Training Log Archive: maprunner

Another year end means it is time to reflect. This year was pretty good for O; I met all the goals I laid out on January 1st. I'm still not satisfied, however; lots of room for improvement in 2008. I also realized that I am about to start my 20th year of orienteering; how the time does fly!

I first learned to orienteer in 1983, during my junior year abroad in Dublin. (Does anyone from WCOC remember Mark Donovan? He taught me to orienteer). But I did not orienteer when I returned to the US; in fact, I did not become addicted to O until 1988. That's when I was living in St Louis, and met Nels Holmberg at work. He was wearing an O shirt, and I asked him about it. And thus an addiction was born.

How did everyone else get started?

C • starting to O 4

Mike and I returned to Platte Ridge for some more skiing. I love cross country skiing; I'm glad I finally have my own gear, which allows me to take advantage of the rare opportunities to ski locally.

A beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, not another person to be seen.

Six 8/2 repeats at SMP after work

Merry Christmas! It was 50 degrees today, and the snow was melting. A perfect day to orienteer, and to reach my last goal of the year: 100 hours of O. I know that Cristina and Barb, at least, have also done 100 hours this year. Anyone else?

I did parts of the 2002 KS champs at Clinton. Followed by a great Christmas dinner cooked by Summer. A very nice day.

C • 100 hours!! 9

Mike and I explored the Lawrence Riverfront Park, after the family gift exchange and Christmas lunch. I felt pretty lousy the whole time; no energy or mojo. The powdery snow tired me out, too. A nice day to explore; just wish I felt better.

Weeeee, just enough snow to ski! Mike and I went a little bit north to Platte Ridge park, and skied around the ball fields. Always takes me a session or two to regain my technique, so this wasn't a very intense workout. Stpoped when the wind got to be too hard to take anymore.

Sometimes this sport makes us do crazy things. Last weekend, there was this mass hysteria event on the east coast. And today I went orienteering at SMP. Why? Because I needed two more hours of training this week, I wanted to orienteer, and they're predicting 3-5 inches of snow tonight. So, I decided to run my 10K SMP winter test loop for the first time.

So, what so crazy about that? The course has several long legs through open areas, or along roads. So? When I left the house, it was 34 degrees and cloudy. When I started the course, it was 34 degrees and raining. The temp dropped throughout the run, so by the middle of the course it was a mixture of rain and sleet. Not fun weather if you plan long legs across open fields. You know it is a bad day when you have to use your map to protect your face from the stinging sleet. I wasn't completely prepared for the dropping temps, either; my hands got cold towards the end. What luck we didn't have this weather at the Possum Trot!

I got really tired towards the end, made some sloppy mistakes, but hit my target of two hours. The best part of the day was the stare down with a beautiful buck near C3. He let me pass within 20 feet of him, but he was thinking "I dare you; I dare you to try to get closer". He never moved a muscle. The second best part of the day was getting into the car at the end.

Time lost 0.0% Consistency 15.8%

C • Now that 3

Long flats - Splits

at PNS, for a change

at SMP after work. Five 8/2 repeats.

Mike's dad was having a holiday party this afternoon, so we went to Clinton for some O first. I warmed up by finding a few easy controls, then I ran the Pre-Possum course from a few years ago (maybe 2005?) I tried to treat it as a race, and move smoothly and quickly. It was hard when I had to cross fields of deep grass, or the marsh covered with a thin layer of ice. Overall, I felt I moved pretty well for this time of year.

I had lots of fun looking at animal tracks in the snow. And of course, there were several bald eagle sightings.

C • 2004 7

Normally, I would try to get in a long run on a Saturday. But between Candy Day and the KU game (sitting in the City Council suite), I only had a few minutes to move some weights up, down and around.

C • Candy Day 2

More fun at SMP tonight.

Moving around at SMP. The sun came out today and melted the ice off the trees, so it was little easier moving through the woods tonight.

Oh, what fun. While the ice storm had trapped everyone else in their house, I just put on my O shoes, stepped out the door, and jogged around the high school.

Orienteering practice at Wyandotte. I drew a course and tried to move quickly and steadily. However, I was tired from yesterday and so I just slogged through as best I could. Made mistakes at the end as I got really tired. Finished the course in 50 minutes; spent the rest of the time exploring some sections of the map which have always confused me. Had to keep moving to avoid getting cold (20 degrees); it was no fun take a potty break today :)

At one point I went down to the lake shore to see if I could spot any bald eagles soaring overhead. Just as I got there, one took off from a branch about 20 feet away, so I had a good view. Very nice!

First run of this year's Wyandotte test course. It is definitely a physical (rather than navigational) challenge. A bit scary going up and down the steepest sections in the snow. But I had fun looking at all the animal tracks (including Mike's).

Followed by lunch at a French restaurant. How can the day get any better?

C • no veal liver? 4

Short Hills - Splits

A fun night in the woods. I really needed it after two stressful days at work. The snow made things brighter, but slippery. I'm pretty sure I was the only person outside at SMP tonight. Cool!

Just enough time for a short jog after work, before my hair appointment. Explored the ball fields near work, enjoying the 55 degree (!) weather and stunning sunset.

It was 80s day at work today, and I had teased my hair into a very big pouff. My stylist did a double take when I walked in:) She calmed down when she realized it was temporary.

Thought I should do some logable training before I got too used to doing nothing

C • your My Twin Dressform 2

Event: Possum Trot Weekend
 

No training today, but lots of time running around at the Pre-Possum meet. I don't know how Valerie (among others) does this all the time--once or twice a year is enough for me! But so much fun to see friends again, and see how much they enjoyed being on the course you helped put together.

Followed by a nice dinner and conversation with Tom, Lisa and Swampfox. I got to drink lots of wine, because I've already "done" the Possum Trot. The rest of them will find out tomorrow :)

C • Meet weather 2