Training Log Archive: Charlie

RLSFB, with Rhonda in Kathy's back yard.

Brown Ultra Long at Pacheco. Mass start. I knew enough about my conditioning and general physical level that I had no trouble executing my strategy right from the start - let them go. Dennis had been worried about the whole race being run in a pack, but I knew I couldn't be part of any pack. So muddled along on the way to 1, seeing lots of people in front, of course on a variety of courses. Stayed on the road a good ways, then cut across some spurs and right in. Saw some people ahead who had come along the ridge line, also a very good route. Down left of the pond and up the opposite side, trying to hang onto Gary Kraght, but falling a bit behind, finally catching up near the control. Then had what turned out to be a good route to 3, seeing quite a bit of Rich Parker. Straightish to 4, ending up going right through the medium green, which was pretty diffuse bushy stuff and no real obstacle to passage. Amazed to see Dennis there, as I had thought he was at least several minutes ahead. As it turns out, we were ahead of everybody except Brian Ellis. By the time we got to the aid station, we were in a pack of 6 or 8 (described by the aid station person as the peloton). On the way to 6, they streamed out in front, some going uphill early to the right. I stayed low and climbed the last slope, all alone until I got close to the control, where I was only about 25 M behind Dennis again.

Back down toward the road, but reluctant to cross the fence for actual road running, then angled up over the last two spurs. A little uncertain, thought I was still low, but all of a sudden I was in a pack near a control, which I think was the green one. So then I was convinced I was low and climbed way too high. In fact, I had already been too high. Hard to see how I did that, but I did. Headed back down, but then was stopped by someone yelling for help from above, so started back up, but then he said no, keep going. Waffled for a bit, then back down, could see the right thicket from a distance, but a lot of climbing and about 13 minutes lost. And that is where I had just had it, too tired and too sore to be thinking clearly. Instead of going down to the road and around to 8 (a fine route), or up to the trail, also fine, I climbed and tried to go straightish, but had trouble following any kind of a line. Got very hung up in the stripy green, much worse than the dark green had been. Not sure if I was going to end up in a poison oak thicket, so backed out and went down to my left, got confused going across spurs, and got more focused on my very sore R achilles than on where I was going. I was much higher than I realized pretty much the whole time. Finally and mercifully hit a fence, learning that I was about 250M away from where I thought I was. Limped back downhill and found #8 (another 10 min or so lost), then limped back up and across, contouring a bit, eventually to the road, up to the fence junction and then to the control. Just slow. A fairly straight line from there to #10. Matej went by like a shot, saying hi as he motored past.

So probably half an hour lost between the mistakes at 7 and 8 and the death march to 9 and 10. Still a nice course and a beautiful day.

Map.

Not sure what to make of my physical condition. I am kind of beyond any kind of useful training at this point.

C • Float tank in the future? 2

C • Pacheco 7

In the parking lot, waiting for the awards ceremony. R, L, S, B. No forearm, as the gravelly stuff wasn't that inviting for my forearms. Thought I had found a quiet little spot, but Ian stopped by and recorded some of my effort. Nice to see Ian out there. Oslug was also at the meet, seems to be everywhere these days. Nice to see her as well.

US Ultralong 2013 Brown - Splits

Event: BAOC: Pacheco State Park A-meet
 

Maze-O! This was fun. Also fun to watch, especially if two or more are participating at the same time.

Middle Distance Brown at Pacheco Pass A meet. Course was actually quite easy, but that didn't stop the mistakes. Lost quite a bit of time on the hillside above #3. It was hard to see where the bottom was between the two hillsides. Control was only one line up, whereas I had read it as about 4 lines up, so I was above it a bit, and climbing up and down. Very surprised to find it so low, just along the path along the bottom. Then ok to 4 and 5, where I saw Sharon. She went around on a flat route, while I climbed up and over. I got to the right place, but didn't see the small boulder in the scrubby bushes there. I was stopping to look around and then Sharon came steaming by, headed for a lower boulder 50 M away. Didn't look right, but I wasn't so confident by then and went with her. Bad idea. Of course it was right next to where I had been standing, just shielded by a bush. The rest of the course pretty straightforward. My conditioning and general injury status leaving me gradually losing ground to Sharon on the "running", catching up a bit near the controls. About 11 minutes of errors between the two controls.

Map.

But a nice day, a nice place to be. The "walk" to the start was longer than my course, jogged it with Dennis, which was enough of a workout for me right there.

For such a short course, I was awfully tired at the end. Half-napped in the car for a while, then slept hard that night - unusual for me.

Middle Brown - Splits

The usual.

On the path behind Kathy's house, with Rhonda.

A delicious and enjoyable dinner with Dennis and Louise. Traffic wasn't too bad in this direction, and I was glad to. E driving up the remarkable Gist St while it was still light. So beautiful coming up the mountain.

RLSFB, with Rhonda and guest planker, the young Zoe, who has her own protocol.

Long travel day to CA. Kathy is doing well, starting to grow back a little fuzz on her dome, spirits are good and she seems spunky.

Dinner at the very fine Cafe Claudio in Sebastopol, and then back to our little pied-a-terre at Full House Farm in Sebastopol, a friendlier place to sleep than in the midst of our wild and noisy grandchildren.

A set of planking before bed - on my own, as Rhonda had passed her exercise window. 1:15 of each type, extending to 1:30 for the back ones to finish off.

Dog loop with R&S. Sparkling fall day. Late night last night, arriving home about 10:45 from NY. Raakel was alert and comfortable, but she had quite a lot of things taken out, and she has a difficult road ahead. Trying times.

C • Thoughts 6

The usual, RLSFB, with guest planker, Jen the crossfit coach. She's pretty game, but this was hard for her, not coming to it with the last few weeks of planking Rhonda and I have been doing.

2 dog loops. My best run in six weeks or so as far as my low back is concerned. So that is progress, although the legs felt heavy. Perhaps all those planks are jollying up my back.