Training Log Archive: Ricka

On way home, stopped for trail run in Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky. Felt better than I expected - nice temp but very windy. Scared up two Great Blue Herons (same one?) Trail was slick with mud often - 2 bridges out made me do simple orienteering on USGS quality map.

Land Between the Lakes (Kentucky between Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers) - what a great locale for Rogaine or A-meet!?!?! Open woods (early spring or late fall, I presume); lots of contour detail; lots of area.

C • hi dad! 1

Body was stiff and cold - near freezing.

Green Day 2. Well-designed, challenging legs 1, 2, and 4; then course got easier. A bit overly cautious a couple times, but good route choice and execution on all but one leg - good for tired legs. Ran from 5 in near Gary Klaben of Chicago - very simlar ability and pace.

BUT 12-minute error on #4 - UGH! Held red-line nicely from #3, attack point was saddle above pond. On steep climb, I saw 'flat ridge' to my left - looked like saddle. Didn't appreciate how far left I went. Saw no pond, saddle was sketchy, and I thought, "Don't leave ridge unless certain." I did any way. Found expected rentrant and rootstock - no control. Expected a parallel error - found 2nd reentrant - no control and they joined on ground - not on map. Totally confused, but refused to stop and figure it out. Spotted water; feared it was stream; but had to drop to relocate. Way too far left; 10 contours back up to pond along very scenic big rock reentrant (more of you should have visited it :) ). This penalty was so severe, maybe I'll remember the lessons: stay on red-line when simple; remember when I intentionally veer off; STOP on ridge; STOP when map didn't make sense. Also, I'm shocked I never checked my compass (reentrants were 45 degrees off). Partly, proof of tiredness from Day 1 and Day 2 climbs.

Dropped from 2nd to 3rd - he deserved it! Nice yellow bandana for awards!

C • Saw maps of GNP posted on M. E... 3

Event: Georgia Navigator Cup
 

Jog 10; walk 15 to start of Day 1 GNC

Long physical Green course - lots of climb from #2 to #7. One 3-minute parallel error on #9. Rest of course pretty smooth. Took long trail run to #1. In a rare occurence, I did look at rest of course and planned a couple of the 'interesting' legs.

Altered plan from #8 to #9 from 'mostly straight' to 'mostly around' reentrant (should have jsut stayed high and gone around - reentrants were steep). On the map, I knew exactly where I was; but brain still had me right. Hence reentrant for 9 came up too fast; went to next one and bounced back.

2nd in Age group (helped that Walter got stuck in Philly by snow :) - sorry Walter) but several in M50 and M60 beat me by up to 8 minutes - mostly on pace.

Vlad's sprint near campground. Very tired legs.

Terrain was nearly flat, but vegetation was nasty. Bobbled a lot early (trouble finding Start triangle on map - so I didn't know that control in view was #1). #2 - followed compass - not reading features. Compass way right on #3 - no idea why - pressed left and found it. Never adjusted to 1:5000 - always expecting/hoping for features to come up faster. I did better orienteering in later parts of course. Glad I did it - but hard to feel good about a 'Sprint' on tired legs.

Warm-up for Sprint was really needed - not only for legs but also body was very chilled after two classes of ice and soda at Subway :) .

Green X Day 1 - Splits