Training Log Archive: Ari-o

Sprint Camp's last day was right near where I was staying at my parents. I figured I'd run over to the pond and find it. Orienteering! I was running late of course, and found a bunch of controls but no people, so went running, and found the registration, and then had to chase down the group for the start.

Which was right where I'd run and found all those controls.

Fun orienteering in Jamaica Pond. The orienteering was mostly fast and fun, and reasonably challenging, especially at speed, and the terrain is excellent. I ran the first leg fast, the second and third reasonably well. On the fourth I got confused by the downed tree and some vegetation and had to all out sprint for the finish to remain in the top group, and on the fifth and sixth my legs and dehydration from yesterday caught up. It's hard to go hard, especially six times in a row.

Then I ate thai food and walked home.

It's no fun to just go orienteering, and with Chicago coming shortly and lovely weather, I hopped in the car and drove north. I was on the Ammy before 5 and at the hut in just over an hour, not bad with a pack with freshies in it. L1 most of the way up, but still covered in sweat when I got there the croo thought it might be raining. Then a lovely evening of whipped cream, swapping stories and laying out under the stars.

Still couldn't find HRM, but was over by Harvard Stadium, the last place I'd had it (per Strava) and wow, it was just sitting there, with a t-shirt. Lucky me. Almost like living in my parents' house and buying a house and living out of a car has messed with my head.

Out to Wachusett to celebrate buying a house with the sister and BiL yesterday, by crushing trails. (House in Melrose, near Pine Banks, I'm still living in Cambridge, renting out half of it.)

We signed up for the November Project race when it was cheap a few days back. 50% off! Found a 4th so I didn't have to run two legs, friend of sister's. To cheering trips to the summit, then a warm up as I waited around to anchor. Sister and brother in law were both in 1:20:xx, something like 7 seconds apart in timing. Sister's friend was a little longer. It was hot. Sunscreen was applied. Water was carried.

Race! Went off and chugged up the trail. First mile or so felt pretty good. Still no HRM. 11:37 climbing close to 600 feet. This is not an easy course! The goal was to do it under 60 minutes, but I knew this was a bit of a stretch goal, especially with the technical downhills. Second mile was flat and then down, before the third mile which has two super-steep rocky climbs. I passed several people through this section in the relay.

At the summit I ditched the bottle, grabbed some skittles, and ran off. Downhills were feeling pretty good. I'm trying Alex! But the rocks are scary! At the bottom of the technical section, I let out, and managed 7:45s the last two miles in to the finish. 62 minutes, but felt pretty good, and pulled our team in under 5:20. My sister wants to put together a team to win the female division next year.

Then we went to Kimballs for ice cream, because that is very important. We should probably scout rollerski routes there, or just start going on Saturdays.

C • Destination rollerskiing 2

"Indiana Jones" hills with a group of about 7. Lead group, and we went pretty hard. Still don't know where my HRM is.

Run from JP to Southie (Columbia, really) for the park-o. I wanted more of a run than just the park-o, and running over seemed like a great idea. In true Boston fashion, the four-mile run took three screens of directions on Google Maps, but I was able to memorize the route (most of which I've never seen before) and make it there without consulting my phone. This was a beautiful run. Perfect weather, and it was a great transect of Boston through JP and Roxbury and Dorchester and over to the ocean. I should do more runs like this, it's a great way to explore the city.

Easy orienteering, felt pretty fast and good, and a pretty fun park. Definitely reading ahead, although I did lose a few sections when one of my SI-Airs didn't punch. Couldn't find HRM. More than a minute behind Tomas.

Picking up a few controls. And then off to get the 41 right back to JP. Door to door!

Stadium stairs on June 6, on the 6th anniversary of the first day I showed up to run stadium stairs. Kind of crazy! Ran 37-19 as directed, then went and ran 6 six times, then back, then some bonus. Nice morning!

Lake run. Rained all morning, rollerskiing 20 miles on wet cold roads didn't sound too much fun with a lingering sniffle thing (and maybe ear thing, and maybe doctor trip in Boston). 45˚ and drizzly, summer in Maine! But it dried out some and I went for a loop of the lake. Not fast, but good to throw some road miles in.

As usual, every run here has a 100m climb, either at the start or the end. I did it at the start, which mean that I had the 70m climb at the end, so it's really not that much better? Who knows. Tights and jacket and appropriately dressed, so, again, summer in Maine! Maybe I should have gone trail running in the woods today (but, driving, wet, muddy, slippery).

Anyway, four days in to the month and I'm already nearly halfway to my logged time last month. I'll throw in some long stuff this week and then some run commuting in Chicago, I hope! I want to get some real miles in this summer and see what happens.