Training Log Archive: RLShadow

Terrible race, for me. Wound up DNF, because of not finding #9. I was definitely upset about it -- 33% because I thought it was a lousy control location (only realistic route choices were through between 50 m and 100 m of medium green, which in mid-June sometimes was essentially dark green; plus it seemed totally needless, in terms of the flow of the course), 33% because I didn't find a route that got me to the circle while everyone else did seem to, and 33% because I gave up on the control, instead of persevering. I really had had it with fighting through nearly impenetrable vegetation at that point, though, and just didn't have the mental energy for another try. I tried three different approaches, and got stopped by vegetation in all three.

I found out later that the control was moved from where the circle was, to a different re-entrant on the edge of the circle. This was communicated in a sign that was somewhere that I didn't see. I talked to several other people who also hadn't learned of the change in control location. But that is absolutely no excuse for my difficulties, because I never made it as far as the control circle.

I also lost time on #2, which seemed like a sketchy control placement, although I didn't stick around long enough, once I found it, to totally ascertain that. The control description was a little confusing, because it said western re-entrant, shallow. In the circle, there wasn't an east re-entrant and a west re-entrant. Also, when I finally found the control, it seemed to be more on a rise (like a shallow spur), instead of a re-entrant.

I may or may not look at my GPS tracks superimposed on the map -- may be too depressing!

The GPS said I covered 5.66 miles, which isn't good in itself, given that the straight-line distance was 5.5 km.

C • Agree on your comments on #9 5

C • green run 2

C • Think #2 mislabeled... 4

The splits are from my Forerunner, so they're not quite accurate, as I usually hit the lap button when I was 10 meters or so from the control. Then when I finished, I neglected to hit the lap button for 10-20 seconds, so I estimated the time from the final control to the finish. I didn't pick up the sheet with my splits at the meet, and the results haven't been posted on line yet.

C • Results 2

Green - Splits

Event: ROC - Mendon Ponds Park [2009 Club Series #3 (Sunday)]
 

Fleet Feet group training run. I volunteered to be one of the pace group leaders, and went with the 10:15/mile group.

Route: From Fleet Feet, down Monroe Ave to Winton. WInton to Hillside, to pedestrian bridge over 490, to Park Ave. Park Ave. to Oxford, to Harvard, back to the pedestrian bridge. Hillside to Winton to Monroe and back to Fleet Feet.

Street/road run. Went downtown to buy tickets for Cheryl and me for the SMV concert tomorrow night, as part of the jazz festival. After getting the tickets, parked on Park Avenue near Dartmouth to go for a run. Ran east this time, rather than towards downtown.

General route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2910634

Had planned on running longer, but a blister was developing in the arch of my right foot, where I'm somewhat prone to blisters. It was really my fault for wearing shoes that I hadn't worn in a while and hardly ever on any sort of a longish road run.

Ellison Wetlands workout, with Anne. Although I was running faster than she was, and every once in a while would double back to meet up with her, so we wouldn't get too separated. Tough workout, as the Wetlands runs usually are. Really not quite ready for next week's Dirt Cheap trail race, which will be at the Wetlands, but I figure that today's run had to help a little bit at least.

Semi-long run, in the city, after an 11:00 meeting at St. John's Home. Drove to Park Ave., ran from there.

Very rough route: Park to Alexander, where I almost literally ran into Anne's ex-sister-in-law (who was also running, on her lunch hour). I ran with her for about 20-25 minutes, Alexander to East, east on East to near Culver, then back on East. She headed south on Alexander, back to work, and I continued on East into downtown. St. Paul to Andrews, east on Andrews, then back to Main; to University. Cut over the East, then finally over to Park Ave., somewhere near Culver, then back to the car.