Training Log Archive: bl

Had in mind Bennington, drove back via TSP, Rte 22 then to Hancock Road/Rte 43 as a change of mind. Peeked at 841 Hancock Road, for sale, looking a bit weary. Recalled the somewhat dreary winter '93-4 there. Spent the night in Williamstown. Went to the Student Union for coffee after dinner, cashier took a look at us & waved us thru, coffee on the house. Sat in the main foyer reading the college paper and contemplating back to fall 1964 when it was my turn - in another world. By coincidence, ended up at same motel we'd stayed with Bruce, Peggy & Carl & 2 years ago. Did not even recognize til we entered the drive. Today, drove to Stamford to see, at the end of Sumner Road, the other rental half of that year adrift. Then north on Rte 100 & Rt 8 to 9, thru Brattleboro to Spofford to visit Olaf & Mette. Had been a few years, good to see them...time wearing a bit on them both. Came home, picked up dogs who insisted on a DP. Enroute looked over the Ottawa 2014 NAOC info thinking it's a done deal. Had not been since '08. Seems too good to miss, certainly the case if in the eastern portion of NA.

"Fire" in the forest


River Shadows

NAOC brown sprint: Approached this with caution, avoid MP-voodoo. Warmed up well. Thought it was a pretty good/clean run, yet running in the chute heard "only good for fourth". Shucks! Looking over, can see places where precious seconds added up. Ask myself - did I really put all out? Sprint, in particular, is such a titration between restraint/clean run and press ahead hard, every second counts. Anyway, satisfied with a good enough run, even if not on the podium...got me on the road sooner:). Summary: 2nd middle, MP long, fourth sprint. Plenty of hiccoughs for company though. Of the meet itself: a DVOA-organized masterpiece.

Finish chute


Elite start

C • Heard in the chute 10

BrownM - Sprint - Splits

Seeds of exhaustion!

either:
the 2 'e's are 2 'eyes'
or:
each 'e' is its own 'eye'

NAOC long, dry, pleasant weather. MP on #9 though so not pleasant in that regard. 305 shows my going near but not near enuf! Conclusion - dropped into the reentrant with 9 in mind from maybe 1' before but the oxygen draught cancelled the thought & focussed on #10 - clueless until after downloading. #4 - rough O most of leg tho wanted better contact. Crossed stream lower than I thought & when unexpected reentrant opened ahead fortunately reconsidered/relocated & minimized loss. #8 - was right behind Jim Henderson who had a tumble on this very short leg - distraction added up. #12 - too far L, recovered (to 9 & 12 were tiring, concentration-challenging climbs) & then proceeded to make a 180 leaving 12 for about 50 secs, mostly down. That hurt psychologically as it was a hard climb to get back in business. Went around on road for 13, tired in the chute & also oblivious of MP.

Long

Long - - Splits

Friday Middle, NAOC, a rainy but pleasantly warm day. When I got the map in hand, I was surprised with how long & narrow it was. Would give this run a B, losing time at 7 & 11 (don't these numbers relate to luck?). Rest were ok. The first leg was "whoa, see how much time you could lose?" So other than plenty of caution, went right to it but never certain even tho looking up for the veg "isle". #7 went right for some reason when woods became white. Persisted in searching in light green until it was clear that was a non-plan with a dismal future. Got in white, went round a bit looking for reentrant landshape & voila. #11, did not now where I was after crossing the open. There was a distinct knoll with a cp but, stupidly, did not take time to pinpoint it. Came upon a cp nr man-made debris & that gave me an AP. #12, cliff top surprised since I had not checked description. At final cp, an adolescent female was literally screaming "don't punch that control" - for an instant, I thought there might have been something fishy. Looked at #, 152, & "non-carefully" punched, uncertain until download. Pissed me off, the yelling from 10' away evidently directed at a friend, tho why not to punch there was not figured out.

305 did not acquire, asked me if I was indoors, thought I was changing to outside but instead I told it "yes" & it never acquired. Often, QR is just fun entertainment & not really revealing. Ran pretty much straight-line, maybe 3.4 k total. Dealt ok with all the wet - in past, I usually went up in steam. Was second when I left, PG sizzled the course under 30'.

Finish chute


Beth & Betsy, two happy campers


Map/route

Middle - BrownB - Splits

Event: 2012 North American Orienteering Championships
 

Nottingcook with dogs, in part looking for RF's "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood" for BOS pamphlet. Found that and a butchered deer or moose - hard to tell. Found the Dave's Septic guy frustrated because he could not find the 5 porta-potties he came to get. He stopped where two roads diverged...would have been ok with either. Sent him on his way in a better frame of mind.

Figure 8 on the honest side. Got to point of thin red line. Wondered if i didn't feel chest tightening. Know I felt an earthquake here last eve - shook everything....

Nottingcook brown course from last spring's local meet. Steady pace, worked on map contact which isn't so necessary on the home front. Woods open with most leaves down. Lovely stretches in birch forest sections. Windy day. Pine woods looked impossibly dark as I approached start around 3:45 but it was mostly contrast at work.

Brown - Splits