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Orchard Cross - 27 October 2013
click here for slide show | Lap 1 and Lap 4 finish video below
After just two practice laps, the Orchard Cross course (Hampton Falls NH) had become one of my favorites. Straight-aways between rows of apple trees. "Roller coaster" rollers. Best of all, not all that much elevation change (see: Night Weasels).

Coupled with a Cat 4/5 field with a 40+ option, the course should have been prime for a better-than-average result. So, how'd I do? 40 of 47, somewhat worse than what I thought my average would be ...*

The numbers
  • Distance: 9.1mi
  • Average speed: 10.9mph
  • Elevation: 479'
  • Average heart rate: 161
  • Average cadence: 75
  • 40/47 (lead lap)
  • Strava
*Clearly, a spreadsheet was in order. The table below shows various performance metrics vs. time (with most recent at the top). A few observations.
  • Night Weasels was second hilliest (in feet of elevation gain per mile), after Marty Cross
  • Gloucester was fastest, a bit surprising given its distance and elevation--maybe the latter is suspect
  • My percentage back numbers show I've been losing ground since the beginning of the season ... hmmm
  • On the other hand, my points have been alternating, so strength-of-field may be increasing
Race Field Distance
(Mi) 		Speed
(mph) 		Elevation
(ft) 		Elevation/
Mile (ft/mi) 		Heart
Rate (bpm) 		Cadence
(rpm) 		Place Field
Size 		Percentage
Back 		Points
(lower better)
AVERAGE - 8.0 11.1 - 62.2 162 75 - - 80% 653
Orchard Cross 10/27 Cat 4/5 40+ 9.1 10.9 479 52.6 161 75 40 47 85% 667
Marty Cross 10/19 Cat 5 5.7 10.3 515 90.4 163 75 27 40 68% 580
Casco Bay 10/13 Cat 4/5 9.4 11.9 554 58.9 161 77 54 62 87% 660
Providence 10/06 Cat 4/5 35+ 7.3 11.3 436 59.7 n/a 75 94 107 88% 646
Night Weasels 10/02 Cat 4 7.0 8.8 548 78.3 n/a 72 76 92 83% 698
Gloucester 09/28 Cat 4/5 35+ 8.8 12.4 581 66.0 164 79 81 108 75% 651
Midnight Cross 09/25 Cat 4/5 8.6 11.8 253 29.4 162 72 73 101 72% 671



Cat 4/5 40+ lap 1 video


Cat 4/5 40+ lap 4 finish




Cat 3/4 rollers


Cat 1/2/3 barriers


Cat 1/2/3 rollers