Orienteering5:45:23 [2] 15.64 mi (22:05 / mi) +968m18:31 / mi spiked:16/18c
Raccoongaine with Angel! We got 2nd Div and 20th overall. We decided to do this together last December as a result of her interest to get more involved in Rogaines and maybe learn stuff. And, I wasn't even sure what kind of shape I would be in with my foot issues back in the fall.
The map was a bit challenging to loop together higher points, which is the way WPOC seems to like it! :) We planned a fairly modest route with a focus on higher point values. Admittedly, I went for a 100 point loop out of the gate which was terrain challenged, but it's a 100 points!
We went straight north for 144, crossing a marsh that was larger than I expected, then on to 133 through those yuck thorns. I promised Angel smooth sailing and no running as we climbed up our first hill to 109. :) Well, maybe no running.
Then over and up to 133, then to the road to get to 117 on our way to 148. By this time we were over 2 hours and realized we needed a change of plan, which Angel was fine with! Then to 124, around the water to 116 (the nav was going well, I was so pleased and so was Angel!), 122, 115 realized we were making up some time and made our way to 135 (cut in a bit early) then 123, 146, 131 waaaaay up and around on 143. I tried to go for hugging the green, but conceded that it could be terrible. Found out later there was a trail :/. Missed a chance to stay high to 110.
Then to 132 (so thick!) and over to the 10 pointers with the last bit of time we had. Lots of fun!
Orienteering5:48:20 19.37 mi (17:59 / mi) +530m16:34 / mi ahr:143 max:170 spiked:12/18c shoes: Brooks Adrenaline ASR M8.5
Nain Rouge with Eric Olsen as Midwest Mayhem Div 2nd and 6th OA
Had planned to go solo on this, but once our UNE team started to shape up invited Eric over to race with me.
Went into the race with Eric carrying a bit more than me, and with a tow. Our planning process started with some of the standard out of the gate points, but we wondered since we hadn't raced together if we should tackle some of the closer more difficult points and get in a rhythm before around others. We planned the route together and highlighted how we planned to get to each of the points.
Went west for 51 and 61, and overshot 61 by about 50m. Oops! then SE over to 60, 31, 32, 36--by this time we were in a pretty good back and forth on next feature, best AP and how to exit the control to the next. Then 70, and first of 3 road runs to 71--which we overshot (later I started to slow us w/in 50m to prevent) then 62, 73 (en route bonus), trails to 50 then 34. We got to 34 sooner than expected but stuck with the plan until we got into the W map around the 4 hr mark. Road run with one point (43) and a water stop. Got stopped by RDs and didn't have beads so we had to do 20 pushups. Got to 44 then water (we couldn't find it easily! :/--I took some weight from Eric) 47 which was a mother control for another point 1500m-ish away and thankfully on our route. I did most of the nav for the next 7 points in Chilson. Overshot 55, and I remember feeling just plain depleted. GU, combos and gatorade helped.
We got to 76 (another bonus) then 64, the next bonus and realized we had time for 56, which was a mother control for a 68 degree bearing 1475m away. We decided to make it work for 125 points! Went to 63, then N to the bonus, then a 2mi road run to the trail for 52, which we got to on schedule. Started to feel warm and we both got leg cramps--I forgot my calf sleeves which would have helped. The warming temps and slippery snow was tough. Had a decision between 75 and 41 and we got lucky choosing 41 because it had a bonus of 150 points. then 40 and 33. Throughout, we both commented on how we were on the same page with routes and attack points--for better and for worse ha. And, our APs were intentionally not aggressive at all. Logged the points I did the most nav on.
We did better than I expected. Could have maximized if 1) we didn't go W then east, 2) dropped 71 and maybe picked up 35 and later 75, 3) didn't make mistakes! :) It was very fun.
Running (16lb pack (!!!!)) 3:00:21 11.2 mi (16:06 / mi) +191m15:18 / mi ahr:135 max:179
Wanted to start getting on trails with a pack and Mr. W said I could join him this morning. Quite Pretty--very snowy! And I thought my pack was maybe 10lb tops...got home and husband weighed it...gulp...16! Gotta keep an eye on that.