Training Log Archive: PG

Late, just before closing, so the manager isn't there and I can't investigate the actual value of a "Nautilus pound."

C • 1 UK Pound = $1.96 USD 1

Event: 30th Annual Billygoat Run
 

The Billygoat.

Low expectations. I'd been to Clear Lake (on the south side of Fahnstock SP) I think once before, and vague memories were that it wasn?t so much fun, the Northeast trifecta -- hilly, rocky, mountain laurel. And it overlaps the south part of the Bushy Ridge part of Fahnstock, also not one of my favorite areas. So low expectations, also low enthusiasm. And maybe a bit deflated after our visit chez DeWeese (and the DeWeese gym), though also still laughing about it of course.

As it turned out, I got around the course ok, no mistakes at the controls, decent routes I think, a decent skip I think, just absolutely no energy. Well, maybe I had a little energy when it was gently downhill on a smooth trail, but other than that it was pretty sad.

But let's focus on the good stuff --

I feel great!

The knee was getting a little worrisome in the last hour, but it never got bad, and afterwards it felt just a little sore. One blister, second toe, it will take care of itself with the aid of a little duct tape. Not too many scratches, not too many barbarry thorns in the knees, no ticks spotted yet, no sunburn, no corneal abrasions. Basically just fine.

Routes are posted, most of map, northeast part. Following the crowd to 1 and 2. Leaving 2 everyone in sight was heading down the hill to take the route to the right to 3, but I'd already decided to go left. It was a bit lonely heading off, everyone else going another way, took a bit of nerve, though I did drag Jim Eagleton with me and we were moving at about the same pace. Still lonely all the way there, passed one walker, asked if he had seen any other runners, 3 or 4 he said. Along the way I decided that none of the skips on the final loop looked that good, certainly not as good as skipping up north, though I wasn't sure which was better between skipping 4, 5, or 6.

Got up to 3, saw some folks that seemed to be about who I should be with, so I guess the routes were about equal. Jim was maybe 50 yards ahead, and he turned right, skipping 4, and I decided to do the same, though within 100 yards I was already regretting it, thinking it was a dumb move. But I was committed. And Jeff Saeger was coming the same way too.

Had company from Jeff most of the rest of the way, sometimes he was a ways ahead, sometimes I was, also company from from Jim until he disappeared (behind me) after 17, and from Mike Bishop for a while until he skipped 19 and finished ahead. After a while we'd been out an hour, then 2 hours, then finally done. And a nice surprise when comparing splits with a few folks afterwards, it seemed skipping 4 was a first-class skip, definitely better than 18 or 19. Sometimes you get lucky.

A fine BG, thought not short and not easy. That's not saying it was too long, but it might have been pushing the limit a little, especially if it had been a warm day. But orienteering is a sport that is supposed to offer a sense of adventure, and it seems a little foolish to put too much emphasis on getting a course length or winning time to match some perceived standard. Just set a decent course, get the controls in the right place, and let us have at it. And if sometimes a course gets the better of us, well, that?s not such an awful thing.

C • Was going around west of Sp... 2

Got home thanks to a ride from Phil, the snowpile is shrinking but still about 4 feet high. Launched a snowball at his departing car, fortunately missed by inches putting it right through his open window, which would have been very anti-social!

C • I agree that 4 was the best... 10

The Goat - Splits

So what's the deal? We head down to the DeWeese estate for for pre-Billygoat feed courtesy of the gorgeous Ms Rhonda, in preparation for which there is a visit to the estate's gym for a testosterone test. Load up the bench press bar, a real one this time, not the Nautilus version, whoa, even a light weight feels heavy, a Gail is hard, the G is done once without much of a margin, and forget about anything more.

So what gives? Is the gravitation field stronger here than in Greenfield? Does Charlie have a set of weights that are mislabeled that he brings out for guests? Or is Nautilus a totally fraudulent outfit practicing severe weight inflation?

I had thought I was doing well.

On the other hand, out in a real world situation, back in OCIN-land last weekend, I was taking advantage of my superior upper body strength to pull myself rapidly out of the deep gullies, while BP (bogus philosopher) was hanging on for dear life.

So things could be worse.

C • bench press 2

C • I know my advice is not alw... 9

Just a short trip up on the ridge, not a hard pace though it seems I'm breathing hard every time I go up hill.

No great expectations for the Billygoat other than to hopefully get around the course without physical or mental disaster. But at least the legs are slowly doing better.

Included one failed attempt at 14 stone and 4, plus 2 cubed Georges.

On the ridge, to Sachem Head and back, just a trivial amount of ice left. Working hard, legs not totally dead.

Tried to talk JJ into joining me, but he had a hang glider on top of his car and dreams of a different sort of exercise.

Getting some real nuts in the office, it's that time of year. Almost done....

C • real nuts 1

A lap around the golf course, all I had energy for.

Included a Valerie and 8 Georges.

C • Easier 3

13 hills loop in Greenfield. Beautiful day, snow/ice almost all gone (almost all gone from the golf course too, though at home the pile at the end of the driveway is still about 8' high). Hard work lugging the extra bags of sugar up the hills, but progress is progress.

Scared up a barred owl.

Got my ticket to Stockholm for the Tiomila, same plane as Ross, Brendan, and Ken Sr. Get to visit Iceland twice, first time ever.

C • Iceland 11