Training Log Archive: Thompass

NAOC Relay

316 controls

1: Looked for a clean start and got it.
3: Decided that running through the forest wasn't worth it, think it was the right choice.
4: Aimed for the left reentrant because I was more likely to hit it accurately, then crossed over to the control. Again, good execution.
6: Compass leg, very runnable, well done.
7: The low point of my race. I exited 6 extremely well and made it to the trail network alright. I veered off in literally the last meters because of either compass error or errant map reading. Either way, I talked to Greg Balter and concluded that running around on the trail was by far the better option. Yes, going straight can save me four seconds, but taking the trail guarantees that I make it there without issues. Especially in the relay, taking reliable routes is crucial.
11: Very good compass work where I ignore the trails.
12: Off compass but realized quickly.
15: Should have run down the reentrant but it looked clogged so I ran down the spur instead.

Relay - Junior Men Leg 3 - Splits

NAOC Middle

301 controls

2: Identified ridges as the easiest route with the least physical work.
3: Not steady on my direction but I hit the open by the road and things got easy. Entered too early.
6: I was actually going to take a more direct route but went too far left and hit the road. Realized that was a good thing.
8: Bad compass but realized immediately and decided to continue and hit the two hilltops.
10: Didn't make a good plan and ran too quickly at the beginning on a bad compass, should have put more effort towards a good compass. When you see my route go red, I'm not actually that far off but I thought I was, so I aim to hit 13 and try from there. Stop short, although I should have realized that I should keep running until I'm going uphill again. Lost a bit of time there, poor.
11: Went down the wrong spur, couldn't figure it out at the time so went back and tried again down the green spur.
12: Hesitation off of two awful controls.
13: Again, hesitation, but I think this time it was warranted. It helped me fix my direction.
14: Parallel error with the clearings.
15: Good grief does it ever end, just run to the ridge. Even better, run straight, drop down the reentrant, and run along the side of the hill.
16: Ran up the hill only to learn it was at the bottom of it.

Overall a pretty poor race in the second half that reminded me to reduce speed to allow for clean running, like I did in the beginning.

NAOC Middle & WRE - C-11 - Splits

NAOC Long

283 controls

3DRerun

1: Wasn't mentally in it yet. I went between two depressions and the one on my left looked pretty deep so I thought I was by the lake. Turns out I've just been running on 2.5 meter contours in Hungary and Finland and suddenly everything is massive. Oh well, lesson learned.
3: A very clean leg. I could have stayed further to the left of the line but the second of the leg and the approach is well executed.
6: I missed the control by a few meters but turned around. Still good orienteering for an open spur by using the vegetation boundary and staying aware of where the downhill is.
13: Not good enough, wasn't keeping close contact and was extensively using Leif and Michael. Was punished when I didn't know where I was attacking from.
14: Immediately changed my strategy and split off from Leif and Michael to use a different route. Significant improvement in my navigation and arrived at the control at about the same time. Used obvious features (open hills).
17: Didn't make a good enough plan. The cup depressions in the "flat" area by 17 were massive and hindered good navigation because I kept looking for big depressions on the map. If I did it again, I would go left because there's less detail.
18: Hesitated because I thought I recognized the area.
19: Compass

NAOC Long & WRE - C-10 - Splits

Event: NAOC 2018
 

NAOC Model

265 controls

I've updated my control count for all the maps on my log and it adds up to 256 at the moment.

After that mess of a run two days ago, happy with decent speed today. Started at 4:45/km and slowly accelerated to 4:10/km.