Training Log Archive: JanetT

Results

My route (click for larger map):

SVO Rocky Ridge Co Park, Green course (no Brown offered), 4.8 km / 140m nominal. SVO re-used courses from an Oct 2019 event that was poorly attended, being up against an NRE, the Masters Champs in NH.

It hit below 50 overnight, and was in the low 50s and breezy when we arrived, but it was warmer in the woods; still, it was only 56 when we left the park.

Pin punching was used, and optional (for anyone who didn't want to handle the punches). I wasn't going to punch, so skipped punching at #1; but punched all the rest. After 4 I used #1 as an attackpoint for #5 and punched it then so I had a full set, but no one was checking them, so it was just for old times' sake. Splits won't be posted because we didn't use epunch, and I doubt anyone else on the course will add them manually. If they do I'll add mine; otherwise:
1--6:15; 2--8:47; 3--11:13; 4--9:37; 5--9:35; 6--1:31; 7--5:54; 8--6:13; 9--11:04; 10--11:26; 11--5:04; F--4:34 Total 1:43:14, though Brad recorded it 12 seconds later.

I'm happy with most of my orienteering here, and with my placing (6th 5th, behind Andras Revesz(sp) and Istvan Nagy; Ian Whitmore; and Linda Kohn and Rick Worner, who were on their way to a memorial service/burial for Karl Kolva, longtime ROC member). Great map, last surveyed in 2015; the medium green/mountain laurel is mature and requires some picking your way through or around but is fairly well mapped. Otherwise the woods were largely open with lots of trails to hop onto.

I wasn't far off any of my controls but hooked into a few of them, but am marking them as spikes (except #5, where I went the right distance but didn't see any 1.5m boulders until I moved around some). I saw Glen (on the Red course) at my #2 and #4 controls, and Wyatt at #9, but otherwise didn't see any other orienteers.

Green - Splits

Event: DVOA Myrick Center (BVA)
 

Myrick Center, west of West Chester, 3.7 km, 100m Brown course by Sam K and Lena K. Low to mid 70s but warming up.

It was somewhat difficult to find the start triangle on the map but once I did the first two controls were along trails before we entered the woods. Medium green was passable enough; the dark green was truly difficult and was avoided. Nine of the controls were in the fun white woods to the NE of the center, with legs that criss-crossed each other. I even beat one of the three Suhocki sisters! (Third overall of 15, behind Tom O, who was walking, and another of the Suhocki sisters.)

Navigation was pretty straightforward through 12, then we crossed a green broad spur for a control near a ditch. I hit the ditch farther down the hill than expected to so turned left and climbed the hill to reach it. Once out of the green woods we had a bit of maze-O for 15-16-17 which I did not execute well...I stayed high and looped around from the south, but then turned in on the wrong trail (miscounted) and had to go back. Okay from there to the finish.

Myrick Center Sprint!!! 2.3 km, 80m climb A bit warmer now, probably upper 70s, and sunny.

The first two controls were the same as I had on the Brown course, then we went south for a bit before heading back to the area of my 15-16-17 on the Brown course.

This was fun but hilly. I didn't do the route choice well to 10 and 11. To 10 I got on the wrong trail from the field (should have gone to the jct in the S corner of the field to be sure of trails). Then to 11, even though I knew I should go west around the fenced area I went to the east side anyway to check it out. There was a downed tree making a real mess. I backed put and went around.

Time lost on the two was on the order of several minutes, but would only have moved me up a place or two, I'm sure. I wasn't last, however, even though I had to walk up *all* the hills. But I was able to jog down almost all the downhills! Progress.

Picked up three controls near the finish, plus the pinflags from the finish "chute", in sandals.

Forgot to stop my watch, but have adjusted the distance and time.

After I finished it started to threaten rain, and then did rain a bit, so some of the others on control pickup got a bit wet. No thunder, though Tstorms had been forecast.

Brown - Splits

Sprint!!! - Splits

Gravel and bike trails at Moon Lake SF Recreation Area, part of Pinchot SF west of Wilkes-Barre, on the north/west side of the Susquehanna in Luzerne Co. First bike outing (of any kind) since my crash in September. Low 70s when we arrived just before noon; mid 70s when we left...and a bit humid. (HR strap used today)

We'd been here once before and the trails I biked then were a bit above my skill level/bike capabilities. Glen recommended taking the park road up to the upper parts of Moonshine* and biking back down. After I left the park road near the campground I missed a turn for Moonshine and rode/walked a bit of Edge (not Ledge) until I figured out I was headed the wrong way and went back.

On the way down Moonshine I managed pretty well, though conservatively, trying to make sure I wasn't using my front brake too much. I walked through the hairpin turns (I needed the breaks anyway). I passed a hiker headed the other way, who had parked next to us in the lot, and pulled over for a few other mtb-ers headed up the trail, in the lower parts.

When I got near the parking area I didn't see/missed a turn and rode a bit more in a flattish area near a stream, before riding the slatted bridge across the stream back to the road. I then rode a bit on the flattish gravel trail around part of the lake before returning (I took a side trail to see whether it connected with Peekaboo*, but it didn't; it did go past a ruin/chimney a short distance from the lake, however). I saw Glen on Peekaboo as I was headed back on the path along the lake. We both returned to the car after that and ate sandwiches we had brought.

*Trail names per Trailforks, but no signs for them in the park.

Walking, with some stops to observe/photograph birds, while Glen went out for more mtb trails. I walked on Peekaboo and came back the ride/trail that passed the ruin/chimney I had seen earlier. The connection between Peekaboo and the park road had been "obliterated" (trees put down as deterrents); at the lower end it joined the wider gravel trail along the lake. Mid 70s. I took along the Trailforks map I'd referenced earlier, on my ride.

When I got back to the car the hiker I'd seen on Moonshine was just returning. She had missed a turn and hiked longer than she had expected to. She was not carrying a map.

Another mostly cloudy day in store...

"Walking" with the very distractible grands. :-D

After some sun yesterday, it's back to gray skies.

Neighborhoods and park, partially following the course of last weekend's fundraiser 5K that the local firehouse organized (we didn't run it), or at least following the paint markings on the roads and sidewalks. :-( Upper 60s, still overcast.

Earned 12 streets in Allentown on CityStrides today. Also being noted for the D&L Trail Challenge again this year (it's a good cause). Overcast, mid 60s.

Saw a kingfisher (and a number of ducks and geese) at the pond in Trexler Park.