Training Log Archive: PG

Event: Birkhead Wilderness Classic (US Classic Champs)
 

Classic Champs, day 1. Green course (M60), 5.7 km straight-line.

Quite feeble but could have been much worse. On the feeble side, walked a whole lot, plus fell down 12-15 times, plus banged my bad toe a few times. On the could have been worse side, probably only a minute or two of mistakes.

Nice terrain, totally gorgeous day, course was fine.

Cheating report: Left my 305 at home to avoid being reminded of the lunatic rules here. Watched enough people finish to figure out about where the last control was, but I believe that is legal. Asked Francis Hogle how the woods were (Great, he said), I assume that is cheating. Found out that Jeff had taken 52 and Tim 51. I always like knowing what others have done, don't know if that is cheating or not.

Out on the course, used the sun a lot for direction (it was pretty much due south), I assume that is cheating (a navigation aid). Was heading the same way as Joe leaving #5, but he was out of sight so quickly that even if I was following, it didn't last for long.

I think that's about it.

As far as the organization, I have to laugh. Apparently taping over the 305s was a higher priority than a smoothly running start operation. I think there were three volunteers there when i was there, a guy calling people up and checking them off, a woman where you got your clues and taped your 305, and a guy at the maps. The latter two seemed fine.

But....

There was no clock at the start. The starts were a minute or two ahead of real time, never a good thing. I got there with three or four minutes to spare, and then got to watch what can only be described as a meltdown of the primary start official. Balter arrived, was told he was too late (by 30 seconds, and he was still either 2:30 or 3:30 before his actual start time. Didn't matter, he would have to wait, get a new start time. Greg,, naturally, argues with him, but the law has been laid down.

And then Evalin Braugtigam arrives, also declared "Too late" by a matter of seconds, also turned away. And while he is trying to figure how what new start times to give them, the start process is ignored. And he is losing it. And then Joe arrives. "Too late" again. Blood pressures are going up.

Hell with the 305, what I really wanted was something to shoot some video with.... :-)

And in the midst of this, my time came, and I pretty much started myself. I don't think anyone else started over a three or four minute period.

Of course none of this really mattered because start boxes were being used. But if you are going to be a stickler for the rules, it's a good idea to have your own shit together....

A beautiful day, as I said. A good bit of time hanging out with old friends, totally pleasurable. Chatted up a youngish Czech woman in the van, very nice. Easy trip down with Gail and Phil, left home at 4 am, at the meet site at 10:15. The toe survived (though it is feeling pretty bad right now). And not at work. As the old saying goes in our sister sport, a bad day orienteering still beats a good day at work.

And this was far from a bad day.

C • Classic! 29

Green Day 1 - Splits

A short joggeroo -- I'm assuming a regular joggeroo is rather short by deinition, and this outing was even shorter. Just to test the toe. Not too bad though it's still a little swollen. But I'm assuming one day of orienteering will trash it again, let alone two.

Felt slow, as expected.

C • I thought you were passing ... 10

C • Toe 8

Got my big toe x-rayed. Nothing broken, good to know. But still sore, doesn't feel like running in the woods is anything I want to do, or even running at all.