Training Log Archive: mayer22

Event: Sheltowee Extreme - SXT 7
 

Scheduled this race as somewhat of a precursor to Nationals. Enabled us to get more experience in the region as well as Stephanie's style. This also worked out to be a good first race for Kristin coming back. We weren't sure what competition we would have but Rock Creek came out of nowhere and should be a strong team if they race Nationals.

Kristin, Dan, Earl and I raced as a foursome. I think the 4-some worked best given the bikes in boats. We had a few minor delays but nothing major and adjusted well.

It was very hot. Mid 90F and High 60DP. The terrain and scenery was beautiful and the lake swim was a nice touch. There was quite a bit of water and poison ivy on the course. We all really enjoyed the course.

Prologue - very simple memory O around the camp.

Left on MTB to capture 3 CPs along the Sheltowee Trace Trail. We utilized the roads along and around the trail as much as possible. Traveled with Rock Creek until the 3rd CP where we almost collided and when I slammed the brakes almost endo'ed and my wheel "soft tacoed." Not a true taco more of an S. We dropped the bikes to grab the CP and realized when we got back. I thought the race might be over for us. There was no way I was riding it in the condition it was in. We tried working some of the spokes but either the spoke was stuck or the wrench couldn't get a good enough grip because it didn't budge. We then just tried to force the rim back into shape. I stabilized and Earl applied pressure then BAM. It smoothed out. It definitely wasn't straight but I could barely feel the wobble on the bike so we hopped back on and got moving again. Lost probably 10 min.

True swim out and back to a peninsula CP. We were hampered by our PFDs and MTB shoes but no packs. For some reason we didn't think to bring flippers. It may have saved time though because we didn't have to worry about 3 shoe changes. We were 2 min faster than Rock Creek who had flippers.

Run to the highpoint of the peninsula.

Made up 2 places on the swim and were now only 5 min behind Rock Creek.

Had 2 options to get to the next TA: road (6.45mi) or continue on the "rideable" Sheltowee Trace Trail (2.4mi). Did not think we could make up the difference on the road so we took the trail. First 1.8mi were completely rideable and then it was not rideable at all for .5mi. Able to remount just before TA. GOALS arrived at the same time as us making up the 3 min we had on them after the swim. So didn't lose too much time. Rock Creek also took the trail as well. One advantage to the trail was the amazing scenery.

First O Course
Left alongside GOALS. Had planned a route to get all the CPs on the way out and take the flat STT along the river on the way back. Bagged the first CP with GOALS and then split on the way to the next CP. Had some trouble finding it and crisscrossed with GOALS a couple times. After probably 10 or 15 mins we both arrived at the CP6 from different directions. Pretty crazy.

Had to adjust route a bit to next CP because of thick brush. When we got to the "trail" we realized it was a road. We then decided the road would be the faster way back despite the extra climb so instead of getting 9 and 10 on the way out we could get them on the way back. If we had known this on route planning we could have created a faster route and probably avoided the trouble finding 6. GOALS did not adjust and paid for it. The river trail was exactly that (underwater). They eventually had to bail and shwack up a steep 300ft ridge

We passed Rock Creek just after our reroute and didn't know if they had already gotten all 4 CPs or just 2. We assumed all 4 since we had the delay at 6. Turns out only 9 and 10. They were mostly following the route I wished to take.

On the way back to 10 Dan found a yellow jacket nest and had to try and run uphill through thick brush. No major damage. Found some fresh water on the way back to TA. It was starting to get real hot.

First team to arrive at TA which meant we passed Rock Creek and they didn't arrive before we loaded bikes on the canoes and left which meant a decent lead.

Paddle along Lake Cumberland which is practically a river. Had 2 CPs along the paddle that were 200m up reentrants.

The sun was really blasting now. It was the hottest part of the day. Really took a lot of energy out of us. I drank almost 100oz on the paddle alone.

Second O-Course.
I was pretty overheated from the paddle but still very hydrated, fueled, and felt strong. Decided to "take a bath" in one of the creeks. It made a world of difference and got me back on track. Right as we were finishing our bath we see Rock Creek starting an out and back we just finished so we kicked it into gear.

We realized once we started this leg that we weren't going to clear the course and very shortly after realized we might have trouble getting any controls on the next leg which required traveling there and back by boat. That being said there were no obvious points to drop on this leg to shorten it and there were more points on this leg than the other.

We decided to continue on and then got cliffed out because I had written over the cliffs on the map and delayed more. After recovering we decided we had enough time to clear this leg, skip the last leg and get a final CP near the finish (~30min). Rock Creek would have to either have paddled to the other leg already or beat us to the finish to win.

We were unsure that we could paddle to the next leg and obtain 1 CP and still have time for the final CP. This meant that if RC got the final CP and finished faster they could beat us.

Most of this became unnecessary because when we returned to the TA RC had not arrived therefore we were ahead of them with more/same CPs. We also had just made the cutoff to travel to the other leg but still were unsure if this was a smart choice. I was a little confused about time left and thought it was impossible but later realized we could have gotten at least 1 CP on that leg and potentially 2 which would secure a win assuming we finish on time without having to worry about the final CP. But in either case getting the final CP could have been questionable.

We prepped bikes and unloaded boats in 10 min and left 3 min before the cutoff with no sign of Rock Creek so they would have to beat us to the finish to win.

Earl started to bonk on the ride home so we stopped to fuel because we still had to run out to the final CP and could not afford getting too far behind.

Quick TA and headed out for the final CP. A bit tricky and quite a bit of shwacking so we were careful not to pass anything.

Took 10 min longer than estimated but still finished with an hour to spare. Therefore we could have likely traveled and gotten 1 CP on dropped leg but it might have been close. Getting 2 CPs on that leg and not worrying about final CP probably would have been the best choice.

I think we made a less aggressive choice banking on our confidence in our ability to finish strong. This was a bit risky but at the time I felt going for another CP was more risky, actually impossible. Had I realized we had a bit more time I would have investigated and found we could have likely sealed the win on CPs. Instead we hammered home and sealed it anyway. We saw Rock Creek heading out to the last CP just before we arrived back at TA.

Commute in. Light pack.

Running errands in the CRC.

Took the Huck for the shade and flatter ride despite the longer route.

Commute home. Heavy pack. Hot.

First "short" commute in. Heavy pack.

Commute home. No pack.