Training Log Archive: iansmith

Event: NEOC: AGM and Horn Pond
 

On the NEOC Annual General Meeting:

The weather conditions were not optimal - 10 C and dreary, but a doughty crew of about thirty orienteers made it out for the event. I set controls, then scurried off to Kinko's to print some documents for the meeting. I haven't run on Horn Pond before, but my impression from the feedback and my own observations is that the map is unremarkable, and the terrain not worthy of attention beyond a club member updating the map.

As I have mentioned, there were six spots, three incumbents running for reelection, and three excellent new candidates. After a long sequence of reports, the present membership and the proxy ballots - totaling about 40, in excess of the 20 (10% of membership) needed for quorum, elected the candidates by acclamation.

Regarding events, I reported on three things:
- The 2011 NEOC Schedule
- A-meet possibilities
- Mapping

Brief paragraphs are not effective at summarizing the considerations and challenges in each of my responsibilities, so I will expand them at greater length in subsequent entries.

C • horn pond 3

Before the Horn Pond meet.

C • you were setting controls b... 1

Event: NEOC: Mt. Tom
 

In a substantial downpour, I set the remaining 17 controls for the Mt. Tom meet, starting when the park opened at 7:52. Total time of about 90 minutes; I was frantically hurrying. I elected to scrap the 9.3 km blue course, as I figured the only person running it would be Ross, and he would likely have to pick up the controls, too. This saved five remote controls, as the other advanced courses used subsets of the blue controls.

Thanks to PG, Daddy-O, Ed, and Ross, I only had to grab eight close-in controls. I toodled around the woods, fighting exhaustion, with a total time of about an hour, including time to disassemble the controls. Because I was falling asleep on the way back to Boston, I stopped for about two hours to nap, and made it home at about 10 PM.

C • Oh man! 2

Mt. Tom course setting - all advanced controls, 13 north of the road, 2 south. My total time in the woods was about 2 hours. I had hoped to set the five remote blue controls at the extreme southern end of the map, but I ran out of time before nightfall. Despite taking the day off from work, busyness in the morning delayed my departure from my apartment until 1 PM. I had to pick up equipment and maps, and so didn't leave Boston until 3 PM. The motherload of equipment needed for a local meet is irritating; I hope to consolidate some of the ginormous NEOC boxes into a minimalistic kit.

After control setting, I hurried to Kinko's and printed the maps and control descriptions just as it was closing. Ali graciously let me crash (for six hours) at her apartment before she and Andrew flew to Wisconsin.

Event: CSU Park-O #8 Mystic River
 

Article: "The long trajectory of history has been for governments to take on more responsibilities, and for citizens to pay more taxes."

After work, I cycled three easy loops of Fresh Pond. I didn't go into a higher gear than 2-6, and was very ginger on my accelerations. Nevertheless, it was good to get out. My right ankle feels tight and prickly, but I think the activity was sufficiently mild to avoid any problems. I followed the "workout" with a Chipotle burrito.

I'm still new at this photography business, and I only have the stock lens for my camera. I will work on getting my data posted on the interwebs faster.

Team Trials Pictures

C • You have great talent 3

C • Burrito 2