Training Log Archive: OutdoorsMama

Paved bike trails around the park.
Glorious sunshine. Warm winds. Lots of osprey circling around.

Event: Dances with Dirt - Florida
 

For the last half dozen years, I have looked for a race to do while we vacation in FL. This was the first time I found one that fit both time-wise and geography-wise. A well organized gig, with camping near the starting line for the night before the race ($5 US per person....what's not to love!).
I was worried about the impact the heat would have on me....and it was the limiting factor for me. I would've appreciated a snowbank to lay down in about the 6k mark.

No knee issues on this flat, soft winding trail. Sadly, there were no swamp crossings. There were cool looking trees and other vegetation (ferns among the live oaks....). I only made one wrong turn (daydreaming...)....and quickly backtracked to get on course. I haven't done 10k since Christmas time, but happily had no ill effects from such a deviation from my recent low mileage.

25/64 women. Odd to be in the top half.....but I don't know how many participants were officially walkers.

Decent stretches afterwards, but no foam roller to finish the job properly.

Wasn't I playing in the snow last weekend?

Funny story, now that it is over.
Paul went for a bike ride while I did the 10k DWD race. I chose the 10k as I figured I would be done in time for us to hit the road before noon, heading to our favourite Florida destination of Fort DeSoto. I would've rather done the half marathon distance, but that would've put our departure time somewhat after noon, delaying our arrival at Fort DeSoto. So I finished the 10k race, stretched, showered, ate, watched the 72 year old guy who camped next to us finish (he walked it). And still no Paul. And it was well after noon by now.

Then I got a text message from him, saying he had got messed up in the navigation in the north part of the park, but was heading to trail marker 15. I figured he would be out of water and food by now (over 4 hours since he set out), so I got an extra water bottle and some snacks and headed out towards the tracks we had explored briefly last night. Long story short, he had crossed a road, out of the area we had briefly explored the night before, and into a new map. But he didn't realize he was on a different map. We agreed to meet at marker 19. I rode out to 19.....no Paul. Still no Paul. I told him I was on the road at 19.....he said there were only trails at 19. That's when I realized the problem!

He had his Garmin Edge, and could see a road marked on it in the distance. So he kept riding on single tracks and jeep tracks, pushing his bike through swamps and water holes (before seeing the sign warning of alligator activity!!!!), heading towards this road. He even saw a cat-like animal, but much bigger than a house cat. Dang, he had all the fun! Then he said he was at a main road that wasn't safe to bike on, but he was at a fire tower. I asked the DWD organizers if they knew of a fire tower in the area, but they didn't. So I went back to the campsite, packed up in record time, and drove past orange groves and strawberry fields to what I figured was a main road that wasn't safe to ride on (I had a topo map by now, but couldn't see the fire tower marked on it).

The 911 number Paul gave me wasn't recognized by the car's GPS system, but I eventually found him.......well off my topo map. And miles away from the campsite. But right by a fire tower. And well past noon.....around 3 pm. Even I might've finished the 50k by now! For the record, he biked over 70k during this adventure.

I was sure to look after our navigational requirements for the rest of the trip :)

And next time, I will sign up for the longer race and leave Paul lots of time for his adventures. Or skip the official race and join him in wandering around the Green Swamp. Regardless, I need to make sure he has the campsite marked as "home" on the Garmin so he can find his way back.

Evening ride. Checking out some routes in the 34,000 acre groundwater recharge area, east of Dade City FL. Mostly gravel but I got bogged down in sand a few times. I am running the "skinny" touring tires that came with my bike, just to get some use out of them. They give me the heebie-jeebies on gravel!
No wild boars were sighted (although there are hunting preserves near by where I suspect pork is the game of choice).

Skipped spin class to spend the time doing my taxes.
Squats, core, arms etc. at random intervals during the process.

Short bench tonight....just 8 skaters, and our phantom #1 player was AWOL again.
Won 2-1 with a goal in the last couple minutes.
+1 for the night.....the #1 player for the other team got by me once :(