Training Log Archive: JonD

1. straight. Cut into stream bed early and stumbled on uneven bank.
2. left 1 by climbing rocks under the bridge (waste of time). Tried to cut off bend in the road but grass was too high.
3. aimed off to the left of control to follow the stream down to it. Probably too far left.
4. missed. Left 3 distracted by other runners intending to head generally straight. After crossing the ridge, came to an unexpected (second) stream bed. I figured this was the one N of the control that more or less lead right to it, so followed it SSW. Didn’t see the control. Got tangled in some deadfall and thick trees and now assumed I was in some unmapped green to the N. Continued S, angling back SE. still didn’t see it and terrain was bad – hopping logs etc. Bailed S to the road. Still confused as to position but assuming I had run past the control, I ran E on road for about 15 yards (to the top of a hill). But there were no good relocation features that way, so turned 180 and went W on the road figuring that worst case would be finding the powerlines, the field or one of the trails leading to the pond near the control. Saw the first trail going N and ran right to the control. Looking back, I figure I had drifted way N (right of line) upon leaving 3, and crossed the intermittent stream to the NE of the control, then passed to the left of the control as I wandered S.
5. now running more cautiously and hence more slowly. Crossed field, anxious about turning an ankle. Entered woods on edge of green. Followed ditch to control.
6. straight through green, into shallow reentrant.
7. straight past building on left, up the trail.
8. straight across green, crossed a log at the stream, left of pond, followed stream and white woods to control. Some other runners leaving at this point, including Dave H. who ended up running very close behind for next legs.
9. straight across field, white woods into large field, followed small field “arm” E up to top of ridge, turned NE along top of ridge through white. Dave H close behind on this. I was first in the circle, but hestitated near the control – unsure. Dave H went to it first (and punched so discretely I at first thought he had missed it and was relocating).
10. small diversion to bottom of ridge, which was bad running, then ran back up it to go straight across it, to the right of pond, followed stream bed along field, then crossed at a narrow spot and angled to the control. Made up about a 20 yard lead by Dave and left before him – now running pretty much “neck and neck”.
11. aimed for corner of field, through green and streambed, and right around the ridge. Ran along streambed towards control, but again hesitated and started walking when near it. I had not looked at clue sheet and was looking for “hills” rather “rootstocks” (which were right in front of me). We punched at same time.
12. followed the trail, running hard to get ahead. This didn’t work as he had gone straight through the green and popped out on the trail about 10 yards ahead of me. Punched at same time again.
13. straight across field, to left of pond. Small hesitation finding the log to cross the stream on. Didn’t see Dave H anymore after this. I assumed he had tried going to the right of the pond, which I had considered, but he said he was still pretty close behind at this point.
14. Straight until the field, then ended up diverging SE to the trail anyway. Followed a compass bearing from the field, trail, woods junction. Some hesitation in the woods when I encountered the small hills.
15. straight through fields, but diverged S back to control 10 in order to be sure. Straight across field but aimed a bit to the left.
16. Straight, around the line of trees.

Red - Splits

rock creek. cool and overcast. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3332987

felt kind of winded - definitely overdressed, but somewhat out of biking shape.

run in DC http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3329546