Training Log Archive: Work4justice

Event: Thunder Rolls 24-Hr AR
 

Thunder Rolls! Despite many character building snafus, I think we did well. More later! Met simpy, Escondido, and rocky 33. And as always, great to see silkychrome!

UPDATE:
Teamed up with Andy Brown for my 3rd Thunder Rolls. As always, organized, great venue, and a great experience. Started with Friday night plotting, way finding and map prep. Always nice when that goes smoothly! We had a midnight start with a road run I think ~4-5 miles which did not make the map attached, I forgot to start my tracker into the paddle. Ran to the paddle put in, and we found our night rhythym pretty quickly and found ourselves passing 3 teams. My bright beam on my headlamp was great until it dimmed, I swapped the battery, and then immediately dimmed. WHAT? Thank goodness for the lightning at the end so we could see. I think we came out of the water in 6th and the paddle was about 12ish miles. There were some huge log jams to get over holy smokes.

Once we got on the bikes, it had been thunderstorming for about an hour maybe. All the dirt roads were messy. We had to hold back on some of the descents. Got the bike points, and got to the O-course around 6. We were about 1:15 behind the leaders. That felt good, but I knew the O would be tough for sure.

There was a lot, lot, lot of foot nav on this course. We started with having to self plot (100m circles) one map, then we could go back for a second map at the Mississippi Palisades. I started the nav section in superior fashion in that as we ran to the rappel, I slipped, turned my ankle and went flying like superman. Ankle hurt, but pressed on. Andy isn't as familiar with LIDAR and after we got to and finished the rappel, he asked that I take over foot nav. At that point I am surprised I rolled with it and just moved on. Nav is not my strength these days. And the mosquitoes were bad bad...so many bites standing and looking at the map.

We planned a route to clear the section. I focused on big attacks, slow and steady, pace count and features, if I didn't see what I wanted quick, we retreated. #17 was awful and we went at it ALOT. Turns out we were one of the few teams to get it which tells me in hindsight should have let it be--spent waaaaay too much time and I approached from the wrong direction in the first place. Once we got there, Andy realized he lost the passport en route! What a bummer. It was no question we would continue on, but that stunk.

Went back for the second map, and got quite a few there too. And was more judicious on what we chose to do. Had to wait a smidge on the ascent, which has gone much much better than in the past.

We left here around 6ish, and went for the bike points, which en route was 1:24 foot section. We only did 2 points on that being worried about time, my bike was grinding up a storm, and I was worried about my nav. Got those in good order and headed to the last bike points and the last o at the finish. Got about a mile from the camp and my chain seized and on further inspection got very jammed, and had to walk and when I could, coast in--ugh! Got the last map and turned out it was an all or nothing deal...and we decided to get the one mandatory and call it a day. In retrospect, wish I had pushed to go for them, but I think at the moment my brain said no. We were 3 points behind the lead in our division and 16 (!!) behind the winners overall, Top 3 were WEDALI, Rib Mountain and Alpine Shop.

Felt good about a lot of things, and had some serious character and experience building moments. Glad we did it despite all. As I understand from the volunteers, this was the hardest...and I think that WEDALI and Rib finished within a few hours of when they finished nationals.

Things to remember:
-First time my feet were utterly destroyed-just so bad from being wet all day-should have changed socks
-Keep up with pack training
-Get a pole that won't dissemble sticking in the mud
-Add weight training

C • Those hillls tho 2

Easy trot to check the shins. Feeling good.

With cris on Igors map...she didn't want to get wet sooooooo....shin splints lots better.

C • but he offered such a lovely swamp crossing 7

Chased Tone and his buddy Charlie.

C • respectable climb total 3