Training Log Archive: mayer22

Event: QOC Swanson Rd
 

Nap

This TA had hot food and drink. It was very much appreciated. Our shoes were frozen to our bikes so we put them near the fire and left our trekking shoes near the fire to keep them warm during the leg.

MTB Orienteering. A Progressive O. We were given a map of the next point at each CP. The trail system was tight and twisty. We tried to cut corners when possible but with lots of unmarked trails and some old covered trails it was hard for Scott to follow the map at times.

About 10 minutes in Kristin got very sick from some food she had just eaten and we had to stop for a bit and then take it real slow for a bit. Luckily we wouldn't have been moving much faster at top end. WEDALI passed us but we were able to hang with them for a bit because of the technical difficulty.

Later realized this section could have probably been faster as a trek instead of having to move our bikes through the trails.

I liked how they utilized the trails. Instead of doing mindless loops we were riding the trails and navigating with a purpose.

Stopped at the TA again to give Kristin some time to refuel and get some more energy. Left the TA about 30 min behind WEDALI.

Last Trek leg. We started this in the dark. We had significant trouble attacking HH and had to go back to GG and reattack by going up the trail, crossing the reentrant, and coming down the spur. After getting the point in the stream (LL?) we decided to try and take the dashed trail up the mountain. We lost the trail and then decided to shwack west to the other trail. We kept having to fight and kept making our way South up the mountain when necessary. I was a little out of it at this point in the race and was just following for a bit. Eventually we came across the top of the reentrant we wanted to be in and made our way down to the point.

Once back on the trail we turned the gas back on we got all the points on the top of the mountain. On WW we searched the wrong small reentrant and lost some time. When we found the right one Tecnu was right behind us.

We were going to shwack down to the large stream from there. It looked thick so instead ran a mile to the other side of the creek and shwacked down. Grabbed the points on the stream and then arrived at the rappel. There was a line so we were going to take the penalty and go but then realized Tecnu had shwacked and passed us. At this point we were already 20 minutes back so we decided to stay and enjoy the rappell. It was pretty awesome.

Downhill ride to the finish!

Pizza and a nap

Event: USARA National Championships
 

Most splits are approximate. Will update when NYARA releases the Dip results.

This was the opening leg of the race on the Pepacton Resevoir. We knew we would have to capture points that would require trekking as well but 5 min before the start Rodney told us the team could split up if we wanted and gave us an extra map and passport.

We quickly devised two plans. Plan A would be shorter for a runner and Plan B would be shorter for the paddler and would require the runner to rely on roads off the map. Waiting is never good so after some more thinking I realized we could work with another team and do a modified Plan A that would utilize 2 boats and shorten the trip for both boats.

Odyssey was nearby so we proposed the idea and they were in. Worked out well to team up with a Masters team as it didn't help any of our main competition. Odyssey was a good match as well. The first dropoff and switch was so hectic I forgot the map and punch card. Had to yell back down to the boat to get them to come back.

Sara and Scott teamed up and paddled to punch A and E on the Southside of the resevoir. Mark and I punched YY and B while Kristin and Shane paddled the boat around to shuttle us from B to just below C. We decided to have Kristin go with Mark to C and D so I could help Shane make the long paddle around to D where everyone met up. Scott and Sara waited about 15 min and Mark and Kristin waited for 5 min.

This worked out well and gave us a nice little lead. The original Plan A would not have been much slower but this was a nice bonus. Scott and Kristin dropped me off below F and then paddled around to meet me on the other side. Then paddled to the takeout.

Odyssey was next to us the entire time.

The trekking I did during the first leg.

Transitioned to MTB. Started off with the King of the Mountain. Tried not to go too crazy as the legs were just warming up. Temps were cold and conditions were wet. We got some hail as we finished the second climb to the more technical riding. There was a section of ski/snowmobile trails where the points were just off the trail. Some required us to drop our bikes but we bikewhacked a few to save some time riding. After this section it was a short ride on some more technical rocky trails to the O course. The sun came out for a bit.

Orienteering Course. We were given a map with 6 pairs of points. You had to get a pair of points to get credit for one point. You could only get 4 pairs. Another interesting twist.

Scott spent some time looking at the map and had trouble choosing 4 pairs. Every pair had a convenient and an inconvenient point. We eventually chose to drop S and T but I think you really could have picked any 4 (Rodney agreed).

Only 1 minor delay on the course attacking Q2. Really just weren't positive we were on the right spot on the trail but I told Scott we were fine and was able to spot the point from our bearing. This point gave other teams, including WEDALI and Odyssey trouble. After talking to Rodney he said he debated moving it and that the vetting team had trouble with it as well.

Saw CP0 on the course. They "thanked" us for helping Odyssey.

Left the OCourse while it was still light out. Almost rode past the first CP. Most of this ride was on roads and service roads.

Stopped at the Blue Hill Cafe to fill water. Saw pizza slices on the counter so got some to go and a cup of coffee for Kristin. After this was a short climb and then a long decent.

Had some trouble with the last point above swimming hole. Searched around a larger swimming hole with no luck. Eventually found it as Tecnu was riding up. They found a much easier way in and out. We had trouble finding where the road crossed the creek (bridge was out) and spent some time wandering.

This might have been the crux. The first 2 points of this leg required significant bushwhacking through thick laurel. First shwack was 1300m dead flat on a bearing. The second one was up a ridge. We were able to slide around the laurel for a bit but eventually had to bite the bullet. While attacking the points on the top of the ridge WEDALI caught us. We finished the rest of the trek with them either 5 min in front or 5 min behind us. The rest of the points required mostly off trail travel but were much easier than the first 2.

Ride to Eddys before heading out. A little chilly. W&OD the whole way. Sure would be nice to commute on this everyday.

Got sucked into TV and didn't go to bed when I should have.

Wet roads! That and delays slowed me down in the first half. Was able to pick the pace up a little on the back off to make up for it.

Legs still rested but not super strong. Oblique was better. Almost not noticeable in the hoods except for heavy breaths. A few back spasms when I tried to tuck.

First day for arm warmers.

Put in a pretty strong effort. Hit about half the big lights.

Time was slower than I would have liked but legs felt pretty good and was able to turn the bigger gears.