Training Log Archive: MJChilds

CSU Long Distance at Middlesex Fells. My problems began with #1 when I reached the control, checked the code and thought it was the wrong one (it wasn't!). Continued on my line but ran into a trail and then realized I'd misread the code and returned to #1. Lost about 45 sec. Flustered, I returned to the trail and turned right (wrong trail. . .) noticing my error after about 100 m. Rather than returning to the correct trail jctn, I cut across and then had trouble knowing where I was, plus, my instincts continued to have me off by about 90s. How I could do that on a sunny day is beyond my comprehension. Things continued to get worse as I struggled to make up for lost time. If only I'd have tried to be as careful as I had been on Saturday for the middle. . . Big screw-up on the way to #4 and then leaving #4 and not being able to locate myself on the trail. Such a sloppy run.

Interesting terrain. Good course. Great challenges with all of the trails. Made some poor route choices and should have taken more trails than I did. Small trails were more of a hindrance than a help since they required so much concentration to read along the way.

Was surprised to finish and learn that Janet had not come in yet. I wonder what happened to her today.

Wish I had more time to visit. Was busy with the Jr. Team Concession Stand which Janet and Denny Porter so generously set up once again. Was fun to cook, but there just wasn't enough time to do everything I would have liked.

Was nice to get away from it all for the weekend. Last event of the season. Now comes the challenge of staying in shape until next spring!

C • Congratulations on Silver 5

Brown Long - Splits

Was having a PERFECT RUN until . . .I got to within about 250 m of #9 and I lost it. To get so close and then blow it was maddening. I saw the trail I had wanted at the "end" of the driveway, it just didn't feel like my trail, so I opted for an alternate route using the yellow field (where the finish chute was). I just headed straight across the field, blundering in grand style before the crowds of onlookers, not checking my compass and feeling like I was dead on. Until I got to the end and the trail I wanted was just a little bit off to the left and then a stone wall appeared, along with a steep hill and some houses. . .I relocated on the big reentrant and then had to rerun through the field and get back on course. The worst part was that I was about 2 min ahead of Natalia D. before my mistake and I lost the championship by about 1.5 min. It would have been one of the highlights of my orienteering career.

I'm still glad that I did so well on the course up until that point, could have had a better route choice on 6-7, but I hit every control almost dead on. I was worried about the complexity of the terrain and the thick vegetation, so I took it very slowly which paid off. I also used subtle terrain features for control extension that helped.

Great weather, lots of fun. Great event by CSU.

C • Still... good race and time! 1

Brown Middle - Splits

CSU Sprint at Franklin Park in Boston. Had a pretty good run with only a few bobbles. Was looking forward to this event because this is a Frederick Law Olmsted park and I would get to experience it as only an orienteer can. I LOVED having a control in the corner of a former animal cage/pen from the old Franklin Park Zoo.

The course was surprisingly technical and tricky for a park-O, but I liked it.

Great course. Fun event.

Brown Sprint - Splits

Vigorous walk w/ Lucy over to Rec path and nature trail. Collected lots of beautiful red, orange, coral, yellow, and chartreuse leaves to bring home for the dining room table. Thought I'd run today but didn't get to it. At least I walked. :)

Ran Gov Chittenden Rd. w/ Carl and Andrew, all at our own paces, of course. Having not been out much lately, and been sick on for a couple of days, it was hard work. Have been down in the dumps about my car situation, one of several situations over which I seem to have no control these days. It looks like we've found the car I want and I can finally get rid of the awful beast that has been an albatross around my neck for the past year and a half. Once I can get the car situation behind me, I feel like I can finally tackle the many other things that need to be addressed. Have to crawl out of this hole. . . I may or may not go back and log my activities of the past couple of weeks. Haven't even looked at AP for a while. Will try and rally for the weekend in Boston. Last weekend at the Boulder Dash in Concord was beautiful and it lifted my spirits greatly.

C • Good to hear from you again! 3