Training Log Archive: Run_BoscoIn the 7 days ending Dec 26, 2015:
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Saturday Dec 26, 2015 #
Orienteering race 3:10:00
shoes: Inov8 OROC
I lost my map. I emerged from the ferns, looked at my hand, and it wasn't there.
At first it was funny, because I was pretty sure I could just turn right around and find it. But then I couldn't find it. So I checked my hand again and it still wasn't there.
It really seemed like I ought to be able to find my map. Like it should just be laying on top of a fern, bright white against the vegetation. I checked under the ferns. I checked different routes. I squatted and tried to look at a different angle. But I just couldn't find it. The ferns ate it.
So then I had to come to terms with my race ending and getting back to the finish without a map. All I knew was that I was on my way to #15 and that maybe I was in the lower left corner of the map (I was not). It seemed like the best way to get back was to go back to the pipeline.
The next thing I did was stupid. I looked around and saw that uphill from me was a linear clearing, which seemed like it could be the pipeline. So I proceeded to run on trails that went north-ish (ARGH!), which I justified by wanting to get to the pipeline (???), and bash uphill either east or west, I can't remember... all following a pot of gold that was just clearings at the tops of hills.
Fortunately, I realized how dumb this was. I was doing exactly what I tell people not to do, which is wander around and get yourself more lost when you're lost. And I was actually lost.
Temporarily confused = not sure where you are, but have the tools/skills to fix it.
Lost = not sure where you are, but don't know how to fix it (which could mean not knowing how to read your map, or... NOT HAVING A MAP!!)
So I decided to backtrack, which was tricky, because everything looks different in reverse. I was losing confidence that I could even backtrack all the way successfully, and blowing my whistle entered my realm of options. I didn't want to blow my whistle before course closure, because I wasn't hurt, but I also didn't have a watch on. Fortunately, I stumbled on some hikers and I asked for the time (I had 15 minutes before course closure) and they happened to have a hiking map downloaded to their phone.
Seeing a map was the turning point for me. I saw that I was far north on the map and that the pipeline trail was east of me. This was all the information I needed. I lucked out again by seeing another map at a large intersection, which helped me get to the pipeline even faster.
Now I knew I was past course closure, but also that I was definitely able to get back on my own power. So I continued to debate over whether to blow my whistle or not. Would people begin searching for me as soon as the course closed? Would it be better to blow my whistle to direct them to me, even though I wasn't hurt or in danger?
I kept putting off blowing my whistle, and then I saw Kate, Julie, and Kean walking up the big hill towards me. What a relief. I was very happy to see them.
Lessons:
--Wear a watch (and know course closure time)
--Don't wander
--Know the safety bearing
--Try to know where you are generally on the map
Bog Slog. It likes to be memorable.
At first it was funny, because I was pretty sure I could just turn right around and find it. But then I couldn't find it. So I checked my hand again and it still wasn't there.
It really seemed like I ought to be able to find my map. Like it should just be laying on top of a fern, bright white against the vegetation. I checked under the ferns. I checked different routes. I squatted and tried to look at a different angle. But I just couldn't find it. The ferns ate it.
So then I had to come to terms with my race ending and getting back to the finish without a map. All I knew was that I was on my way to #15 and that maybe I was in the lower left corner of the map (I was not). It seemed like the best way to get back was to go back to the pipeline.
The next thing I did was stupid. I looked around and saw that uphill from me was a linear clearing, which seemed like it could be the pipeline. So I proceeded to run on trails that went north-ish (ARGH!), which I justified by wanting to get to the pipeline (???), and bash uphill either east or west, I can't remember... all following a pot of gold that was just clearings at the tops of hills.
Fortunately, I realized how dumb this was. I was doing exactly what I tell people not to do, which is wander around and get yourself more lost when you're lost. And I was actually lost.
Temporarily confused = not sure where you are, but have the tools/skills to fix it.
Lost = not sure where you are, but don't know how to fix it (which could mean not knowing how to read your map, or... NOT HAVING A MAP!!)
So I decided to backtrack, which was tricky, because everything looks different in reverse. I was losing confidence that I could even backtrack all the way successfully, and blowing my whistle entered my realm of options. I didn't want to blow my whistle before course closure, because I wasn't hurt, but I also didn't have a watch on. Fortunately, I stumbled on some hikers and I asked for the time (I had 15 minutes before course closure) and they happened to have a hiking map downloaded to their phone.
Seeing a map was the turning point for me. I saw that I was far north on the map and that the pipeline trail was east of me. This was all the information I needed. I lucked out again by seeing another map at a large intersection, which helped me get to the pipeline even faster.
Now I knew I was past course closure, but also that I was definitely able to get back on my own power. So I continued to debate over whether to blow my whistle or not. Would people begin searching for me as soon as the course closed? Would it be better to blow my whistle to direct them to me, even though I wasn't hurt or in danger?
I kept putting off blowing my whistle, and then I saw Kate, Julie, and Kean walking up the big hill towards me. What a relief. I was very happy to see them.
Lessons:
--Wear a watch (and know course closure time)
--Don't wander
--Know the safety bearing
--Try to know where you are generally on the map
Bog Slog. It likes to be memorable.