Training Log Archive: iansmith

Event: NEOC Estabrook
 

NEOC local meet at Estabrook Woods, Red course, set by Ian Finlayson. There exists a network of rock walls and trails at Estabrook that makes it relatively easy to catch yourself if you overshoot; while I did use that network for navigation, I never needed to catch myself and reattack (progress!). Many thanks to Mark Webb, who loaned me his thumb compass and saved me from much delay waiting for a rental compass to settle.

I had what for me was a generally clean run. I hesitated near control 6, but my route choice and attack were good - I just struggled with the micro-orienteering at the end. Apart from that, the first 11 controls were solid. I was running well through at times inhospitable woods, and I projected that a 50 minute time was attainable - with a remote chance of beating one of the Saegers (e.g. if she got hurt or was fasting from the previous Friday).

Unfortunately, I then made an error at 12. My attack was fine (even conservative) - to the trail, the junction, the rock wall intersection, and along the rock wall - but I stopped short when the contours on the map didn't seem to match the terrain. I figured I might not have gone far enough, so I advanced and found the control in a thicket (thanks, Ian F).

I was a bit shaken by 12, so I proceeded to mess up 13 and 14, too. Thirteen was in an enormous depression that was all but impossible to miss, so I took an obscenely conservative route to get there, traveling directly and then hitting every trail in the vicinity of 13 to specify my location. At 13, a large black dog bounded out of the woods, probably motivated by my running, and seemed to want to play. I heard yelling that probably corresponded to his owners trying to summon him back, but I decided the dog would lose interest, and went merrily on my way.

At 14, I hit the trail and observed a nearby rock wall, but I didn't immediately realize I was about 50 meters to the north of the control at a different junction. Sigh.

Anyway, I hope to have the fastest finish leg when all splits are recorded. I am generally pleased with my results; I ate only a zone bar for breakfast, but had plenty of stamina and fitness to push hard through 6 km.

Picking up controls at the NEOC Estabrook woods meet. I left my compass in my backpack in my office, so I didn't have a compass for this section. I chose safe routes and had no difficulty. I also picked up 3 full gallon jugs at water controls. Interestingly, I suffered my worst injury at the meet during control pickup, where I banged my knee against an unyielding log while reading my map. The skin is bruised and broken, but otherwise ok.

In other news, while volunteering at the start, I showed Mori how to operate a latch on a box; he proceeded to delightfully repeat this technique many times.

Red - Splits

Event: NEOC Sprint Doubleheader
 

NEOC Needham Sprints: Sprint 1 (technical).

NEOC Needham Sprints: Sprint 2. Navigationally simpler than Sprint 1, but the optimal routes often suggested longish detours on trails.

Warm up and cool down.

Sprint 2 - Splits

Sprint 1 - Splits

Checking out possible control locations at Pine Banks. Unfortunately, I arrived late and the sun fell before I completed my examination; I will return later.

A brisk jog from Alewife Station to Menotomy Rocks Park to set the CSU training session. I ran with my backpack, which has always caused a measure of physical discomfort. I walked part of the way to avoid perspiring too much.

Course setting; the course I designed was approximately 4 km in length with 14 controls. Learning from my past course designs (including one at Menotomy Rocks), I tried to set each leg to maximize route choice options, and generally ignored distance considerations. Since the park has so many trails, my general objective was to ensure that the optimal route was not on a trail; climb also allowed some route choices options. The comments I received were generally positive, though I still have much to learn for course design. The biggest limitation of my design was the clutter on the map due to the many criss-crossings.

I didn't get a chance to run the course because I was babysitting everyone's stuff. I also just barely finished setting all the controls at exactly 6 PM. Alex Jospe showed up first, followed by Keith Durand, Clem McGrath, and Wendy Johnecheck.

Orienteering is a very social sport - perhaps because it is so antisocial in its execution. I always feel encouraged and uplifted when I interact with my comrades and peers in the orienteering community.

I also must remember to specify exactly where the start is in my meet announcements rather than presuming everyone knows how to get to Menotomy Rocks. Clem demonstrated his tremendous skill in arriving at the start without any information except that the park was Menotomy Rocks.

C • Skill? 3

Resting my legs after a brutal weekend of climb. Unfortunately, at the end of the long course, on my way to the finish from the last control, I was tripped up by a barbed wire fence and smashed my knee against something unyielding. I don't believe the injury is more serious than a significant bruise, but I will apply precautionary RICE.