Training Log Archive: JanetT

Event: DVOA French Creek State Park Central
 

Brown course at French Creek (Central, starting from S of the big lake), 4.8 km, 75m climb nominal; designed by Vadim M. Temps were barely over 50 when we started and overcast for most of the time; sun peeked out a bit after we finished, and temp probably rose to near 60.

I'd say a full third of the controls (#3, 10, 11, 12) were white/yellow level...laziness by the designer?

That said, I didn't take the optimum routes to the first two controls and paid for it, getting caught in prickly vegetation. The veg on this map needs to be updated to reflect reality for summer/fall events. Many white woods areas are light green; light green is medium, and some a few med. green areas are actually white! I also had difficulty with a stone wall (#4) mapped in white woods at the edge of light green but actually in the midst of prickers and, from where I attacked, beyond a very large downed tree trunk. I lost several minutes in the *not* rough open north of the water treatment ponds, and several more in the "light green" vegetation between the trail and #2 (in retrospect, going all the way around to the dam would have been much faster). And a few more after not seeing the stone wall under the downed tree near #4 and going beyond the area before returning.

The series from 5-9 was much better, fun, and enough of a challenge on this map which is definitely showing its age (other parts of French Creek are being overrun with prickly vegetation, and the best area, North, is embargoed because of next spring's NRE). I hit the road high heading from 5-6 but wanted to attack from below so ran down the park road to the major trail, thinking I might see where people were crossing it to attack the following control.

Brown - Splits

Streets in Salisbury Twp for CityStrides (completed 10, progressed 12, though one incomplete one needs an edit in OSM). Upper 50s but overcast with light drizzle at the very end as I approached the lot where I parked my car.

Nassau Rd singletrack trails near Clinton, NJ. Temp in mid 60s, so delightful for riding. I'd return here.

The Brogans trail in the first km was approached CCW first (with Glen) but I did much better riding it clockwise (which I did, twice). There are some large rocks on a slope that I could ride alongside in the down direction, but had to push the bike up past in the other direction.

Missed a turn after km 2, but ran into Glen coming up the trail from a hillier section than I would like/be able to ride, so turned around. This was after riding up to, on part of, and then walking the rest of the way across rockiness left over from a ruined stone wall (smallish chunks of rock, but still bigger than my bike can handle easily). The trail there is called Wall, appropriately.

The trails to the east run along a ridge line so not much up and down (switchbacks work) but access to and from one that I rode involved crossing a rocky area much like the one on Wall. I walked my bike there, both going down and coming back up. I don't like trying to ride over 6" or larger rock chunks at odd angles.

Tipped over into prickers (nr km 5) when I stopped to look at the map at a trail junction. (Silly me.)

Around the block once w/older grand, fighting zombies....

Streets in S Whitehall Twp, near Dorney Park (which I've never been to/in, actually, despite the fact we live about 5 or so miles away from it and see it when we drive by on I-78). Temp around 70, mostly sunny.

It'll be a cool day. Maybe a good one for yoga.

One of Deanna's videos

High of 58 today did not entice me outside.