Training Log Archive: Vector

Event: RMOC Rainbow Falls
 

Event: 2016 US Two-Day Classic Championships and Sprint Relay
 

I reconsidered devoting so much time to this sport out there today, not one of my happiest runs, but it did have some good moments. Very nice weather. Some of my problems stemmed from working / flying a full day yesterday, then a red-eye flight DEN-JFK arriving into JFK at 5:30 this morning w/ baby screaming half the flight right behind me (3 hrs sleep total including 1 hrs at a rest stop), and me being an idiot not thinking to drink water after the flight before the race. That's part of what went wrong, but the other part is inadequate fitness and a few navigation mistakes (not many, but consequential ones). After 17 I started nearly blacking out an several occasions...my body just shut down probably as result from fatigue, dehydration and fitness shortcoming, so controls 18 and on were survival mode as I slowly walked and stopped to lean against trees sometimes to when my vision starting fading and head started getting light and funky. Just needed to get over the hill after 20 and I'd be all right.

So the question of the day has been why did this happen? I've already answered that in part, but I've never had this happen before and I've run tougher courses. I think the answer is the combination of dehydration and fatigue because fitness wise I was actually just as prepared as tougher courses I've run in the past. Still, better fitness is certainly something I need.

But navigation was a mix...some good some bad. I had tough time concentrating at the beginning. 1 and 3 were examples of this, 3 especially. Had a good groove from 6 through 12 with split times that were not too shabby. I don't know what I was smoking for 13 though. Should have just gone down to the trail and then pick up the marsh but I went right into all the cliffs and green...that was one of the stupidest things I've done in O for a long time. Sloppy up to 14, 15 and 16 were ok, but coming into 17 and especially after is when my body started shutting down and I've never felt that before, not even in 6 or 8 hour ROGAINES.

Overall I think most of the course I actually had good routes and good technical interpretation of the map. But my problems with 1, 3, and 13 were huge time suckers that made recovery almost impossible. Add to it the fatigue and dehydration and it's no wonder this was such a mess. I was expecting a mess based on the red eye travel, but I didn't expect this bad.

To add insult to injury, the Icebug shoes are digging into my upper heel / back of foot causing blisters. Hmm, not sure about using these anymore.

On the positive side I persevered and finished despite how extremely difficult it was to do so, and I have some lessons learned from all this. I also had a string of 7 controls where I was doing well despite the technical difficulty and that is a big chunk of the course...had the rest of the course been like that and I had taken better care of my rest and hydration I think I would have had a much different end to the story even with the shenanigans at 1, 3 and 13. So I'm counting this as a learning experience, but one I hope to never have to repeat!

Saturday - Blue - Splits

Beautiful day of flying by Pikes Peak and the AF Academy today. Time for some Armed Forces-O and really looking forward to it and also seeing family.

Core

Hips

Yikes! 1st control was a massive climb up the mountain! Then the 4th control required another huge climb. Got to number 4 and sun was already pretty low...had a bad feeling about continuing on, so I either was given a prompting that saved my life from a bear attack, or I'm just a scardey cat. Either way I live to see my beautiful wife and children tonight as they get home tonight.

I use the term "home" liberally as a dishwasher-instigated electrical fire burnt part of our kitchen down and the firefighters CO flush spread toxic ash through the whole house, therefore a 2 bedroom suite shall be our "home" for the next few weeks...which means wife & kiddos might come with me out east too.

Also noteworthy is my Icebugs arrived and this in my first time using them. Great grip, overall pretty satisfied with them so far. Only complaint is they seem to be narrower in the toes than I would like.

Control 5-10 on this map will be really good bouldery stuff to run through if I can get back up the mountain again before Friday.

C • Kitchen 1