Training Log Archive: mayer22

Filled water and grabbed some food. Left under 10 min behind UNE.

This was another long trek with some significant navigational concerns (both unmapped and non-existent trails). We chose to go CW and finish with the road run. I wasn't sure which way UNE went but thought they went the same way as us. We hit the first 3 CPs cleanly and fast. UNE said they saw our lights coming from behind. Then got within 100m of the 4th (EE) and started looking in the wrong spot. UNE came running the other way so I figured they were going the opposite direction (they weren't) and realized I was looking in the wrong place. I had made a silly mistake by miscounting turns in the road and was looking on what was essentially a parallel feature. It then proceeded to start pooring rain making terrain features unusable. I had to backtrack on the road we were on to relocate and then reattack the point. Found it this time as the rain eased.

Estimated time loss ~30min

We crossed almost directly to DD using unmapped horse trails (After looking back at the horse map our route was actually quite efficient). Others ran way around to stay on mapped trails. Times were probably a wash. Attacked the wrong reentrant for DD but didn't lose any time by finding it 100m away in the next one. Kristin was really starting to suffer be she pushed through it so we could finish strong.

Walked up the hill to the firetower and then ran the road into the finish in 5th place.

Very proud that we worked hard and came back from a big early error but disappointed to miss the podium at the very end. I am sure we were really pushing UNE. Congrats to Tecnu on an amazing race. No one was going to touch them.

Event: USARA Nationals
 

Prologue run. Stayed in 2nd behind MOAT and let them find the trail. I made sure they were going the right way.

Road the singletrack trails in Brown County SP. There were no CPs or navigation which is always a bummer but the trails were still a blast. They were smooth and fast. We started right behind MOAT. DART passed fairly early. Tecnu caught us about halfway through and we finished with them.

The rest of the MTB leg. We rode with Tecnu to the next point and caught DART and MOAT. Everyone got the next point together. Then we embarked on the poorly marked horse trails. I went about 400m down the wrong trail lost touch with Tecnu and DART and had to backtrack and saw UNE and others. I never relocated to know exactly where I was. I saw UNE go down the right trail and get the point but didn't realize it. We then saw Odyssey and a bevy of other middle of the pack teams.

Spent a lot of time stopping to try and nail down where we were and make sure we hadn't gone too far. I finally found the Tecumseh trail and rode it all the way out to the road to definitively locate us. Then had to backtrack to get CP5. Caught Odyssey at CP4 and then put the hammer down to CP6 and TA1. Odyssey drafted a bit and dangled OTB. We picked up Alpine Shop on the way as well.

Estimated time loss ~30 min

We pushed, paddled, and dragged our boat down Beanblossom Creek. When we rode over it I saw how bad it looked. Identified the train tracks as a potential alternative but when we road over that it didn't seem great and I had concerns about trespassing. This section ended up being very energy draining. Walking through deep water, getting in and out of boat, and lifting boat over obstacles.

Finally got to paddle. Unfortunately I had forgotten to bring a paddle because mine is in storage and was relying on the race provided kayak paddles. They ended up being canoe paddles. This made keeping the boat straight difficult without using a rudder and slowing the boat down. We seemed to be moving a bit slower than other teams but nothing significant.

We grabbed some water from a house along the creek and then paddled into Lemon Lake. We came out onto the lake in 10th. We had to stop twice for CPs that were off the lake. It was nice to be able to see how far ahead other teams were. We could still see UNE and they were in 3rd so I knew they were definitely within reach.

Takeout 1
Saw both Odysseys, AS, MOAT, and WEDALI.
Passed the reentrant by 50m but got to see a swimming turtle.

Takeout 2
Same position but passed Odyssey on the trek and gained ground on everyone else.

I grabbed 2 orienteering points while Kristin and Dan paddled 1 mile with the canoe and raft. UNE paddlers were waiting for their navigators so I knew I had to push hard since I would be the slow leg. UNE finished as I was running out. I spiked the points and passed Alpine Shop and MOAT. As I came into TA I saw WEDALI and OdysseyM leaving and I knew UNE was 30 minutes ahead.

This was a long trek. We kept the pace high the entire way except for a 2 navigational errors.

We caught OdysseyM and WEDALI as we transitioned from road run to trail. We kept on pushing along the trail and through the woods. We stopped at a camp to grab some water, ice, and lemonade. This was perfect timing as the heat and humidity of the day was starting to catch up to us. Then began another shwack. I had us tracking as we dropped into our next key reentrant but must have miscalculated our exit because we didn't come out through the reentrant with the CP. At this point we needed lights. We checked the reentrants to either side with no luck and now I could not verify where we were. As we came to the top of the ridge OdysseyM and AS were rolling in. Odyssey told us we were right next to the point and we grabbed it.

Estimated loss 15 min

We continued to trek along the trail through the private property. We dropped into a reentrant for the last point and got to within 10 meters without seeing it before turning around and walking 250m to check the other direction. Eventually came back and found it. Lost maybe another 10 min.

Ran into TA while OdysseyM and AS were still there. Didn't realize then but we hadn't lost anytime to UNE on the trek. Tecnu had 2:20 putting them pretty much out of reach and likely DART.

Quick ride to the OCourse. Rode with OdysseyM for a little. Pulled up in 5th and were told UNE was only 20 min ahead.

Hammered a clean OCourse with OdysseyM who was barely hanging on but they really pushed it to stick and work with us. Think we were right behind Tecnu's leg time but don't know how long our TA was.

Had to capture 4 CP pairs (out of 7). 7 north and 7 south. We got Q, N, P, and U. S and R were easy choices to drop. I thought T and U were a tradeoff. Very little off trail travel and navigation required. Maps were Omaps with forest density mapped which made navigation and route choice a breeze.

We saw UNE going S as we switched to the N CPs. We should have ran the road to the E to connect the N and S it was much flatter and not as rocky.

Left about 10 min behind UNE. Re routed a bit to stop for water at the camp office, just enough to get us back to TA. Had trouble with CP 17 overcompensating for the map scale change. Blew 5 mins looking too far off the road.

Also missed the opportunity to ride the highway to the SP and added a small climb and half a K. CP0 found an awesome way to get 19 and 20 but we rode in and out to both and climbed the road.

Came into TA and UNE was still there. Finally had them in sight and we had been gaining on them all race.

Easy run around campus from Mark's house. Mostly grass.

Stopped 5 minutes into the run to stretch.
Watched the football team practice.

Post run

Muscles were a little sore from the rolling last night.

Ride with Zitch at Smartview. Much faster tonight. Having trouble seeing roots and rocks on the last third. Sunset is about it for visibility. Finished 15 minutes after.

Did what might be the optimal route. CCW on the south, CCW on the north, then CW on the south. May switch the directions on the first and last loop and also add a stop at the creek at the end and beginning for Zitch.

Another trip to the Jacuzz followed by some stretching.

Bike part came in. But from china through ebay. I ordered it 2 weeks after the bike shop and got it faster. Plus it is an aluminum part instead of plastic.

Road bike is finally good to go.

Spent some time in the Jacuzz
Then a massive muscle session. Spent most of my time on left but worked the right as well. Both sides had lots of trouble spots.