Training Log Archive: bl

Sunday Brown. Dawned clear blue. Long walk to start but not much climb. I was accurate but going slowly, so that’s not surprising. Went to the first with energy but on the way to the second, the leg gave warning as well as being OOB for the end of #2 and all of 3. To 4, climbed the wall of cliffs as my preferred route choice which had me pausing several times for as long as 30-45". Had no trouble finding the point but 20’ for the split. Steve had 13’ and Dave Hunter around 14’ . I was in the company of George Hawes from departing 4 to #9. I usually managed to punch first but he was faster/ stronger and would get ahead only to lose the gain with less accurate navigation. 9 to 10, I went around to the left. George and Carl Childs both went straight over and were gone by the time I got to the other side. Janet Findlay appeared 9-10 and also outdistanced me. The 250m “chute” was walk-jog. A marvelous finish site on the beach with a very blue Welch in the background and the cadets’ excellent (mostly by humor I think) announcing.

Had the heavy weight of a beta blocker driven home this weekend and have begun my own taper w/o consulting my cardiologist.

We initially considered Sunday night in the area - not sure what we were going to do but heading home looked better & better & that’s what we did via 9D to TSP to Mass Pike, 91 and 9E at Brattleboro. We stopped at Madame Sherri's castle in Chesterfield on Gulf Rd. The road was interesting in and of itself. All in all, it was a lovely drive home from WP. Wonder how many more. George Hawes is 79, still at it. I need a lot more tuning up. Was well behind.

Sunday - Brown - Splits

Event: West Point National Meet
 

West Point meet, brown 3.4k, 90m climb, 13c at Popolopen. Dreary weather, on & off rain but a good temperature for exerting. Maybe 3-4’ mistakes being rusty. Not able to run for any distance though. Had to stop a bunch when climbing. Right leg was weak/wobbly at times but generally functional - but that might have been another 10’ lost. As PG might say, just plain feeble. Dave Pruden passed me on the way to my #9. He was running blue. That brought an acknowledged cheer.

Lost about an 1-1.5’ on the first. Thought when I got above the cliffs (not focusing enough on exactly where I climbed thru), I’d readily see where I was but that was not the case. Wandered a bit too much/long. #2 - was headed right toward the flag but matching map with what I was seeing, I thought I had to climb a contour. Did so, happened to look back, saw a flag, mine. #3 - lost track of where I was on the path but left in time and, after a climb, the flag was with some relief, right ahead. #4 - got to right and when I saw the big cliff (not the correct one) went more right, then cliffs did not fit. Pretty quickly saw what I had done but had lost some time. And then a 6-7 miserable contour climb that left me pausing frequently. #6 - runners leaving helped with the last 40 or so meters in thick stuff. #7 - had been there previously for the same RF a few years ago! Hard to do with all the flag choices a course setter has. Recognized the reentrant just as I was going by it. #8 - had help from David Hunter who was doing the leg for a second time. #9 Dave Pruden’s passing me and then took my eye to the point which happened to be the same as his. #10 Dave Yee this time led the leg. Could see the point from 75m. #11 - also saw from a long distance tho not convinced it was mine. #12 - saw JJ heading for this flag & then saw boulders. Stopped numerous times on the run-in. The announcer was joking about all the humorous or fancy end-of-course antics finishers were doing. Having just seen the appropriate documentary, I was able to offer Usain Bolt’s symbolic pose in starkly amusing contrast… 61" on run-in to Ken's 26".

Waited for Beth to finish & then we went off in search of a motel for the night again - as it was too wet/dreary for camping. Ended up in Central Valley at the Best Value where we come from time to time over the years.

Dinner at Barth Hall which was intimate with the small group. More cadets than other. A really nice group of young people. Fun course critique. An Army band guitarist and a rendition of an O song well done. Barth still the same old, cold place. De rigueur was wool cap & layers of clothing. Sara Mae even wore gloves.
Fun to be at/by Lake Popolopen though.

To start, up and more up.

Saturday - Brown - Splits

Drive to West Point thru Newburgh with Beth. Left Mocha with Piwczyk's. Drove to Lake Popolopen which was so very jammed with Cadets' cars - being used as an off-campus parking due to a sports weekend. Got a motel on south side of Highland Falls. Have stuff for camping but it was a raw, mostly rainy day. Drove to Seven Lakes Dr. as well as Lake Welch Dr. at end of day, before dinner.

C • Cadets' cars 2

Y after work. Hadn't been in maybe 2 wks. Encountered Eugene S there. We talked about skate skiing for awhile and fact that he'd gone to Waterville Valley
some 40 times over the winter.

Watched a Usain Bolt documentary recently - winning 9 gold medals in the Bejing, London and Rio Olympics. Jamaica is a poor country but rich with fast twitch genes, winning the 400m relay at those 3 Olympics.

Last rehab session. Helpful and enjoyed interactions with participants. Feb 14, first day, seems a very long time ago.

SPS walk, start by 89. Cool, pleasant. WP this weekend. For first time, no preparation other than walking - no expectation other than finishing brown and being satisfactorily accurate.