Training Log Archive: Mr Wonderful

Event: Snyder Lake training
 

Fun O intervals with Igor on the Snyder Lake map. Some lessons learned:

Igor around a hill is much faster than me running over a hill. Igor on a trail route 20-30% longer is much faster than me through the woods.

As at Nitrogaine, summer MI woods are all about game trails.

Mostly my normal navigation feels good now, other than precise location in larger areas trying to use distant features as references. Wasn't sure which was the proper clearing for #6 having not brute forced it and trying to come in from the side and figure it out, EG.

Stopped by and said hi to Park Supervisor. He said next year should be fine for a Nitrogaine repeat. He's up for a Rec 101 before my fall o meet, and they'll promote. Didn't sound like a spring night O warmup would be a problem either - I might be able to manipulated the NG course so that I have a non overlapping area for that. Muah ah ah!

Then went to pick up flags with w4j but she got really hurt so I drove her back to the parking lot and then went out for the rest, perhaps with a little scouting. Shame she couldn't come with - maybe I wouldn't have made a two minute 180 error...exiting a hilltop. It's almost impressive that I managed that. Let my guard down, didn't check compass, wandered around vegetation, pow.

Then got a little sloppy and picked the wrong reentrant for my next one, but recovered quickly via spidey sense and lack of trees in the one direction which matched the map.

Took a half hearted pass by the missing stick location, but didn't see. Did see a red shotgun shell which got my hopes up.

C • Woo! 3

Retrieved more flags via bike. I'm enjoying this experience; wondering if there's a way to set up a race like this. Maybe Waterloo which lends itself to bike travel between sections.

So glad no one really went out to #76. Between the bingo game trail right to it and the stinging nettles...!

C • MTB-O 1

100% of my mountain bikes have some sort of losing air pressure situation going on.

C • More reason not to ride. 4

Picked up many flags south of the start by riding the Poto to an AP, then locking the bike while retrieving the flag. It was very fun. I should really find my map board...

Also scouted maybe one or two future spots. Muah ah ah!

For some reason I botched the exit from the same one I botched before. Granted, I had no compass....but it's a great area, something about the pattern of swamps gets you to exit in the wrong direction if not careful.

The reflective twist ties are invisible in daylight!

I picked up #59, Root Cellar, Inside, before it would disappear.

I am very happy with how the Nitrogaine turned out. It was perhaps a super dumb idea to stack it up with the house sale, Kimberly being out of the country, getting sent to Europe, etc. but it went well I think.

The racers were all fantastic - so enthusiast and just great people. With that kind of supportive, let's have an adventure mindset, it really makes a director want to do more events.

I learned a ton about race production - so many notes on improvements, different strategies, etc. Also I now want to hug all of the race directors for events I go to because I have a better understanding of the magnitude of work they do...and I know I got off easy by not bothering with bikes, boats, or TAs!

w4j was indispensable - sorry she couldn't sneak out and play on the course. But what a cheerleader and ultra dependable helper. Couldn't ask for better.

Who's up for next year?

C • I'm in! 10