Training Log Archive: Charlie

With R&S at the lake. Sassy has three more days under restrictions until stitches come out on Thursday, so she was pulling pretty hard on her leash. Perhaps some sled dog genetic material in there.

Another spin around December's night o course, since the streamers are up. Drew a little blood, which makes me think that shorts aren't ideal for this sort of training.

Mt Tom Brown X day 2. Chase start, first starter of the 70+s, but behind several M-60s, including Glen, Dave Hunter, Tom Nolan, Ken Sr.

1. Felt rather slow on this, from the remote start triangle I immediately started heading up the wrong trail, fortunately corrected after only a few steps, then around the pond on the trail to where the trail bent east and up the reentrant. Very surprised to see Ken arriving from the SE a bit ahead of me.
2. A little behind and to the R of Ken, but more or less keeping an eye no him, around the left side of the marsh, sloshing through the stream because I didn't see any reasonable rocks to hop on, then easy up on top of the hill, getting closer to Ken.
3. Ken more or less disappeared on this leg, although I caught glimpses a few times. More or less straight on the line until I picked up the trail on top, took the trail to the end of the marsh and then around the hill with cliffs on the right and on compass. Glad to see the rock up ahead. Ken and Dave Hunter were in sight, but a ways in front.
4. NE to the big trail, cut the corner at the junction. Ken and Dave only intermittently in sight on the trail run E, maybe 75 M ahead, but then when I cut in to the woods got closer, and not all that far behind at the control.
5. A little awkward down the cliffs to the water stop.
6. Dave was in front, headed too far left and never saw him again. Ken was a little further R and in front, we converged near the control.
7. On compass, trying to go straight. On the way across the sideslope passed the dot knoll with a flag on it and the little reentrant after. Crossed the stream and saw Ken going too high and to the left. I was maybe a line high myself, but no problem running down into it.
8. Obviously would have been better to go straight. I went just right of the line under the cliffs 2/3 of the way there, and then turned up the reentrant expecting to see it. I just didn't go far enough and then started wandering. Really dumb. I ended up going back and forth, wandering down into big rock features down to the SE. It was all complicated by a black smear on the map right over the circle. Didn't figure out until later that it was just magic marker on the plastic, easily rubbed off. 14 minute error, as it turned out! Anyway kept coming back to the same place and finally realized it was further up the reentrant and got it. Yikes!
9. Fortunately recovered my equilibrium, headed up the reentrant a bit and then across the big sidehill to the second big reentrant. Up that, maybe not quite high enough, but climbed up on top and then it was easy to keep going up and get to it.
10. Looked at the complex straight route, trail to saddle to sidehill, etc. and decided to duck out to the road instead. Up the reentrant to my right to the top of the ridge, found the little trail segment to get down the other side, then out to the road. Long slog on the road to cut in and angle toward the trail and the reentrant. Couldn't see the cliff at first because it was tucked around, but easy enough.
11. Up to the trail, down the trail that goes down the reentrant.
F. Thinking about Ken's fast finish of yesterday, kicked it up a notch.

So a mostly excellent run with one real stinker. Still first in M-70, so that's pretty fine. Didn't get hurt, so a real win there. Standing around after in the rain waiting for maps I got chilled enough that it was hard to start the car with fingers that cold. Ran the heat on high until G&L came back.

Map and route.

C • Mt Tom 3

BrownX2 - Splits

Event: Troll Cup and Junior National Champs
 

Troll Cup Day 1 Brown X. Mostly fine until a disaster on #4. Perhaps the magnifier would have helped. A steep climb up and I had myself convinced it would be in the reentrant facing NE, and kept looking for it there and near there in other reentrants NE, until reluctantly peeking in the one to the SW, where it had been all the while. Confused a bit my the form line, a bit more by the fogged glasses, but most of all by the inability to change my mind about something. Anyway, somewhat discouraged after dropping 5 minutes mostly standing in place and proceeded to screw up the next one at least another 3 minutes worth, and a little wobbly getting to 6 as well. Otherwise fine, and my feelings a bit assuaged by being first in M-70, a few minutes up on the surprising Rich N and Nellie in 2nd and 3rd.
Map and route.

BrownX1 Day 1 - Splits

part of Rhonda's morning class.

In the gym with Eric. Usual stuff, plus added some pull-downs and GH raises. Good session.

With George and Leslie at Lake McDonough. Sassy is still confined to a leash for one more week and it is hard for her.

A spin around the most recent night-o course. Ribbons are out on it for the unofficial southern model event for the Troll Cup. Leslie was out on the course and I visited with her for a bit between 10 and 11. She was doing more important work, having picked up a mylar balloon along the way.

Flagging some controls for our west coast guests to practice on.

In the gym with Eric, usual routine. Felt pretty good today.