Training Log Archive: mikeminium

Planning control locations and minor map updates at Diamond Oaks

C • Where & when... 3

Rain came in, the temperature warmed to around 10 C, and every place outdoors was sloppy mud - perfect for pigs, especially the flying variety. However, given that a chilly rain was still falling and I was fairly certain that the parents of the middle schoolers would have my hide if I brought them back looking like they'd been wallowing in a hog pen, I decided on an indoor activity for today.

We did a map puzzle relay in the cafeteria, with plenty of tables for obstacles. Alex, Brennan, Caleb, Dylan, Ethan, Jamie, Nathan, and Noah were all there for the fun. I could not have gotten that many in my van anyway, so even if we had wanted to head to the woods, we probably would not have been able.

Highlight was Caleb vaulting over a table, knocking over a couple of chairs, forcing a quick amendment to the rules of "no table jumping"

Event: OCIN Indian Creek / TROL Series #7
 

I set the courses for today, but after a couple hours doing registration and such, even with about 6 layers of clothing, I was getting C-O-L-D. It was time to have some fun and R-U-N.

So, after loosening up a bit and losing a few layers, I made my way to the start. Orunner was just punching the start unit, and I yelled something about "I'm after you" as he headed for the woods. I watched him disappear, waited perhaps two minutes, and then initiated pursuit.

Going to number 1, it looked like Orunner had chosen to go a little to the right, going around a pine grove to take a faint indistinct trail that led by the control. I had determined to cut through, intending to save a little time and hoping to sight my quarry as he left the first control.

No such luck. I emerged from the pines and sighted the control on a pile of junk just ahead. I'm sure my split was faster, but the floor of the pine forest was junky with lots of deadfall, and I certainly was not fast enough to make up two minutes. Well, that's okay, that would have been too easy.

I diagonalled down the hill, struggling to keep upright on the slippery snow covered but solidly frozen ground. The spikes were just not digging in, and I wasn't quite ready to risk an uncontrolled plummet. I cut a diagonal through another pine plantation, popping out close to the control number two in a shallow ditch. Katie Drinkhouse, Sara Dallman, and her faithful companion Sally (woof!) were closing in on the control. And lo, target acquired, there was Orunner, just stepping away from it.

Not sure if I punched before or after Sara, but punch I did, and as I turned in pursuit of the fleeing Orunner, I hollered something (loud enough for him to hear) about running him down like a wolf pack on a deer. I suspected he responded with word or gesture, but I was too busy moving.

Orunner kept left below the spur, going up a reentrant to the next control. I climbed early, cutting across above the shallow reentrant containing control number 5, and dropping onto the control from above, a few steps ahead of Orunner. He shouted something about "You knew where it was", to which I did not disagree. Then I was off to 4.

Control 4 was a sharp dogleg, and Orunner was coming in as I was coming out. A short fast run brought me to #5, and as I punched, I couldn't resist letting out a long, loud wolf howl for Orunner's pleasure. Best howl I've done in years. OwOOOOOO!

Six was another dogleg, and again I met Orunner, coming in as I was heading out, but that would be the last I'd see of him. Somewhere as I left 7, near the bottom of a very steep hill, I thought I heard crashing and a curse from somewhere on the hill; doubtless Orunner descending that slippery slope.

As I headed for 9, a couple deer bolted off to my left. A short pause was needed to dislodge some branches caught on my face and collar (don't ask how, I don't know.) Anyway, I had probably gone another 20 or 30 meters when I realized I'd lost my hat. I considered leaving it, but figured it couldn't be too far behind, and it wasn't far back - right where I had fought the offending branches. Still, going back for a dropped hat has cost me a race before, so after that I kicked in a little bit extra.

The rest of the course was mostly uneventful. A fairly long road and trail leg from 10 to 11, and a blast straight through the start/finish/registration area before descending to number 14, then immediately having to climb right back up to 15. Doesn't that stupid course setter know about avoiding gratuitous climb? Uhm, er, wait a minute, uh... never mind !

17 to 18 was another run right back past the finish, to cheers (or was it jeers?) of the few chilly orienteers gathered around the finish. That was followed by a nearly 180 degree dogleg out of 18, and a final sprint to 19 and the finish. Fun, fun, fun!

Later, when control pickup was finished, we adjourned to my house, a few minutes from the park for celebration of Katy Drinkhouse's birthday, re-hashing of courses, and lots of good food and good friends. Ah, it was an exceptional day!

control pickup at Indian Creek

C • A great write-up. . .! 5

OCIN_Indian_Creek_Jan_2013_Green - Splits

Event: Standard Cross Country O Meet
 

setting the final few controls at Indian Creek.

setting controls at Indian Creek

Indian Creek

GNC Extreme O at Hard Labor Creek. Included rope bridge, culvert crawl, bat cave, kayak to island with push thru the shallowest parts of the very mucky lake, crawl under cabin, control inside a port-O-let, photo O legs, and a murder mystery. Partnered with Barb, and we made a heck of a team, but we made a couple big mistakes near the end, allowing the kids (Addison B, Izzy, and Dan O) to pass us and gloat. It will be a long time before we live down that performance!

time and distance estimated for now; I think it was actually something a bit over 2 hours.

Red day 2 course at Hard Labor Creek State Park. Pretty clean run until Number 9 where I blew about 4 minutes largely due to brain death and stupidity. From there on, I was just a little sloppy probably losing a minute on ten and another 30 seconds on 11. But still hung on for second place in M 45+.

Control pickup with Addison B and Dan O. Addison and Dan went first to look for Dan's glasses which had been ripped off by a branch early in the course. Amazingly they found them!

Red-Day2 - Splits

Event: 2013 Georgia Navigator Cup & Extreme-O
 

Georgia Navigator Cup Day One at Hard Labor Creek State Park. Red course. Most choices were fairly decent. Lost 30 secs to a minute on the last control which was later the subject of a protest by another orienteer. While it turned out to be correctly placed in the center of the circle, there was definitely some question as to how the feature (gully) and adjacent ditches were mapped. Many people lost some time on this one which is a shame as either a very slightly different bag placement or a very minor map edit would have made it much more fair.

Jury. Visit to the questionable control. Decision unanimous that it was correctly placed.

Search for overtime orienteers. Three lost girls, all of whom were eventually found. Two were seen a couple of times and finally tracked down around 5:00. The third girl ended up on a county road well outsside the park and was eventually picked up by local residents who graciously drove her all the way back the twisty, bumpy gravel road to the event headquarters.

Red-Day1 - Splits

practice area at Hard Labor Creek State Park. with Addison B. Did 3 controls, waited & reviewed, etc...

errands in Oxford

errands in Oxford

Orienteering training with UCMS kids at Hueston Woods. Mix of trail, terrain and maybe a km of road. Shadowed Nathan as he did controls 1-10 (in sequence) of the lodge area permanent course.
Kids: Alex, Dylan, Nathan, Noah, Tristan, Russ

Indian Creek. Checking control locations and making minor map updates.

Event: OCIN England Idlewild / TROL #6
 

Red course at England-Idlewild. A mostly clean run. Hamstring felt fine!

control pickup at England-Idlewild

airport walking at TSN, DEN and IND. Beautiful warm but breezy afternoon when I arrived in IND, so I chose to walk to the long-term discount parking lot instead of taking the shuttle. I probably got there just as quickly, but I have a few choice words for the idiots who designed a parking facility to be so unfriendly to pedestrians. They should at the very least have striped a walkway from the terminal out to the lots instead of making you weave through parked rental cars, walk through the driving lanes and parking area, and cross a grassy berm and shallow ditch. I've done this before so I knew the drill, but such a lack of planning for pedestrians at a facility that was designed and built from scratch just a few years ago is incredibly stupid and shortsighted.

Madera Canyon. Hiked to Bog Springs and a little beyond, with peak elevation a little over 6000 feet. A few small patches of snow on the trails below 6000, but when I reached the open area between Bog Springs and Kent Spring, there was much more snow cover.

3 sets of 15 reps, various. Still took it very easy on the legs and avoided anything that would stress the hamstring.

Felt good until I started to run. After three or four strides, the hamstring began to express its displeasure. I persisted for an easy two mile run and felt a little looser by the end, but I think that to heal, whatever I did will need at least a couple non-running days of rest.

Rowing machine.

Golf, 9 holes at Canoa Ranch.

Hamstring bothering me so kept it short and easy today. I hope this is temporary!

3 by 15 on various equipment, mostly upper body. Didn't want to aggravate the hamstring.

Camino del Sol.

Camino del Sol. Felt old, fat, and slow after three days of driving and road food, and not having run for a few days. But the 65 degree weather was nice.

C • Road food... 1

3 sets of 15 reps on a variety of equipment.

Event: OCIN Harbin Park / TROL Series #5
 

driving day, Roswell - Green Valley. delicious dinner at La Placita.

after dinner stroll on a very chilly and breezy evening in Roswell, NM.
(driving day, Joplin - Roswell)

Driving day. Oxford to Joplin (via IND).

Event: OCIN New Years Orienteering
 

snow removal

setting out final few controls and some drinking water at Rentschler / Timberhill.