WIOL # 6 Summit Trails Training Opportunities
December 10, 2023 by John Brady
2023-2024 Season WIOL#6 Offered Training Package
Race Prep
Preview previous Summit Trails events on COC’s Routegadget
Play the video game Running Wild
Each of these links will take you to a computer simulation video game. The simple object is to click on the screen the route you would take to get to each checkpoint. However, if used as a visualization and route tool, you will see it can be much more useful. I challenge you to consider this as you do each of these levels. Do not click just to get it over with quickly, but rather ensure that each thing you click on is a fundamental stepping stone you want to see on or near your path. Don’t be so focused on shortest path either. Get the most out of your training. Do it twice: once with urgency and once with specificity. Then compare! Password for each course is COC
Intermediate: Coming Soon
Advanced: Coming Soon
Summit Trails Tips (from the original mapper)
- Wear long pants and protective clothing. When you are required to leave the trail, at least you will be able to move with some confidence.
- Avoid dark green at all costs. Look for deer trails and use them. Plan routes that utilize fast paths such as trails and weaker vegetation. Don’t plan to bushwhack as a primary navigation decision. You can assume the course designers would not want you to do that either. So if you find yourself in uncrossable thickets, it was probably a bad choice or bad navigation that got you there.
- When jumping off the trail, always do so at an absolutely specific point. Particularly if you are a novice.
- When going off a trail into the woods, use your compass as a tool to make sure you are pointing in the right direction. If the vegetation pushes you around, routinely re-check your bearing to keep you going in the right direction.
- There are quite a few contour handrails that exist out at Summit Trails if you keep your eye out for them.
- Don’t be afraid to go back to the trails or a trail intersection, or the intersection of a trail and a hill to relocate. This is super handy and will likely be used by you at some point.
- You are tough. You can do this! Be ready to fail, and bounce back!!!
Pre-Race: Day of Meet
- There will be a compass course set up at the infield of Summit Trails. Come learn to use your compass or practice in order to improve before you venture into a venue where the compass is quite useful.
