Training Log Archive: Vector

Toughest White course EVER! Complete mayhem! Let me explain-- Decided to switch from the Blue today and spend some more time w/ my son by doing the White rec with him, which also would enable Becca to run her own course, Daddy becoming hero for the day. Little did I know how much heroism would be required to finish what I thought would be a leisurely stroll through the forest w/ my son! First there was mud, *lots* of it. So that turned into me doing a lot of Gavin carries. Then I realized when seeing the map the distance- ~3.5 km! (Pretty long for a white, but it was the Long day, and that info was published beforehand, so I should have saw that coming and packed the carrier backpack). Then Gavin dropped the e-punch somewhere, so we backtracked and scanned a ton, just couldn't find it. By now we've done a hefty amount of extra-curricular walking looking for the punch, so I put him on my shoulders and we moved on. After another control that we manually punched, Gavin FALLS ASLEEP WHILE RIDING ON MY SHOULDERS!! He kept falling over dead asleep hunched over on my shoulders...completely perplexed how he can just fall asleep like that so suddenly and in such crazy situation, how can he sleep like that!!?? So then I moved him off my shoulders to a normal carry so his head is on my shoulder and arms under his legs in front of me. HE WAS DEAD ASLEEP ALMOST THE WHOLE REST OF THE COURSE AND WE WERE ONLY HALF WAY DONE WHEN HE FELL ASLEEP!! My arms were killed, back started hurting, one pain led to another the longer I carried him. After a little bit I then realize, NO MAP!!! WHAT THE HECK!!?? I put in my pocket earlier, so it must have fallen out after some of the wrestling around of Gavin moving positions and such. So now I have lost my punch, lost my map, and I have a dead asleep Gavin to carry the whole way back! Thankfully it was a White course, so just follow the trail to the finish... but what a trail it was... a trail of goopy mud slop, back uphill, a long way! By the way I was wearing a bit to much clothing and had a backpack full of toddler supplies, food, and other contingency materials on board, and a little too much by way of clothing, so I was sweating it. Saw the finish area but no way to take a short cut due to the raging river... so keep walking up the muddy hill, ugh! Then the river crossing. Finally Gavin wakes up right before, but he doesn't want to walk and indeed the only way back is to wade through the fast moving water... with Gavin on my shoulders! Fairly shallow though, so I moved through very carefully with horrifying thoughts of what-if's if I slipped and fell. Despite my worries Gavin seemed to be pretty excited to what he woke up to. Made it across with no issues as Ali sped past us. Final stretch run to the finish, Becca waiting, then we dashed to the finish with him on my shoulders, Becca ran alongside, passed the punch we lost to Gavin (a nice person found it and turned it in), and Gavin punched the Finish control. Yes, Daddy *is* hero of the day... or at least that's what it felt like at the Finish. phew!

C • that's what you get for switching 5

OCIN_FP2014_Mounds_Saturday_Long_1 White - Splits

Event: OCIN Flying Pig XVIII / US Interscholastic Champs
 

Slipp'n & slid'n, plus some near-swimming, heck of a run. The multiple knee-high river crossings added an interesting and exciting element. My SUV got stuck in the mud at a bad choice for a parking spot before starting even in 4x4 and I felt terrible driving on the grass but it was the only way out of where I parked (downhill), talk about soggy, sorry!! (Yet another reminder I need to replace the tires). On the O-course one river crossing was up to my waist! Regretting not getting new O-shoes like I've been meaning to lately, could have come in real handy today w/ such a slippery course. But my goal today was to run a no-mistake navigation race even if it meant throttling back on the speed. It was my first Blue A-race without making a single major nav mistake. Add to it the slippery conditions and I throttled back ever further, so overall I was fairly happy with this run. My plan to #13 was a good one had it been normal water flow conditions, but I got scared off crossing where I planned and thus rounded south and west around the river south of 13 until it split in two, so spent a *lot* of time detrouting due to river concern there, but I like my original plan. Physical unpreparedness was an issue, but that was expected. Seemed more like a Classic than a Middle course. So all things considered I think this being my first A-meet of the year I am probably on track for hitting my goal to score in the 70's for the first time by the end of the year. Fun course, very scenic, and always like an adventure an and an adventure it was. Once again an amazing OCIN / Flying Pig event, thank you OCIN!!

C • adventurous and near-swimming 2

OCIN_FP2014_Bear_Creek_Friday_Middle_11 - Blue - Splits