Training Log: PG

Corn Maze update --

The early word is going out only to those who read PG's log.... :-)

Looks like we're on again for this year. Talked to Mike (the Mike of Mike's Maze), and he is cool. The expected date -- first time ever on a weekend -- is Satruday, August 24, location is Sunderland, MA.

On the agenda will once again be an assortment of CMOUSA's national championships. The expectation is something like the following:

2 pm: Classic Champs
4 pm: Sprint Champs
5 pm: Relay Champs
6 pm: party at Bub's BBQ
8 pm: simultaneously the Night Champs and the 24-hour Rogaine Champs

Needless to say, things are subject to change, so don't go buy any airline tickets. I know there will be a maze, but need to see if the design will be OK for O'. Then the corn must grow, and at some point the maze needs to be cut, a job this year that is being farmed out to a Missouri outfit. Which also means the map may not be as perfect as in prior years.

But one step at a time, and this is progress.

By the way, almost forgot, the event this year will be a joint production of CMOUSA and the Western Connecticut OC. WCOC, sensing that NEOC is consolidating its operations within I-495 and abandoning Western MA, eastern CT, and RI, seems to be making a move to become the dominant O' club in New England. Will the next step be a leveraged buyout of NEOC?

Entry will be by pre-registration only, with an as-yet-to-be-determined entry limit, probably in the range of 50 to 75. To enter, send an e-mail to me giving your name, O' age, gender, club, SI #, and whether or not you have a sense of humor.

Organizers reserve the right to reject any entry. Entry fee, to be determined, will be payable on the day only.

More info to follow as I figure things out.

Flat roads in town. Not as slow as I expected to be. :-)

Went to the retina specialist this morning. Advice was to do nothing now, see if my vision changes much in the next 6-12 months. They can do laser surgery to smooth out the wrinkles somewhat, sometimes that helps, sometimes not. He said in most cases it's not a progressive condition, quite likely will just stay the same as it is now.

Same as the last couple of days, just in the opposite direction, so got the main climb over quickly. Relaxed pace, surprised the time was only a couple of minutes slower than yesterday, but it was cooler today and my legs felt fresher. Very pleasant run, no falls for the third day in a row, and got finished just before the more serious rain arrived.

The route is getting longer every day, though the climb stays about the same.

Same route as yesterday, harder effort. Also warmer, also had already played 18, so it took a bit of willpower a couple of times to keep moving. But 7 minutes is a good improvement. :-)

But heart rate seemed high (not sure if that is good or bad or irrelevant?), and it took a while for it to come down when I was done, and to stop sweating.

Had a nice time when I was done chatting with a young guy heading out on a bike with no suspension, 29" wheels, one gear (not fixed), and 20 psi in the tires. He said the combination worked just fine. I saw him take off, did a couple things where I thought he was falling off his bike but they were just tricks. I think he's a pretty good biker. Way out of my league, maybe like Zack DeWeese?

At Earl's Trails with Phil, so nice to have company, otherwise I probably wouldn't have gotten out the door. And the best kind of company, where the other person feels worse/slower than you do, so there is no stress to try and keep up.

The pace was slow, and perhaps (or perhaps not?) because of it the legs felt good. Not fast, but the running was easy, even up the hills. Doesn't happen often, take it when you can, even if the pace was slow.

This would make a nice test loop -- end of Chmura, up to bunker via the crossroads, then the loop to nowhere, then the high trail, the mini-connector, down the zigzag east of the ski tow and then the zigzag west. Got that? :-)

C • Companionship 3

Event: WCOC Club Picnic Ratlum Mountain
 

At Ratlum Mt., Sprint A. Not feeling very lively or inspired. Didn't see the start to the trail leaving #3, Got hung up in some nasty stuff going to #7, didn't find #8, decided that was enough, checed in at the finish so Gail could do her second lep and then jogged down to the big marsh and back just to get a bit of a run in.

Course A - Splits

The car needed some fixing, so dropped it off in Greenfield and bike home. Gloomy morning -- cool and damp, the rain had stopped but roads were still wet. Had three layers on top and two below and just warm enough. Pretty much no wind.

And back to Greenfield to pick the car up, even though it hadn't been fixed (needs an oxygen sensor and they couldn't get one until Monday). Blue sky, warm (80F), and breeze out of the north, so in my face. Working harder.

About time to start running again.