Training Log Archive: tdgood

Flew back from Denver. On the way I got a coughing fit and coughed so hard I pulled a back muscle.
Off the plane, swung by home and then to the game. We had a lot of people so I didn't get as much playing time as I would like. It was so very hot (96 degrees) and humid. I huge difference from Wyoming where it was 70's and no humidity.
I played ok but my team didn't play up to our potential. We played a team with only 8 people and we let them tie us 2-2.
My back really started hurting after the game.

I found out at the starting line that they had shortened the course from 8.1K 350m climb to 7.3K 270m. I was thankful for the less climb.

Today I was overall tired from 5 days of straight orienteering. The good news is I was getting used to the altitude. I was guarenteed second place based on my first two days. I had to beat one person who beat me all week but didn't run yesterday.
At the start I noticed that the red and blue course was same at the end. I was starting with Eric Bone so figured he would he would do the extra distance and we would meet up for the final controls. Well it almost worked out. Eric ran faster than I so when I finally did see him we was already way ahead of me and there was no way I would catch him.

Overall I was clean at the controls but some of my routes were shaky. I felt tired/slow. I still had to walk more than I felt I should have, especially as open as the terrain was. I also lost much of my spring in hopping through the sage areas. I almost fell out of the start as I tripped on some sage. I used the recommended marsh crossing in all instances.
My only real mistake was after control 16, I was thinking I was at 17 so started heading the wrong direction (to 18). I corrected after a bit but then I was too high and messed up #17 as I thought I was going to the reentrant.
My 6-7 leg I executed fine but changed my mind part way through to added a bunch of extra distance. I was going to go more straight and cross by one of the ponds but then chickened out and went to the recommended crossing.

Western States Day 3 Red - Splits

Nice cooler day (upper 60's). map was more open than previous days. decided to wear my running shoes instead of orienteering shoes. They slipped on the side hill running but were better in the open areas.
Overall had a good but slow run. The only control I messed up on was #9. I was high and went to far by a bit and had to come back. I tried to run but was to tired. I had to walk a lot more than I should have.
I wanted the fastest time to #1 but was tied for 4th fastest of all courses.
10-11: i went east to avoid the climb.
11-12: went through sage to marsh, ran cow path along marsh.
12-13: went north to the marsh hoping for cow path. It was there but was more overgrown so couldn't run hard down it..

Western States Day 2 Red - Splits

Felt better today lung wise. Still not up to normal. Today the plan was to keep moving (not necessarily fast but to keep moving) and be clean.
Well, I couldn't keep moving and still had to walk a bunch. I was generally clean. I think most of my problems were hitting things hidden under the control circles/lines which through me off. Each time it caused me to pull up short.
Other than the circle issues, I liked the courses. I thought I did well but the faster people still outran me (when they were not making mistakes). This doesn't bode well for the remaining two courses as I am tired now.

Western States Day 1 Red - Splits

Middle Distance, Wyoming, Granite Planite.
I wanted this to be a good hard run as it was short and I hoped I could last for the distance. While I thought I was moving hard I guess I just wasn't moving that fast. Several controls I was off to the right and had to make some major adjustments. I lost substantial time on #11 and #12. I still thought I had done ok but looking at the results I just wasn't that fast.

Middle Red - Splits

one may cowboy relay. Everyone does multiple loops but the loops are in different order except the last one which everyone does the same.
I felt better lung/altitude wise today. I tried to keep a more even pace and keep moving but I still had to walk the uphills.
I was with Bill Cusworth much of the course even though we did the loops differently there were several common controls and I kept seeing Bill. He started just in front of me on the final loop and we ran together for awhile taking slightly different lines. He pulled up short one control and I got ahead of him only to then screw up the very next control and he passed me back. I finished 4th.

Event: 2018 Rocky Mountain Orienteering Festival
 

Out in Wyoming for week of orienteering. Today was just a fun run. Red course 7.7 K in wide open terrain. To make it easier it was a mass start. I didn't warm up any other than stretching. I guess I should have. My goal was to take it easy and get use to the altittude. I didn't want to burn out before the real orienteering starts later in the week.
I started off slow going up hill. I was one of the fastest out of the start so was just behind the leaders. They were running faster which was ok since I was taking it slow. I didn't get to far up the hill until I couldn't breathe and I was getting light headed. Not a good start. I stopped jogging and started walking. People were passing me left and right. I went from the front group to way back real quick.
The orienteering was very easy, especially with a line of people to follow. Eventually my body adjusted and I was just out of breath and not light headed. I proceeded to jog the down hills and walk most of the uphills. I was also passing back the people who passed me earlier. I still finished far back but was able to keep moving by the end. I had forgotten how dry the air is and my lungs are all dried out.