Training Log Archive: dlevine

Upper body only; mostly there to cheer on Phil.

Event: Salomon Dontgetlost.ca Raid the Hammer
 

Raid The Hammer - Team: That's Not On The Map
Charlotte MacNaughton, Amber Panchyshyn

It's always a challenge to race with someone you don't know. When none of the three of you know each other, it's especially challenging. I couldn't have asked for two more understanding and supportive teammates. We seemed to share a goal of competitiveness and a general approach to the race which was great. The outcome was fine and would have been better had I been in better shape and/or not a klutz early one. Sorry, ladies, but I did really love running with you!

Start->B: Off with the pack, trying to find our place in line down the single-track. Plan was to go B->C->A and we did so. Early on, Charlotte asked Amber where her map was, but Amber had already decided to trust us for the early navigation. Wow! Trail to field to stream to flag. 24:26

B->C: Down hill to stream and follow it to flag. 2:20

C->A: Up hill back to field. Here I tripped over a 5 cm fence (ruined) and fell and gave myself a serious puncture wound. I didn't realize how serious at first, but soon there was a "ball of fire" in my thigh. [The ball of fire stayed for several weeks. Eight days after the race, I pulled out a fragment of wire that had broken off in my thigh. Thank god my tetanus booster was up to date. Other than my klutziness - which would come back to haunt us, this leg was fine. Through field to fence junction, keeping stream to right and in to A. (forgot to check time)

A->1: Super simple. South until we could pass the fence and access the trail. Trail to road, west a bit and in on the trail. As we crested the hill, Charlotte realized that she had dropped her compass. Fortunately, it was found after a short, but steep search. Attacked #1 from the W and went in with no trouble. Total time now 49:12

1->2: Couldn't decide between south or north of pond. We seemed to agree on south, but ended up on north side when we hit the road. We crossed the stream and climbed the bank to the trail and took the trail E/SE to the circle and then followed the train in. Was probably a winning move. 9:23

2->3: In a pack, moving slightly to the right of the line. 2:13

3->3A: Line-O. We had trouble here agreeing on strategy, precise route, etc., but we did well and passed several teams. We were pretty tentative, however. 8:27

3A->4: Surprisingly inefficient. We should have taken advantage of the streamers that we chose to ignore, but it didn't cost us much. 2:04

4->5: Slalom run. Sure glad the ground was dry. 3:21

5->6: Down to trail where we got confused about both location and strategy while Hammer shot our photos. Eventually chose to climb on trail for speed and then descend when we saw it. Winsplits says this wasn't bad, but I'm not so sure. Seems like we traveled well, but I think the streambed was even better. 7:36

6->7: Up hill and down trail to refreshments. 2:25

7->D: Road to train station to trail bend just NE of control and in.

D->->8: Down hill to trail and then woods by side of road until we hit the NE end of the matrix. We all went together to 'a' and then sent Amber after 'g' and 'i'. Charlotte and I went together to 'b'. Then as we descended to 'f'', I realized that I had dropped the sheet with the codes. Back up and over hill and return (not really that far, but it felt brutal), down to 'f'' barely ahead of another team; jogged to 'h', then 'j', and waited only a minute or two before Amber showed up having successfully completed her much lengthier loop. In on the trail, we saw some of the leading teams leaving this loop. We followed a pack up the hill and in to the control, somehow working our way 2/3 of the way through. 45:30 (from the refreshments)

8->9: Over first hill and down across swamp. I stepped on a loose log and did a poor "lumberjack roll" culminating in a full back layout where I tried to break my fall with my arms and got triceps cramps. Leg also erupted in fire. Followed the ladies across the road to the saddle just E of the pond. At this point, they veered NW towards the spur even as I thought the control was a bit S of true W. Other teams here and we were clearly the northerly most. As teams converged, we got back together and things were fine. 13:12

9->10: Down to a trail amid a pack. Stayed on the trail longer than most and climbed the spur to the W of the control figuring to get better groundcover and a chance to see the control. We did, but I confess that it was a good bit more uphill to that flag than I expected. 11:33

10->11: Tried to go around to minimize climb. Moderately successful. 2:59

11->12: Planned to go through flat light green area, but we were tired and following path of least resistance. This got us out to the main trail near its oxbow. From there we took the trail 250 m before turning in to the control (the hill was OBVIOUS). Swamp before hill was a bit of a pain and the climb was STEEP and tiring. 16:14

12->->E: NE to trail and out to road. Original deal was that Amber got this piece off, but she was fit and I was hurting, so we went with a new one. We all walked N on the road eating and tending to equipment. I got 'e' and Charlotte and Amber split 'd' and 'c'. We met by 'a' and headed out. Entered the woods across the road from the matrix and quickly cut the corner heading towards the building near E. Across the field and down to it with few problems.

E->13: Down to stream, up hill to trail, past train station and up road to refreshments. 52:04 (since #12)

13->14: Time to eat and then down road to train station where my team took an indoor restroom break - a first for me at a Raid race! Trails all the way to the pond W of the control and then in with no trouble. 21:50

14->15: Getting conservative, we chose to take the road route (a good bit south of the line) and then the trail north (first trail in to the E and cut the corner, coming in from the south. Control was further down than expected and I was really not sure that we could have gotten it had it been a rainy day! 22:52

15->16: Down to stream and up bank. Took trail around and attacked from SE, but missed it (too high) and got lost having to double back a bunch to times. Several groups had similar problems and we were passed by most of them. WInsplits says we lost 4 minutes here, but it felt like more. This was arguably our worst leg. 9:23

16->17: Following a bunch of teams (including the Lyons Den) out, staying high. Lyons Den took an odd turn into gully trying to take advantage of a staircase out, but that looked dubious. We went high and then slid on our posteriors down to the stream and up to the control. I think the winning move was to go down from 16 and stay in the streambed the whole way. 8:58

17->18: Down hill to stream, trail S up hill to road going W towards control. Turn NW when we saw field and in. 9:05.

18->19: Down and up to trail then through woods to second trail. E a bit until Charlotte spotted the flag way below us (where we expected it). Crash down any old way and go in. 8:37

19->20: I could no longer run so taking the rail trail to the pond and around and in was the clear (and safe) choice. Other than the steep climb in, it was a fine choice. 7:55

20->21: Again conditioning and emotions dictated taking the rail trail. We cut in at the right time and had no problems other than a general lack of energy/speed. 11:21

21->22: Plan was simple, down to trail, across stream and up to road, but somehow we blew it. We hit the trail below the development way E of the junction and had to debate where we were. Thankfully, Charlotte's cool head prevailed and we found our way out. Once we hit the road, it was both longer and shorter than expected to the track. This should have been our most embarrassing leg, but I think we were too tired to care. 10:45

22->F: At least we ran it (sort of). 0:42

Not a bad time, but most other groups did better. We had some bad luck (my leg) and bad planning (ladies agreeing to take me on). We should have done better, but I could not have asked for two better people with whom to race.

Good course by the designers - and, as always - great organization.

One of my students noticed that I was doing nothing while waiting for my racquetball partners to arrive. He goaded me into trying the climbing wall. I made it nearly to the top of the "easy" one, but couldn't find/make the last step. My fingers were spasmodic when I was done.

Cutthroat with Phil Payne and Paul Spaeth. Playing 1 on 2 (and then 2 on 1) is mentally challenging and - surprisingly, a tougher workout than 1 on 1. Phil never got the hang of the singles play.

Game 1: 14-16-8
Game 2: 15-13-9

NOT a good taper. I'm sore in a few places from crashing the wall.

C • Taper 1

A good chunk of class was in the deep end for a change.

Class started late and then I had to take a break to rescue my clothes from the about-to-be-closed-for-a-week locker room. Geez, you'd have thought that they would have put up a sign, eh?