Training Log Archive: Harps

Event: Salomon Dontgetlost.ca Raid the Hammer
 

Another Raid the Hammer with Relentless and Leamer. I got back late Sat night from Costa Rica and had an OK sleep, getting about 6 hours before the hammerfest I knew would commence.

For the start matrix I originally was going to take D & B with Leamer taking A & C, Relentless going for E but once it was annouced there'd be a 2-min window between runners we switched it up and I took C, D and B first, Relentless taking E second and Leamer going for A last. No problems in this section and I think our strategy worked well, leaving within the top 5, less than a minute behind the lead teams.

Like many other teams we also screwed up the initial Salomon Bullseye section from 2-3, not knowing the flagging tape was the marked location on the map (we assumed it wasn't marked at all so attacked it once we exited the tunnel). Once we got to the flagging tape the rest went pretty well and we obtained all the CPs without much issue.

A short trail run led us to the half-pipe section CP's 3-7 where we moved pretty well I think.

From CP7 it was a (what I thought 'non-navigating') trail run along the Bruce to CP8. Of course when I finally take in a bit of water and a gel, thereby taking my eye off the map, I soon realize we are not what is labelled in the red route on the map, a trail running almost up against a road. However since we are on the Bruce, which is following the instructions, we figure we are ok and soon realize where we are but waste a bit of time verifying.

CP8-11 all went relatively well but our decision to descend and take 12B was not a good one, as an unmarked trail took us off course for probably a good 10mins until we realized where we were and eventually found 12B. Everyone we spoke to went for 12A and I think it was a much better choice.

Once at 13 our plan was to to get C, B and A then off to CP14, leaving D and E for the return trip but we decided at A to just get them all so we could hammer the run back without needing to obtain any. Looking back we should have probably saved A for the return back but hasty decisions are pretty common in this short a race. At this time MBR caught up to us and passed us while I buggered up CP C. Since our OARP fate was in their hands I wasn't completely unhappy to be passed by another team ;)

On from CP14 to the last O-section. I was starting to struggle here for sure as I had only taken in 1 gel, a handful of M&M's and maybe 150mL of water for the 4 hours of racing thus far. Leamer starting taking the lead setting a strong pace on the runs and climbs. We bobbled CP19 a bit (although not too bad according to the winsplits) shortly afterwards being distracted by the ever-cunning Untamed New England team, who had just missed the CP by a few metres (small valley?!). Onto CP20 which wasn't smooth either but that was poor route choice.

After CP20 it was onto the remaining CPs which were along the route to the finish. All in finished 5th male open in a pretty deep field, 6th overall. MBR took lead co-ed with UNE second and LosDobos 3rd.

We didn't have our best Raid race, navigationally speaking, I made quite a few small mistakes/poor route choices but nothing too major. I would say this was the hardest Raid the Hammer I've done, I was pretty toast by the end of it. An opinion echoed by many there.

Last 'tough' race for a while - yahoo!

C • 12B 13

Same run as last time minus one last hill, 31mins up, 23 back. Saw a really cool neon "blue morpho" bufferfly (like it had HIDs on it's wings) and a large blue green iguana that did not seem too keen on my running by it while it soaked up the sun. Right down to the ocean for a swim after. I could get used to this.

Quick run in the light drizzle, 34mins up the doubletrack trail and 23mins back the same way.