Orienteering

Today I did my 3rd orienteering race post surgery.  I think I ran more in this race than in the other two race, mostly due to my crazy competitive nature.  I'm very pleased with how I did; all my routes were really good with the execution of 2-3.  My running wasn't great... but since I haven't actually been running at all I can't really expect it to be can I?

 

Here is my route start - 1- 2.  I made the decision to run along the road to the creek then look for the re-entrant, great plan.  (I'm not sure if the GPS is off on this map or if I left the road a little early, doesn't matter I found the control easily!).  Then I followed the creek to the next control, luckily I saw the control (and runners), because I never saw the path I was looking for.

 

Leaching 2 I knew I had to follow the path to 3, sounds easy enough but as you can see this is where I made my big mistake.  I couldn't see the path from 2 and was about to start off in the wrong direction when I noticed 2 other orienteers heading off on the path (thank goodness!). I was having a really hard time seeing the path and when I got the large bend in the path I thought it had ended!  I headed off to the right and ended up loosing 15ish minutes wondering.  To fix my mistake I headed back to the path and to the point where I could see the path going down hill, then I was able to reorient my self and got on the right track!  Figures I would make my big mistake on a control that only required me to follow a path!  As you can see I was able to follow the path correctly from 3 to 4.

 

I'm very pleased with my navigation from 4 to 5, my best of the course I think!  The original plan was to follow the path to the creek and then follow the creek to the split and then to the control.  However there was a FUMA boy right in front of me and I didn't really want to run with him to the control.  So I decided I would leave the path right away and head down the re-entrant; this worked out beautifully and I easily found the control.

Leaving 5 I decided to just follow the creek as far as it went and then head straight for the road.  The green area was really dense and I was glad to find that I had veered over enough to hit the path that lead to the road.  I ended up further over than I had planned, but I knew where I was and was easily able to head over to 6.  For 6 I just ran straight from the road intersection into the woods, I knew I had to go up hill so I was looking for the hill as I ran.   Leaving 6 I was walking and reading my map to develop a plan for 7, happened to look and up find myself inched away from walking into a tree.... note to self read the map either standing still or walking in a clear area!



 

Very happy with my route choice for 6 to 7 as well.  Pretty simple, I followed the road to the path, through the clearing then followed the stream to the clearing next to the other stream.  My only difficulties were the dark green, it was very dense.  I need to remember to try and plan my routes around those areas!

 

7 to 8 to 9 to finish were also pretty simple routes.  I planned my route for all from 7 and tried to just run as much as I could.  I got passed by a runner leaving 7 and I tried to keep up with him, but he was fast and I was pretty tired; I was able to (just barely) keep him in sight to the finish.  I followed the creek from 7 to 8 the just followed the road to 9 and the finish.  I had passed the finish and 9 on my way to 1 so I knew where they were which was nice.

Overall I am very happy with how I did today.  I need to remember to correct myself sooner though so mistakes don't cost me so much time.  Next time, if I'm just a little bit unsure I will go back to where I was sure and start over!

~Maggie

Happy New Year!

How was 2014…..

An interesting year to say the least; to myself I call it “the year of injuries.”

January-I remember it being very cold.  I flew to California for the second time in my life and ran the Tinkerbell Half Marathon.  I had great fun and didn’t run again (consistently) until April

February- April- Once again, very cold... I was suffering from sciatica (really it started in December of 2013), I did physical therapy for a while, then swim team started and I just couldn’t find the time

May – I think it was in May, I finally got fed up with my job and quit.  It was a long time coming and I had spent probably a year saving up for the inevitable.  I stayed on part time until August.  At the end of May I decided to do another thing I had been wanting to do forever…I dyed the underside of my hair pink, I loved it and hope to do it again in the future (depends on my next job)

June-July – Swim team took over my life.  I love those kids (all 150) like they are my own, I can’t imagine a better way to spend my summers!  Injury wise:  I smashed my right thumb several times at work (in a safe door, under a heavy box), then I sliced the right thumb open putting knife away at home (the day I was leaving for a wedding), then I broke my right thumb trying to loosen lane lines at the pool. 

August - November– With swim team over and no job, I gave myself 2 weeks of vacation before starting to worry about the no job no money problem. I had an application in for substitute teaching so I wasn’t too worried.  During my free time I had class once a week, observed in a middle school classroom once a week, and studied for the Praxis exam. Thankfully I had savings because it took until November before I was finally approved to substitute teach, I started 2 days before Thanksgiving break and right after my fall class ended.  

 

October – Right in the beginning of the month I ended up in the ER in severe pain, turns out a cyst was killing my ovary.  I had surgery and am now down one ovary, but God gives you two.  I am cleared to do anything now, but I’ve given myself until spring to start running again (and my back which still gives me fits is thankful!)

December – I’ve been subbing pretty consistently, aside for the last two weeks the school have had break.  I also fell in an orienteering race and pull a muscle (or something) in my bad shoulder, so I have to get that to heal.

 

What’s up for 2015?

Running – As I said I’ve decided to start training again in the spring.  I am still doing orienteering, but mostly I walk and try and focus on the navigation part. 

Goals:  Move up to Brown in orienteering

              PR in a 5k

              Run one half marathon (looking like the Hersey Half in PA)

Fitness – I may not be running but I will be trying to stay fit.  I currently walk my mom’s dog on the week days; her distance varies from 1.5-3.  I also received a 3 month pass to Gold’s Gym that I’ll be using.

Goals: Walk the dog every day that weather allows

              Swim 3x per week

              Use the fitness equipment 3x per week

 

 

School – I’m in my last class before I have to student teach!  I also need to pass the Praxis exam to be placed.  Hopefully next fall I will be student teaching (or even better will be hired and do an internship instead) In addition I’ve decided to take some fun classes through Coursera, first up in Dinosaurs 101!

Goals : pass everything :)

 

Happy New Year!

~Maggie