Training Log Archive: kensr

Ended up about 100th overall of 300 teams and 8th of 13 ultra vets. Not bad for having one split of 8-1/2 hours.

Outside of Alice Springs at Ross River for race. Proved moderately hot and dry and okay at night around 50F.

Crux was where we ran a challenging but high value route along the south edge of the map. Climbed to a high ridge line and ran on and off this for about 15 km. Almost all was at night (12 hrs dark). Unfortunately all that plus 10km more was without a water stop available due to no access roads anywhere close. Travel was slow in places due to spinafex bushes, nasty and penetrating like 2 ft sea urchins. Had heavy duty shoe and gaiters, but lots of upper leg hits. Distracting and challenging navigation, had to be careful to drop off the ridge a couple hundred meters into the right reentrant for a control or catch the right saddle to the next ridge segment.

Alas, missed the reentrant on a max value 110 point control and spent too long in search mode up and down hillsides. By then Glen was out of water and I was nursing the last of 3 liters. We decided to bail and get water, 10 km off, but our escape ridge ended in cliffs -- oops! Eventually got down into lower drainage and spent endless time working down a rocky (dry) creek gulch. Lots of complications, but suffice to say many hours were shot and many controls bypassed with this fiasco.

Apparently many suffered similar problems and weren't as persistent as us, but no satisfaction there. Could have done much better if our guard hadn't slipped attacking off a form-line hilltop. Also more planning before tackling a long dry section with only our normal supply of water.

Note: further alas -- picking apart the map the next morning, looks like we were right next to the control when we bailed, maybe 100 m. But at that time we thought we were someplace else and had stopped looking.

Event: World Rogaining Champs 2016
 

Checking out model area at Ross River. Much like AZ. Arid with spiky grass and open brush. Flat areas sand, hillsides steep with loose chunky rocks. No trails nor roads. Travel will be slow.

Clear, hot, sunny. Temps 80's today, 40's at night. Weekend expected to be cooler.

Kind of pretty. A few (very few) cattle around. Mostly empty countryside. Old and weathered rock. Besides Alice Springs, it's about a thousand miles to the next big town.

C • Psst- wanna buy a camel? 10

Run in town as sun went down and temp cooled off. Up top Anzac Hill which seems to be the spot to watch the sun set. Also along the Todd River, which rarely has water in it, including now, although when it does it just floods over the roads crossing it as they have no bridges or culverts.

After a slight setback with overnight temp in the 50's, the banana tree has taken off and doubled its height (in10 days).

Figgy, coffee and lemon doing okay, too. And of course Greg's 30 year old grapefruit tree.