when I saw the southern reentrant as the trail curved to west. Then vectored n.e. and got it. Nice relief to go downhill to 9 and back to finish along road.

Course was relatively easy to navigate because a lot of it was along trails and the surrounding peaks were easy to see and to take bearings to. it was a good length for me. Any more climb might have done me in. Finished in good shape.

Great day. Capped by finding a good and lonesome spot along the Housatonic River for picnic lunch.

Brown - Splits