Discussion: DVOA Valley Goat Map

To view the map simply select from maps from 2004:
DVOA Valley Goat

Thanks Sergei, I can't seem to find mine anywhere, so this is very useful for me.

Some route choice analysis of two legs hat I test ran today.

I reran two legs from the Valley Goat today as interval training, 4 different ways for each of the short last leg by the large gully, and then the long leg after that.

On 20-21, Boris, Mihai & I did D, and it appears Sergei did something between C and D.

Route descriptions:
A is contouring around above the gully, then down/up to bag across saddle.
B is down the edge then along the gully and up to the bag.
C is down, and right back up, then along the ridge.
D is down and around the bottom of the hill, then angle up to the bag.


My test run times were:
A: 0:34
B: 0:34
C: 0:26 & 0:25
D: 0:26

Winning split at event - Sergei on C/D in 0:29.

I considered A, B & D during the actual event, an almost did A, but turned around after two steps and did D. Apparently that was worthwhile. C didn't see that great, but it actually works pretty well - while going up and down the gully sucks up time up front, once you are up the other side it's an open ridgeline run all the way to the bag, gently downhill on the second half.


On 21-22, Sergei did A, I did C, and Mihai & Boris did D.

Route descriptions:
A is diagonaling up to the road, then along the road to near the bends and down straightish to the bag.
B is contouring along to the dirt trail, along the trail to the bike path, a little uphill on the bike path, then down the dirt road a bit before cutting down straight toward bag.
C is exitting out to the field a little below the bag, running the field edge to the paved trail, then up the paved trail ending like B.
D starts out like C along the field, but then contours all the way around below the forest 'rectangle', and finishing with a flattish/rolling up/down straight to the bag.

My test run times today were:
A: 3:25
B: 3:16
C: 3:27
D: 3:47

Winning split at event - Sergei on A in 2:52. I wasn't too far back at 2nd on the leg in 3:09 on C (apparently I was moving much faster during the race than I was today - having Mihai & Boris just ahead apprently really helped... And the inch and a half of wet snow probably slowed me a bit today).

A through C are pretty comparable with D notably worse. C vs D makes sense as I made up a lot of time on Mihai there. B is better than C, because B is a little more windy at the beginning while getting out to the field, and then it's medium grass running vs. hard packed slightly downhill trail running, and it's a little more climb. A isn't too bad, but there's a little uphill on the road, after the decent climb, and there's no really efficient way to exit the road. Still A is better than I thought - apparently the uphill up front pays off with good running on pavement, and a long gentle downhill in the field after that.

I took the long way back by the parking lot from 19-20 and thus ran past 21 enroute to 20. Got to climb the gully twice. (Route C). Punched in 20 behind Pete Yeomans? (Don't know him, but based on results, that is who it must have been). He went wide (Route A) and I went back through the gully and beat him to 21 easily (but I knew right where it was). I then took the high road (Route A)and although the climb back to the road was probably not ideal, I had a perfect view of the valley in front of me, took a rough bearing and visually picked out about where the flag ought to be and ran hard on the long, gentle downhill to 22. Using the little copse off to the right as a rough estimate of where the circle was, I came pretty much right to it.

I think I finished about a minute ahead of Pete Y. over those last few controls. Not nearly as fast as Wyatt, Sergei, Boris etc - but pretty damn fast by my standards...