Training Log Archive: PGIn the 31 days ending May 31, 2011:
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Tuesday May 31, 2011 #
Note
A few photos from the weekend --
Charlie's son Zach at graduation:
Saturday afternoon we stopped at the Pepsico sculpture gardens, beautiful place.
A large Calder in the distance....
And a much smaller frog, can't remember by whom....
And a delightful Oldenburg....
Charlie's son Zach at graduation:
Saturday afternoon we stopped at the Pepsico sculpture gardens, beautiful place.
A large Calder in the distance....
And a much smaller frog, can't remember by whom....
And a delightful Oldenburg....
Monday May 30, 2011 #
10 AM
orienteering 42:41 2.47 mi (17:17 / mi) +341ft 15:17 / mi
ahr:149 max:163 shoes: pegasus
Middle course at Blue Mountain (red, M-45, same as women's team trials).
Not so bad. Slower than ever as far as just moving through the terrain (and also stopping to read the map), but no mistakes of more than 10 seconds. And that is worth something. So a few scalps taken. :-)
My route. Can't see much that I would have done differently except maybe take the trail around the marsh on the way to 3. And also maybe not fall about 10 yards after the start triangle, a bit of rocky ground, something happened and the next thing I knew I was crashing rather painfully. Fortunately nothing serious.
Another really nice course. Blue Mountain is a great place. I first ran there in 1980. Over the years since then I've actually been there not very often, the most recent being a Billygoat (2002?) and an A meet in 1998. Would be nice to go back more often.
Actually my first time at Blue Mountain was probably in 1979. Ed Hicks had gotten the base map and signed me up to map it. I went down there to start work, spent a few hours, and decided it was more than I wanted to handle, and backed out of the job.
Here's the map from one of the days of the first A meet there in 1980. No OCAD, no GPS, no control printing software, no watches that took splits. Still had the same controls to look for. The map was done by Eric Weyman and Pat Dunlavey, I think it was their first joint project, first of many fine maps.
My one recollection of this weekend was that, having run a 50-miler the weekend before, on pavement (first and only time for that, the pavement part), my knees were quite sore. :-)
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Not so bad. Slower than ever as far as just moving through the terrain (and also stopping to read the map), but no mistakes of more than 10 seconds. And that is worth something. So a few scalps taken. :-)
My route. Can't see much that I would have done differently except maybe take the trail around the marsh on the way to 3. And also maybe not fall about 10 yards after the start triangle, a bit of rocky ground, something happened and the next thing I knew I was crashing rather painfully. Fortunately nothing serious.
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Another really nice course. Blue Mountain is a great place. I first ran there in 1980. Over the years since then I've actually been there not very often, the most recent being a Billygoat (2002?) and an A meet in 1998. Would be nice to go back more often.
Actually my first time at Blue Mountain was probably in 1979. Ed Hicks had gotten the base map and signed me up to map it. I went down there to start work, spent a few hours, and decided it was more than I wanted to handle, and backed out of the job.
Here's the map from one of the days of the first A meet there in 1980. No OCAD, no GPS, no control printing software, no watches that took splits. Still had the same controls to look for. The map was done by Eric Weyman and Pat Dunlavey, I think it was their first joint project, first of many fine maps.
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My one recollection of this weekend was that, having run a 50-miler the weekend before, on pavement (first and only time for that, the pavement part), my knees were quite sore. :-)
Sunday May 29, 2011 #
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9 AM
trail running 5:00 [3] 0.5 mi (10:00 / mi)
shoes: x-talon 212 #2
A little warm-up. Already clear it was going to be a long day.
10 AM
orienteering 1:27:20 6.24 mi (14:00 / mi) +909ft 12:18 / mi
ahr:154 max:169 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
"Long" course at Blue Mt (red, m45, same course F21 ran). Generally good orienteering mostly offset a pretty feeble physical performance.
Only error of substance was from 9 to 10, too far right, one of the easiest legs on the course. But because of that damage was limited. Plus I think my route from 11 to 12 was not the best. I think higher/straighter was better? Hard to know, I was doing a lot of walking by then.
Best legs were the downhill ones, 8, 9, 16, 17. Also for sure the most fun. Even had the best split on 8, though I know others had mistakes (but then that's the only way I'm going to get a best split).
Pretty warm. I think a lot of folks croaked. I know I was totally dripping when I finished, looked like I'd just been in the lake.
Nice course by Neil, also a real nice forest. Blue Mountain really is a gem.
Only error of substance was from 9 to 10, too far right, one of the easiest legs on the course. But because of that damage was limited. Plus I think my route from 11 to 12 was not the best. I think higher/straighter was better? Hard to know, I was doing a lot of walking by then.
Best legs were the downhill ones, 8, 9, 16, 17. Also for sure the most fun. Even had the best split on 8, though I know others had mistakes (but then that's the only way I'm going to get a best split).
Pretty warm. I think a lot of folks croaked. I know I was totally dripping when I finished, looked like I'd just been in the lake.
Nice course by Neil, also a real nice forest. Blue Mountain really is a gem.
Saturday May 28, 2011 #
Event: US Team Trials for WOC '11
Note
Spent the morning at the graduation of Charlie and Rhonda's son Zach from high school (Forman School in Litchfield, where I grew up and where my mom still lives).
Such a pleasure. Zach was never much for schooling of any sort. A lot of kids are like that. Various things were tried, including a couple of other schools which specialized in learning issues. A little progress was made, but not that much. And then these two years at Forman something clicked. And he has blossomed into just a fine young man, including, unbelievable, graduating with high honors and a member of the National Honor Society.
As I said, such a pleasure to see. And how much greater the pleasure for Charlie and Rhonda after all these years.
And it was a nice program at the school. The main speaker, Peter Post, spoke of the value of relationships as you go through life. Two points -- first, that what often matters is not just what you do, but how you do it. Because how you deal with other people, how you treat them, can make all the difference. And second, that perception is important -- i.e. how you view yourself and how others view your can be quite different, so it pays to be aware of the fact that such a disparity is possible, and even likely. And that may change your behavior in positive ways.
But mainly he was talking about relationships, and the value of good relationships (family, friends, a spouse/partner, professional) throughout life. And in that regard he was right on.
And then we were off, but not without stopping for a short visit at one of the dorms at Forman, called Lewis, to have a look around, because that is the house I grew up in, lived there from age 2 to 12. At some point thereafter it was bought by the school. There were various kids in the process of loading stuff into cars and heading home, so no one paid us any attention as we wandered around. Brought back some old memories.
Such a pleasure. Zach was never much for schooling of any sort. A lot of kids are like that. Various things were tried, including a couple of other schools which specialized in learning issues. A little progress was made, but not that much. And then these two years at Forman something clicked. And he has blossomed into just a fine young man, including, unbelievable, graduating with high honors and a member of the National Honor Society.
As I said, such a pleasure to see. And how much greater the pleasure for Charlie and Rhonda after all these years.
And it was a nice program at the school. The main speaker, Peter Post, spoke of the value of relationships as you go through life. Two points -- first, that what often matters is not just what you do, but how you do it. Because how you deal with other people, how you treat them, can make all the difference. And second, that perception is important -- i.e. how you view yourself and how others view your can be quite different, so it pays to be aware of the fact that such a disparity is possible, and even likely. And that may change your behavior in positive ways.
But mainly he was talking about relationships, and the value of good relationships (family, friends, a spouse/partner, professional) throughout life. And in that regard he was right on.
And then we were off, but not without stopping for a short visit at one of the dorms at Forman, called Lewis, to have a look around, because that is the house I grew up in, lived there from age 2 to 12. At some point thereafter it was bought by the school. There were various kids in the process of loading stuff into cars and heading home, so no one paid us any attention as we wandered around. Brought back some old memories.
2 PM
trail running 10:00 [3] 1.0 mi (10:00 / mi)
shoes: x-talon 212 #2
A little before and a little after.
3 PM
orienteering 15:38 1.88 mi (8:19 / mi) +62ft 8:04 / mi
ahr:160 max:172 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Sprint at SUNY Purchase. Ran the red course, same as F21 (for whom it was Team Trials). Not a bad run, did a few things right, but also a few things wrong.
I think I got the best route to 2, and to 6, and to 10, and 11. Not sure about 9. And definitely not to 8, pretty sure I got the worst route -- never saw the tunnel/strairs option.
On the other hand, I didn't go out of bounds on the way to 8, though I just about did. Swung back around by 6, just the way I came, headed for 8, saw a bit of lawn I could cut across to shorten things, but right at the end was a single line of bushes. Option 1 was to go through the nice gap between the last bush and the wall, wouldn't have touched a thing. Option 2 was to hop on the wall -- it was a thick black line, which means you can't cross it, but can you go on top and then get off on the same side? But I stopped, took a careful look at the map, it seemed like the olive green went right up to the wall, so I turned around and looped around the area. And even did that the wrong way, to the north instead of south. Yikes.
Other bad stuff was not planning routes to 6 and 9 enough in advance. To 6 I got the best anyway, to 9 I never saw the route to the right through the tunnel. Looks like it was better.
And then on the way to 10 through the tunnel, I checked out the stairs on the east side to get up to 11, but having tunnel vision, didn't check out the stairs on the west side. Saw them on the way back after 10, they were clearly faster as long as there was no trap at the top, so had to slow down to check that.
When you are really on, you don't do such stuff.
On the other hand, I did read all the necessary clues to know which side of a wall a control was on, so that's something.
Time was 15:36. 15 flat would have been fine. Not too far off.
Real nice course and map.
I think I got the best route to 2, and to 6, and to 10, and 11. Not sure about 9. And definitely not to 8, pretty sure I got the worst route -- never saw the tunnel/strairs option.
On the other hand, I didn't go out of bounds on the way to 8, though I just about did. Swung back around by 6, just the way I came, headed for 8, saw a bit of lawn I could cut across to shorten things, but right at the end was a single line of bushes. Option 1 was to go through the nice gap between the last bush and the wall, wouldn't have touched a thing. Option 2 was to hop on the wall -- it was a thick black line, which means you can't cross it, but can you go on top and then get off on the same side? But I stopped, took a careful look at the map, it seemed like the olive green went right up to the wall, so I turned around and looped around the area. And even did that the wrong way, to the north instead of south. Yikes.
Other bad stuff was not planning routes to 6 and 9 enough in advance. To 6 I got the best anyway, to 9 I never saw the route to the right through the tunnel. Looks like it was better.
And then on the way to 10 through the tunnel, I checked out the stairs on the east side to get up to 11, but having tunnel vision, didn't check out the stairs on the west side. Saw them on the way back after 10, they were clearly faster as long as there was no trap at the top, so had to slow down to check that.
When you are really on, you don't do such stuff.
On the other hand, I did read all the necessary clues to know which side of a wall a control was on, so that's something.
Time was 15:36. 15 flat would have been fine. Not too far off.
Real nice course and map.
Wednesday May 25, 2011 #
Note
In the morning played a round at Hooper with Mike Fritz. Exceeding pleasant, bright sunshine and we had the course to ourselves. My golf was the usual mixture of the sublime and the absurd, more of the latter of course, though with the benefit of having more of the former at the end, letting me leaving on a positive note. (Though I'm pretty sure I would have left on a positive note anyway, since I seem to be getting much better at enjoying the challenge of the sport while not getting bent out of shape when my performance falls far short of my hopes.)
Lots of good talk, including several holes spent talking about the state of O' in the USA, of which I will mention just a couple of things.
1. At some point Mike asked me to name what I thought were three significant changes in the sport in the USA in recent years. I thought for a moment and came up with one, the introduction of e-punching and its use at most meets, both large and small. Which I though was very cool.
And then I was stuck. So I turned the question back to him. And he offered up the extraordinary successes of our women's teams in the last couple of years as something that he was just stunned by, how good they were doing.
And related to that, meaning that the following contributed to their success, was the establishment of the Sprint Series. Because all of a sudden you could orienteer in many more places. And the organization was a lot easier. And it sure seemed to be making our best orienteers even better.
I couldn't argue with either of his suggestions. But I'm wondering if there are other things that have changed in recent years in our sport (hopefully for the better) that we may have forgotten about. And sometimes it's good to remember things that have done well, and not just think about our shortcomings.
2. And then at some other point we were talking about how make things, more specifically "new" things, happen in the sport, in particular in cases where some money could be found, and whether it would make sense to give the funds to the federation as a whole to see what they could do, or whether it might make more sense to identify certain individuals, the "movers and shakers," and direct the resources specifically to them and see what they could do.
And he asked me, in the latter case who would you choose. And I said that my first choice would probably be Vladimir, because he seems to have more of an entrepreneurial spirit than anyone else. And my second choice might be someone like Greg Lennon, who I have a lot of respect for (though I don't know him well) because he seems to make things happen. And then I was stuck for a third choice.
And I'm wondering here too if there are others that should be added to the list. Because at some point the best way to make things happen, as opposed to endlessly discussing the pros and cons, is to get the resources in the hands of the movers and shakers and just let them do their thing.
Lots of good talk, including several holes spent talking about the state of O' in the USA, of which I will mention just a couple of things.
1. At some point Mike asked me to name what I thought were three significant changes in the sport in the USA in recent years. I thought for a moment and came up with one, the introduction of e-punching and its use at most meets, both large and small. Which I though was very cool.
And then I was stuck. So I turned the question back to him. And he offered up the extraordinary successes of our women's teams in the last couple of years as something that he was just stunned by, how good they were doing.
And related to that, meaning that the following contributed to their success, was the establishment of the Sprint Series. Because all of a sudden you could orienteer in many more places. And the organization was a lot easier. And it sure seemed to be making our best orienteers even better.
I couldn't argue with either of his suggestions. But I'm wondering if there are other things that have changed in recent years in our sport (hopefully for the better) that we may have forgotten about. And sometimes it's good to remember things that have done well, and not just think about our shortcomings.
2. And then at some other point we were talking about how make things, more specifically "new" things, happen in the sport, in particular in cases where some money could be found, and whether it would make sense to give the funds to the federation as a whole to see what they could do, or whether it might make more sense to identify certain individuals, the "movers and shakers," and direct the resources specifically to them and see what they could do.
And he asked me, in the latter case who would you choose. And I said that my first choice would probably be Vladimir, because he seems to have more of an entrepreneurial spirit than anyone else. And my second choice might be someone like Greg Lennon, who I have a lot of respect for (though I don't know him well) because he seems to make things happen. And then I was stuck for a third choice.
And I'm wondering here too if there are others that should be added to the list. Because at some point the best way to make things happen, as opposed to endlessly discussing the pros and cons, is to get the resources in the hands of the movers and shakers and just let them do their thing.
4 PM
road running 25:58 2.11 mi (12:18 / mi) +997ft 8:30 / mi
ahr:149 max:168 rhr:52 weight:134lbs shoes: pegasus
Just enough time for a very short effort before heading off to pick up my brother at the Hartford airport. Twice up South Sugarloaf via the paved road, both times down the steep trail.
A very strange run. No time to warm up. I just jogged the 50 yards over to the usual starting point, started the watch and headed up. Taking it easy, expecting to be quite slow. Certainly not putting out a lot of effort. And the time at the top was 9:45, better than I've done all year. Huh?
Quickly back down the steep trail, turn around and head up again. Again at what seemed like a relaxed pace. And this time I noticed that I was a little quicker still (9:38), and my heart rate was getting up in the area (165+) which usually means I am breathing pretty hard and getting into oxygen debt. But it sure didn't feel that way. Don't know what was going on, and whether all that is good, or bad, or irrelevant. And did it feel easy because I hadn't done much since Saturday's race? I wish I knew how to figure things so I could get the days that it feels easy to happen on the days that I want to be fast.
And then quickly back down, and off. Got to the airport at just exactly the right time.
A very strange run. No time to warm up. I just jogged the 50 yards over to the usual starting point, started the watch and headed up. Taking it easy, expecting to be quite slow. Certainly not putting out a lot of effort. And the time at the top was 9:45, better than I've done all year. Huh?
Quickly back down the steep trail, turn around and head up again. Again at what seemed like a relaxed pace. And this time I noticed that I was a little quicker still (9:38), and my heart rate was getting up in the area (165+) which usually means I am breathing pretty hard and getting into oxygen debt. But it sure didn't feel that way. Don't know what was going on, and whether all that is good, or bad, or irrelevant. And did it feel easy because I hadn't done much since Saturday's race? I wish I knew how to figure things so I could get the days that it feels easy to happen on the days that I want to be fast.
And then quickly back down, and off. Got to the airport at just exactly the right time.
Tuesday May 24, 2011 #
4 PM
trail running 6:34 0.67 mi (9:48 / mi) +56ft 9:05 / mi
ahr:118 max:134 weight:135lbs shoes: pegasus
Feeling no enthusiasm for running, so chose the easy way out, turn it into a run/hike.
Over to the start of the phone line trail.
Over to the start of the phone line trail.
hike 15:48 0.8 mi (19:45 / mi) +823ft 10:00 / mi
ahr:134 max:152 shoes: pegasus
And hiked up it, no attempt to run any of it.
trail running 23:24 2.68 mi (8:44 / mi) +49ft 8:35 / mi
ahr:124 max:138 shoes: pegasus
And then jogged back down the jeep road. Mission accomplished.
Monday May 23, 2011 #
Note
Gone most of the day, playing golf at a nice private club over in the Boston area, thanks to a MGA program that arranges occasional access for a modest fee. My game was far from sharp (and the course was quite difficult), but very much enjoyed the day.
But no desire for a run after I was done.
I did stop by the weekly meeting of the town's Selectmen (the local executive authority). A couple weeks ago the town voted down their budget by about a 60-40 margin, because it would have raised property taxes about 11%, so they had to figure out what to do. Last week they decided not to try again at the ballot box with a smaller amount. This week the plan was to see what to cut.
And it turned out to be surprisingly easy -- cut a little, toss in some reserves, defer a couple of things, and pretty soon the numbers added up. But it was an interesting discussion. Very small attendance actually, just me and a couple of guys from the Finance Committee and a reporter. The FC wanted to cut a bunch more, to make the town do without some things (cut a police office, close the senior center, cut back the highway crew) to drive home the message that things were tight. The Selectmen clearly weren't going along.
And for about an hour there was a lively discussion about what to do. I was putting my 2 cents in, mostly on the Selctmen's side. Quite good fun. All the details about municipal finance were coming back to me. So part of the discussion was about what little pots of money might be buried here and there that might be accessed. And part was about what sort of changes could be made in town operations to make things more efficient. And part was about how to deal with the longer-term capital replacement needs of the town.
The voting will be done at another town meeting in a couple of weeks -- which I will miss, unless the ash cloud cancels flights to Ireland -- but the work and the decisions were made last night. Though people may not yet realize it.
But no desire for a run after I was done.
I did stop by the weekly meeting of the town's Selectmen (the local executive authority). A couple weeks ago the town voted down their budget by about a 60-40 margin, because it would have raised property taxes about 11%, so they had to figure out what to do. Last week they decided not to try again at the ballot box with a smaller amount. This week the plan was to see what to cut.
And it turned out to be surprisingly easy -- cut a little, toss in some reserves, defer a couple of things, and pretty soon the numbers added up. But it was an interesting discussion. Very small attendance actually, just me and a couple of guys from the Finance Committee and a reporter. The FC wanted to cut a bunch more, to make the town do without some things (cut a police office, close the senior center, cut back the highway crew) to drive home the message that things were tight. The Selectmen clearly weren't going along.
And for about an hour there was a lively discussion about what to do. I was putting my 2 cents in, mostly on the Selctmen's side. Quite good fun. All the details about municipal finance were coming back to me. So part of the discussion was about what little pots of money might be buried here and there that might be accessed. And part was about what sort of changes could be made in town operations to make things more efficient. And part was about how to deal with the longer-term capital replacement needs of the town.
The voting will be done at another town meeting in a couple of weeks -- which I will miss, unless the ash cloud cancels flights to Ireland -- but the work and the decisions were made last night. Though people may not yet realize it.
Sunday May 22, 2011 #
5 PM
trail running 30:32 2.48 mi (12:18 / mi) +614ft 9:58 / mi
ahr:133 max:154 rhr:51 weight:135lbs shoes: pegasus
Stopped in Charlie's neighborhood on the way to Litchfield, just time for a short run. Which was all I felt like anyway, still a little stiff after yesterday's race.
This outing turned out more pleasant than expected. The trail was up and down quite a bit, so my pace was slow, but I managed to chug up all the hills without too much ado, and that left the usual sense of satisfaction.
Results from yesterday.
And a couple photos from yesterday --
This outing turned out more pleasant than expected. The trail was up and down quite a bit, so my pace was slow, but I managed to chug up all the hills without too much ado, and that left the usual sense of satisfaction.
Results from yesterday.
And a couple photos from yesterday --
Saturday May 21, 2011 #
trail running 10:00 [3] 1.0 mi (10:00 / mi)
rhr:51 weight:134.5lbs shoes: pegasus
Warm-up
8 AM
trail running 52:21 6.22 mi (8:25 / mi) +922ft 7:23 / mi
ahr:157 max:166 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
New England Trail Running Champs at Northfield, just up the road so it seemed silly not to go.
A pretty good run even if my time is the worst ever. But just 40 seconds slower than 2 years ago, and that's not so bad. And about where I would hope to be in relation to some local runners, so that was another OK sign.
Walked several times on the climb, always just little steep sections, total was about two minutes. I think at that point I can walk just about as fast as I can run, and it's a lot easier psychologically.
Haven't seen results yet, other than knowing the best 60+ was 50:02.
A pretty good run even if my time is the worst ever. But just 40 seconds slower than 2 years ago, and that's not so bad. And about where I would hope to be in relation to some local runners, so that was another OK sign.
Walked several times on the climb, always just little steep sections, total was about two minutes. I think at that point I can walk just about as fast as I can run, and it's a lot easier psychologically.
Haven't seen results yet, other than knowing the best 60+ was 50:02.
C • 1" 2
Thursday May 19, 2011 #
12 PM
trail running 5:41 0.54 mi (10:32 / mi) +33ft 9:57 / mi
ahr:107 max:120 rhr:52 weight:133lbs shoes: pegasus
Warm-up.
road running 47:53 3.6 mi (13:18 / mi) +2280ft 8:19 / mi
ahr:148 max:156 shoes: pegasus
Up the Mt. Ascutney road. This is right about half a Mt. Washington, about the same average grade (12%), but only half as long. I ran it in 2006 in 44:10, my notes say I ran the whole way. And then ran the first roughly 2.2 miles of it in 2009 as part of a race to the top of Ascutney, at that point the course used trails for the rest of the way. I did that 2.2 in 28:10, walked some, felt quite tired.
Today was a struggle. It seemed the road was steeper than before, and my watch moved faster, but those are not new sensations. I ran the first mile, and then walked quite often thereafter, usually for a minute at a time with 2 or 3 minutes of running in between. I don't think that's much slower than trying to keep running, and it certainly is easier psychologically, for me at least, though I know others a just the reverse, finding it a real downer to walk at all, like admitting defeat.
My time this time, 29:58 to where the trail turns off, and 47:52 to the top of the road (middle of the summit parking lot), was acceptable. Clearly I can't do what I was doing 5 years ago. I was hoping for under 50, so that was OK.
Who knows what it translates to at Washington. Double it and add 10 minutes? That would be about 1:45. And would be about what I think is possible. But who knows. I guess that's why you run the race.
Today was a struggle. It seemed the road was steeper than before, and my watch moved faster, but those are not new sensations. I ran the first mile, and then walked quite often thereafter, usually for a minute at a time with 2 or 3 minutes of running in between. I don't think that's much slower than trying to keep running, and it certainly is easier psychologically, for me at least, though I know others a just the reverse, finding it a real downer to walk at all, like admitting defeat.
My time this time, 29:58 to where the trail turns off, and 47:52 to the top of the road (middle of the summit parking lot), was acceptable. Clearly I can't do what I was doing 5 years ago. I was hoping for under 50, so that was OK.
Who knows what it translates to at Washington. Double it and add 10 minutes? That would be about 1:45. And would be about what I think is possible. But who knows. I guess that's why you run the race.
C • sigh 1
trail running 14:00 0.9 mi (15:34 / mi) +66ft 14:33 / mi
ahr:138 max:155 shoes: pegasus
Since I was up there, I there I'd go check out one of JJ's launching sites. The trail over there was much rougher than I expected, can't be all that easy to drag a glider over there. And the launch site? Totally terrifying, even though the low clouds meant that there was no view out or down. I beat a hasty retreat.
trail running 31:44 3.7 mi (8:35 / mi)
ahr:126 max:157 shoes: pegasus
And then back down the road, feeling a little fragile, so I stayed off the pavement virtually all the time. Even if it was rough going at times, it was a lot softer and easier on the feet.
Found a couple of ticks afterwards crawling on my right leg. Made sense, it was the one on the way down brushing up against the foliage a lot.
A nice outing, left me quite wasted. So only dragged myself around 9 holes afterwards.
Found a couple of ticks afterwards crawling on my right leg. Made sense, it was the one on the way down brushing up against the foliage a lot.
A nice outing, left me quite wasted. So only dragged myself around 9 holes afterwards.
Wednesday May 18, 2011 #
11 AM
trail running 5:28 0.5 mi (10:56 / mi) +43ft 10:07 / mi
ahr:110 max:124 rhr:54 weight:133lbs shoes: pegasus
A short warm-up.
trail running 47:50 4.02 mi (11:54 / mi) +1503ft 8:47 / mi
ahr:138 max:159 shoes: pegasus
Three times up and down South Sugarloaf. First time was up the road, down the trail (carefully), with the trail being somewhat muddy.
Second time was up the road using the steeper part, must be a section at 20+%, ran it all, slowly, then down the trail again, now even wetter due to the rain in the previous ten minutes.
Third time was up the usual road route and then back down first on the road and then some less steep trails.
Not pushing the pace. I've had a modest cold since last Friday and resting pulse is high and legs didn't feel very spry. So just chugged along right about as planned. And very glad to have it done before lunch.
Second time was up the road using the steeper part, must be a section at 20+%, ran it all, slowly, then down the trail again, now even wetter due to the rain in the previous ten minutes.
Third time was up the usual road route and then back down first on the road and then some less steep trails.
Not pushing the pace. I've had a modest cold since last Friday and resting pulse is high and legs didn't feel very spry. So just chugged along right about as planned. And very glad to have it done before lunch.
Tuesday May 17, 2011 #
Note
Forgot one other thing about today's outing.
I wear one contact for orienteering. I need it for distance vision. I can read the map pretty well with no correction at all.
My existing contacts were getting pretty ratty, so I called up the place I got them and said I needed new ones, and the guy said I'd need a new eye exam first from my eye doctor.
So I called up my eye doctor, and it turned out my last exam was 11 months ago, recent enough. And then the woman there said that if I could get the specs on my contacts, then I could order them online and it would be cheaper.
So I call up the contact guy again. Can I get the specs? And he tells me! Such and such a size, such and such a curvature.
Call back to the eye doctor's, give her the specs, she says she can order me some samples, they are free, shipping is 10 bucks. Sounds like a deal to me.
That was Tuesday. Friday the samples are in. I have 6 lenses at my prescription, and 6 more a quarter diopter different just in case. All for 10 bucks. And maybe some people use them just once, but I'm told that using them a few times each should be OK.
Use one for the Speedy Goat, vision was good. Use it again for the Billygoat. Vision still good. Use it again today. Vision still good.
Go to take it off. Not really paying attention, taking them out is never a problem, I reach in a second time and there's nothing there. Huh? It feels like it's hiding in some corner of my eye, but I'm damned if I can find it. I give up after a couple of minutes, and by now I'm no longer feeling like it's hiding somewhere, time to go catch the train.
Get to Grand Central. Look up on the big display board to see what track my train is on. My vision is off. The contact has reappeared, now nicely centered. WTF. After I get on the train I take it out, no problem.
But I have a little more sympathy for Charlie and Phil who i think have struggled with "losing" contacts when they were still in their eyes, and I was thinking they were just losing their minds....
I wear one contact for orienteering. I need it for distance vision. I can read the map pretty well with no correction at all.
My existing contacts were getting pretty ratty, so I called up the place I got them and said I needed new ones, and the guy said I'd need a new eye exam first from my eye doctor.
So I called up my eye doctor, and it turned out my last exam was 11 months ago, recent enough. And then the woman there said that if I could get the specs on my contacts, then I could order them online and it would be cheaper.
So I call up the contact guy again. Can I get the specs? And he tells me! Such and such a size, such and such a curvature.
Call back to the eye doctor's, give her the specs, she says she can order me some samples, they are free, shipping is 10 bucks. Sounds like a deal to me.
That was Tuesday. Friday the samples are in. I have 6 lenses at my prescription, and 6 more a quarter diopter different just in case. All for 10 bucks. And maybe some people use them just once, but I'm told that using them a few times each should be OK.
Use one for the Speedy Goat, vision was good. Use it again for the Billygoat. Vision still good. Use it again today. Vision still good.
Go to take it off. Not really paying attention, taking them out is never a problem, I reach in a second time and there's nothing there. Huh? It feels like it's hiding in some corner of my eye, but I'm damned if I can find it. I give up after a couple of minutes, and by now I'm no longer feeling like it's hiding somewhere, time to go catch the train.
Get to Grand Central. Look up on the big display board to see what track my train is on. My vision is off. The contact has reappeared, now nicely centered. WTF. After I get on the train I take it out, no problem.
But I have a little more sympathy for Charlie and Phil who i think have struggled with "losing" contacts when they were still in their eyes, and I was thinking they were just losing their minds....
1 PM
orienteering 37:12 3.89 mi (9:34 / mi) +161ft 9:12 / mi
ahr:131 max:151 weight:134.5lbs shoes: pegasus
O' practice in Central Park. Course had 15 controls, but I sailed right by one without stopping so I guess that doesn't count (unless I'd been using the new ski-O touch-free punching).
Quite good fun. I had Chris Cassone's "The Great Central Park Treasure Hunt" map (a legitimate O' map, 1:7,500, though a bit out of date). For each control there was a question, sometimes not easy to answer. I'll post more about it in a bit, but got to get some dinner after a long day trip to New York and back, primarily for dealing with mom's affairs.
717/1000 (283 to go, a little less than 3 months left).
Here's my route, starting in the lower left, going to #10 first.
More info about Chris's operation is here. Lots of interesting stuff going on. He gave me a copy of the map a few years ago and this is the first chance I've had to try it. At each point the map had a question to answer, sometimes easy, sometimes not. Or maybe they were all easy and it was just me having problems or being in too much of a hurry.
10 -- couldn't find a sewer grate.
15 -- Got what I thought was the right answer, but it's 5 letters, not the required 6.
7 -- ran right by this one, focused on getting to 5.
5 -- no sign to be seen, either below the arch or on top.
14 -- no topiary animals that I could see.
11 -- I could see a big red sign off in the general direction of Columbus Circle, but with the fog and light rain and my so-so vision, I couldn't read it.
Understand now, I have been to 6 controls, and I have not yet gotten a correct answer. But I am having a great time. :-)
Onward. Remember that part of the challenge is that planning ahead not only involves what your route is, but also reading and remembering the question that you're trying to answer at the next control. And, though not shown on the map, the great majority of the terrain off the paths is fenced off and out of bounds. But not all of it. So the route selection is more interesting/challenging than it might appear.
2 -- Found the statue after a slight detour, question was what was the first word. First word was the wrong length. Ran around to the other side of the statue. More wording. First word fit! I got one!
3 -- Nice route over through the maze of trails, spotted the creature, a mythical thing, just not sure what it's called, though I might be right.
12 -- Got another one.
6 -- And another, I think.
4 -- And another. Realize that, lacking a pen, I have to remember my answers too, no trivial matter.
1 -- Got it.
9 -- And got it too.
3 -- And another one. And a bunch of these are quite interesting, things in Central Park I would have never known existed.
13 -- Last control, took a moment to find it, then nothing made sense until I looked on the other side and there was the answer.
And then quick as I could down the finish chute.... :-)
Saw lots of people out there, none of them orienteering. I doubt that any of them knew I was orienteering.
Take a look at Chris's site. Lots of cool things. Makes me think (1) I wonder how many people are employed in orienteering in this country, using FTE's (full-time equivalents) as a measure for part-time efforts, and (2) maybe a goal of OUSA ought to be to do what we could to increase that number. Because if that's all we did -- imagine if there were 10 people in the USA who had jobs in orienteering -- there would be a lot more going on than there is now.
Quite good fun. I had Chris Cassone's "The Great Central Park Treasure Hunt" map (a legitimate O' map, 1:7,500, though a bit out of date). For each control there was a question, sometimes not easy to answer. I'll post more about it in a bit, but got to get some dinner after a long day trip to New York and back, primarily for dealing with mom's affairs.
717/1000 (283 to go, a little less than 3 months left).
Here's my route, starting in the lower left, going to #10 first.
QR.jpg){kind=link}
More info about Chris's operation is here. Lots of interesting stuff going on. He gave me a copy of the map a few years ago and this is the first chance I've had to try it. At each point the map had a question to answer, sometimes easy, sometimes not. Or maybe they were all easy and it was just me having problems or being in too much of a hurry.
10 -- couldn't find a sewer grate.
15 -- Got what I thought was the right answer, but it's 5 letters, not the required 6.
7 -- ran right by this one, focused on getting to 5.
5 -- no sign to be seen, either below the arch or on top.
14 -- no topiary animals that I could see.
11 -- I could see a big red sign off in the general direction of Columbus Circle, but with the fog and light rain and my so-so vision, I couldn't read it.
Understand now, I have been to 6 controls, and I have not yet gotten a correct answer. But I am having a great time. :-)
Onward. Remember that part of the challenge is that planning ahead not only involves what your route is, but also reading and remembering the question that you're trying to answer at the next control. And, though not shown on the map, the great majority of the terrain off the paths is fenced off and out of bounds. But not all of it. So the route selection is more interesting/challenging than it might appear.
2 -- Found the statue after a slight detour, question was what was the first word. First word was the wrong length. Ran around to the other side of the statue. More wording. First word fit! I got one!
3 -- Nice route over through the maze of trails, spotted the creature, a mythical thing, just not sure what it's called, though I might be right.
12 -- Got another one.
6 -- And another, I think.
4 -- And another. Realize that, lacking a pen, I have to remember my answers too, no trivial matter.
1 -- Got it.
9 -- And got it too.
3 -- And another one. And a bunch of these are quite interesting, things in Central Park I would have never known existed.
13 -- Last control, took a moment to find it, then nothing made sense until I looked on the other side and there was the answer.
And then quick as I could down the finish chute.... :-)
Saw lots of people out there, none of them orienteering. I doubt that any of them knew I was orienteering.
Take a look at Chris's site. Lots of cool things. Makes me think (1) I wonder how many people are employed in orienteering in this country, using FTE's (full-time equivalents) as a measure for part-time efforts, and (2) maybe a goal of OUSA ought to be to do what we could to increase that number. Because if that's all we did -- imagine if there were 10 people in the USA who had jobs in orienteering -- there would be a lot more going on than there is now.
road running 7:00 [3] 0.7 mi (10:00 / mi)
shoes: pegasus
From the apartment over to Central Park, and back.
Monday May 16, 2011 #
Note
weight:133.5lbs
A day off today, first since December 8 of last year. Seemed about time. Still hoofed it around the golf course in somewhat damp conditions, but that's different.
Catching up, here are my routes for the Speedy Goat sprint relay on Saturday -- leg 1, leg 2.
Tomorrow, with any luck, a little O' training in Central Park.
Catching up, here are my routes for the Speedy Goat sprint relay on Saturday -- leg 1, leg 2.
QR.jpg){kind=link}
QR.jpg){kind=link}
Tomorrow, with any luck, a little O' training in Central Park.
C • OOB 4
Sunday May 15, 2011 #
Event: Billygoat Run
10 AM
orienteering 2:17:52 10.13 mi (13:37 / mi) +1224ft 12:13 / mi
ahr:150 max:165 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
33rd Billygoat, I think my 20th finish. JJ was wondering afterwards if he had finished more than half of the Billygoats he ever would. I'm pretty sure I have. Can't imagine I'll be doing this for another 20 years, and finishing under 3.5 hours at age 86? No way. So best enjoy it while I can.
Real nice course. I had a pretty good run, did a lot of good orienteering, just a couple little mistakes, certainly less than what AP is saying I made, as it doesn't account for the fact that sometimes I just slow down. Knew where I was all the time. Just the usual problem -- getting there. I got real tired the last 30 minutes, a bit depressing to end up in a group the last couple of controls and know they are all going to beat you in (with the exception of Angelica, as it turned out, who had a meltdown at the last control).
Thanks, Joe, great course. And proof, not that any was needed, that Huntington is so much nicer a place to orienteer than Harriman. :-)
I think I'll add a few leg comments in the splits.
703/1000
Here's my route.
Real nice course. I had a pretty good run, did a lot of good orienteering, just a couple little mistakes, certainly less than what AP is saying I made, as it doesn't account for the fact that sometimes I just slow down. Knew where I was all the time. Just the usual problem -- getting there. I got real tired the last 30 minutes, a bit depressing to end up in a group the last couple of controls and know they are all going to beat you in (with the exception of Angelica, as it turned out, who had a meltdown at the last control).
Thanks, Joe, great course. And proof, not that any was needed, that Huntington is so much nicer a place to orienteer than Harriman. :-)
I think I'll add a few leg comments in the splits.
703/1000
Here's my route.
QR.jpg){kind=link}
C • half 2
Saturday May 14, 2011 #
Event: Speedy Goat Sprint Relay
2 PM
trail running 6:23 [2] 0.61 mi (10:28 / mi) +43ft 9:49 / mi
rhr:52 weight:134lbs shoes: x-talon 212 #2
A little warm-up.
orienteering 13:13 1.28 mi (10:20 / mi) +148ft 9:19 / mi
ahr:148 max:162 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Speedy Goat relay with Joe. Course B1 (butterfly, going east first). What can I say, everyone is just a lot faster.
orienteering 13:57 1.33 mi (10:29 / mi) +177ft 9:19 / mi
ahr:153 max:165 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Second leg, course A2. Again, perfectly respectable effort, just moving slowly. But a very fun course, neat area up on there hill (controls 3-6).
668/1000
668/1000
Friday May 13, 2011 #
4 PM
trail running 32:07 3.13 mi (10:16 / mi) +430ft 9:05 / mi
ahr:128 max:149 rhr:51 weight:134lbs shoes: pegasus
On Pocumtuck ridge after a round of golf. I think I should go running first when my legs are a little fresher. This run was hard to get started. But after a while it was fine, and the last little hill was no problem at all.
Got in a lot of golf this week, first time this year. Enjoying it more than ever.
Got in a lot of golf this week, first time this year. Enjoying it more than ever.
Thursday May 12, 2011 #
5 PM
run/hike 32:27 1.57 mi (20:40 / mi) +1506ft 10:50 / mi
ahr:144 max:162 rhr:51 weight:134lbs shoes: pegasus
South Sugarloaf, three times up and down the steep trail, faster the second ascent and then eased up on the third. Early evening, just before dinner, lots of people out, not all walkers. Dave and Donna were also doing repeats, and I chatted up a couple of bikers who were similarly engaged. All it takes is a couple of others doing the same thing and you suddenly feel quite normal instead of quite crazy.
Splits: 7:33, 3:24, 7:03, 3:20, 7:50, 3:16.
Took a bit of willpower to get out, as I was heading home from a hilly 18 (here, a surprisingly nice course, very active topography, and very interesting greens) and the legs had no zip. But felt better for doing it.
Splits: 7:33, 3:24, 7:03, 3:20, 7:50, 3:16.
Took a bit of willpower to get out, as I was heading home from a hilly 18 (here, a surprisingly nice course, very active topography, and very interesting greens) and the legs had no zip. But felt better for doing it.
Wednesday May 11, 2011 #
5 PM
trail running 5:00 [3] 0.5 mi (10:00 / mi)
weight:133lbs shoes: pegasus
A little warm-up, should have done more.
orienteering 46:02 3.81 mi (12:05 / mi) +453ft 10:52 / mi
ahr:140 max:158 shoes: pegasus
Cemetery Hill long sprint, maybe ultralong sprint? Map and course by Phil. A lot of fun, even if the course got the better of me several times. Generally my technique seemed pretty good, reading head just enough, but on several points I was having trouble right at the end. Of course we were using just streamers, not controls.
Mistakes on about 6 or 8 controls, worst was going to ten and finding out that I was not at the crossing point between the ponds. One of those where it's thick going in, and then you find out you're in the wrong place, so it's thick going out.
Scraped my map reading eye at #22, vision was a little blurry thereafter, but didn't seem enough to get a full-blown corneal abrasion, for which I am very grateful.
Got Alex, thank goodness. Ali made enough mistakes that I could have gotten her, but I wasn't nearly clean enough.
The orienteering was followed by a feast at Phil's, so another late night (i.e. 10 pm) dining out in Northampton. Not a bad way to live.
The course: part 1, part 2.
My route: part 1, part 2.
650/1000
Mistakes on about 6 or 8 controls, worst was going to ten and finding out that I was not at the crossing point between the ponds. One of those where it's thick going in, and then you find out you're in the wrong place, so it's thick going out.
Scraped my map reading eye at #22, vision was a little blurry thereafter, but didn't seem enough to get a full-blown corneal abrasion, for which I am very grateful.
Got Alex, thank goodness. Ali made enough mistakes that I could have gotten her, but I wasn't nearly clean enough.
The orienteering was followed by a feast at Phil's, so another late night (i.e. 10 pm) dining out in Northampton. Not a bad way to live.
The course: part 1, part 2.
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
My route: part 1, part 2.
QR.jpg){kind=link}
QR.jpg){kind=link}
650/1000
Tuesday May 10, 2011 #
Note
A couple more items on the publicity front....
Ali said she just did an interview with someone form the women's sports section of ESPN.
And an old friend of mine (John Stifler) who writes regularly about the running scene locally and throughout New England was at the race, so I introduced him to the Ski-O stars and said he absolutely had to interview them. And I'm pretty sure that will happen before long.
Step by step....
Ali said she just did an interview with someone form the women's sports section of ESPN.
And an old friend of mine (John Stifler) who writes regularly about the running scene locally and throughout New England was at the race, so I introduced him to the Ski-O stars and said he absolutely had to interview them. And I'm pretty sure that will happen before long.
Step by step....
6 PM
trail running 11:45 1.31 mi (8:58 / mi) +36ft 8:45 / mi
ahr:127 max:144 rhr:51 weight:133lbs shoes: pegasus
A little warm-up, out to check if the muddy part of the course was still muddy (it wasn't).
trail running race 21:35 3.09 mi (6:59 / mi) +187ft 6:36 / mi
ahr:162 max:172 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Northampton 5K XC. Excellent run.
Ran it two weeks ago in 22:15, so this was 40 seconds faster. Maybe half of that I'll attribute to lighter shoes, pulled out my racing shoes for the first time this year. The other half? Maybe just a day the legs were better. I know I was consciously trying to breathe harder (deeper, actually), maybe that helps. But the result was a very nice surprise. Pretty close to what I did two years ago (21:27), though that was in heavier shoes.
Splits: 6:54, 6:48, 7:13, 40
Two weeks ago: 7:01, 7:01, 7:32, 40.
Ran it two weeks ago in 22:15, so this was 40 seconds faster. Maybe half of that I'll attribute to lighter shoes, pulled out my racing shoes for the first time this year. The other half? Maybe just a day the legs were better. I know I was consciously trying to breathe harder (deeper, actually), maybe that helps. But the result was a very nice surprise. Pretty close to what I did two years ago (21:27), though that was in heavier shoes.
Splits: 6:54, 6:48, 7:13, 40
Two weeks ago: 7:01, 7:01, 7:32, 40.
trail running 10:05 1.01 mi (9:59 / mi) +72ft 9:21 / mi
ahr:134 max:147 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
A little cool-down with Carl Fey. And then a very pleasant dinner afterwards at Fresh Pasta in Northampton with Carl and Alex and Ali, talking some about Carl's new job as dean of an English-language business school in China (he's on a ten-day trip in the USA, visiting 10 different universities, setting up exchange programs).
And also talking about ski-O stuff (Carl's been doing ski-O forever, was the IOF senior event advisor at the Ski-WOC in March in Sweden). Including that the 2012 World Cup has been approved for the USA (late January, early February in the Lake Tahoe region). And also including a little bit about what might be done to encourage a few donations to the Ski-O team, which hopefully people will consider given how awesomely the team did.
Just a real nice evening.
And also talking about ski-O stuff (Carl's been doing ski-O forever, was the IOF senior event advisor at the Ski-WOC in March in Sweden). Including that the 2012 World Cup has been approved for the USA (late January, early February in the Lake Tahoe region). And also including a little bit about what might be done to encourage a few donations to the Ski-O team, which hopefully people will consider given how awesomely the team did.
Just a real nice evening.
Monday May 9, 2011 #
Note
rhr:50 weight:133lbs
Weekly update for L&F --
Starting weight: 144 (mid-December)
Jan. 1: 142
Jan. 8: 139
Jan. 15: 137
Jan. 22: 136
Jan. 29: 136.5
Feb 5: 136
Feb 12: 134
Feb. 19: 134
Feb. 26: 133
March 5: 133
March 12: 132.5
March 19: 133
March 26: 134
April 2: 135
April 9: 135
April 16: 131.5
April 23: 132.5
April 30: 132.5
May 6: 134.5
Mood: Not been hungry much recently, for better and worse. But anything sub-135 is still a lot better than in the 140-145 range.
Starting weight: 144 (mid-December)
Jan. 1: 142
Jan. 8: 139
Jan. 15: 137
Jan. 22: 136
Jan. 29: 136.5
Feb 5: 136
Feb 12: 134
Feb. 19: 134
Feb. 26: 133
March 5: 133
March 12: 132.5
March 19: 133
March 26: 134
April 2: 135
April 9: 135
April 16: 131.5
April 23: 132.5
April 30: 132.5
May 6: 134.5
Mood: Not been hungry much recently, for better and worse. But anything sub-135 is still a lot better than in the 140-145 range.
11 AM
trail running 48:02 5.25 mi (9:09 / mi) +387ft 8:33 / mi
ahr:134 max:147 shoes: pegasus
Out and back on Pocumtuck ridge, 25:41 up to the towers, 22:21 back. Legs still a little weary, GI track on the mend. But good to get out, especially since I was really pissed, went to the dentist for cleaning and now need to go at least three times more for repairs.
Note that there is an O' event Wednesday evening on a new map Phil has made in Northampton. More info here and here.
Note that there is an O' event Wednesday evening on a new map Phil has made in Northampton. More info here and here.
Sunday May 8, 2011 #
Event: WCOC Five Ponds
11 AM
orienteering 52:28 3.27 mi (16:03 / mi) +486ft 14:04 / mi
ahr:120 max:148 rhr:51 weight:131.5lbs shoes: pegasus
WCOC meet at Five Ponds in Litchfield. Couldn't pass this up since I was going to be in Litchfield anyway, though I wasn't sure how much I'd do.
I managed to get somewhat re-hydrated by the time I started, and legs were surprisingly not at all sore, but I think I must have been a little weary, which translated means slow, as I was way behind Becky. Though part of that was due to a couple of bad controls, and part to taking a while to get going physically. But I surprised myself by running quite a bit. Also crashing quite a bit, must have had half a dozen hard landings, plus a few other more gentle falls, there goes another minute or more right there.
But glad I went, haven't been in the SE section of the map for a long long time (maybe not since the 1985 Billygoat?). And there are some beautiful woods there.
Thanks to Jim and Rich for doing this, a local meet with no White or Yellow course (that's a rarity, I think), so could park a different place. I often wondered about the need to offer beginner courses at every meet, though I suppose it's heresy to say so.
Course (Green course): part 1, part 2
My route: part 1, part 2
I managed to get somewhat re-hydrated by the time I started, and legs were surprisingly not at all sore, but I think I must have been a little weary, which translated means slow, as I was way behind Becky. Though part of that was due to a couple of bad controls, and part to taking a while to get going physically. But I surprised myself by running quite a bit. Also crashing quite a bit, must have had half a dozen hard landings, plus a few other more gentle falls, there goes another minute or more right there.
But glad I went, haven't been in the SE section of the map for a long long time (maybe not since the 1985 Billygoat?). And there are some beautiful woods there.
Thanks to Jim and Rich for doing this, a local meet with no White or Yellow course (that's a rarity, I think), so could park a different place. I often wondered about the need to offer beginner courses at every meet, though I suppose it's heresy to say so.
Course (Green course): part 1, part 2
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
My route: part 1, part 2
QR.jpg){kind=link}
QR.jpg){kind=link}
orienteering 40:00 [1] 1.55 mi (25:49 / mi) +151ft 23:38 / mi
ahr:89 max:109 shoes: pegasus
Picking up a few controls, all at a walk. Feeling quite tired and a little queasy.
Fortunately was followed pretty quickly by a food stop in town.
Nice outing, carpooled with Ali so entertained the whole time.
Easy day tomorrow, then the 5K Tuesday in Northampton, will see if I can stay within a minute of Alex, unlikely, and impossible if she wears her headcam. And there will be a visiting dignitary, Carl Fey.
And then Wednesday evening is the debut for Phil's new sprint map on the outskirts of Northampton. Anyone else interested?
My route.
620/1000
Fortunately was followed pretty quickly by a food stop in town.
Nice outing, carpooled with Ali so entertained the whole time.
Easy day tomorrow, then the 5K Tuesday in Northampton, will see if I can stay within a minute of Alex, unlikely, and impossible if she wears her headcam. And there will be a visiting dignitary, Carl Fey.
And then Wednesday evening is the debut for Phil's new sprint map on the outskirts of Northampton. Anyone else interested?
My route.
QR.jpg){kind=link}
620/1000
Saturday May 7, 2011 #
Event: Wapack & back Trail Race
8 AM
trail running 4:52:00 20.53 mi (14:13 / mi) +4623ft 11:43 / mi
ahr:137 max:151 weight:134.5lbs shoes: pegasus
Wapack end-to-end trail race. Suffered a bit.
Legs were pretty good, had some energy. No cramping, no soreness. No blisters. Only two falls, neither a bad one. But in retrospect I was badly dehydrated, and my GI system started complaining when I wasn't much more than half done. Couldn't decide for a while which end things might want to get out, or perhaps both. Finally had a pit stop in the woods with about an hour to go, helped a little, but I'm still feeling queesy four hours after finishing.
And the dehydration? Started at about 135 pounds I'd guess. Finished at 126-127. That's not good. I should have known better. It was a warmish day and I wasn't drinking much. Live and learn.
Time was OK, I'd figured I should be something under five hours, and I was, but given how I was moving the last hour or two, 20 minutes or more faster was certainly possible. Oh well.
Distance and climb -- who knows? The course had been wheeled some time ago, 21.5 miles, and since then there had been one change that I think added some distance (anywhere from a quarter to a half a mile), and the 305 says 20.5. Something is bogus.
Course was nice enough, but very very rocky in some places, especially on some downhills. There was a concurrent 50-miler going on, out and back plus an extra seven miles, looked like the winning time was going to be over ten hours, which is really slow. It's not a fast course.
Legs were pretty good, had some energy. No cramping, no soreness. No blisters. Only two falls, neither a bad one. But in retrospect I was badly dehydrated, and my GI system started complaining when I wasn't much more than half done. Couldn't decide for a while which end things might want to get out, or perhaps both. Finally had a pit stop in the woods with about an hour to go, helped a little, but I'm still feeling queesy four hours after finishing.
And the dehydration? Started at about 135 pounds I'd guess. Finished at 126-127. That's not good. I should have known better. It was a warmish day and I wasn't drinking much. Live and learn.
Time was OK, I'd figured I should be something under five hours, and I was, but given how I was moving the last hour or two, 20 minutes or more faster was certainly possible. Oh well.
Distance and climb -- who knows? The course had been wheeled some time ago, 21.5 miles, and since then there had been one change that I think added some distance (anywhere from a quarter to a half a mile), and the 305 says 20.5. Something is bogus.
Course was nice enough, but very very rocky in some places, especially on some downhills. There was a concurrent 50-miler going on, out and back plus an extra seven miles, looked like the winning time was going to be over ten hours, which is really slow. It's not a fast course.
Friday May 6, 2011 #
10 AM
trail running 30:26 2.81 mi (10:51 / mi) +177ft 10:14 / mi
ahr:125 max:141 rhr:52 weight:134.5lbs shoes: pegasus
Short and easy run on the upper part of Earl's trails. Discovered one short section I hadn't seen before, linking them to section on the south side of the O' map.
FA interview with Jams Levine, conductor at the Met. A good example of how an interview of something I know nothing about can be fascinating. The one exception (and the proof of my lack of awareness) -- a discussion of some particular chord and then some particular note, and then after the playing of the piece I had no clue as to what part of it they were referring to.
Still, another interview that I could have gladly listened to a lot longer.
Trail race tomorrow, lots of hills. I think under 5 hours is a reasonable goal.
FA interview with Jams Levine, conductor at the Met. A good example of how an interview of something I know nothing about can be fascinating. The one exception (and the proof of my lack of awareness) -- a discussion of some particular chord and then some particular note, and then after the playing of the piece I had no clue as to what part of it they were referring to.
Still, another interview that I could have gladly listened to a lot longer.
Trail race tomorrow, lots of hills. I think under 5 hours is a reasonable goal.
Thursday May 5, 2011 #
3 PM
trail running 40:54 3.98 mi (10:16 / mi) +600ft 8:59 / mi
ahr:132 max:152 rhr:49 weight:134.5lbs shoes: pegasus
Short outing at Northfield Mountain. I was thinking of doing the whole outer loop, but my legs were tired and that seemed like a pretty stupid idea. Still got a bit of uphill anyway.
Plus a round of golf, just my third of the year. Need to get out more often than once every week or so, not that it would make my game any better, just that otherwise the season will be over and I won't have played much.
Entertainment (while running, not playing golf, though maybe I should try the latter too) was This American Life about proms. Not a part of my upbringing.
Plus a round of golf, just my third of the year. Need to get out more often than once every week or so, not that it would make my game any better, just that otherwise the season will be over and I won't have played much.
Entertainment (while running, not playing golf, though maybe I should try the latter too) was This American Life about proms. Not a part of my upbringing.
Wednesday May 4, 2011 #
Note
Signed up for the Shamrock Oringen, will be first time orienteering in Ireland. :-)
Just a short trip, a week, but may have to take the clubs along too.
Just a short trip, a week, but may have to take the clubs along too.
10 AM
trail running 49:47 5.35 mi (9:19 / mi) +322ft 8:49 / mi
ahr:137 max:155 rhr:52 weight:133.5lbs shoes: pegasus
Mill River to Juggler Meadow and back, a little faster the last few minutes. Mid-50s, raining, the kind of day I normally have trouble getting out the door, but somehow it happened pretty easily. And the running conditions were quite pleasant. Perhaps I need to change my attitude about running in the rain.
The next couple of days will be easy, then a trail race (21.5 miles, 6,000' climb) on Saturday, then O' at Five Ponds on Sunday. The last one may be at a very slow pace.
The next couple of days will be easy, then a trail race (21.5 miles, 6,000' climb) on Saturday, then O' at Five Ponds on Sunday. The last one may be at a very slow pace.
Tuesday May 3, 2011 #
Note
Also the weekly update for L&F --
Starting weight: 144 (mid-December)
Jan. 1: 142
Jan. 8: 139
Jan. 15: 137
Jan. 22: 136
Jan. 29: 136.5
Feb 5: 136
Feb 12: 134
Feb. 19: 134
Feb. 26: 133
March 5: 133
March 12: 132.5
March 19: 133
March 26: 134
April 2: 135
April 9: 135
April 16: 131.5
April 23: 132.5
April 30: 132.5
Mood: L&F isn't over, just late with this week's numbers. Nice to see that it's been useful to a few others besides myself. And, as far as I know, no impressionable young women were harmed in the process.
I need to keep at it for another month and a half (Mt Washington). Though this week so far would indicate that I am not keeping at it very seriously.
Starting weight: 144 (mid-December)
Jan. 1: 142
Jan. 8: 139
Jan. 15: 137
Jan. 22: 136
Jan. 29: 136.5
Feb 5: 136
Feb 12: 134
Feb. 19: 134
Feb. 26: 133
March 5: 133
March 12: 132.5
March 19: 133
March 26: 134
April 2: 135
April 9: 135
April 16: 131.5
April 23: 132.5
April 30: 132.5
Mood: L&F isn't over, just late with this week's numbers. Nice to see that it's been useful to a few others besides myself. And, as far as I know, no impressionable young women were harmed in the process.
I need to keep at it for another month and a half (Mt Washington). Though this week so far would indicate that I am not keeping at it very seriously.
12 PM
trail running 1:10:11 5.83 mi (12:02 / mi) +1375ft 9:50 / mi
ahr:140 max:160 rhr:51 weight:134lbs shoes: pegasus
From the Notch out to the end of the roller-coaster and back. Most of route, went another few hundred meters east beyond where the o" map covers. Quite a few hills.
Last did this in 2006, a couple of times then, both in 66 minutes, so the deterioration continues.... :-)
A few sore places from yesterday's fall, but they disappeared as soon as I got going.
Two interesting Fresh Air interviews, the first about Obama's foreign policy, the guy wrote an article in the current New Yorker which I happen to be reading, the second about Bernie Madoff. In both cases nice to get a little exercise and learn a little something at the same time.
I also got what has become a more often event than I would wish, namely confirmation that blind faith in the accuracy of the 305 is not a good thing. 3.09 miles out, 2.74 miles back along exactly the same route. That's a non-trivial difference.
Does it matter which wrist the watch is on (and therefore which way the watch is facing, and therefore how well it picks up the satellites)? If I look at the track, it seems that there is up to 50 meters of difference between the out and the back. That seems like a lot. Is is worse because for the western half of the run I was mostly on a north slope?
I certainly can't imagine using the GPS track for any accurate mapping.
-------------
Control count --
Was 560 prior to last weekend. Add 14 and 14 and 12. So now an even 600 out of 1000.
.jpg){kind=link}
Last did this in 2006, a couple of times then, both in 66 minutes, so the deterioration continues.... :-)
A few sore places from yesterday's fall, but they disappeared as soon as I got going.
Two interesting Fresh Air interviews, the first about Obama's foreign policy, the guy wrote an article in the current New Yorker which I happen to be reading, the second about Bernie Madoff. In both cases nice to get a little exercise and learn a little something at the same time.
I also got what has become a more often event than I would wish, namely confirmation that blind faith in the accuracy of the 305 is not a good thing. 3.09 miles out, 2.74 miles back along exactly the same route. That's a non-trivial difference.
Does it matter which wrist the watch is on (and therefore which way the watch is facing, and therefore how well it picks up the satellites)? If I look at the track, it seems that there is up to 50 meters of difference between the out and the back. That seems like a lot. Is is worse because for the western half of the run I was mostly on a north slope?
I certainly can't imagine using the GPS track for any accurate mapping.
-------------
Control count --
Was 560 prior to last weekend. Add 14 and 14 and 12. So now an even 600 out of 1000.
Monday May 2, 2011 #
Note
Last of the maps from the weekend --
My route from Saturday morning's middle.
And my route from the afternoon sprint. Not sure I should publish this one. After I took a careful look at the map when I finished, I figured I had gone out of bounds four times, once blatantly, three times maybe yes, maybe no. GPS confirms that.
I had in my mind that the OOB areas were ones where RV's were parked, so I gave those wide berth. The others, well, It just didn't occur to me at the time. I was having enough trouble trying to keep up with the map reading, and the OOB slashes made it hard to see what was underneath them, and of course there were no markings in the terrain. Whatever, if they want to retroactively DQ me, so be it.
Though I don't think we were following the Canadian rule that you are supposed to turn yourself in -- if you haven't already left, and if you heard the announcement, and if you actually knew where you were out there....
Whatever. Main lesson from the run ought to be that my map reading under stress was way too sloppy. Got to be more precise.
And finally, not that it made the slightest difference, but did anyone else notice the finish (the double circle) was mismapped both morning and afternoon? Both showed the finish chutes too long -- look where my GPS tracks stop. I wish I could run 120 meters slightly uphill and stop and punch all in 22 seconds (as I supposedly did for the middle), or 45 meters and stop and punch in 12 seconds (in the sprint), but those days are long gone.... :-)
My route from Saturday morning's middle.
QR.jpg){kind=link}
And my route from the afternoon sprint. Not sure I should publish this one. After I took a careful look at the map when I finished, I figured I had gone out of bounds four times, once blatantly, three times maybe yes, maybe no. GPS confirms that.
QR.jpg){kind=link}
I had in my mind that the OOB areas were ones where RV's were parked, so I gave those wide berth. The others, well, It just didn't occur to me at the time. I was having enough trouble trying to keep up with the map reading, and the OOB slashes made it hard to see what was underneath them, and of course there were no markings in the terrain. Whatever, if they want to retroactively DQ me, so be it.
Though I don't think we were following the Canadian rule that you are supposed to turn yourself in -- if you haven't already left, and if you heard the announcement, and if you actually knew where you were out there....
Whatever. Main lesson from the run ought to be that my map reading under stress was way too sloppy. Got to be more precise.
And finally, not that it made the slightest difference, but did anyone else notice the finish (the double circle) was mismapped both morning and afternoon? Both showed the finish chutes too long -- look where my GPS tracks stop. I wish I could run 120 meters slightly uphill and stop and punch all in 22 seconds (as I supposedly did for the middle), or 45 meters and stop and punch in 12 seconds (in the sprint), but those days are long gone.... :-)
C • Honesty 13
Note
Just because we had left West Point yesterday in early afternoon didn't mean that our orienteering was done for the day.
We were heading for my mom's in Litchfield (CT), and there was no rush to get there, and it was a nice day, so I planned to take a few back roads I'd never been on. Lacking any road maps, I spent a few minutes in the morning looking at Google Maps, picking out a route, and doing my best to commit it to memory.
Here is what the planned route was. Get off I-84 at the exit for 311, take it to 22, a short bit north on 22, right on Quaker Hill Rd., to 37, to 7, cross the Housatonic, and then back streets on the north side of New Milford to miss the usual traffic snarls on the south side of town. I did my best to commit it to memory. Supposed to be 41 minutes, not quite 20 miles, just about as fast as going around via 84 and 7.
Here is what we did. 71 minutes, 33 miles. In the process I --
-- slept right through the exit for 311.
-- got off at the next exit, happened to be route 312, maybe Google just had it wrong?
-- got over to 22 as planned, a quick jog north, the next right, looking good but the street name was wrong.
-- still trying to head generally northeast, eventually came out on a bigger road, but no signs indicating it's name.
-- gut feeling, turned right on it, not a good move.
-- Eventually got to some civilization, a road sign that said we were on the desired road (37), and a gas station. Went in to ask.
-- Clerk said they had no maps of any kind, and she had no idea where any roads went.
-- Another customer started giving me a lengthy set of instructions, starting with head back the way we'd just come on 37, and then going on and on, only confirming how different our minds work.
-- And we did the rest of the route perfectly (I really did remember a bunch of turns correctly).
Orienteering lesson I took away from this.
1. Having a map is a good thing.
2. Looking at a map, assuming you have one, is a good thing too. I've never been a great fan of map memory exercises or map memory courses. That stuff can get you into trouble. Just learn to read the map a lot better, and a lot faster.
3. And don't daydream, which is what got me into trouble in the first place.
We were heading for my mom's in Litchfield (CT), and there was no rush to get there, and it was a nice day, so I planned to take a few back roads I'd never been on. Lacking any road maps, I spent a few minutes in the morning looking at Google Maps, picking out a route, and doing my best to commit it to memory.
Here is what the planned route was. Get off I-84 at the exit for 311, take it to 22, a short bit north on 22, right on Quaker Hill Rd., to 37, to 7, cross the Housatonic, and then back streets on the north side of New Milford to miss the usual traffic snarls on the south side of town. I did my best to commit it to memory. Supposed to be 41 minutes, not quite 20 miles, just about as fast as going around via 84 and 7.
Here is what we did. 71 minutes, 33 miles. In the process I --
-- slept right through the exit for 311.
-- got off at the next exit, happened to be route 312, maybe Google just had it wrong?
-- got over to 22 as planned, a quick jog north, the next right, looking good but the street name was wrong.
-- still trying to head generally northeast, eventually came out on a bigger road, but no signs indicating it's name.
-- gut feeling, turned right on it, not a good move.
-- Eventually got to some civilization, a road sign that said we were on the desired road (37), and a gas station. Went in to ask.
-- Clerk said they had no maps of any kind, and she had no idea where any roads went.
-- Another customer started giving me a lengthy set of instructions, starting with head back the way we'd just come on 37, and then going on and on, only confirming how different our minds work.
-- And we did the rest of the route perfectly (I really did remember a bunch of turns correctly).
Orienteering lesson I took away from this.
1. Having a map is a good thing.
2. Looking at a map, assuming you have one, is a good thing too. I've never been a great fan of map memory exercises or map memory courses. That stuff can get you into trouble. Just learn to read the map a lot better, and a lot faster.
3. And don't daydream, which is what got me into trouble in the first place.
5 PM
trail running 8:44 0.84 mi (10:27 / mi) +75ft 9:38 / mi
ahr:116 max:126 shoes: pegasus
A little warm-up.
road running 27:09 2.12 mi (12:48 / mi) +1037ft 8:45 / mi
ahr:142 max:157 shoes: pegasus
Twice up and down South Sugarloaf, up the road, down the trail.
It seems I am just as uncoordinated as ever. Second time coming down, and it is a fairly steep trail though not very rocky, I nicked a rock or root with one foot and went sprawling forwards, first continuing down the trail (which was angling diagonally down), then off the edge and down the slope. Fortunately I got stopped pretty quickly by a fairly small tree -- the slope was steep enough that I would have gone quite a ways (though not off any cliffs).
The usual cosmetic damage, this time re-opening the wounds on my left hand from yesterday, plus a few assorted other scrapes, plus a right quad that feels like it hit something, but I don't think anything serious.
What with stopping and then climbing back up to the trail, it did mean my descent, which had been proceeding quite quickly, was a bit slower than the first time.
Obviously I shouldn't be doing this stuff. But I'm going to be like my mom soon enough, better enjoy things while I can.
Splits: 9:58 up, 3:31 down, 9:55 up, 3:43 down. Vertical is about 450 feet.
It seems I am just as uncoordinated as ever. Second time coming down, and it is a fairly steep trail though not very rocky, I nicked a rock or root with one foot and went sprawling forwards, first continuing down the trail (which was angling diagonally down), then off the edge and down the slope. Fortunately I got stopped pretty quickly by a fairly small tree -- the slope was steep enough that I would have gone quite a ways (though not off any cliffs).
The usual cosmetic damage, this time re-opening the wounds on my left hand from yesterday, plus a few assorted other scrapes, plus a right quad that feels like it hit something, but I don't think anything serious.
What with stopping and then climbing back up to the trail, it did mean my descent, which had been proceeding quite quickly, was a bit slower than the first time.
Obviously I shouldn't be doing this stuff. But I'm going to be like my mom soon enough, better enjoy things while I can.
Splits: 9:58 up, 3:31 down, 9:55 up, 3:43 down. Vertical is about 450 feet.
Sunday May 1, 2011 #
Note
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8 AM
trail running 5:00 [3] 0.4 mi (12:30 / mi)
shoes: pegasus
Warm-up, some on and off jogging on the way up to the start.
9 AM
orienteering 55:21 3.99 mi (13:52 / mi) +833ft 11:35 / mi
ahr:146 max:155 shoes: pegasus
Day 2 at West Point.
I think I'll start out by saying that it's been another first-class operation by the West Point cadets. Good organization in all aspects, and good courses for the orienteering. They've moved up a lot in quality over the last half dozen or so years, with large credit due to Jon and Torie Campbell (the previous officers in charge) and Mike Hendricks, the current OIC. And I talked to a number of the cadets, mainly just to compliment them, and they are an impressive group. Good for them.
Today was longer courses, not really so long for the old folks but it seemed just right. The GreenY course (5.9 km straight-line, 190 meters climb advertised) I ran (M60) was excellent, several nice choices, controls on appropriate features placed appropriately, nice variety. And the woods were nicer than yesterday, none of the deadfall from the ice storm. A very fun course.
My own orienteering was pretty decent. Not much in the way of mistakes, the biggest time loss was two faceplants on the downhill to the last control, one removed some skin and flesh from my left palm, the next some skin and flesh from my right palm. Both accompanied by some cussing. But I found all the controls right about where I was heading, and the legs had some life in them, so a good day.
Today's course.
My route.
I think I'll start out by saying that it's been another first-class operation by the West Point cadets. Good organization in all aspects, and good courses for the orienteering. They've moved up a lot in quality over the last half dozen or so years, with large credit due to Jon and Torie Campbell (the previous officers in charge) and Mike Hendricks, the current OIC. And I talked to a number of the cadets, mainly just to compliment them, and they are an impressive group. Good for them.
Today was longer courses, not really so long for the old folks but it seemed just right. The GreenY course (5.9 km straight-line, 190 meters climb advertised) I ran (M60) was excellent, several nice choices, controls on appropriate features placed appropriately, nice variety. And the woods were nicer than yesterday, none of the deadfall from the ice storm. A very fun course.
My own orienteering was pretty decent. Not much in the way of mistakes, the biggest time loss was two faceplants on the downhill to the last control, one removed some skin and flesh from my left palm, the next some skin and flesh from my right palm. Both accompanied by some cussing. But I found all the controls right about where I was heading, and the legs had some life in them, so a good day.
Today's course.
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My route.
QR.jpg){kind=link}