Training Log Archive: L-Jackson

Event: ROC - Powder Mills Park
 

Powder Mills - Got out early to set controls - about 6:30 - but as soon as I stepped out of the car, there was a flash, a boom, and then a downpour. I waited about 15 minutes for the heaviest stuff to pass but it was still raining a bit and everything was soaked I should have had my contacts in and spikes on for the effort. I did manage to bring a map bag. Didn't get everything out before having to head home to get ready for Tyler's soccer games. Finished up right before the meet

Post Mortem - Well I received some good feedback on the map and where it could be improved and I bagged one control (from what I heard) - #4 on the red course was on the wrong rootstock. It was in an area of several marginally small rootstocks that I just took off the map. And, unfortunately, it was the only control that was on 3 different courses. Kameron was probably my harshest critic - pointing out that it was probably a bit hard for a Yellow Course (which I tend to agree with). Overall I was OK with how things went, but certainly left room for improvement.

Dryer Road Park - running the trails that I did not get to the other night. It seemed like there were a fair number more mountain bikers tonight.

RTP - lunchtime loop

Trail Running at the Spaghetti Factory..errr, Dryer Road Park. I ran with the GPS in hopes of generating a lot of 'usable' data where it is lacking on the trail network. The data generated will still need a bit of help from field checking, but in this case I think it will make the process more efficient. I can see why Dick raised the red flag on this - the trails and switchbacks are everywhere. Sometimes they were separated by only a tree. I can actually visualize the trails on the map being a nuisance rather than a help. It should be a challenge. I think it will also be a challenge to maintain this park. There we A LOT of trails. The unused ones will probably need to be abandoned and the ones that get the most use will need what maintenance they can afford.

I was totally unfamiliar with this area and was quite surprised. It will be a nice O-venue and I haven't even seen the other parks that it ties in to. It will be an even nicer venue once the leaves are completely off. (It did seem a bit green in areas).

Oh yeah, the place looks great for mountain biking too!

Running/Flagging courses for next weeks meet at Powder Mills

C • Courses available? 4

After mapping at PM this afternoon we rounded the kids up for a nice cool swim at the Hollow before having dinner out there. (Grandparents 65th wedding anniversary). I got into the pond and was helping Tyler off the dock when all of a sudden my wedding band flips off my finger into about 8 feet of water ( about 5 feet away from the dock). And of course the bottom of the pond is silty and weedy. I usually don't have problems with it but I must have been dehydrated from the running the past two days.

I throw on my daughter's dolphin goggles and give it a try but I am really too distraught to focus. I was convinced the thing sunk into the silt under its own weight. And all I could think about is all the other personal items I have seen lost in the murky depths this pond since I was a kid. So, Kameron calmly put on the goggles and goes under and finds it on the first try. I was amazed. (I think she was too). She has always been able to swim, but up until about 3 years ago she was intimidated by the water. All of her triathlon training and open water swims have really been for this moment!

The ring is now on my larger middle finger and I learned a lesson today.

C • Lucky you!!! 6