Training Log Archive: mikeminium

Event: Whitetail Trail Marathon
 

Whitetail Trail Marathon at Caesar Creek State Park. Chilly, about 8 or 9 C at the start, with cloudy skies, a chilly wind out of the north, and a possibility of rain. A tech shirt would have been fine for a short or moderate run, but for such a long race in rugged terrain, I was concerned about the possibility of hypothermia, especially if rain moved in or I injured anything & had to walk or worse. I ended up opting for a double layer (short sleeve tech shirt on top of a sleeveless bio-cotton), and it worked fine. As a precaution I carried a small fanny pack with a very light nylon jacket, a cell phone, epi-pen, and a few granola bars. There was supposed to be water and sports drink every 2-3 miles and possibly GU and cookies at selected stops. I'm not a GU fan and I never did see any cookies, so I was glad to have the granola bars which I munched at the rate of half a bar every 50 minutes or so. Otherwise, the water and sports drink (something called "Heed") seemed pretty adequate.

I was quite happy with my pace for the first half of the race, turning in 2:04:21 at the 13.1 mile turn-around, and I managed to maintain that for most of the next 8 miles. Until that point, I had only walked the steepest uphill segments, but from there on, my legs began to seriously rebel against climb and I could only run the gentlest upgrades. Unfortunately the stiffening legs also slowed me down on some on the steeper downgrades, which can be this orienteer's biggest strength in a trail race.

I spent most of the race bouncing between 13th and 15th place, and actually moved up to 12th with about 3 miles to go, but my exhausted legs let me get passed by a few, to end up in 15th at the finish. Unfortunately, 5 of the top 15 were 50+ men so that kept me out of the gift certificates, but at least I took home I nice drinking glass with race logo, as well as a finisher's medal.

One low point of the day was approaching the un-manned water stop at about mile 19. About a mile before the water stop, we popped out of the trails to run across the dam, into that cold wind, but with good views far ahead. I'd set my sights on a runner about 2 minutes ahead of me and was determined that I would catch him at some point further along (I did, about 2 miles later, but that's another story). Meantime, the runner behind me was obviously enjoying the short road segment and was gradually reeling me in. Anyway, he was almost on my shoulder and we could see the runner ahead drinking at the water table, then turning and starting down the trail into the woods. Just at that point, the wind gave a mighty gust, and the entire table, with two 10 gallon coolers perched on the edge went crashing over. Lids popped off the coolers and that precious water went pouring out onto the grass. All of it. We were two unhappy dudes as we passed that table, knowing that the next water station was 3 miles of hilly trail ahead.

Somewhere around mile 20, I skinned my knee going over a large fallen log. It didn't feel bad, but at the next aid station, I heard the attendant reporting in my position, and saying "he's got a bloody knee". I looked down, and by gosh there was blood. Anyway, I looked pretty impressive at the finish with a nice mostly-coagulated trickle of red all the way down the front of my shin, with a little bit pooled at the top of my sock. Looked a LOT worse than it actually was. Cool!

Otherwise, it was a fun event (although I could have used a banana or cookie at a couple of those aid stations).

This was my first legitimate marathon by the way, as in completing a running event billed as a marathon, although I did a longer (about 30 mile) trail run in my younger days maybe 20 years ago or so.

C • Super impressive 9

Event: OCIN - East Fork State Park
 

East Fork State Park. Cedarcreek set teh red course, which was fun. 10 controls were clustered in a 500 m by 500m area which we very rarely sue. Unfortunately, I missed one of them... an easy 100m leg that I just got too eager to start heading for the next one. I skipped #11, and I remember thinking as I headed for 12, "gee I'm seeing a lot more of that fence thatn I should, I must really have come out a t a bad angle." DUH. But it wasn't enough to convince me to take a closer look at the map and catch my stupid mistake. Would have been a pretty nice run, too. I was clean on everything else.

Probably could have been just a hair faster on the last control or two and the run-in, but decided I'd better not do a final sprint if I hoped to survive the marathon tomorrow.

control pickup. Most were pretty easy.

Red - Splits

planning course, updating Miami Univ. Central Quad map.

Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas. With Wayne, checking PS Nature Trail and WT wetlands (dried up) for used nests from this year's breeding season. Was able to upgrade a few earlier observations to "confirmed" status. Probably can get a few more once the leaves come down.

School O' program. Setting control units, checking on students.

trail / field running - checking on students at school O' program.

Setting controls for school O' program. Also did a few more minutes with the weedeater improving one nasty section of trail.

Miami Natural Areas - 2 circuits of Pine and East loops plus one of Reinhart Loop.