Training Log Archive: Tundra/Desert

Had a long day on UAL. Woke up on time in the morning in ATL, got to the airport fine, got through the insane security line—I knew how long it would take from my Navigator Cup experience ("This sure is a long line..." "No, sorry m'am, it's sure a paranoid government..."). Got to the gate and the door was closed.

Apparently the new UAL policy is to close the door at least 10 minutes before departure, regardless of what's going on outside, and for the rest of the day (they did put me on priority standby) I observed the policy uniformly enforced. Reminds me of the underwear gnomes. Step 1: close the door.

Warmed up by running from the trail junction in the NE corner of the parking lot to the trail junction right by the start of Day 2 of the COK event. I was sort of pushing it, as they'd said it was a 30-minute walk and I had spent some time listening to Mr. Meehan discussing the merits of a particular HS team scoring method with the event director.

The run. Disgusting. The map was just bad. Starting with the first control, where it's supposed to be to your left as you go along the ridge, and it ends up well to your right. I somehow had more problems than others, and in the middle of the run, passing near the finish field, was considering quitting. But then Eddie caught up, having 14 minutes on me, and just for the fun of it I tried to keep up.

I actually managed to, for over 20 minutes. It was only easy on downhills on trail or through nice woods. On uphills Eddie had a sizeable differential, and my attempt ended when we finally got to a band of dark green. Eddie took about 30 seconds to get through it, while I took over a minute and a half. For contrast, it was easy keeping up with (actually ahead of) Swampfox for a short while, until there was a control in unmapped laurel.

As Eddie ran away, I was morally broken and made a regretful surrender decision to go all the way around any and all green on the leg to Control 20. I lost about 4 minutes. Also, was not moving too fast in the end but faster than in the middle, before Eddie, and the HR was not too low.

The length and climb are preliminary.

Blue - Splits

Event: Blue Ridge Classic and Interscholastics
 

The first day of the A meet. I had a clean, but slow, run; Eddie had an unreal time. Height advantage? for getting through mt. laurel?

The contour quality of the map was USGS. The mapper, however, demonstrated a valiant attempt at interpreting the green, and should be saluted for his efforts. That is, in the parts of the map that he did fieldcheck. With the exception of a gratuitous-climb Control 1, the course was fine for the map and the terrain, noticeably improving towards the end. Control placement was consistent with the USGS description.

The length is preliminary, will correct when I measure... the Polar noised up again, presumably because of the wet weather.

Ran around the competition area to put the horse back together. On my way to the horse, I rescued Kenny F from an off-(his) map situation, and later did same to two teenage girls on Orange. The girls finished the Orange, but Kenny just went back home.

It poured on me.

Blue - Splits

Warmed up near the Sprint event.

The Sprint at the Blue Ridge Challenge and the Interscholastics. I had a decent run with one large mistake. Didn't quite push it up to a 5-km race pace, slowing down a bit in the green, and didn't slack off or waste time on self-pleasuring map reading, either. But, Kenny Fugate made a joke of most of my splits. If he keeps improving, watch for the kid in the 2007 Series Finals, if not this year.

Mucho points today. Alone worth the $390 plane ticket.

Another evening thinderstorm made a joke of my training plans again.

Sprint - Splits

I prepared a Pedometer map of Greer, NC, having planned to run in the evening near the airport hotel. But, it thunderstormed, so I wasted time instead on AttackPoint.

I passed on the I: the I workout will be the North Carolina Sprint.

Jogged from 4th and Market to Caltrain. There was a parade of ancient fire engines on Market, commemorating the earthquake, and I guess that's why the 4th St. bus never showed up.

C • 4 weeks to go! 4

Hurried up to Kezar where Mikkel was supposed to be waiting.

But Mikkel was a touch late, too. And there were massive masses of triathletes on the track.

We did, at R: 600 + 200 rest + 500 + 300 rest + 400 + 200 rest + 300 + 300 rest + 200 + 200 rest. I felt great. 1:57 97 77 56.5 37.5.

A finishing T; Mikkel decided to do a finishing I instead, at about 3:32.

Went home.