Training Log Archive: Sandy

Brown Course - Another nice course. Control locations were in uncluttered areas so even though there was a lot of detail on the map I could still read what I needed to read.

Not nearly so good a race as Saturday.

S-1 Slow again. Followed the trail too long and wasn't sure where I was and so instead of moving fast I was poking along wondering where I was instead of just gunning for the stone wall or swamps. Eventually figured it out. But then didn't read the hillside correctly and didn't see the flag right in front of me and went around to the left at first. Finally went where I was supposed to go. (1:30)

1-2 Clean, but slow. Pretty shook up by the first leg so took it easy trying to get into the map. About halfway started reading things and went right to the control.

2-3 Not the most elegant route choice - should have gone down the hillside in between the stone walls. Ended up having to scramble to get down the last bit of hill before the swamp. Boulder was tucked up in the green so didn't see it right away. (0:30)

3-4 Over to the trail, trail to low ground, followed stream to first few hills, climbed until I came out of the green on the other side, turned right and saw the boulder.

4-5 Just right of the line down the reentrant to the dried marsh, across it to the small trail and out to the big ride. Right of the line to get down the hill where it was less steep then back across the line just before the stream through the cliffs - not terribly efficient. Wasn't reading the low areas quite right so stopped and carefully figured out where I needed to go. (0:40)

5-6 Along the swamp, across the trail, along the swamp to the next trail. Spent a little time making sure I knew where I was leaving the trail. Did not make myself climb the contour up to the little ponds and instead went down the reentrant to the wide open area. Stood there, realized what I had done and scrambled back up the blankety-blank steep hillside. Was clearly getting tired here and not thinking very well. This was so close to a great leg. (1:30)

6-7 Wasn't reading up/down so followed my compass. Climbed into some laurel unnecessarily. (0:20)

7-8 Debated going down to the trail. Should have. But I wanted to see the three ponds so I went into the small marshy area and out through a saddle only wasn't careful and went out the one to the north not northwest and ended up back at #6. Grrr. Did finally go visit the ponds, around the hillside next to the cliff, momentarily confused that I wasn't seeing a control until I read my description. (3:30)

8-9 Straight. Hesitating as I was really having trouble focusing on the map. (:20)

9-10 Up and over the little hills, not thinking very well any more, wasn't reading the terrain but kept moving in the general right direction until things became clear. Was trying to run but had run out of steam. Didn't see the bigger boulder for a bit but knew I had to be in the right place so kept searching until I saw it. (0:10)

10-11 Little trail to the control.

I thought I could do 4.3 km in an hour. I would have had to be really clean - not even any hesitations though. Would have been pleased if I just not mucked up #8.

Brown Day 2: Long - Splits

Event: WCOC / US Team A-Meet/WRE
 

Brown Course - Excellent course, really fun, great footing, no silly climb just for the sake of climb, every leg required paying attention.

S-1 No problems but slow as I just was having trouble seeing the map and couldn't come up with a good plan so just ran on a compass bearing for a while until the map and terrain started making sense. (0:20)

1-2 Straight.

2-3 Drifted left out of the control and so the trail didn't make any sense when I crossed it. Went a little further and then decided better safe than sorry so cut back up the hill until I could see the trail and the swamp and then came back down right to the control. (1:00)

3-4 Straight. Was more careful than I needed to be. (0:10)

4-5 South to the trail, trail to the junction, small trail south to where it sort of vanished, started wondering and looking for the trail through the green but it was easy to get through so just went straight up. Down the other side just at the edge of the clearing and into the control. (0:10)

5-6 Through the green and across the stream and then up the ridge - dropped below the control instead of attacking from the top but don't think it cost me anything.

6-7 Headed a little too far to the right, but picked out the correct saddle to aim for as I crossed the reentrant, corrected and came right out at the control. (0:10)

7-8 Down the hill, across the swamp, picked up a trail (not sure if it was the mapped indistinct one or not), stayed on the trail until just past the loop junction, then climbed down the reentrant. Wasn't exactly sure where I was, but climbed back up the other side, passed a control on a cliff, got on top of the ridge and ran it down to the reentrant. May have climbed more than necessary, but it was safe. (0:10)

8-9 Couldn't read the detail on the map so just aimed for the control, found myself on a trail (elephant track I think), hit a trail I was expecting, checked and realized the last control was not on the trail just in time to look up and see it in the woods.

A very good race overall. I was afraid to push harder because I figured I'd start making errors but should have been able to go faster in that terrain.

C • Nice Run. 1

Brown Day 1: Middle - Splits

Went to run the trail loop with Valerie and rolled my ankle in the first few minutes. Thought it would loosen up after a bit so kept going. Walking was okay after a little but jogging wasn't so ended up walking the whole loop. Grrr. Will tape it this weekend and hope for the best.

Very ragged breathing right from the get-go.

Stretched a bit afterwards - I'm really tight in the lower back.

C • run 2

TNT hike with Sandy and Jim. A little extra distance as we explored whether the old trail had been put back in one of the logged areas. It hadn't and so we backtracked.