Training Log Archive: kateness

Event: Frigid Infliction
 

The 10-hr Frigid Infliction. Raced as Chaos Machine with Rick (lead nav) and Evan.

Race began at 5am (UGH!) with a fast sprint on xc skis following a glowstick-marked path about 5 minutes down a wide, groomed trail to a massive CP flag hanging at an intersection. From there we received a map to the first section of the race - a dogbone-style ski-O on the hilly and varied (some groomed, many not, many narrow) trails around Bolton Valley. There were 8 pairs of CPs and we had to get 3 pairs to move to the next section and receive maps for the rest of the course. We opted for the 3 pair minimum - skiing is not our forte and we were allowed to go back for more pairs later in the race. A couple nav errors and one tree-trunk-to-the-face later (xc skiing downhill off trail is not recommended, ouch!), we were still happy with our decision to stop at 3 pairs. We rolled into the TA as the 2nd team, happy to see the sun rising.

From this TA we were to go out on 2 loops - the first snowshoeing and the second postholing. We cleared the snowshoe section (6 CPs and 1 bonus CP worth 2 pts, as I remember it...) with only 1 nav issue - got a little over eager on the way to the bonus CP up on a ridge and started checking for "knolls" way too soon. Breaking trail in deep snow cost us probably 20 minutes and lots of energy but we finally nabbed it and moved on.

The postholing section was ... strenuous. Left our snowshoes at the TA (they were explicitly not allowed for this section - as was on-trail travel) and ventured back out for a 4 CP loop which we attacked counter-clockwise, again only the 2nd team out on the leg so not much broken trail to follow. There were several feet of heavy snow in the woods and we pretty quickly found ourselves breaking our own trail to the 1st CP up on the side of a ridge at the base of a rock ledge. I led for most of it as we discovered that Rick and especially Evan (6'4") sank far into the snow with each step so we realized that following my tracks was slightly easier for them. A low point of the race for us was crawling on all fours and getting stuck in tree basins up a steep slope on the way to this CP. But we made it, and luckily met Untamed and another team coming from the opposite direction soon after the CP - we happily followed an increasingly well-trodden trail to the remaining CPs on the section as we intersected with other teams. Is postholing a real sport? Because it feels like it shouldn't be :)

Back at the TA we threw our skis back on and strapped our snowshoes to our packs. We grabbed one more dogbone pair of CPs before returning to the start area/final TA. The sun was strong and the snow was getting sticky - time to tackle the remaining 9 CPs on snowshoe. But first we took a long TA - unusually long for us - to tend to some maladies that had developed over the course of the race. In particular, Rick's feet were frozen blocks of ice from wearing his xc ski boots (non-breathable) without gaiters. Also he chugged some cold medicine, having been quite sick all week though on the mend.

Revived, we strapped our snowshoes on and hiked straight uphill to the 1st string of 3 CPs. Unfortunately Rick hit a wall right around now so we did our best to keep moving and motivated. Luckily the CP locations were stunning - hidden viewpoints and caverns scattered on the hillside. Tons of elevation gain but worth it to access some truly beautiful winter wonderland. But soon we started to feel the clock ticking faster... Met Untamed at the 5th CP on the loop and we hustled to stay with them on the way to the last CP we hoped to grab on the section - downhill on a "knoll between 2 streams" on the way back to the finish. We monitored the altimeter closely and kept an eye out for streams (mostly guessing their location beneath the deep snow), checked a couple knolls... and couldn't find it despite working with Untamed to look. A holler from Dave reminded us we only had 25 minutes to drop 300+ feet to get back to the finish.

Untamed took off, we picked up our pace as best we could with Rick hacking up a lung every couple minutes. We made it back to the trails with 15 minutes to go and broke into a brisk jog, which we kept up back to the finish line - arriving with 8 minutes to spare.

No one cleared this course - it was big and physically strenuous with lots of tricky and punishing (of mistakes!) nav up in the mountains. We were pleased with our performance - early season with inconsistent training and coming off illnesses for each of us (especially Rick!), plus Evan's nearly constant battle to keep his shoulders above the snowline.... but we pushed the pace throughout and ended up 2nd in our division and ~5th overall (not sure exactly) behind some fast teams.

Many thanks to Tom, Amanda, Chris, Shawn, and the rest of the GMARA crew for a wonderful race. As always, the course was challenging but fair and they showcased a beautiful part of Vermont - and this time there was snow!

Easy spin at high cadence.

Taper reps, 4x90 with 3 min recoveries. Extra stretching time after.

Well this was awful. Warmed up, 8x20 sec sprints, cooled down. Planned for one more set of sprints and a little more cool down but the 15F temps with crazy gusty winds made it super rough. Mose agreed and barked until I turned back. Trails runnable packed snow/ice but too slippery to really push it.