Training Log Archive: mayer22

Event: SVO Susquehanna Stumble XIII
 

Susquehanna Stumble - Long Stumble

Got 1st place.

This is a mass start race where following other racers is encouraged. There are also several windows where you can grab a small set of Controls in any order. I started out steady with a group of about 5 runners. Was "following" some of the time but was following the map the whole time. Jon Torrance and I seperated a little. I made a small mistake and lost touch with Jon. I then recaught Jon after he made a mistake and poor route choice. The 5 runners were still withing a minute of me as we came into the map exchange, approximately half way.

I then made a poor route choice which led to a mistake and allowed the others to catch and bag the next control just ahead of me. I followed them to the next two controls so I would not lose touch. After that I was able to pull ahead again. Jon was right behinf me and I could see him about 100m back for the next several controls. With 3 controls left we had a long leg which required a lot of bushwhacking and one big climb. I was able to put some time into the others.

As I approached the last CP I knew I had some time so I looked closely at the map. I saw that the terrain was a little subtle and decided to be careful. I worked my way towards the CP. As I approached the gully I thought I wasn't sure. Then I heard someone behind me. I said if it's not in this gully I will lose so I decided to take my chances in that gully. As I rounded a bend in the gully I saw it and ran to the finish.

Jon finished 17 seconds behind me and Vadim was 10 seconds behind him. Sergei was another 90 seconds back. It was a VERY close race. I was very tired at the end and my legs were starting to cramp when I tried to jump over obstacles in the woods. The race was defintiley suited to my skills though. When I made a small mistake, which is what usually hurts me, I could just catch back up with the leaders and then try to shoot off the front again.

One other major note was that I came home severely scratched up. Usually after Adventure Races my legs are torn up. This race, which was much shorter than an AR, I was more torn up than I've ever been on my upper body (face, arms, stomach).

A thank you goes out to SVO, Eddie Bergeron, and Randy Hall for putting on a great event.

Ran the Arlington hills around Chain Bridge. Ran along the PHT and the connecting trails. Baxter my dog, came along as well.

Commute to work

My handlebars broke while I was leaving work. I rode 17 miles holding on to my right shifter and the stem of my bike with my right hand while my left hand did most of the work.

Commute to work

Commute home

Ran from downtown McLean to my home via the Pimmit Run Trail with my dog Baxter. Used my headlamp for the last couple 100 meters on the trail as it was just getting dark.