Training Log Archive: Keith Andersen

Black Rock forest trail run.

10th Keith Andersen M-20 USMAOC
Time: 1:11:52
Pace: 11:24
Behind: 23:03
Score: 73.86


Doing a quick AAR on AP since I didnt get to go over it too much otherwise:

Control 1-5 went very well. I chose my routes well and I found them without much trouble. (number 2 I drifted a touch high and spent 20 or so seconds running until I realized I was a bit high and then ran back down the hill to punch the control)

By point 5 I was smoked. I had a long run to 6, and I was running and reading and running some more... it was at this point that I started having mental troubles. I was able to choose my route, but then I drifted and made a huge parallel error, which put me about 300m south of where I wanted to cross the river. I then had to run the distance back north after crossing and punch that control. I'd say I lost atleast 5 minutes on that control, but it also tired me out even more so I ran (walked) slower on some later portions due to my tiredness.

Point 7 wasnt terrible for me, but I did a bit of bouncing around because I didnt force myself to choose a route and stick with it. I only stuck with it until it became inconvienent and then changed up my plan which made me run a minute longer than I should have.

Point 8 I found a route and attack point while running and reading, but I lost mental concentration on distance and then when I looked around at the area, my brain was trying to make sense of the area even though I hadnt arrived. I saw a seasonal marsh and my brain told me it was the one I was looking for. I started searching for the orange that my mind told me must be near. After about 3 minutes of panic, I settled down and decided to bail out to the west, and found that I didnt hit the stream like I should ahve, thus I re-bailed to the east and finally found the road, at which point I realized that I was still about 100/150 meters south of where I needed to be. I ran until I found my newly determined attack point and found the control no problem.

The next few controls were good, since I knew exactly where the setter was putting them (re-entrant/hill/re-entrant) but the route I ran was "bouncing" from major feature to major feature because I couldnt force myself to navigate over the less distinct areas by this point. I was entirely wiped and couldnt do mental math very quickly (i miss counted my pace because I was trying to figure out how many paces I needed to go to travel 200m... 38+38=76, oh wait, how many paces did I just take while i was trying to figure that out?) So my running was slow and tired and my route was not the straightest. I didnt make any huge navigation errors from this point on, but I was mentally and physically smoked.





Hopefully link above will link to the Q-Route image.

C • Prevent mental "bonking" 6

Event: DVOA Hickory Run Training Weekend
 

Contour only map for advanced practice.

Precision Compass work w/advanced group. I found out just how terrible I am with a compass. Not sure how to get better at "Orienteering Pace" precision compass, but I do need to get better with the thing or I may as well not carry it out on the course.

C • Ask at practice 6

Worried that I'm out of practice with reading while thrashing through the underbrush. I've been navigating on strictly map memory near bog meadow pond, and when I tried to stop and force myself to read while running I just couldnt seem to pay attention enough to make sure that the boulders I was seeing were actually the ones I was seeing on the map. This weekend should humble me a bit; I wouldnt be suprised if I got a 5 minute error this weekend. I just need to get my mind right for the ranking races...

Bog Meadow Pond Map