SSS3-Irrawang
 leepback | Posted: 5 November 2009, 10:46 AM [NZ Time] 
Street Series Event3 @ Irrawang
Wow – I couldn’t be much happier with my run. Not often I get to say that, is it.
On arrival I had a bo-peep at the new map and was surprised at it’s diminutive size. This was a small flattish area and my initial thought was that some competitors might visit all controls. This was quite a contrast to last week’s event and highlighted the variety that this series offers.
My plan was basic. I’d head out to the west sticking to the northern section right until the edge of the map. From here I’d be able to gauge my return home knowing my remaining time.
I start with Malcolm and managed to keep him in sight for a while until he eventually drops me en route to 2K. 1M doesn’t fit in easily so it is sacrificed. There are lots of people running around and the locals are intrigued. I’m quizzed by one of them near 1L and then by another family residing at my next control, 2H. All up my stopping to give them and the other guy a very quick explanation and squiz at the map has costs me about 20 seconds and I momentarily forget to look for the walkway exit, but sensing my need for speed they generously suggest I should go “that way”.
I regather my composure and continue. Like an old time gun-slinging US Sherriff I clean up the mid-west with the exception of 1H. The lower west is a problem. 3C and 1G? Not a chance. 3B? Looks doubtful but I decide to give it a go, besides Nicole is still around these parts and I’m thinking she started before me. I go as fast and as straight as I can, even running through a lawn sprinkler spray just to avoid any slight deviations.
My return like many others is along the southern path ducking in and out of the cul-de-sacs to pick up points. Time is getting away and 3B has cost me any chance of 3A, a wise trade off, who knows? 1S looks like it might be hard to find so I skip it in favour of going further inland to get 2B. It’s going to be a close finish.
At the park edge I have about 40 seconds so begin what I generously call a sprint. 14 seconds to go and about 70 metres left. Faster but it’s like the scene in a movie where I don’t’ seem to be getting any closer to my goal. Eventually I make the finish table and look at my watch. 45:01 but I have forgotten to stop it and apparently have just sneaked home exactly on time.
I didn’t feel particularly good prior to and had been weak all week, so was less than enthusiastic about my chances today but my 43 points has gained me 16th placing my best by far this series. This has given me an incentive to try and break into the top 15 and heaven forbid even a top ten placing. Must have been the 20 minutes of serious training I put in yesterday. I might even do 40 minutes this week so look out.
Time to tune out now Kazza (and Josh) as a few stats might pop-up for the “men” to consume.
Overall my distance covered (according to Garmin) was 7.40 km. Another competitor had a reading of 7.41 km, practically the same distance but 6 points less so perhaps I did do an optimum route for my capabilities.
Points per minute: 0.95
Points per km: 5.81
Metres per point: 172
Min per Km: 6:05
Overall I enjoyed this new little map. It was mostly flat, a new area for me and it had some nice parks and laneways to add interest and options. Thanks to Greg Bacon for doing such a good job with producing another useable mapped area for the club and a fine event.
BTW: Not too happy with GT beating me as handicap winner this week. How could he have a bigger handicap than me!!!! How much is he paying the handicapper????
This message was edited by leepback on 5 November 2009, 3:56 PM
This message was edited by leepback on 5 November 2009, 3:56 PM |
| Mess Engineer | Posted: 5 November 2009, 3:02 PM [NZ Time]
My route (as per RouteGadget) 1T-1R-1Q-2J-1P-1N-3F-2K-1L-2H-1K-3E-1J-2G-3D-2E-2F-3A-1C-1S-2B-1B-1A-1D-2A for 25 Controls and 41 points in under 44:30. Spent 20 secs at 1C deciding whether to go away from the start and head for 2C but decided to pick up 1D and 2A at the end if I had time (which I ultimately did with a sprint in last 5 minutes). I was very happy with this result as highest percent to date. Also very happy that we had a cool pleasant day rather than running is Tuesdays heat!
Really liked the new map with all the open ended culdesacs and linked cycleways. Similar to Metford a couple of years back but even more options. Also liked Gregs Control placement near junctions which suited this map. Thought this was an interesting approach with lots of controls packed into a relatively small area ... and the fast guys still didn't get them all. Thanks Greg.
A question maybe for Russell. In Routegadget does length in pixels actually mean anything in reality ? For SS3 run was 5832 pixels and SS1 had 4970 pixels implying I ran about 20% further. However in Geodistance for SS3 says I did my normal distance of about 7.5 ks. I assume in the Map scanning process (and especially for Irrawang where the scan has removed the inch border around the outside) that the Map scale effectively changes slightly each week and therefore pixel length week to week is really not comparable? I did a screen dump of Routegadget SS3 0-500 m scale and SS1 0-500 m scale in two Explorer Windows side by side and they are slightly different (maybe 5%) but didn't think this would explain the difference. Would be good if there was a way to measure the 0-500 scales number of pixels so could have a conversion factor. Not an real issue just a query and ultimately I need to invest in a fancy watch or equivalent.
Next week the contours return as Margaret tests us in the Waratah Hills!
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| A High Wander | Posted: 5 November 2009, 11:01 PM [NZ Time]
I too had a good run. My stats very similar to Leepback. Very rare for me to score at over 1 point a min. Nice to run on a new map. although I do prefer the hills and was surprised to go so well in a flat area.
Points per minute 1.02
Points per km 5.9
Metres per point 169
Min per km: 5:44
How do other GPS owners get there routes into Route Gadget. My Garmin produces tcx files, I then have to convert them to GPX using different software. Is there an easy way? |
| wetmit | Posted: 5 November 2009, 11:23 PM [NZ Time]
My route (as per RouteGadget) 1A-1B-2B-1S-1C-2C-1E-1F-3B-2D-2E-1H-2G-3D-2F-3A-3F-2K-1P-1N-2J-1Q-1T in 46:39 for 39-2=37 points. Distance of 7.6km according to GeoDistance.
Appears the north side of the map was the way to go out. Enjoyed a run on a quite map after running last week in a Sydney Summer Series event in the Parammatta CBD! Also liked coming in the top 30 rather than equal 80th for about the same percent of the winner!
Managed to get my track into RouteGadget with out it appearing 3 times! Magic combination this week is from home using IE8 on Windows 7. |
| o_grub | Posted: 6 November 2009, 11:01 AM [NZ Time]
Enjoyable course on an enjoyable new map. I would normally frown upon "deadend" controls like 3A & 3F but they probably needed to be there to increase the overall distance. North side first getting 3A between 1N & 3F. This was probably more distance than getting it on the way back but I wanted to get it out of the way. Decided to leave the SW cormer 1H/3C/1G but in hindsight probably should have gone for it as got back in time to go south to get 1D and 2A with 14secs to spare. Lost time at 2K (went past) and 3D (went to the other house #3!). Had my first go at RouteGadget with only one incorrect version. Can someone delete? |
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