Training Log Archive: TomN

The nightmare continues. Much easier terrain today compared to yesterday, but another two big mistakes. I hared off to #6 and got lost in the paths. It didn't help that my map was upside-down for part of it. A long time relocating, 10 minutes lost. Then on #7, I had a pretty clean route, touching the corner of the fenced-in field, but somehow got my position off when I crossed the power line and spent a long time trying to make sense of the map. Another 5 minutes lost there.

By far my worst performance on Brown.

Day 2 - Brown X - Splits

I wasn't sure I would be able to run today. The sprain a week ago was about as bad an ankle sprain as I've ever had, but I rehabbed it pretty aggressively (ice the first day, then compression, plus anti-inflammatories). I wore a soft brace when I set out the Hemlock controls on Monday and felt no pain. Today, It was still a little swollen in the joint area and down the foot towards the toes. Ran with the ankle brace again.

Anyway, it didn't turn out that running was my problem, it was incompetence. A big mistake on #5, I don't understand why I missed two stream crossing, but I got into the wrong stream and couldn't figure out where I was without bailing out to the road. About 15 minutes lost. Then another mistake on #9, I had previously made good time going up to the road from 2 to 3, but it was a bad choice from 8 to 9. I had trouble locating my position along the road, overran the control, and by luck came down right on #10. So backtracked to 9.

Disappointing performance in nice terrain. The uphill runs didn't bother me, but errors killed me.

Day 1 - Brown X - Splits

Setting out the water stops for Hemlock. I parked at the trailhead on Evans Ford Road, which has a sketchy little pullout. One water stop was about 200 meters away, and the other one was about a klick over a ridge and along a trail.

Dammit, a bunch of chigger bites appeared on my feet today, must have gotten them in the woods yesterday. Crazy itchy but at least they're not suppurating yet. I have some steroid cream that was prescribed for Addie the last time she had bites.

Set out 42 controls and streamered the other 8, for Hemlock this weekend. Nice day, woods open and fast, navigation was straightforward, but my GPS track was nowhere near my location on the map, which was weird. Persisted even after I reset the phone. When I've done this before, the GPS was right on the map within 5 meters or so.