Training Log Archive: MJChilds

Walked my course with my sling except for a couple of 100 meter jogs on the road near the end. Tolerated it OK. Made a mistake on #5 trying to contour rather than take the trail, but left the trail too early. Corrected after a few minutes by retracing my steps and finding the marsh I was looking for.

Reasonably satisfied with my results. Always nice to be in the woods. Well, almost always.

Walked the sprint. Hard to do, but fun to find controls. Managed to hold back and walk in finish chute this time.

Day 1, Mid, Brown Y - Splits

Day 1, Sprint, Brown - Splits

Went to the UVM Research Forest in Jericho w/ Jen V and KH to do some field training for Jen who is in the Canine Search and Rescue program. In February, we had an indoor session with a few other women who were interested in learning map and compass, and then had to wait for the snow to melt so that I could handle the steep hills and reentrants without worrying about slipping or needing my arms.

It was a great day. Sunny, crisp, early spring conditions with very few spring ephemerals peeking out of the ground. I used Carl's 1:10,000 contour (LIDAR) and water map and I taught her how to relate map to terrain and vice versa. We did a map walk for about 500 meters along a road, then did an 8-control course using big features likely to appear on the USGS maps she'll have to rely on later. Used rough compass, precision compass, rough and fine map reading, aiming off, attack point, terrain feature recognition, and distance estimation. Lots of fun. KH makes any occasion better.

Jen continues to ask questions and seems enthused about the prospect of orienteering. Hopefully, she'll get to try it some time. She's already a strong runner. I think she'll like it.

Great day in the woods. I managed to walk all of it, but it was probably too much because my whole shoulder girdle, from bicep to my ear is very painful now. I didn't run, but the repeated leaping over streams probably wrenched it too much. I used my sling while out there whenever it bothered me, but it wasn't enough I fear. I sure hope I haven't set myself back yet again.

Walked Gov Chittenden Rd. w/ KH. Gorgeous morning. Crisp and clear. Arm tolerated the Billygoat quite well. Feeling encouraged.

The usual w/ Carl. Shoulder sore and tired now, kept it in the sling for most of the walk.

Did the "Proud Mama Course" at the Billygoat (aka "Nanny Goat"?). I had signed up for the Billygoat Lite, but realized that since I could not run yet, I could not finish the 8 km course in a reasonable time, so I trails and pick up a control here and there. I went to #1, screwing it up even at a walk, then retraced my steps for the last 400m of that leg to see where I made my mistake (got on wrong trail heading north), then decided to choose controls that would put me in the line of people doing the course. I headed to #16 next and upon reaching it, looked up to see Wyatt Riley going by. He was the leader it turns out. He was headed to #11, so I went there next, hoping to see Ethan. I did! Ian was behind him, and soon I saw a couple of other orienteers come through--all passed me by the time I reached the control. So be it.

From there, I thought I'd go to #15 and as I approached it, I was passed by one of the leaders. As he was leaving the control, 3 WP cadets were punching and heading off in his wake. As I punched, Ethan came around the hill. Sighting #2! I followed him down the hill toward the big trail, intending to go to #17 next and saw Ian and Brendon run down toward #16 as well. My right arch started to hurt, so when I got to the trail, I decided to skip the off trail stuff (the last thing I need now is yet another injury), so I walked the trail reading the map as I went along. I looked back and saw Carl leaving #15 and skipping #16, so he passed me on the trail. About 50 meters away, he paused to read the terrain and Ethan came barreling through headed to #17 also. Sighting #3! Great day!

I was hoping to see Ethan finish so I stayed on the trail, except to pick up #19 which was right there, then continued on, but he was already back when I got there. So even though I didn't even try the Billygoat this year, and had to bail on the Billygoat Lite, I had a great day.

Fun event and many thanks to Peter, Gail and crew for all of their efforts.

We delivered shoe racks to B Bryant and B Bretton. I was hoping to put one on display, but the car was so far from the arena that I did not want to try to carry it that far. We'll have some at WP. Hoping that when people see them, they will be willing to contribute to the Jr. Team and get one as a perk.