Training Log Archive: Linear Ice

Mostly a good race with a few errors which could have been immense, but which I corrected. To compensate for correcting errors, I also occasionally was going on a great compass bearing but second guessed myself and made bad adjustments. Fortunately, I did most of this at a good clip instead of standing around and contemplating what was what. So I ended up with a reasonable time for me. Good thing the terrain and course were fairly forgiving.

To 1: Headed on good compass bearing then thought... "I bet I should go more left". No reason to think this. But I intentionally veered off, then had to run back to right spot.
2: Easy... up to saddle, down spur. Except I made a ridiculous parallel error and went up wrong reentrant, then wrong spur. I amazed myself by figuring it out fairly quickly and really RUNNING to the right spot when I did.
Still wasn't too flustered either.
3-9, made a plan and stuck to it. Carefully. Except on 8 which was an easy down the spur but I hugged the edge a bit much and had to swing around to the tip.
10. Seemed a LOT further than I expected, so I slowed down but trusted myself and found control without backtracking. Pace counting was a bit short, but I figured control would have to be in front of me.
11. Pacecounting and looking for ANY boulder, then looked backwards when I passed one, and there it was (10 meters up already though)
12. Big mistake... had a good plan to skirt around both reentrants, but ended up a bit low and knew I went WAY too far, so I backtrackd
13. Top of hill. No, not the BIG hill, the little hill on the big hill. Oops.
14. Too safe, ran to trail.
15. I vote for a USOF rule to illegalize uphill GO controls.

I was upset at my mistakes, happy that I didn't let them destroy my run. I really felt good in the woods, they were perfect and my terrain running was feeling very natural. I think I had a good balance between caution and speed, this is a good level of map for me. Not too easy, and not too complex.
Came in third overall for the F50+ US Champs combined, and ahead of all the brash youngsters in F45.

Green Day 2 - Splits

Event: Birkhead Wilderness Classic (US Classic Champs)
 

A bit of a slow start..... somehow missed the start triangle but got back on track
As with model event, woods were open and contours pretty straightforward.
Still, was cautious and planned routes, stuck on my plan and mostly hit things pretty well. Terrain wasn't too confusing, good number of rocks to use for navigating. Very fun event. I felt pretty good not mostly hit the controls well, even though a few felt a bit more "lucky" than I'm comfortable with, and I just had to say "whew, don't do THAT again".


I missed the first part of my gpx track, forgot to turn it on until CP1. Maybe after being distracted by the GPS taping ceremony. I think they used vinyl tape, pulled it tight, tried to keep my buttons being pushed in and so they had to retape about five times.... tape didn't seem very self-destructing nor was it checked at the finish but I guess it's the thought that counts. I don't think there were any Garmin cheaters. On the other hand, I think numerous people went off the map.... is that okay?.

Green Day 1 - Splits

Slow walk through the model map in NC to try to get a feel for the terrain prior to weekend events. Beautiful open woods. Controls were very visible.

7 AM conference call, so I took it at home, and then went for a run w Alice because unless there's some cancellations, I have more calls from 5-10PM =(

Conference call multi-tasking plans: Pack for trip tomorrow, get house and dogs clean and ready too.

Two things you maybe don't really want to hear from your Rogaine partner, as you jog off to the first control.,,,,
1) I have a really bad cold and can barely breathe....
and oh yeah,
2) It's possible I might be pregnant
(It's good thing our goal was to have fun and learn! We did pretty well anyway! Love my Partners)

But, things you DO want to hear from your Rogaine partner... I had a baby girl last week and her name is Matilda. Maybe I'm the last to know, but I'm so excited for Veronica, and of course I've been singing and humming waltzing Matilda all afternoon.

I brought a map but no compass, and a major goal was to see if I could function with two reading contact lenses in..... would I be able to see mid-long distance items well enough; was the trade-off worthwhile.
I spent most of the time off trail and in the woods, and in Battle Creek that pretty much also means in the buckthorn. For once, I tried to see the positive side of this. It meant I had no choice but to slow down, and I did pay careful attention to the map and contours and I stayed on course even in subtle areas. I am trying to discipline myself. A bit. I am afraid that the discipline may disappear when faced with open woods.......
The eye thing worked out pretty well; tried them also while map reading and jogging on trail and I think it's a huge improvement. I may try this technique over the weekend.