Training Log Archive: furlong47

Event: QOC Oregon Ridge - Susquehanna Stumble
 

SVO/QOC Susquehanna Stumble XV at Oregon Ridge - Short

Sprang off to 1 trying to keep up with the main body of the pack... lots of different groups were peeling off at various points. I thought I was doing ok at least keeping a vague idea of where we were until we crossed a trail I wasn't expecting, the last person's back went out of sight ,and I was alone on an empty hillside. Another smaller and slower pack came along and swept me up and into the control. I had a momentary nightmare that I would find we were actually somehow at 3 or 4, but it was in fact 1.

Keeping better contact, was in a train down to 2 and up to 3 and 4.

Into the box - 5,6,7 (CAB) with people now more spread out. Passed Ann the first time, but she was heading back the way I had just come.

Now on and off with Sam L and Don D. I went fairly straight across to 8, going up and down. Sam went low on the trail, Don split the middle somehow, and both got into the control just ahead of me.

Up the hill and back down to 9, confused briefly by what seemed like much more detail than mapped between the trail & road. Along the trail to 10, passing a bunch of QOC ladies including Kathleen going the other way on the trail (not sure where they were headed, maybe to 8) and catching up with Don and Sam again at the control.

North, north, north on the long leg. Crossed the ride, then hit the trail right by the double cairns. Eddie passed us just before this on way to winning the Long. At the trail, went to the junction slightly W and took that trail north to junction with trail/ride. Down the reentrant and into 11.

Energy starting to wane. Out along the pond edge, farther N than I intended to parking lot area, took trail back into woods and went down very steep hill next to the bridge. Ann caught up to me here and I told her I thought she had me today. Not much left in the tank. I remembered this interesting area near 12 from one time when Start was here.

Through the Honey Festival. A big group was gathering for some kind of talk so I crashed through the tall grass behind them. (Another guy too, not paying attention to who it was.) I heard the speaker mention orienteering so I guess she was explaining what the crazy folks were up to. Carefully crossed the log bridge in the woods and went across the field to 13. Ann in hot pursuit.

It was hot in the open. Entering the second box with not much brain power left, and probably made a poor decision on order. 15, 14, 16, 17, 19, 18 (LJHGIK). This area was least pleasant of the course and I made one dumb move turning toward big pond instead of the tiny one. The rest was just thrashing in the thorns a bit.

From K it was pretty straight forward, to 20 and 21 across the open, but the sun was really beating down and it was hard to will my legs to keep turning over. I had already seen what was coming ahead and done a bit of mental cursing. Wedding music could be heard, from what I discovered later was a redneck wedding complete with camo dress sash & vests. Also pink and purple sparkly cowboy hats on the guests!

Several people passed me going uphill to 22, and the last stretch back up through the forest to 23 on the ski hill was my real undoing as Ann blew by me here. I had to rest briefly twice in order to drag myself to the top.

But I made it, and it was all downhill from there.

C • Well done! 1

Short Stumble - Splits

Lesson on Crumpet

You know it's fall when my left knee starts to ache.

Startled by people twice - one guy materialized out of the darkness as I was busy daydreaming (He said "sorry" so I must have visibly jumped... hahaha.) Then I was walking by a parked car when some guy in the driver's seat suddenly started talking on the phone as I passed right by his open window.

C • Do you 3