Training Log Archive: maprunner

Quick workout with the trainer, then headed to the KU Student Orchestra Halloween concert. I love this event. The musicians and audience (the kids) dress in costume. And the program is scary or spooky music (Night on Bald Mountain, Sorceress Apprentice, etc). Great fun.

C • Orchestra! 1

Yikes, temps below freezing! I'm not ready for this yet. Had to look around for hat, gloves, running jacket. Tried to remember what to wear on my legs (I figured this out a few years ago, I should write it down...)

Started running and I was cold. Twenty minutes in, I felt fine. Thirty minutes in, I started to get hot (granted, the temps were rising rapidly). Passed the car at fifty minutes, so I stopped and discarded some layers.

I started at the boat ramp in Clinton, and ran west, which was a first for me (I've orienteered in this area, but not run the trails). It was the first time I had been to the extreme west end of the trails. I stopped for a minute to admire the view of the lake. It was fun to explore a new area.

Mike and I went to Woodridge to check out his in-progress update of the map. I am dying to get back into the woods, but it's still too early. We've had a few frosts, but the leaves are just starting to fall. So I stayed mostly on the trails and fields.

The vegetation is not mapped between 3 and 4. It's mostly open fields, but there are some areas of thick vegetation (which is why I took the strange looking detour here).

The grass is still pretty high, and include some really awful stuff, like spear grass. Am I the only person who can't run with grass in her socks? I kept stopping to pull out the annoying spears.

Overall, it was great day to be out, 60s and sunny. But I just didn't have any energy, and walked a lot more than I planned. I was late getting back to the car, but I still couldn't push up the last hill.

route

Went to a track near work (JCCC) so I could finish before sunset. Forgot my Garmin, so intensity breakdown is just a guess based on past training.

Weight workout included plank on a balance ball. Abs were shaking after 30 seconds; made it to 45 seconds.

C • plank on ball 5

So glad I took today as a vacation day. We didn't get home last night until after midnight, so it was nice to sleep in. Spent the day sewing and consulting with my MIL on fabrics to be used in Christmas-gift projects.

US Champs Day 2, Bear Brook NH

My goal today was the same as yesterday: slow and steady with no big mistakes. I was worried about the bland contour detail and all the rocks (how can you tell them apart?)

The result? Total, complete and miserable fail. I DNFd for the first time in a long time.

Started out just fine (6th on the course to control 1 :) and was slow and careful on my way to 2. I wasn't sure what to expect on the yellow rides, and I did start up one different than I had planned. But I figured it out, and told myself I had to cross over two rides.

Around this point, I saw Mike (although he didn't see me, no more than 20 feet away in my hot pink and white shirt :). He was a bit hesitant, took a few steps in one direction, then stopped and changed direction, I thought to myself, ha, I know where I am and Mike isn't sure :) Famous last words; that's the last time I knew where I was.

I went across two rides to where I expected the control to be, didn't find it. Followed my relocation plan: stop, count to 10, think about what to do next. And I kept on doing this, over and over. I kept thinking I knew which yellow ride I was on, but then a few minutes later things wouldn't make sense. I even tried to relocate to the big marsh, but I never found it (obviously). I had shotblocks and water with me, took some of those, tried to feed my brain. Still couldn't make any sense of these damn yellow rides or the contours (didn't even try to understand the boulders). I eventually found another control on a hill. I stood there for the longest time trying to find it on the map, but I couldn't. Don't know how the brain can just stop functioning like that. Turns out I was about 75 meters from my control.

At this point, I decided to DNF, but I was not going in until I found the control. So I decided to bail out to the trail which was a long way away. Half way to the trail, I thought I knew where I was on the yellow rides, but I wasn't quite positive. As I climbed the hill to the trail, I began to feel like I could read the map again, and when I reached the trail I had correctly predicted where I would be. (Saw walk coming down form the trail, and I could tell we both had the same idea to use it for relocation)

Suddenly I could read the map again. Slowly made my way to 3 (still a bit confused on the rides, but mostly they were making sense). Decided to attack 2 from 3. As I was leaving 3, I saw Barb. She must have been very confused why I was heading in the wrong direction.

And lo and behold, I finally found 2. 59 minutes on this leg :( But I'm so glad I found it and regained my ability to read this map.

Decided to pick up 9 on the way in, mostly to make sure I didn't accidentally go through the out of bounds area. Jogged in on the road, just to get a bit more exercise in today.

my route

So frustrating. I've been very inconsistent this year, with some glorious days and some total disasters. Need to take a long hard look at the good and bad, try to figure out some root causes, then some improvement plans, then lots of practice.

Overall, though, it was a wonderful weekend in sense of great map and meet organization. Perfect weather and great conversations with friends. And even some friendly plank competition :) Ended with a nice beer and fine conversation with Chun and Charlie Bleau at the airport.

C • Lessons 2

Day 2 - Green Y - Splits

Event: UNO Boulder Dash
 

Day One US Champs, Bear Brook Park, Manchester NH

My goal today: no mistakes. So I started by walking and I ended up walking the whole course. I couldn't run through these thick woods, even if I felt confident enough to read the map on the run. I'm just not in woods running shape at this time of year.

Overall I was pleased with my day. Stayed in contact most of the time, and relocated quickly when I did make mistakes. I wasn't pleased when I did bone head things (like checking out an obviously incorrect not-my-control near 4 and not paying attention after being distracted by a chatty competitor on the way to 10).

I thought I was moving at a decent pace, until kissy caught me at 10. Ugh, she started 18 minutes after me. Didn't realize I had lost that much time.

Managed to nail it in the finish chute though :)

Great course, beautiful woods. So nice to face a true technical challenge for the first time in a long time.

Wonderful time socializing after the race.

My route

Day 1 - Green Y - Splits

Walking around on the model event.

Looking forward to the US Champs this weekend. This will be my 23rd consecutive champs!

Also, there's going to be a bodacious battle for silver in F50 :)

Just had to get outside during lunch on this beautiful fall day. I found that if I mix walking with jogging, I don't get sweaty, and I won't offend my co-workers when I return :)

At least I won't offend them with my smell. I may offend in other ways....

Monthly two hour run/walk on the trails at Clinton. I felt a bit cold in the beginning, a bit hot at the end. And I got a bit tired near the finish. But overall I felt great; certainly much better than the last few long runs.

Beautiful fall evening. Loved the 75 degree temperature. Felt like I was in San Diego.

Fun evening. Sandy, Simon, Mike and I took an archery class. I eventually got the hang of it, then my arms starting getting tired and it all fell apart.

Then to the local brewpub for dinner and the first half of the Giants game. I know , I know. It's going to be a long season.....

Lots of heavy arm work tonight. First time I remember that I needed help to finish a rep. Guess we should have started with lower weight...

Went to campus and ran a course consisting of very long legs. Goal was to practice route choice, and staying focused the whole way (I tned to drift off during long legs). Did pretty well with both. This was a nice way to use an area I know well. Another picture perfect fall day. Had to wear long sleeves

I should have loved this run. It was a beautiful fall day, with temps in the 50s. I slept well last night and we lounged around all morning before heading out for a run.

And yet...

I felt off the whole run. I didn't want to do it and I kept looking at my watch. I made it out to my turn around OK, but on the way back, I kept looking for excuses to walk. I even stopped once or twice just to take a break. The only thing that kept me pushing on was knowing Mike was waiting. Ah well, I finished.

Plan was to ride for an hour. But the storm clouds were coming in fast. I went out one direction for 10 minutes, then out another direction for 10 minutes, etc, keeping an eye on the sky the whole time. Decided to come in as it got darker and I could see lightening in the distance.

I tweaked something (tendon? ligament?) in my arm earlier this week (just by pushing open the car door) so we only worked on legs today. Tough; no mercy for the quaking quads and hamstrings.

In other news, we started planning the big trip for Mike's 50th birthday in February. Can you guess where we're going?

C • February 11

I did part of the PTOC WOW score O course (the event was cancelled last weekend). It was 85 degrees and the woods are way too thick, so I went slow and didn't have a lot of fun. Lots of tall grass in and out of the woods made it hard to see features.

Yet some how it was still thrilling to be back in the woods again. I'm definitely ready for th e new O season to start.