Training Log Archive: JanetT

Neighborhoods with Glen. Mid to upper 50s but overcast and breezy.

Weather today was much like yesterday with a bit more breeze late morning when we finished. They kept us out of the worst of the rocky ground (for the most part), but the blueberry bushes were widespread and hard to get through, especially in areas where they were close to waist tall, despite not being leafed out yet.

Very much a West Point event, with better weather (though I do remember an A meet when it was in the mid 70s, and they didn't have enough water out the first day).

From bus drop off at Round Pond to someplace along a road a couple kilometers away where we started the Long. No clothing return, so we needed to drop jackets (and extra water) near the finish. "Bathrooms" were available/open, but no running water as the toilets were somewhat gross but I used one anyway before the hike to start. Fortunately it was warm enough I didn't miss my jacket, and Glen carried a water bottle that we emptied and left at the start.

As we arrived at parking they told us the starts were delayed a half hour, partly due to late buses. When the buses finally arrived, the first bus that got filled left, presumably taking the earliest starters (I was supposed to start towards the end of the first 1/2 hour); but the second bus, about half full, also left before I had a chance to board it, and another one didn't return for quite some time. By the time the next bus arrived and took us to Round Pond, I had enough time to make my start with the 1/2 hour delay...except in actuality it was a 20-minute delay, so I needed a new start time. Didn't have to wait too long, though.

West Point Long Brown X at Black Rock Forest map (near Round Pond), 3.6 km, 95m climb nominal, 1:7500 map.

I started not long after Steve Tarry and had him in sight most of the way to #1, and saw him leaving so I had a good idea where the control was. Did #2 on my own, and on the way out was passed first by Glen who had started 4 minutes back, and then by Janet F, apparently 3 minutes behind me. Janet and I worked our way out to the trail headed to 3, and she was in and out of it as I approached. The leg to #4 was a long one, but only one route choice (until the last 80 or so meters), on a road, so I knew Janet could run and I would never see her again. Such is life. ;-)

Okay to #4, where George Hawes was just ahead, and then on towards #5. As I got in the general vicinity, I saw a flag on a boulder a ways off to my right but Dean S, David H and peggyd all came by and headed towards a different rock to my left, so I checked that out with them, before Peggy decided that wasn't right and I turned too...it had been the first one I'd seen (if I had been alone I would have checked it out and gone on my way).

Fine on the rest, though it was s-l-o-w getting down the hill to #8. I dropped a bit lower than some people to get around. Some rocky ground and could see where others who'd taken a higher approach were headed. Nancy D caught up here and I had her in sight for the last two controls but she pulled away on the trail run to finish.

Ended up 2nd F65 overall (awards based on total time for all three races, which wasn't announced before people registered so a lot of folks were eliminated because they skipped the sprint). Awards were very nice baked goods...your choice of a cream puff with strawberries, cookies, brownies, or a combination of cookies and brownies. Some also had a plastic square "O flag" (coaster? decoration? It has a hole to add a string/ribbon to hang somewhere.)

Long - Brown-X - Splits

Event: West Point Annual National Ranking Event
 

Woods here are pretty wide open as far as visibility. Blueberry bushes abundant in some areas, but just starting to bud out. I appreciated that my main obstacles were rocks and climb. What a great place to orienteer.

West Point NRE, to start. Up a road, down a hill to cross a stream on a log (rope available as a handrail), then up, up, up to a hilltop. Starts delayed by about 11-15 minutes, so got to chat with folks. Nice, partly sunny and mid 50s or so, so I took off a shirt layer.

Middle, Brown X, 2.4 km with 90m climb. Black Rock Forest near Round Pond. Thank heavens for a 1:7500 map. :-)

Navigation wasn't too tricky but physically getting around the forest was taxing. I had a hiking pole with me but it failed around control 7 so I had to do the remaining ups and downs more carefully.

Pole is fixable, though...just tighten a screw that holds the extender in place. I'll try it again tomorrow.

In about three hours we're sprinting on the campus at West Point. I'm stretching some tight muscle areas.

Added Note: Yuri Zakrevski was near my #7 looking for a different control so I stopped to help him out, thus the AP-calculated "error"on 8. I suppose he would have figured it out eventually, but know he has challenges, so I helped. To 9 my "error" (per AP) was due to climb.

Sprint at Trophy Point, West Point MA campus. Temp near 60, probably, and partly sunny. 1.6km, 40m climb, 1:4000 / 2.5 map.

Forgot to start my watch until around #2, so I've added in some distance and adjusted the time logged.

We had later starts, so there was a lot of hanging around and chatting time at Camp Buckner and on campus between the races. Good thing we got on the bus we did, because the next bus apparently didn't leave on schedule, and some people on it arrived late to the start. New construction around campus, so we had to stay pretty much between the campus and the river, but Brown didn't go down into the wooded area in the northeast portion like some of the longer advanced courses did.

No difficulties. #1 was in view of start; #2 was a route choice (high or low), where I went low. 3-4-5 were straightforward.

#6 required some map reading; I misread the clue as wall end but it was hedge end...I did note the circle's center seemed to be on the outside of the wall so stayed outside. #7 was another route choice leg: stay high and go down stairs on the far side of the building; or go low, down a couple of flights of stairs, and under the garage canopy. I chose the lower route. I could see #8 from 7, then turned to go to #9 where I went through the parking areas to the stairs at the corner east of the flag. Could see #10 from 9. Clean to 11, going south of the wall and catching up to Florence T who punched at another control in the area before correcting to the proper control.

At the last control I punched and then turned to head to finish and promptly hit my noggin on the tree branch. Quickly recovered and headed for the streamer tape leading to the punch boxes. Phew!

No real mistakes (beyond forgetting to start my watch), partly because I was going so slowly. :-)

Middle - Brown-X - Splits

Sprint - Brown - Splits

With Glen to park and around neighborhoods. Upper 60s and sunny, so short sleeves! (Second time this calendar year for a local walk.)

Walking with O to try to find another geocache...again, unsuccessfully. Bummer.

Quick walk around the neighborhood (46F, winds at 14 gusting to 38).