Training Log Archive: Mr WonderfulIn the 1 days ending Oct 4, 2014:
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Saturday Oct 4, 2014 #
6 AM
Orienteering 3:30:00 [3] 5.5 mi (38:11 / mi) +350m 31:53 / mi
spiked:4/4c shoes: Brooks Cascadia 8s
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/552675308
Savage River Score O
Controls were given a point value - you were credited with 1 CP for every number in the 10s place (42 = 4 CPs). We had swagged the bike back at 24 miles, and picked 6 mph for a pace estimate, so we needed to leave by 10 am.
We also needed to not climb too much, so that naturally led to grabbing the four flags worth 42 points that only required a single big climb.
Navigation went well; I got nervous about picking the right reentrant to get the spur, but I was awesome and we hit it spot on. Phew!
Taking the ridge to the softest saddle ever used in AR was mostly fine, other than it felt really long to get the last bit to the flag. I hallucinated the flag once, even got the passport from T but nothing was there.
On the way back along the ridge, T kept us in easy walking, but I did have to grab him back as he started to veer towards the south spur at the fork, so we trusted our compasses and gave up the open stuff to be sure we didn't screw up.
That was the big success - most times T or I were going to screw up, the other one would catch it with spidey sense or a compass check. It's a good team. T is about 95% certain he is right at any moment, and keeps us moving confidently. I am 30% certain I am wrong, so I double check and get concerned which minimizes many errors, but when I'm hemming and hawing, T can grab a decision and go. In a perfect world, T might back off to 90% confidence and I might go up to that. Some self doubt is healthy; too much is a curse.
We caught up to MRA 1 (with 7 cps worth?) along the way, and were saddened to hear of Hil's ankle woes. Then a MI team reunion at the TA to the final bike with MRA 1, 2, and WAR!
Savage River Score O
Controls were given a point value - you were credited with 1 CP for every number in the 10s place (42 = 4 CPs). We had swagged the bike back at 24 miles, and picked 6 mph for a pace estimate, so we needed to leave by 10 am.
We also needed to not climb too much, so that naturally led to grabbing the four flags worth 42 points that only required a single big climb.
Navigation went well; I got nervous about picking the right reentrant to get the spur, but I was awesome and we hit it spot on. Phew!
Taking the ridge to the softest saddle ever used in AR was mostly fine, other than it felt really long to get the last bit to the flag. I hallucinated the flag once, even got the passport from T but nothing was there.
On the way back along the ridge, T kept us in easy walking, but I did have to grab him back as he started to veer towards the south spur at the fork, so we trusted our compasses and gave up the open stuff to be sure we didn't screw up.
That was the big success - most times T or I were going to screw up, the other one would catch it with spidey sense or a compass check. It's a good team. T is about 95% certain he is right at any moment, and keeps us moving confidently. I am 30% certain I am wrong, so I double check and get concerned which minimizes many errors, but when I'm hemming and hawing, T can grab a decision and go. In a perfect world, T might back off to 90% confidence and I might go up to that. Some self doubt is healthy; too much is a curse.
We caught up to MRA 1 (with 7 cps worth?) along the way, and were saddened to hear of Hil's ankle woes. Then a MI team reunion at the TA to the final bike with MRA 1, 2, and WAR!
10 AM
Biking 3:00:00 [3] 21.5 mi (7.2 mph) +730m
shoes: Jamis Dragon Sport 29er
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/552677658
Final Bike
We budgeted 4 hours for this final bike, having map wheeled off 24 miles during the long TA, figuring 6 mph should cover it. Maybe 4 mph would have been a better estimate...
We were okay at the start, then began the interminable climb from the Savage River valley. It never ended. We were passed by a roadie like we were standing still. Because for all intents and purposes, we were. M was fine, but T was struggling with a weak leg, and J was in usual end race fade (why?). I walked my bike an embarrassing amount. :(
We reached a fork and were coming to the same conclusion: We were going to be in sketchy shape if we tried to bag another big hill, bike on bumpy trails, and expect to make the cut off. Bailing on those three points, taking a flattish route to the finish, and maybe bagging the easiest final O CP would be our best chance. So we did. I felt bad. I could picture my fan club seeing our resignation on the tracker and being disheartened, like a Michigan football fan. I felt they deserved better. But they would probably forgive our pragmatism in the fog of late race decision making.
It was still a long bike! The hills were replaced with wind in the exposed gorgeous farmland. Another team yoyoed with us, going ahead, stopping for maps, going ahead, stopping for maps, ultimately beating us.
Final Bike
We budgeted 4 hours for this final bike, having map wheeled off 24 miles during the long TA, figuring 6 mph should cover it. Maybe 4 mph would have been a better estimate...
We were okay at the start, then began the interminable climb from the Savage River valley. It never ended. We were passed by a roadie like we were standing still. Because for all intents and purposes, we were. M was fine, but T was struggling with a weak leg, and J was in usual end race fade (why?). I walked my bike an embarrassing amount. :(
We reached a fork and were coming to the same conclusion: We were going to be in sketchy shape if we tried to bag another big hill, bike on bumpy trails, and expect to make the cut off. Bailing on those three points, taking a flattish route to the finish, and maybe bagging the easiest final O CP would be our best chance. So we did. I felt bad. I could picture my fan club seeing our resignation on the tracker and being disheartened, like a Michigan football fan. I felt they deserved better. But they would probably forgive our pragmatism in the fog of late race decision making.
It was still a long bike! The hills were replaced with wind in the exposed gorgeous farmland. Another team yoyoed with us, going ahead, stopping for maps, going ahead, stopping for maps, ultimately beating us.
1 PM
Orienteering 30:00 [3] *** 1.0 mi (30:00 / mi) +100m 22:54 / mi
spiked:2/2c shoes: Brooks Cascadia 8s
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/552679088
Final O
I was worried we would get back to the finish and ever eager Tizoc would want to grab some o points with sketchy time. So I tried to swag out some conservative estimates during the final bit of the final bike - if we had less than one hour, we locked it in. Any more, we would have to grab #33, nearby in a massive reentrant.
We had 68 minutes left. I informed Michelle we would have to go for one more point. Her eyes welled, but she nodded yes. So T and I checked the resort map for a hint on route, and we hiked over and up. We saw Tecnu coming in and cheered them. They looked great.
I forgot/didn't realize this would actually net us two points, one for the CP and one for "finishing" the foot o, so we got back 2 of the 3 bike points we missed. And this may have better matched our team energy and strengths (we hike better than we bike).
Final O
I was worried we would get back to the finish and ever eager Tizoc would want to grab some o points with sketchy time. So I tried to swag out some conservative estimates during the final bit of the final bike - if we had less than one hour, we locked it in. Any more, we would have to grab #33, nearby in a massive reentrant.
We had 68 minutes left. I informed Michelle we would have to go for one more point. Her eyes welled, but she nodded yes. So T and I checked the resort map for a hint on route, and we hiked over and up. We saw Tecnu coming in and cheered them. They looked great.
I forgot/didn't realize this would actually net us two points, one for the CP and one for "finishing" the foot o, so we got back 2 of the 3 bike points we missed. And this may have better matched our team energy and strengths (we hike better than we bike).