Training Log Archive: Ricka

I orienteered much more confidently today but still two major errors. My legs were very tired and knees very tight from Saturday. Long course included lots of trail running - my running was pretty slow.

Lost 5 minutes on #4 due to route choice. I didn't expect green off trail to be SO nasty and missed the one easy place to sneak through. Slow through green and then extra distance when pushed right into open woods - good map contact.

#7; Good route and attack point. First lost 2-3 minutes going up wrong trail and back-tracked. From AP, dead-fall pushed me left - when I got to re-entrant, I must have been far left. Had trouble orienting map to ground. Eventually got back to trail - should have returned MUCH sooner. Chose new AP further up trail - worked! I expected 8 minute error, closer to 13 - ouch!

Overall, map-reading, route choice, and execution were pretty consistent today.

Long Course 7a - Splits

Jogged most of way to Start on slight uphill - I needed that.

In terms of design and physical toughness, a great course. Time is an estimate.

First, 7 short legs on steep reentrant terrain. Then off to the swamps.

I did well from S-4 and from 4-F. Unfortunately, I lost 40+ minutes leaving 4 and finally getting back to it. Worst single leg in a LONG time. I would not STOP, I would not relocate to trail/field. Lots of wandering hoping to ID one of dozens steep ridges. S-3, clean. 4: no clear plan. Got into right reentrant system, but roamed to make sense of it as people came and went - no plan. 5: Aimed for knoll, went to larger one on left and then 'fell left' and wandered, wandered, wandered. Saw #6 early but did not check code. Found #7 much later, recognized it, couldn't get from 7-->5. FINALLY north, north, north to trail field. Chose to return to #4 to 'do course correctly'.

Rest: Much better orienteering. Lost time but always could relocate.

And tomorrow is the LONG in the same terrain. GOAL: plan, map contact, and beat my Middle time!

Great weather, wonderful 120-year old "cottage", lots of talking.

Middle Course 7a - Splits

Event: 2013 Nationals (Hamilton, CANADA)
 

Sprint run on McMaster U campus. Overall solid run - maintained stronger pace than anticipated. Lots of tricky route choices and passages. Tough to plan ahead but always did know next leg. Two 20 sec bobbles: stopped at wrong control, oops, bit further in courtyard; stopped at correct control but "wrong code" - looked around, "should be correct" rechecked, Yes. UGH.

Good venue, good announcing, perfect weather. Supper with 15 at Bangkok Spoon: Fran, Zan, Alex, Carol & parents, Greg & Ken Sr., Langtons,...

Walked model event terrain - interesting mix of steep hills/re-entrants and flat stuff. Good map contact but fine detail in hillsides was tough (bit like Beaumont). Feel confident.

Sprint Course 3b - Splits

Training at Haven Hill map - area of Day 1 2007 A=meet.

Spiked all but one control. Good reading of contours despite medium visibility. Strange low lying vine (honey suckle-ish) made even walking without tripping hard in several areas = never encountered it before. With long run yesterday, this was just what I needed.

Then off to Detroit to visit John King's warehouses of used books wow! Bought several. And on to Chatham Ontario where John Brown planned his raid on Harper's Ferry. Chatham area was primary destination in Canada of underground railway ex-slaves in 1850's.

Brown/Red course from 2007 Team Trials at Peach Mountain.

1st half with Fran, then solo. Good practice, I'm very rusty. Focused on bearings and pace count. Reading terrain pretty well. Woods were probably thicker than spring 2007.