Training Log Archive: mayer22

Stung by more yellowjackets (x3) (at least 7 on the year)
Right ankle swelled up and was in major pain despite a lot of Benadryl. Iced and elevated overnight and most of the day Monday.

Wild Gear Chase at Roanoke Go Fest. Not in very good shape and I wasn't sure how well I would do considering this has turned into more of a road run with minimal navigation and a poor map. The mapping situation was still pretty poor and the plotting was questionable at times, BUT I was able to pull off an incredibly strategic win despite my lack of fitness. One of my better strategic moves.

Started off with Adam C who was providing some local knowledge and I was helping him cut off some time between the points on Mill Mtn. Should have taken the road down the backside but a poor plot/clue and miscommunication with Adam meant we took the trail instead. Only lost a min or two. Adam decided to take the trail/road back down from the star. It was definitely a slower move but I think he wasn't interested in shwacking.

I saw some guys come off the back of the mountain that seemed in contention and then some other guys coming off the mountain the same way as me that seemed faster than me (not saying much right now). They never passed me and seemed to disappear as I made my way downtown. At one of the DT points I thought I saw the same guys right behind me but as I made my way on the long trip west they weren't behind me anymore. I moved really slow on this long road run.

Finally, a guy came up behind me as I approached the far west control. I figured I had no chance at the win as he was clearly moving faster than me. We had trouble finding the bike shop as there were no big signs and it was plotted on the wrong side of the street. He took off down the street and I stopped to reassess and ask some locals who showed me I had just passed it. This helped get me back in front as the other guy seemed long gone.

He ended up catching me on the way to the next control. He informed me that he didn't know the area either and I was able to gather that he wasn't very good at reading a map. So instead of trying to keep up with him and showing him where all the points were, I figured I'd slow down a bit to catch my breath for a potential and eventual sprint to the finish and decided to keep my mouth shut from then on.

He started to pass the next control so I peeled off and punched. He noticed pretty quickly but it again got me some separation and then he chose a longer route to the next control giving me even more space. I saw him a way back as I approached the final control and knowing that I could increase my pace I was pretty confident I would hold my lead and did.

He came in a couple mins behind me and actually turned out he never went to the one control he took the long way to. Someone told him it was gone before he found it. The punch was gone but the control was still there with a pen. He had to go back. Adam ended up coming in about 8 mins after me in 2nd.

Won a Yakima Rocketbox.

Varios were a good choice. Good but slim grip.

Ride in. Heavy pack. Stopped at the Bike Hub to get my free helmet. Took it as easy as possible.

Old Farm and Beast w/Zitch/Skip. Slow but not too terribly slow.

Ride in. Heavy pack.

Unplanned ride home to get the car so I could pick up the rest of the family in Floyd. Heavy pack.