Training Log Archive: GlenT

Event: QOC Cunningham Falls
 

Walk (and climb) to the start.

Platformpalooza at Cunningham Falls SP near Thurmond, MD. Green course (5.7k, 210m with 12 of the 13 controls being charcoal platforms). Map is mostly from Lidar (which apparently picks out the charcoal platforms really well) with limited field checking and addition of some rock features and rootstocks (but many things in the terrain are not on the map). Green (mostly mountain laurel) identified from the Lidar is mapped and seemed to be fairly accurate. So, this was a quite challenging exercise. Also very physical since there is a lot of deadfall, plenty of climb and rockiness underfoot. And, it was raining with a downpour(and a thunderclap or two) as we walked to the start and then only light rain or sprinkles while on the course and then another down pour after I finished. So, some HTFU orienteering.

An OK run with lots of careful compass and pace (which is not one of my strengths) plus careful reading of contours and vegetation plus some guessing about whether features in the terrain were actually on the map. Lots of hesitation on most of the legs just being sure I knew where I was (or reestablishing where I was). Lost 5 or 6 minutes on the 2nd control mistaking unmapped features for mapped ones, finally relocating on the sharp stream bend NE of the control. Lost about 3 minutes on control 8 (which I approached via control 9) when I misread the contours and headed to the wrong platform, from which I easily relocated.

Highlight (?!) of the day was an encounter with what I’m 90% sure was a timber rattlesnake. He (or she) was coiled on the forest floor (pretty much on the line between controls 6 and 7) and seemed pretty lethargic (didn’t buzz the rattle even though I nearly stepped on it). Yikes.

Thanks to Jon Torrence for making the map and setting the courses, as well as the QOC team who made the event happen.

C • Snake friend 1

C • DNF's 3

Green - Splits

Stroll around the “inner loop” at Woodland Hills Preserve, a golk course which is being allowed to return to nature and is now owned/managed by Lower Saucon Township. Mostly open but with some patches of woods and several small ponds. There are two loop trails comprised of either mowed grass or remnants of asphalt golf cart paths. Lots of birds, at least one deer and several ticks.

Raptor Run at Bucks County Audubon Society near New Hope, a 5k (ish) trail race. Two loops of a very nice course which included lots of variety: a section of gravel road, single track in the woods with rocks and roots, a couple of stream crossings (on rocks) and mowed trails through fields. No steep hills but almost never flat. And nearly ideal weather with temperature in the upper 60s. Nice spread afterwards with hot dogs, beer, ice cream and ingredients for s'mores in addition to the usual post-race stuff.

A pretty small field of 30-40 runners (it was a Wednesday evening and there was at least one other race in the area). Finished 10th overall and 1st (of 2) in M60+. Rolled my ankle just before the one mile point and it's stiffening up a bit - maybe a few days off coming up.