Training Log Archive: FoxShadow

CAT 1/2/3 CX race. New venue in Richfield. Turns out the longer duration is better for me. This may be in part to a habitual lack of awesome warm-up. Great race though, very fun. Result is TBA. I was a bit under the weather but didn't feel to weak because of it.

The turkey burner!

What great terrain this year, a nice loop around the bluffs north of Stillwater. Complete with the requisite history lessons and a great group of people, this year's turkey burner was as good as they get.

The running sections of the burner were excellent this year. Fairy falls were a highlights, as well as the Arcola area bridges and overlooks. As always, a highlight of the year.

Got out for a nice long ride with Mr. Carlson and the venerable Richard Chin. we met for coffee and then got a few hours in. Not sure on time or distance but it was a solid ride.

A nice spin on the river bottoms with Micheal Carlson before thanksgiving.

A mile of the treadmill to warm up and then a general all around workout before getting on the plane back home. A good trip. Puerto Rico is a strange place, but overall I'm a fan.

Headed to the NE corner of the island (Puerto Rico) for a snorkeling trip. We boarded a nice catamaran and sailed about an hour off of the coast to a small island called Icacos. The reef was good, but was not as good as the Belize reefs. Plus, the water was a bit choppy which made getting down close to the coral tough, as you could not predict which way the current would wash around.

Beautiful sunny day though, very relaxing sailing.

Legs very tired from yesterday.

C • Sounds like an awesome trip! 2

Brilliant run in the rainforest backcountry on some old trails that were a bit grown over and rugged, but led to peaks and lookouts. A highlight of the trip no doubt.

Quick 5k after yoga to get the legs turning over for the Cincinnati meet. A mile at 7:20 then a few fast ones.

Another good yoga class at La Concha. This one was an hour instead of 45 for some reason.

Got another chance to battle the sea. Again, it won. fun though!

Great yoga class here at the hotel.

After yoga, ran back to the hotel. It was hot and straight into the wind but I wanted to run fast, under 7:30. Too bad though, average pace was higher despite hammering into the wind. Bummer!

Just destroyed out there in the big surf here in Cantano. Had a great time trying though. Immediately upon my arrival at "the spot" where everyone catches the waves (out past where the small waves break) the local asked me who I was, and when I told them I spoke english and was new they taught me how to catch a wave. It was fun trying, but I got genuinely owned. In the end, I got up on my board about 10 times, and rode it in twice, which I thought was pretty awesome. Wanted to go longer but was starving, and sunbruned, and seasick, and had salt water in what felt like my brain from getting tossed so hard crashing off my board flailing like a kid from Minnesota on a surfboard.

Run on the beach. Hot and steamy in Puerto Rico!

C • Very nice 2

Hit the gym before heading up into the rainforest.

A great hike along what the Puerto Ricans call a river but to me is an endless series of waterfalls. The destination was a brilliant waterfall with a pool in which we swam. Standing beneath it was awesome, very powerful and a bit scary!

Beach run. So hot. Could not find water. Could not go further.

Run on the river bottoms with little Baxtermillion off leash. He loved it. Pushed the pace most of the way as I did not have a lot of time.

Spin around the city with Monika. She is leaving MN for Austrailia/New Zealand in the coming weeks so we wanted to get out for a nice chat and ride in the warm sun.

C • M 3

Solid effort at Planet fitness. I do the 30 minute circuit workout with the grandmas and grandpas, just with more sweat, and occasionally some grunting. Seems to work well. I usually run about 15 minute beforehand as well.

The Veteren's Day O-meet. Trying for the three-peat. Only a few meets have been won here in Puzaktown, but the Veteran's Day meet has been kind to me in years past.

Got in a decent warm up, and had fresh batteries in my Apex Pro. It was 16 degrees and windy. From the start my eyes were blurry, and I had trouble seeing with that and the spotlight field of vision from my headlamp. It was then that I remember that I bought a diffuser for my magicshine for this reason. Should have been rocking that tonight.

After the first shared control, I learned that Andrei and Eric and I were on B, with Biz and Swanson on A. No sign of Curtis. Although Peter Daniels were in attendance, his speedy progeny Will still resides on the East coast.

So off onto the course a few steps behind Andrei. We both struggled early on 3, he finding it 30 second before I did, as I overran it. Then I passed him at 5, only to lose a full minute back to him on 6. On 7 and 8 I slowly pulled him back, seemingly with fitness, and complained as I ran through a swamp into control 9, for the pass. I was alone on the long trail run to 10 and 11, but the map was a bit confusing into 11 and he caught up. We left 12 together, only to get caught up in some tragic vine/buckthorn vortex on the way to 13 and lose time to him again. We worked together for the next two. Then, the best control on the course 15, we ran around on the trail with a quickness. Interestingly, the splits show that Biz put a full minute, which is 50%, into us by running straight at it. Dang.

Andrei and I ran to 16 together, then we split on the way to 17 for the win. He went direct. I went HIIT on the trail run around. Got him by about 15 seconds, and finished it off strong for the win on course B in 43:14.

BUT, the unicorn BLASTED the course in 35 minutes and change, to confidently drive the sword through my night-ninja armor, and fell the two time king with a swift, and very well aimed blow.

I will be back.

C • Wow 4

Long - B - Splits

Road ride, then some sprints with Ted to warm up for the CAT 3 throwdown at Mill City CX (cyclocross race in Bayport, MN).

Ted and I headed out to the (for me) first CX race of the season. I felt good throughout other than a tight lower back, but I could not keep pace with the fast dudes. This is the first time I've ridden CAT 3. Usually I ride CAT 4/5. It was fun, and I certainly belonged, but I'm not sure I was even in the top half.

There is room for improvement, but I think the calendar only allows for one more race this fall, and it's not for a month.

Light lifting and a bunch of stretching at the gym.

SBOC XIII. The eight running of the legendary darkness soaked supburban shinanigan -- the Supburbocross. Always a highlight. It was cold around 25 degrees, but still a decent turnout with about 40 riders.

Biz and I rode at the front for the first 10 miles with Jack Hinkins, a 20 year old junior sponsored by BMC. Word has it that he is out of shape. It must be true, as we were able to drop him after about 20-30 mintes. Biz and I rode off the front for the rest of the night, taking an SBOC victory in what seemed to be the least competitive running thus far. It was fun to work together with Biz and make it happen on that course, it's a very run route, especially at speed.

SBOC warmup

Spin around the city before the snow came. Legs felt kinda tired, likely from the lifting and pulling, etc. from all the work we did up at the cabin last weekend. I think I'll be back to form by tomorrow night for what is one of the most sacred throwdowns of my yearly calendar. The almighty Supburbocross. I'm ready to defend the title!

Great ride from the 00 trail head on the Makwa trail. Did about 50 minutes on the north side, followed by about 45 on the south side. Met Ben, the new executive director of the Birkie, as he was riding with Scott Wilson and other notable north woods figures.

I told them that I am coming for them this winter, bases armed with the earth's most hydrophobic of molecules.

Got out on the bike Saturday at sundown up at Telemark. The trail was covered in Oak leaves and I was doing lots exploring and stopping, so not much ground covered.

But it was a nice sunset from the top of Telemark, overlooking the abandoned investment of scores of optomistic north woods lovers.

C • in all its faded glory....I... 4