Training Log Archive: kissyIn the 1 days ending Oct 21, 2018:
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Sunday Oct 21, 2018 #
10 AM
Orienteering 1:32:55 [3] 7.02 km (13:14 / km) +76m 12:34 / km
This was one of the weirdest races I've had. A little frustrating.
I love kettle moraine terrain. It is right up my alley, so I was very excited for today's race. As I headed off to #1, I looked at the two trail options, but decided to tackle it straight on. I used the intermittent trail to begin with, which went fine, and once that ended, I headed on my compass bearing. Soon, though, things weren't quite matching up, but I kept going, trying to make sense of it. Eventually, I came to a biggish marsh. It didn't look like any of the uncrossable marshes on the map near where I might have been, but I saw a smaller one on the map, way to the left of the control. I ran over to it to make sure, and ended up on a trail behind it, where I found a control on a root stock. Ok -- I know where I am but how the hell did I get way over here to the left??!!? Went to #1.
Headed off to #2, telling myself to pay closer attention to my compass and the terrain. I thought I had to climb, but my compass was pointing to contouring and even going a little down, again to the left. I was following it, with a lot of hesitation, and eventually nothing made sense. I relocated on a pair of depressions and, indeed, had to climb up to #2.
When I set my bearing for #3, I could immediately see something was wrong because my compass was pointing about 90˚ off, again to the left, from where I knew I needed to be heading. So, I decided something was wrong with my compass and put it away for the rest of the race. And after that, everything went fine. I drifted a little on one of the longer legs, but to the right, which is my natural tendency. I ended up back at that marsh I found when looking for #1 and thought, "Not you again!" But, at least it confirmed where I was, and I took the trails into #9.
When I got back to my car, I was telling some folks about my compass, and someone asked if I had anything metal that might have been influencing it. I did not, but then I realized I had been wearing my Apple watch during the race. We tested that with my compass, but it didn't appear to make a difference.
Fast forward to Brooke's hotel room, where Cristina and I were taking showers before heading to the airport. Cristina wanted to test the watch again and lo and behold, the needle definitely moved towards the watch. We tried it a few times with the same results. I'm not saying that that's what happened out on the course, but it seems possible. And it would explain why I kept drifting left. I do know that I won't be wearing my Apple watch again while orienteering.
I love kettle moraine terrain. It is right up my alley, so I was very excited for today's race. As I headed off to #1, I looked at the two trail options, but decided to tackle it straight on. I used the intermittent trail to begin with, which went fine, and once that ended, I headed on my compass bearing. Soon, though, things weren't quite matching up, but I kept going, trying to make sense of it. Eventually, I came to a biggish marsh. It didn't look like any of the uncrossable marshes on the map near where I might have been, but I saw a smaller one on the map, way to the left of the control. I ran over to it to make sure, and ended up on a trail behind it, where I found a control on a root stock. Ok -- I know where I am but how the hell did I get way over here to the left??!!? Went to #1.
Headed off to #2, telling myself to pay closer attention to my compass and the terrain. I thought I had to climb, but my compass was pointing to contouring and even going a little down, again to the left. I was following it, with a lot of hesitation, and eventually nothing made sense. I relocated on a pair of depressions and, indeed, had to climb up to #2.
When I set my bearing for #3, I could immediately see something was wrong because my compass was pointing about 90˚ off, again to the left, from where I knew I needed to be heading. So, I decided something was wrong with my compass and put it away for the rest of the race. And after that, everything went fine. I drifted a little on one of the longer legs, but to the right, which is my natural tendency. I ended up back at that marsh I found when looking for #1 and thought, "Not you again!" But, at least it confirmed where I was, and I took the trails into #9.
When I got back to my car, I was telling some folks about my compass, and someone asked if I had anything metal that might have been influencing it. I did not, but then I realized I had been wearing my Apple watch during the race. We tested that with my compass, but it didn't appear to make a difference.
Fast forward to Brooke's hotel room, where Cristina and I were taking showers before heading to the airport. Cristina wanted to test the watch again and lo and behold, the needle definitely moved towards the watch. We tried it a few times with the same results. I'm not saying that that's what happened out on the course, but it seems possible. And it would explain why I kept drifting left. I do know that I won't be wearing my Apple watch again while orienteering.
C • Whoa 7