Training Log Archive: expressoIn the 7 days ending Oct 24, 2009:
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Saturday Oct 24, 2009 #
Orienteer race (classic) 1:06:28 [4] ***** 7.6 km (8:45 / km) +282m 7:23 / km
shoes: Icebug MR2 910
US Classic Champs 2009
Cat's Meow, Greenbush, WI
This race has been on my calendar since 2005 when Kevin showed me the LIDAR base map as we were talking between races in Bend, OR. He knew it was championship quality terrain and would eventually host the US Champs. He gave us a small taste of it later that year and another in 2006 and I never forgot the feeling of running through "a maze of twisty kettles, all alike." I don't know why but, ever since my first orienteering season when I ran at Telemark, I have always done well in this inverted terrain. I also got some intense practice just last weekend at Camp Ripley and made the most of it. I was ready for today and had the race of my life (to date).
It was like reading my favorite book the whole time. I almost always kept map contact and had a sound plan for where I was going. Other than bobbling the end of nine and a sub-optimal route choice to 6, it was perfect. I simplified where necessary and found handrails everywhere. My only problem was that I was physically beat over the last third of the race as I've hardly trained for three weeks (no motivation). I knew that speed was not going to win it today, but a clean race would and I had one.
Whoo Hoo !!!!!
Results...
QuickRoute...
Cat's Meow, Greenbush, WI
This race has been on my calendar since 2005 when Kevin showed me the LIDAR base map as we were talking between races in Bend, OR. He knew it was championship quality terrain and would eventually host the US Champs. He gave us a small taste of it later that year and another in 2006 and I never forgot the feeling of running through "a maze of twisty kettles, all alike." I don't know why but, ever since my first orienteering season when I ran at Telemark, I have always done well in this inverted terrain. I also got some intense practice just last weekend at Camp Ripley and made the most of it. I was ready for today and had the race of my life (to date).
It was like reading my favorite book the whole time. I almost always kept map contact and had a sound plan for where I was going. Other than bobbling the end of nine and a sub-optimal route choice to 6, it was perfect. I simplified where necessary and found handrails everywhere. My only problem was that I was physically beat over the last third of the race as I've hardly trained for three weeks (no motivation). I knew that speed was not going to win it today, but a clean race would and I had one.
Whoo Hoo !!!!!
Results...
QuickRoute...
Run (path) 25:00 [3] 2.5 mi (10:00 / mi)
shoes: Icebug MR2 910
Warmup around the ski trails a few times. Ready to go at start.
Note
US Champs Banquet
All the CAOCs seemed to arrive just as the doors opened so I bought two pitchers of Spotted Cow and the party was rolling. I was happy, relieved and ready to celebrate. The beers were sooooo tasty, the food was plentiful and yummy and the company was great fun. It was very cool that everyone gave Kevin a standing ovation for his efforts and leadership in delivering these champs. I drank waaaay too much but that was part of making this a great o-banquet.
All the CAOCs seemed to arrive just as the doors opened so I bought two pitchers of Spotted Cow and the party was rolling. I was happy, relieved and ready to celebrate. The beers were sooooo tasty, the food was plentiful and yummy and the company was great fun. It was very cool that everyone gave Kevin a standing ovation for his efforts and leadership in delivering these champs. I drank waaaay too much but that was part of making this a great o-banquet.
Friday Oct 23, 2009 #
Event: US Individual Champs 2009
Orienteer 50:00 [3] **** 5.0 km (10:00 / km) +100m 9:05 / km
shoes: Icebug MR2 910
Model event at another Cat's map. Perfect course for getting ready. Reading the terrain effortlessly; ready for tomorrow.
Sunday Oct 18, 2009 #
Orienteer race (goat) 1:53:29 [4] **** 12.3 km (9:14 / km) +300m 8:13 / km
MNOC Minnegoat
Excellent crowning race to a great meet. So glad I made the trip. Cool, clear morning just perfect for this race. Barely got up there in time to warmup and go. Start was a train of people heading into the kettles looking more for Swampfox's yellow Swedish shirt than at their maps. I was back a bit and intent on running my system, picking my own routes and keeping complete map contact. Succeeded through the most difficult terrain. Things slowly spread out and people dropped of the back until I was with just the MNOC OTNT pack at 9. Decided it was time to start splitting routes with them to hopefully get some separation. To 11, I succeeded but not in the direction I planned as I gave up 90 seconds by going right and making a small parallel error while they rode the fast left handrail. I pushed it through 16 but never again reattached. The good news was that I was finally running alone where I wanted to be. However, a sloppy route to 18 led to my only loss of map contact and with no easy relocation option, I cut my losses and skipped it. It would have been a good skip choice but getting within 70 meters (as I did) and then skipping it was the death knell to my time. There rest were pretty clean as I chose good routes and executed well except the final "brain fart" in skipping the go control and having to go back and punch it after finishing.
Phenomenal terrain, good practice for next weekend.
Here the the Results...
and QuickRoute...
Excellent crowning race to a great meet. So glad I made the trip. Cool, clear morning just perfect for this race. Barely got up there in time to warmup and go. Start was a train of people heading into the kettles looking more for Swampfox's yellow Swedish shirt than at their maps. I was back a bit and intent on running my system, picking my own routes and keeping complete map contact. Succeeded through the most difficult terrain. Things slowly spread out and people dropped of the back until I was with just the MNOC OTNT pack at 9. Decided it was time to start splitting routes with them to hopefully get some separation. To 11, I succeeded but not in the direction I planned as I gave up 90 seconds by going right and making a small parallel error while they rode the fast left handrail. I pushed it through 16 but never again reattached. The good news was that I was finally running alone where I wanted to be. However, a sloppy route to 18 led to my only loss of map contact and with no easy relocation option, I cut my losses and skipped it. It would have been a good skip choice but getting within 70 meters (as I did) and then skipping it was the death knell to my time. There rest were pretty clean as I chose good routes and executed well except the final "brain fart" in skipping the go control and having to go back and punch it after finishing.
Phenomenal terrain, good practice for next weekend.
Here the the Results...
and QuickRoute...
Orienteer (control picking) 50:00 [3] **** 5.0 km (10:00 / km)
Couldn't squander my final opportunity to get out in this terrain. So, after a little replenishment and rehydration, I headed back to the complex area SE of the start for some control picking. Executing well so I decided to do the last half as a memory-o. This was excellent practice but very difficult. More of this will do me some good.