Training Log Archive: vmeyer

Event: QOC Turkey Run Ridge PWFP
 

Arrived at the park around 9:40 and with Sandy and Amy's help proceeded to set up epunching operation for the day.

What a beautiful day, especially compared to yesterday! The rain was gone, and there was no wind to speak of. Mid 40s at the start, mid 50s when I was leaving the park at 4:30 PM. I could live like this all year long!

I worked the epunch operation until a little after 1 PM when Jon T arrived back from his course. Got ready while he settled in, and then went out on the Brown course.

Sandy and I did Red yesterday, so we had Initially decided on Green for today since it had no overlap with Red. But, since the Red had been so darn boring, we briefly looked at the maps and decided Brown was a better choice for today.

Sandy started early and was back in just over an hour. She was at least 90 minutes up the road to Philadelphia before I would get my crack at the course. Her time of 1:02:26 was tops still when I went out last, and I had grand aspirations of coming in within 15 minutes of that time.



No Garmin - I felt so naked! But, at the same time, it made me aware of the fact that I had to remember where I had gone, if I wanted to post a recap.
S-1: OK, we had been to this one yesterday, and the circle is on the spur, but the clue is Reentrant. Found out that Reentrant was correct and bombed down the road to the trail, brushing some wayfarers aside as they just entered the trail. Apologized, so it must have been OK.
1-2: Pretty straight, though I cheated left through the spur.
2-3: Stayed high on the spur then to the left of the stream.
3-4: Fairly straight but remembered to go up a contour line. Sort of a crap shoot for me and earned the advantage of having others out there at the same time.
4-5: Around the dark green a bit, but straight after that. Maybe 30 meters to the left but felt comfortable where I was and went right to it.
5-6: Lots of big errors on this leg whereas I had the third best time. When I was nailing things on the way to this control, I knew I was potentially having a good day, but I tried not to get ahead of myself. Pretty much straight with the only drift being right and ending up in the reentrant just right of the numeral 6.
6-7: Straight again and being really, really proud when I recognized the little cuts just southwest of the circle at 7. Maybe I can orienteer!!!
7-8: OK, Sandy and I had glanced enough at the map that I said that I would take the trail/road option to 8. After Sandy finished, she said that she had gone straight, so that I had to do the trail/road option for comparison. Straight would have required all of my skills to get from the trail to the road, so trail to road it was. Barely beat Sandy on this leg after she messed up from the road to the control, but I would have been 3+ minutes more if I had tried the cross country option. So, I need to remember that trail/road, even if longer around, is still a viable choice for me. Oh, and I nailed the control from the road in.
8-9: Decided to stay along the stream bed to the trail, but it was crappy enough along there, and I wasn't moving fast enough to suit me, that I eventually headed up to the fire road. Just after that decision, I took a tumble - full body to ground with face plant, forehead ricocheting off of the ground. All I could think of at the time was that I needed to get up and go, because, while I had no idea how long I had been out, I knew it was a good time, and I didn't want to lose to Sandy by being a wuss. NO, I AM NOT AT ALL COMPETITIVE!!
Get up to the fire road at about the trail to the west. Then, I'll blame it on the knock to the forehead...I go in from the fire road thinking I will just see the control. NOT! Sort myself out, kicking myself at the same time, head tingling, sure that I am going to blow this race on the last control!! Again!, Agh!! Calm down, Valerie. And, Whew! There is the control! and into the Finish. Download, having no idea how long I have been out. Get my time, ask to see Sandy's time, 15 seconds to the good. Yeah!
OK, Sandy turned on all of the controls, I got a little help with #4 and had to assist a misplaced runner, so, a draw today, which would be fitting. It could be a fun year - my first in F55 and Sandy's last, or perhaps we will terrorize some of the youngsters in F50 instead.

Brown - Splits

Sandy arrived in Arlington for what has become our traditional January training weekend at Prince William. Last year, I was only up for about 9 miles of cycling while Sandy did a course. This year, I was up for a bit more, sort of.

Sandy navigated us around the Red course for tomorrow's QOC event. I attempted to lead once, but after leading us ~45 degrees astray, I was content to just try to keep up with Sandy.

Weather was a bit icky with a light mist most of the day, but at least it wasn't freezing.

Moving time ~2 hours, course = 7.1 KM, 215 m climb, 11 controls.



Quite a boring course, perhaps more so from trailing behind, but it was good exercise, and I felt really positive after we were done.

AND, Sandy spotted this huge rootstock.



Is it bigger than this one from 2008?! May require some in depth analysis because of the different shapes...

Fleshed out the weekend and added the EX2 race timing schedule for 2013 to my upcoming events.

21 events
9 Yes
6 No
6 "Only if Tyler isn't available"