vmeyer

Today was the US Relay Championships. It was a small field of 16 teams spread over the three categories. The excitement was high before the race. [Photo courtesy of John Crowther]

Here I am doing some unofficial directing before the race start. [Photo courtesy of Greg Walker]

And, then we are off. [Photo courtesy of John Crowther]

Anyway, there was only three of us on the Yellow leg, Reta, Sharon, and me, and I so wanted to beat Sharon. I was so close, but she got me today, after me getting her on Friday in the Sprint. [Photo courtesy of Nadim Ahmed]

Tagging off to Kathleen [Photo courtesy of Nadim Ahmed]

I gave it my all. Luckily, my three teammates were ready to take up the slack, and we won the 12 point team gold!

Ted Good, who ended up coming to the event injured, took this picture. From left to right, Valerie Meyer (Yellow), Kathleen Lennon (Orange), Greg Lennon (Brown), Nadim Ahmed (Green).

I was confident that the rest of the QOC team would preform up to their capabilities, and the win on paper would transfer to a win in the field, and it did. The second Gold of the weekend. Yes, it was a small field, but it was a win, and that felt so good.

Things are sore, but left foot PF seems to have improved over the weekend. Go figure.

Actual miles = 3.0, climb = 127 m

Map – Middle Green

OK, last night was a little scratchy/sketchy, possibly compounded by the whole dark thing. Today was bright, cool, and a new day – AND, a new day in the woods, what could be better?!

If the F50+ class wasn’t strong enough last night, it was even stronger today with the addition of Kathleen, though, thankfully, Peggy was hiding over on F21. !!! So it was Erin, with an almost perfect run, followed by Kathleen with close to a perfect run, then me with the most perfect run I have ever had, except for circling some buildings near the end, when I was really needing to find a trail junction, followed by Sandy, who has some imperfect knees which were bothering her this weekend.

Today reminded me of a less steep version of the terrain at home, and with the familiarization from the event last night, I was actually “seeing” things today. A very good day.

Walked the Corn-O with Sandy alternating leading legs. Had to stay focus or would be clueless on where I was. Wish I had shorts on, since it was pretty warm out in the sun.

It was an enjoyable afternoon spent with a a good friend.

Per Forerunner, actual = 5.0 miles with 127 climb

Map – Night Green

Night-O – strong F50 field with Sandy and Erin Binder. Originally slated to start 2 minutes ahead of Sandy, and I just couldn’t bear the thought of her reeling me in within the first 2.5 minutes, so I asked for a start time change, probably the first time ever I did this.

Changed to 10 minutes later, and I managed to miss that by a few minutes. Got there and asked to be slotted in a free space, but the other Green runner right then was Greg L, who would out-class me, so we decided that I would start then. Up to the last line, punch the Start box, no beep, dropped a kissy bomb, so, back to the Clear/Check, and, back again to the start line, and, then, finally off.

Carefree to the first control which was very close and managed the third best split of the night. A few adventures after that, but nothing too terrible…won the gold, my second in my short night-o career. Totally amazing for someone who is afraid of the dark – big light, um, not big confidence, but some confidence, for sure.

1.25 miles w/ 27 m climb

Map – Sprint Green

I got on the plane thinking that I wasn’t going to be much good to the QOC relay team effort, and that I was thankful that there were five of us (Nadim, Ted, Greg, Kathleen, and me) with options for either a 12 or 8 point team.

However, Ted came limping up claiming some soccer injury from the night before, so it looked like I would need to figure out pretty quickly if I could run or not.

So, off to Sprint, and not just at a trot. Pushed as hard as I could, catching an 11 year old kid, who had started two minutes ahead of me, for a moral victory. Also beat Sharon, I think for the first time ever, though maybe there was another “victory” over this legend who is 14 years older than me in the last couple of years.

Lots of silly things factored into this not being a very good day for me.  I should have stuck with the original plan which was, when I got to the park, I was supposed to go right out.  But, instead, I inserted myself where I wasn’t needed and didn’t allow myself much time to get back to relieve Heidi (not that she would have cared, but I cared).

Then, I got to the top of the hill to the first control, having followed the Green runner ahead of me, and stood there looking around stupidly -  25/26 to the first control.

Between 1 & 2, I feel hard and whacked my right knee.  It hurt only for a moment, but it is very painful now 7 hours later.

Took some poor route choices for the rest of the controls, and when I got to the road, after starting to 12, I decided that I didn’t want to play anymore and headed back.

Felt really cranky the rest of the day, and was happy to take it out on a person who was 1.25 hours late, and is chronically late.  Said she didn’t head back sooner because she still saw checkpoints out in the woods, so she figured she might as well continue.

Between woe is me, and this person, I was a little bitchy.  Tomorrow is another day.

Route

Had McD’s for breakfast today since I needed some protein.

Another early start. Had the woods to myself for the first 30 minutes or so. Lots of people using the park roads and trails though. Very impressive.

S-1 One of those controls to get you started in the right direction. A little confused why I was on a “trail”, but it turns out there is a ride line under the line from S-1. Didn’t let it bother me and get safely to the field and the control. Trying to take safe routes was my theme for the day.

1-2 Stupid move, unsafe route – literally – slide down the steep bank and only see the bridge crossing as I am coming up the other side. Road, to stream bed, to control.

2-3 Out to the trail and then back under the fence, up the stream bed to the control.

3-4 On compass, counting things off and recognizing that I was a little below the control.

4-5 Safe way around on trails and a lovely ride through the pines.

6-7 Most of my lost time for the day was here. Took a less steep route down and then up the other side to the road. Road, then into the woods, and failure. I knew I wasn’t sure where I had hit the stream and where the off shot was – right or left, and I guessed wrong. Some wandering until I convinced myself to get to the road and start over. Second time in was a charm.

7-8 Proud of my compass work here.

8-9 Should have save the pat on the back for later. Doubted where I was when I got to the top of the hill, on my hands and knees mostly. Went right, and then had to come back. Visited the HUGE rootstock to the west of the control on the way in. I wished I had my camera since it may have been the biggest one I have seen personally, besides those giant trees.

9-10 Lucked out on this one since I was super distracted by a giant horsefly which was buzzing me and biting me. I still have large welt on my arm to prove it. I was swatting and swearing and trying to keep moving and paying attention. It is a little hard to keep track of things with your hands flailing around your head and body, so, I was thankful that I recognized what spur I had come down by the three little hills to the west. My horsefly buddy gave up around here when I started swinging sticks around. I wasn’t entirely confident when I climbed the hill where I hoped the control was, and it was only visible when I was in the circle. Whew!

10-11 Executed perfectly. Well deserved self-congratulations. I was unaware that Stina had punched in a minute or so before me at 10, but I punched in here just before he at 11. Of course, she started 30 minutes behind me, but it was a small victory of sorts. Saw Meg approaching as I was leaving here. She had started 38 minutes behind me.

11-12 Out to road by shortest route, trail, then into the area, where I bumbled around slightly before finding it.

12-13 A little off, but punched in just ahead of Meg.

13-14 Wish I had paid closer attention to where Meg went in here, since I was on the wrong side of the spur/hill thingee. Oops.

14-15 Didn’t quite get the indistinct trail as I had planned, but no real harm done.

15-16 Uneventful. A huge THANK YOU to the many BFLO volunteers who were monitoring the roads and off-ramp with their colorful shirts and signs.

16-17-F Some guy with a big video camera was filming, so I told myself to suck it in, suck it up, smile, and pushed as hard as I could into the control and into the finish. Liked the last few controls which were spring like and spectator friendly.

I gave it everything I had in the tank today, and I was pleased with this effort. Hamstring didn’t twinge even once. Go figure. Maybe the five solid rest days was good for it.

Dripping wet afterwards. Glad the the sun stayed mostly tucked behind the clouds. Glasses flogging was only an issue once early on.

2011 Golden Troll Award recipient

Valerie Meyer (QOC)

For years Valerie has selflessly donated her time to clubs other than her own, to the point where she has become a fixture behind the computer at local and national meets across the country. She has put in countless hours learning the epunch software, adding her own equipment and modifications, and getting her system down to a fine art. She never seems to turn down a request to handle epunch for another club’s A-meet. It is invaluable to a small club to be able to turn the finish and results duties over to someone who handles them with such thoroughness and professionalism.