Training Log Archive: PG

Today's map (click on map for a larger version) --

Green course from last weekend at Pond Mt. I was thinking about going out there, and then Charlie said there were still two controls left to be picked up, so that made the decision easy.

Stopped at Charlie's to pick up a map, then at Litchfield for a while to chat up mom, who was quite awake and talkative today as opposed to last week's mostly napping, then over to Pond Mountain. Nice day, sunny, a little warm but not bad, no bugs.

It's also a very good map and very good terrain. I've run there a few times, but never set courses or vetted, so I don't know the area well. That made today a bit of a challenge, no controls or streamers other than the two I had to pick up, numbers 9 and 10. The plan was to stick the e-boxes in my back pocket, and then carrying the flags should be no problem.

Off I went, and my orienteering was about as good as it can get. Moving well enough, and navigating perfectly, almost never off my intended route, not even slightly. I think my concentration was good because there were no controls, had to be sure of myself.

Got to #9, no control to pick up, hmm. Ditto at 10. At this point I was wondering if I had remembered the numbers correctly. Also started thinking that, if I had misremembered the numbers, was it possible that I had just not seen a control elsewhere. Didn't think so, but....

Got done, called up Charlie to consult, it was a mystery to him. Until he discovered that George had been there earlier in the day and collected the two missing control. All's well that ends well, as they say.

Very glad I went. And it seems, based on the times, that Pavi is still orienteering well, whereas Izzy clearly needs to get in better shape. :-)

C • Pond Mt 3

Green - Splits

Back roads in Montague. Warm and muggy, first taste of summer. Can't say it's my favorite weather. But glad to have gotten out and done something.

C • cadence? 3

Stopped by Mike's Maze today.

1. There will be a Maze. New designer as Will Sillin has retired, so I have no idea how suitable it will be for O', but then I've never known in the past how suitable it would be and it's always worked out.

2. They will be opening a week later than usual, the weekend after Labor Day, ie. September 12. So that would have us at the maze the weekend before -- Saturday, Sept 5. Or could do Sunday? Don't know if the holiday weekend is generally better or worse for folks.

Event info.

3. And for those wanting an early look at the maze, perhaps just to plan their trail-O' strategies, here you go --

C • The maze . . . 3

C • September 5 20

First humid day, though not yet hot. Out Falls Road, up past Gunn Farm, down N. Mountain. Not great, not awful, got it done.

C • LIDAR Project 9

I seldom report on my golf game, but today's was worth a mention, because it was probably the best I have ever played. Someplace around 70-73. Can't be more precise, because it was a match, and three times my partner was already in with a par while I had 2-4 feet left for mine, but at that point you just pick yours up and move on.

So who knows. But the ball just kept going where it was aimed, and that is easy to live with.

Funny thing is, I was thinking about life at some point in the last couple of weeks, more specifically about my progression through it, even more specifically about what might lie ahead, and I remember reaching the conclusion that, roughly, right now is as good as it gets. That I will either gradually or quickly get worse at everything I do, that my physical and mental abilities will only deteriorate.

Life is very fine right now, that needs to be said. But the conclusion was, it's not going to last. So best enjoy it now as much as possible.

I certainly didn't expect today's outcome. Just yesterday I played a very casual 9 holes with Charlie and Zack, and while the company could not have been better, my golf could not have been much worse, the ball certainly not going where it was aimed.But, as I said, the company was excellent, and I've gotten way better at keeping such things in perspective and enjoying myself, no matter where the little while ball goes.

Next time out, because the universe always keeps a certain balance, I expect to play quite terribly. I also expect to enjoy it. Just have to keep remembering -- this is as good as it gets, it's not going to last, best enjoy it while I can.

Nice mid-afternoon run on the bike trails on North Sugarloaf. Legs were a little tired, but not so bad I couldn't get up the hills without much distress. The nice thing about bike trails is that the hills are never very steep.

One faceplant coming downhill, but I had my gloves on so no blood was shed. :-)