Training Log Archive: AliC

15 min double pole, 30 min mostly w/o poles, then last ~15 min back to double pole. Gave River Road a try, on PG's recommendation. First bit was pretty flat, good DP territory and then a bit hillier, but nothing impossible to go down on the skis (did 'road-plow' a bit)! And nice pavement too.

Feeling better double poling, legs were way tired today, would have been a slump for sure if I had gone for a run. Afterwards, made sure to stretch, and found some ripe Concord grapes in the parking area- will see how they go crushed in some yogurt tomorrow! Also, on the way back, stopped at Bub's BBQ for all-you-can-eat sides and a pulled pork sandwich. Mmmmmm....

C • So what does 20 mph feel li... 6

Event: WCOC Pond Mountain
 

So I got completely lost on the way there and couldn't find it for ages. There was a sign, I just didn't see it the two times I passed it from the right direction. Kept going way too far down 341/up Macedonia Brook.

Anyways, I finally got myself to the Pond Mountain Natural Area parking lot, which no one else was in. Thought I might just have the wrong day/the wrong Kent, CT or something, so decided to go for a trail run. But then I started seeing controls!! Kept running around, found a young family out on one of the courses together and asked if I could see their map so I could find the start. Had a minor break down when I got there (sorry Becks and Anne Louise!), but then settled down, ran back and brought car over to proper spot.

Mmmmm and got quite confused out there at times. Psyched that I actually started my Garmin (on the way to the first control, actually) so I can have a look in a bit, will try this Quickroute thing? Gather I have to photo/scan the map? May have to wait to access the scanner at work on Tues...

Not great controls:
3- was unsure if I had gone over the first big nose, which made me hesitant the whole next bit, then the bit on top was very vague, was about to enter into a panic when I found the control
4- went to a different, parallel, nearby cliff first, which isn't on the map...
6- took the road, really shouldn't have been scared of staying in the woods, lots of stone walls to keep track of location
8- scared by the vagueness really close to the control, but pretty ok
11- stood in the pit (a nearly enclosed stone wall) right near the control, confused why it wasn't mapped before figuring it out...
13- eep, likely my worst control of the day. hit the marsh in the depression right on the way, but then lost it with the cliffs, kept trying to put things together and drifting, had to relocate off the trail to the north
14- long leg, slow at times, being careful to stay in contact
16- hit the line of cliffs right above on the way there nearly perfectly, but then hit the trail and ran the wrong way, argh!!!
18- Neil pointed out a reentrant nearly under the line that would have been great to use, had I noticed it. I ran down to stream, not that fast...

Really good fun, really good orienteering! Thanks much to Marie and Mike and Boris and Becky and Anne-Louise and anyone else!

191/2000


And... QuickRoute! Way cool. Most striking- I was super-duper close to #13. Painfully close, argh!! Think I was just looking down instead of up and went right by the control... Also my mistake to 16 make a lot more sense now, was not on the line of cliffs I thought I was.

QuickRoute

Picking up 5 controls. Do these/should these count to the 2000?

Edit: 196/2000

C • Absolutely yes. A very good... 10

And had to squeeze the rollerski into the week! Wanted to do all double pole, but too many blisters after the first 20 min, so started no-poling it. No rain, yet, hurricane missing us entirely?

Opted to go up to Deerfield to join a group that does track workouts every Thursday. I'd never tried it out before, and noon folk workout suggested was running up the stairs in Lederle, which did not sound tempting in the least (the argument was it was air conditioned).

11 min warm up, 4 min warm down

Of course, yet again, Garmin forgotten, jeez...!

Was still 95 deg when I left my car at 5.30, but only 85 when I came back about an hour later. Being able to have water during the workout was really really nice.

So about 20 people were there, different speeds, but turned out I was the quickest, so didn't really have folks to run with, but still was nice having other people doing the same workout at the same time.

400- 85
800- 2:53
1200- 4:25
Then up a hill on the road.
1200- 4:19
800- 2:47
400- 79

Nice to have negative splits, felt strong.

Noon run with Sanjay, again in the baking heat. The extended Puffer's loop, which I'd never done. Some fields and new trails at the far end. Good pace, we were both needing lots of water at the end though!

Unfortunately went over on the left ankle again, which is getting really annoying. So plan: ice, see doc, go back to doing physio strengthening, and wear ankle brace even for just trail running for next 1.5 weeks, maybe longer. Just wish the brace didn't give me so many blisters!

Also, need to remember to bring Garmin in to work for noon runs!

Roasty toasty warm up learning Barry's new Orchard Hill 5k course (he was simultaneously marking it with orange paint here and there...). Good to see the noon folk again, even two people I hadn't met, Alejandro and Kelly Anne.

C • 2018 13

Orchard 5k. Started off with Sanjay and Glenn, with Sanjay leading, then pulled away from them on the hill through the first lap, all the way up to the observatory. A super hot day for a 5k, was roasting for sure. My time was actually 19:59.62 by my watch, so just snuck under 20! Happy with that given the heat and hills for sure!