Training Log Archive: z-man

This is interesting. The guy that I was trying to run away from for a good chunk of the race is attending a college in CO. And he smoked the finish!

The map! I am still amazed at my 14-15 route.

After excitingly watching, in my hotel room, my teammates battling through the night and then after Eddie's run nicely positioning me very closely to our goal of breaking into top 300, I went out with the goal to have a clean race. However, after arriving at the start triangle, I was faced with a choice of many tracks going in all the directions. I checked my compass and settled in the one that went past cliffs to my left and in general direction towards the control. There were a lot of people about the area and I sort of lost track of where I was. I found myself facing a marsh and on a trail way below the control and was amazed at how far I got off course so quickly.
I punched the first bag, which was surrounded by many other runners, and left for the next control following another track that went over the marsh towards the bare rock that I intended to use as my attack point. Things started to make sense and I began collecting controls one after another. I soon found myself completely along by the time I arrived at number 4. This was the case till I got to number 15 where I picked four other guys also running on my leg.
We picked up the pace and I and aother young guy broke away on the uphill towards 18. I then took the lead and was pushing hard on a muddy trail towards number 21. Once we jumped into woods I was passed and I decided to refold my map. After a bit of an effort I did so but noticed that we already were out of the woods and streaking down the trail that looked like the one just below the control. The guy in front of me cuts into the woods and I follow. After we run up the hill he stops and turns around with a puzzled look on his face. All I can say is fxxx. Seven or so minutes later I find the bag after relocating on a large bare rock just to the north.
I am alone again and am already looking at the long leg ahead. Decide to go right to avoid climb and push off the lakes. Get there ok and continue on to the next short leg. I then get sloppy on the following short leg and find two other controls before finally hitting mine. Unhappy, down to the field I go pushing as hard as I can in the marked corridor. Collect three more bags with no problem, but then find myself searching for the number 31 just a bit higher while ignoring the clear sign that the bag sat on an edge of the green. I finally find it and press on to the next control while glancing at my watch to see whether I was going to make it under 2 hours. But I finish just over the mark, while hearing loud cheers from our crowd as I round to the finish gate.

While unhappy with my run, I was pleased to learn that we finished in 272nd place. Perhaps the next time we break into the top 250 or even 200 if everything falls in place.

Event: Jukola 2012
 

A great trip, cool teammates, and as expected some Baltering as well!

C • Baltering 3