Training Log Archive: vmeyer

Event: QOC: Manassas
 

Actual distance covered was 7.6 KM.

75 minute Noon mass start Score-O on the Stuart's Hill portion of the Manassas, VA map. Didn't figure I could run epunch and start at the same time, so I got my act together (kind of) and got out of the house and to the meet by 9:30. Would have been a "tad" bit earlier but getting on the Fairfax County PKWY in the direction towards Manassas still flummoxes me. Drove around in a few circles, then got back on 95, and figured it out. I need to practice this a few times to get in ingrained into my thick driving skull.

Anyway, back to the rest of the somewhat boring story. Got there, and I was now running late enough that my 75 minutes would be up before the White (1 competitor/10 maps printed) and Yellow (6 groups/15 maps printed) courses opened. Luckily, the meet director arrived earlier than some others tend to, and I handed things off to him, and off I went. Toured around and got 18 controls, though not very efficiently. It was a beautiful, crisp morning, and I was in short sleeves and happy to out. I thought the map was a bit off in spots - especially at the beginning where I felt like I was going through a dotted yellow area a lot longer than what was mapped as a solid yellow area. It turns out that the map printed was not the most recent one that the course was set on. Not trying to make anyone feel badly...just kind of happy that it wasn't me not reading the map very well. I didn't even notice the missing rootstock symbol on one of the other controls.

Ran out of time and hauled ass in, running right by two controls I had already gotten. That was probably the worst part of the day. Otherwise, it was a splendid day of orienteering and (orienteering) friends.

P.S. The course was cleared in 46:41 by newly minted senior Linus Lauri who is visiting from Sweden. Ken Walker was second, nipping Jon Torrance by 1:08. Another new in 2009 M-21+, Andy Strat, was 4th.

C • Not so boring. 1

A good day. Got up and printed the maps for tomorrow, and ran some errands (check deposit at CU, return at EMS, gassed up van, bought some storage containers on sale at the PX). Then to the GU/Pitt game to visit with Glenda. GU held their own the first half or so, then Pitt showed them why they are #3 making the GU upset of #2 Conn earlier in the week seem to be more and more just a fluke.

Anyway, got the train home just right, and managed to squeeze in a bike ride as well. Got out of the door at 2:45.

Beautiful 46 F afternoon. Started out on my normal route of the house to Walter Reed, to Four Mile Run Trail to W&OD at Glen Carlyn. Did an up and back on the Bluemont Junction Trail, and then headed out to East Falls Church. At that point, I decided I was not mentally up to the dealing with the 10 road crossings over a 2.5 mile section, so I turned off onto the much hillier Custis Trail outside of Bluemont Park. Took this east for about 3.5 miles and turned back around at the bottom of a hill after the exit for the Arlington Courthouse. Helped a tourist figure where the street he wanted was (I hope), and then I headed back up the hill.

I like the Custis because if gets my heart pumping with all of the ups and downs - lots of character. However, I didn't like the heart pumping period on the way back when I was blinded by the sun, and I almost ran into the sound barrier for route 66 (crossing over the other lane). But, I arrived home unscathed, and I was very happy to have enjoyed a fine afternoon.

Wore a heavier pair of Smartwool socks and some chemical toe warmers. Maybe they were a bit old, because they weren't warm for the last 15 minutes or so, and not as warm as I expected even at the start. Though my feet weren't as cold as last week when temps were about the same, so something was mostly right. On the upper part, I had my long sleeve UA and a different jacket - a men's XL which comes all the way down over the butt like I want it too. It is not a totally wind proof, and this combination seems to keep me warm enough, but I wasn't overly sweaty.

After the DVD, I hopped onto the treadmill. Treadmill workouts suck, but the surface is more forgiving, and I wasn't inclined to drive to an unpaved trail today...
Warm up 5 minutes, then
4.4 mph (13:38 mile pace) x 1 minute
5.4 (11:06)
4.4 (13:38)
4.8 (12:30)
5.8 (10:20)
Repeated 10 times
Cool down 5 minutes

Kind of felt like I was cheating since I was walking most of the 4.4 mph segments.

Out to Prince William for a trail run, a somewhat traditional start to the new year for me. Cold out - 28-32 F, but little wind in the woods, and nothing compared to yesterday's WIND.

Three long sleeve layers, one of which I shed about 15 minutes in. Trying out a new pack which will carry two bladders, so I lugged 170 oz around for about two hours. At that point, I determined that the pack passed the "comfortable when full" test, and I emptied one of the bladders on the side of the trail. Ah, that was so much easier to run with a lighter pack.

The start of the group trail run was moved from TRRC because of downed trees, but since I got there later, the parking lot was open at TRRC and blessedly empty. Saw only a few people since the rest of the runners ran a different route this year.

Was going to do my 10 mile loop x 2, but I was a bit slow and tired, so I added on the part out to the Oak Ridge Campground to make the one loop a little longer, and wrapped it up once I got back to the car.

A good day to be out. Good rogaine practice.

C • good rogaine practice 4