Training Log Archive: BillD

Spent two days at West Point on courses almost beyond my endurance. Too much climb for me. Blueberry bushes sapped strength but was not my main problem. Practically crawling after the halfway points. A few nav mistakes each day. I'm surprised I finished with the times I posted. Great weather, fascinating venue. But considering my exhaustion, I have more fun on the more modest local event venues east of the Hudson.

I'll post maps soon when I get things sorted out.

Thanks to Charlie and Rhonda for the several courtesies they extended to me Saturday, expediting my recovery to return to the game Sunday.

Got home Sunday to find that my son and his family were at the house and he was grilling dinner for us. Nice treat.

C • West Point 2

Walk from registration to the Start. Time and distance are guesses. Climb per the Meet notes. Is the course going to be this rough? I wondered, but I knew it would be.

Second day, this is the shorter course, right? Billed as 4.0km as the crow flies. Ok, so I'd expect 6km as I wander. Billed as 90m climb: WTF! The cadet who came up with that figure is lucky he isn't in the Navy striking for submarine duty.

My route.

Started out fine after a 20 minute rest and recuperation after climbing 100m to the Start. #1 was easy. Thought I was nailing #2 until a dense thicket of sapplings was in front of me blocking all visibility. This can't be right, so I went left toward some open space. Discovered I was at the serious cliff beyond, so turned back and found Karen O emerging from the thicket of saplings, so I took her reciprocal in to hit the bag in area where a dog couldn't turn around. Ok, now I know the course setter has an attitude.

#3 no problem and enjoyed a downhill fuel-saver to the n.e. tip of the lake, thinking I'd go low to the road, turn n.e. and let the road point me to #4. But at the lake tip, I decided I'd climb just a bit and go directly for control. Minutes later I discovered I was actually still on Plan A in the deep ravine. Climbed up to the road and completed. (I see PG ended up taking nearly the same route, like me inadvertently. The difference, of course, I don't move like a bullet train.) #5 was easy but the climb to #6 wore me out. I was getting dopey now and had trouble with #7 and #8.

Leaving #8 I thought I'd go up a little early-on so as to contour around. A sapling thicket at the corner and a view ahead of a tough traverse along the contour convinced me to descend where I found an unmarked old wagon path along what was marked as a long narrow marsh. Nice. But the climb just shy of #9 was a killer. I stopped to survey the imposing cliff to the n.e., turned around, and found #9 just 10 feet behind me.

To #10 and #11 was simply a slow death march through stoney areas and uphill with no navigation mysteries. Plodded through #12 and onward down across the brook bridge to the lake side lane, where I actually trotted the last 50m into the finish chute.

Turtle speed along the shore of beautiful Wilkins Pond back to the download station, not enjoying that last 40 m climb one bit. Figure a total climb for the day of 406 m. Go Navy!

Brown X day 2 - Splits

Event: West Point A-Meet
 

West Point. Walk from registration to Start. Time, distance and climb guesses.

Started with priorities being map contact and fuel management (i.e. cautious pace knowing it would be grueling). I under estimated grueling. The navigation was okay except #6 where I was too far right. Messed around for awhile before taking a bearing on the hill top to the s.e., then knew where I had to go. Blueberry wrestling was no fun and taking a lot of energy, so I favored using trails. Weary at #7 but bushwhacked directly south nonetheless . Seemed like a long laurel fight from the brook to the e-w trail, which I then followed up to 8, praying the view would be worth the exhaustion. Wagon steps the whole way.

Gracious cadet at summit handed me a cup of water and insisted on filling my water bottle. I sat down to catch breath and enjoy the view. He brought a whole gallon over to me, from which I took a couple of cup refills. When I showed I was ready to move on, he offered his hand. As soon as I took it, I found myself suddenly and smoothly upright on both feet. What am I? A feather. The guy must be an iron pumper! Gave him a Go Army hoorah and went on my way.

Nellie passed me here. After #9 Nellie passed me again as he returned from #10 to find #9. He passed me again after I crawled up to #11.

On way to #12 got sucked left a bit seeing a crowd inspecting the first cliff, but quickly counted contours and I knew I had a long way down to go, so got back on the so-called trail. The whole area was ankle twisting rocks but at least it was downhill toward the home stretch. Moseyed along to Finish in a fog of exhaustion.

My route.

Brown X Day 1 - Splits