Training Log Archive: JanetT

Event: MNOC Mille Lacs Kathio State park with OUSA team trials
 

Green course (used by junior girls as team trials race), Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.

SL 7.4km, 180m climb stated, but it's probably overestimated...1:10000 map with 2 m contours! Temp around 42-44 most of the time. Predicted rain showers held off until about 5:00p.

To 1, I wanted to stay safe before plunging into the kettle/moraine areas so took trails to the left most of the way. On the way to 2 I passed close to the depression with three boulders with the code 201...signs at the start said that Blue #1, code 201, boulder, was under water and the flag was placed 3m south. I didn't see any boulders as I passed by. :-)

Misread marshes around 2 and headed the wrong way along the big marsh before correcting; lost several minutes here.

Once I found the beeline from 3-4 (under the north line as it was almost due south; a long route choice leg), I crossed the road (D. Oxenstierna passed me here) and skirted the hills wide east close to 10 (saw the flag), and cut back SW towards the trail from the tower. I passed by the boulder near the trail and noted a hen turkey sitting on a nest there, just watching me go by and not moving; I said hi. No problem finding 4 from the trail. 5 and 6 fine, reading the hilltops.

Coming out of 6 I kept being pushed left by vegetation though I wanted to head NE; hit the ride I'd attacked 5 from but didn't recognize it with trees across it and kept going a bit, into a neck of the large marsh until I realized I had to go back. Then when I attacked 7 I cut in too early and was S of the flag. AP lists me with time lost here too.

Slight curve around right to 8, then trail partway to 9 (where o-maps passed me); headed NW back to trail as far as 90-degree bend before crossing north to trail E of 10. Thomas somebody from MNOC passed me here (talked to him a little after I finished).

I did get an earlier-than-scheduled start time by about 45 minutes (so more people in woods than otherwise) and had considered dropping to Brown (5.2 km) if the weather was icky but it was low 40s and not precipitating so I stayed with the plan to do Green. Next weekend's Pygmy Goat will be about the same length.

Fun to see folks from back east there too who weren't trying for any team (this event was a Jr and Sr WOC team trials event), including many who we'll see again next weekend.

Green - Splits

Before heading to start which was just up the hill from where we parked.

Green Middle at Interstate Park in Wisconsin. SL 4.0 km, 155m climb. Weather similar to yesterday, partly sunny and about 50-52F

Managed to botch the first leg after a good start (I was aimed right for it but diverted when I hit the line of boulders/cliffs); should have just planned to swing around to the left rather than try to find a slot through (which I missed).

AP lists an error to 3, and while I puzzled on the trails at first, I eventually figured it out and the rest of the "error" is very slow climbing up to the top of the hill (just to turn around and head back downhill to 4). I took the wide right route from 5-6 which I think was fine for me because of a mostly flat run (vs likely walking in the woods on the beeline) and a solid attackpoint.

I enjoyed the course and the area.

In Interstate Park, drove to parking lot near St Croix R and hiked a trail. Then drove to Potholes trail, neglecting to stop my watch in between. Remembered to stop it then.

AOWN notes: Saw a pair of ruby crowned kinglets near a marshy area but no pics. Lots of dutchmans breeches in the woods as well as wood lilies and several types of little purple flowers including violets.

Also, as we approached the park entrance after crossing into WI we saw a large bird fly over. White head--it's an eagle! And what's that in its beak? Looked to me like a kit fox. Cool sighting.

C • AOWN sighting 5

Green - Splits

Event: MNOC Como with OUSA Team Trials Sprint
 

Event: USA & Canada - WOC/JWOC Team Trials OUSA National 3 day meet
 

Jog to start in Como park

Como Park short sprint, which was plenty long at 3.0 km.

Confused a bit at no. 1 which was near one that was visible on the approach (long course control), but not on a wall. Finally saw the depression and "wall". Split between 7-8 deducted later (road crossing); official was 32:26.

No problems after that; happy enough with my time. Less than 2x (winner) so that's good too. Watch said 3257.

Short - Splits

Minnehaha Falls Park. Saw where the falls cut over the limestone and sandstone and walked down to where the creek dumps into the Mississippi. 135 steps to get back up to the pavilion level where the car was parked, plus the ~1.5mi hike (estimated); I'm sure there are online resources saying how long the trail loop is.

Then we headed to the Minnesota Inst. of Art as it's been a dreary cold day (never got out of the upper 30s). It happened to coincide with their Art in Bloom special event so parking was at a premium. Spent ~3 hours there. We ran into Allison and Carol again. ;-)

C • Minnehaha 1

In MN. At Mall of America this evening, we probably walked at least a couple of miles. :-) Need to decide what we're doing tomorrow. It's cold here!

In small world news, we saw Alison Campbell and her mom in the tram from the terminal/baggage claim to the rental car area.

We've been orienteering all year so far (what with GNC, Texas, Flying Pig, West Point, and local meets in between) and AP says I've found 277 controls, 106 already this month (with three more days of O this coming weekend). Focusing on locating good attackpoints has been helpful and becoming almost automatic. Now I just need to work on running more and maybe getting some speed back after last year's problems with my knee (still tender at times but not as bad as a year ago) and ribs (totally healed).

To start of day 2 at Lake Welch/Jackie Jones map, which has held up well with minor updates. Downhill along a trail with dead trees across it to navigate past, then back uphill to start.

Brown day 2 course at Jackie Jones, nominally 3.5 km, 110m climb. Great course by cadet Mike Bruce, which I enjoyed very much.

Sandy started two minutes ahead of me today, so I knew she could be a distraction. She was in sight, a bit ahead, between 1 and 3 which were short legs close by the start. Then we had a long route choice leg to 4, and I decided to swing south to the big trail because I could run a bit on the trail, something I don't feel stable enough doing in the woods/rocks. I cut back NW after the second stream crossing and took the nice reentrant by a huge cliff line which angled up the hill to the flattish area where the marsh/rocky ground started which was my attackpoint. Roger Underwood caught me here and was close by through 6 but I finished several minutes ahead of him so he may have had trouble with 7.

Saw Sandy again leaving 5 and 6 and caught up at the trail N of Jackie Jones Mtn top. Ran the trail until I saw a place to cut through the power line which had a lot of cut and stacked trees to skirt around, but I saw the N end of the short trail (which looked to me like a ditch) and knew I was at the right elevation so it was just a matter of finding the 2m cliff. Pretty simple navigation from there, though I contoured around the last hill instead of going straight up and over because hills are my nemesis.

Happy to finish first F60 today, but it wasn't enough to offset Sandy's 4:37 lead from yesterday so I ended up 2nd overall by 16 seconds. Happy that I was able to run as much as I did (Aleve helped hold off the knee pain).

Sunday - Brown - Splits

Event: West Point National Meet
 

Event: World Masters Orienteering Championships 2017
 

To start @ West Point

Brown day 1, nominally 3.4 km and 90m climb. Overcast with occ. showers; about 50F. Camp Buckner, on the hillside west of 293, northeast of the bayonet assault course.

Had someone just ahead of me approaching 1 and 2 which helped me into those controls. Navigated alone to 3 though I saw two others approach it from different directions as I punched (one was Beth Lux). Rob W who'd started 2-4 min behind me was approaching 3 as I left and I figured he'd overtake me at some point but I never saw him again until I was in and done for several minutes.

Did 4 and 5 fine, then was a bit confused by what was mapped as vertical green on the way to 6 but I could figure out the huge cliffs and had no trouble finding it. SSW to trail and off the subtle corner S of #1 looking for the marsh I'd been near in years past. Almost overran it but caught myself and popped over a small hill and up the form line reentrant point to 7. Stayed high to 8 but had trouble figuring out what cliff was what so checked several before finding one with a flag (there were 6 or 7 in the circle...). Francis F punched just behind me and I saw him a bit ahead leaving the next control verifying where the flag was for me. To 10 I stayed high rather than sidehill so could see where the reentrant was above the cliff. Saw a flag a bit earlier than I expected but I checked and it was mine.

I'm wondering if 12 was hung at the correct boulder on the spur; I saw three and it wasn't on the SW side of the northern one unless the northern one I saw was unmapped (a possibility). In any case, not a problem. Then it was just a matter of making my way through the barberry and out to the road.

3rd F 60 just 5 seconds behind Lex. Sandy had a great run. :-)

C • Correct boulder 3

Saturday - Brown - Splits