Orienteering race 1:20:00 shoes: Brooks CP Green 2
Don't Just Run Toronto Island Adventure run.
Highly complex format- rogaine style, sort of, but 4 mandatory CPs, and different values depending on the sequence, based on a grid chart- ie CP 1 is worth very little if taken first, but lots if you have to run back to it in the middle, etc. We had up to 10 minutes to plan, or just scratch our heads.
As expected, I planned a strategy that involved lots of running back and forth for high points, but low efficiency. Unfortunately, I made a small change early on that threw everything off, and after drenching my control card on the way to the 4th CP in chest-deep water, further plan changes were almost impossible.
It would have been better to drop lots of points and come in way before the 90 minute time limit, but where's the fun in that?
I ended up coming in with Bash (Winning female!) , with 1 more point but 30 seconds behind on time- we think. No podium for me, but a fun outing, and TOC must have put in a ton of work. Good map too!
Good solid ride down to Albion and around. Conditions are still great on the dry trails, and the muck is drying out in the soggy bits. Some interesting re-routes this year, including my old nemesis the S-bend on what we call the Haute Route (Goose calls it up, up and up yours). There's now nothing I can't ride cleanly on the 'bent.
Strength30:00 [2]
Still only able to do half my workout due to the funny forearm thing. It may not be from paddling but instead from Lumberjack activities from a month ago.
Time approx.
Hammered down to Palgrave to meet Bash (car repair), then we went to Albion and rode almost everything but the soggy south bits. Best ride of the year so far- trails were perfect, legs felt great, the big bike ran like clockwork, and I rode every technical bit cleanly, including some turns I often can't get around. Great weather and company- really doesn't get much better.
After I rode back with Bash to Palgrave West, then re-commuted in to work.
The SRAM 9.0 may not be a Rohloff, but it sure shifts better than XTR.
Ahh, commuting via singletrack with the Bulletdog. I think a lower granny would help my knee on the Omega 'bent.
Cycling (Commute +) 1:20:00 [3]
Bulletdog and I took the rest of the Palgrave singletrack home, with some diversions for swimming dogs. Nice cool evening, and Bulletdog likes the singletrack pace. The Omega did OK- slightly better on some twsty bits than the big 'bent, but things came loose.
CN MTBO, directed by the lovely Bash.
I had a fairly good outing- I tried to take my time and nav carefully, and it mostly went well in this complex area. Glasses and repositioned map board were much better.
I still messed up once at 3 when I ran into a bog where the trail was mis-drawn a bit, and once again when I got caught up with LeAnimal and Mike and got drawn along a little too quickly. Much better on my own as always.
Finished wa-a-ay behind Tiny and Millhouse, but that's to be expected.
Very well run event (even though I'm biased). Every control spot-on, and always several route choices. Good use of the terrain, started on time, good treats after, lots of prizing.
Cycling30:00 [3]
Warm up + picking up controls after the MTBO. Got a flat in the last 1/2km so had to hoof it back.