Training Log Archive: Anvil

Event: O-Cup #4 - The IceBreaker
 

Throwing out the kids controls for the Icebreaker. Forgot to take the map with me (or it fell out of my pocket) so had to do it by memory.
Mistake, took the wrong first junction, got extremely disoriented and basically ran the whole course twice.
A little frantic getting back as I'd been out there for so long, but had plenty of time up my sleeve and the two Dr. Ps had everything under control.

Happy with how the O-Cup race went. Was a little worried since it was my first time setting this race format, along with the Farsta concept as well - but everyone seemed to like it.
My main motivation for this style was to make the 'post box' line section not simply an exercise in following tracks in the snow (other than needing a map exchange for such a small area!).

Only thing I'd really change about the courses in hindsight was the route choices to #1. Wasn't expecting 98% of competitors to take the trail to #1 (especially the more northern of the 2).
Possibly also tweak the boxes a little more to make the choices tougher for the 0 handicappers - to me there was no real options for those guys.

Big thanks to my 2 doctor assistants and also to Bash, for getting us access to the property we had registration at (Crash's for AP savvy), giving advice about the map (specifically which areas to avoid) and knowing the right people at the conservation authority to talk to. In a way, she was the third volunteer of the event, so the 50 O-Cup points she earned for winning the race made karmic sense.

C • Thanks 2

Putting out the O-Cup flags with Dr. PBV.
Split up a couple of times so people wouldn't follow our track. Probably unnecessary, but fun. Dr. Ps memory is pretty impressive - he basically remembered all the sites that we'd taped a month ago, even though we were going in the reverse direction today!
Count 50%

TNT: Winter Rally.
Still pretty slow, but a five minute improvement on last months plague tinged run. Bit of a Trav run, a few times caught myself day dreaming, then realised I could run a lot faster.
Thought conditions would be pretty bad, but actually pretty good tonight - not terrifying coming down Nancy or 17th fairway at all.
D-Bag knocked off 27 mins and change. He's hungry for Dangs record.

C • Grrrrrr 2

ARX/Attack set up at Dundurn + a little jogging with Hammer during the first hour. 3 times up Dundurn stair - way harder than Chedoke!
Awesome how much longer it stays light it's gotten in the 2 weeks I've been away - I can see daylight savings from here!

Warm up, home and Churchill loop with short cut required. Rude group left at 5:29pm.

First time ever doing a 30 min set of Donatos. Wasn't convinced to begin with, but it's a good session - very little HR drop on the rests, but very easy to slack off without realising it. Would be tough session to do solo.
Surprised myself, after such a long layoff from speed work I expected to be much further back, at least behind Trav. Though I think if we'd done longer intervals my lack of form would have showed up.

C • Trailmaster 18

C • Grrrrrr. 1

Warm up totals for the weekend

Session #8: Chase Setup at QE Park
Not so great on the early or late easier sections of the course, was already sounding like a pack-a-day smoker on the way to #2. The middle butterfly section felt quick and flowy however - picking smart routes to minimise climb and what-not.

Session #9: Chase at QE Park.
Mostly awesome, but was sabotaged into a world of mediocrity at the end.
Started with 4 people bunched within 20 seconds. Did my own thing, dodged all the olive green and was first to punch #1. Ran off the map slightly to #3, but everyone followed so no big deal.
Slight error at #8 going down the wrong path, but corrected quickly and was back in touch with the pack by #10. Lost the pack due to the climbing that was needed to #13, but was kinda happy as I wouldn't need to race through the final two easy control.
As I head (directly according to the GPS) to the second last control, one of the Three Stooges who were chirping at the butterfly pivot yells at me to check my map. So, since there's no one visibly behind me, I make a bit of a show of it, slowly unfold my map and check the description in there. Should be #68. Hang on, this is #54. But, it's the right one. Well, there's no one round, so I'll check the other nearby controls on trees. Up the hill.. nope not that one. Down the hill. Nope, not that one. Turn around and some junior is punching the at the tree I was originally at, while being cheered on by the Stooges.
Head back to the original tree. Check map again. Should be #54. It is #54.
What?
Anyway, finish the course and finally work out what was going on. The control description sheet I checked the first time was from the Setup race, I just hadn't thrown it out.... :/ Total time wasted: 1:30
So lessons learnt:
1) Don't use your map case as storage
2) Ignore hecklers
3) Don't check control codes

C • Time wasted 1

Session #10: Control Picking at BC Childrens Hospital.
Finished off with a cruise. Bit of a conga line to #1, but AdventureGirl! got the pack in front lost on it, so I snuck in and got ahead of them.
Map a bit hard to read with the printing, but only got caught on one of them. Otherwise, good bit of picking.