Training Log Archive: PG

Event: WCOC Wooster Mountain
 

WCOC meet at Wooster Mountain, aka Hemlock Hills. Red course.

Oh, I am getting quite feeble whenever trying to run uphill, or trying to walk uphill, or trying to run when it's rocky, or going down steep hills, or going across marshes.

But the rest of the time I ran pretty well. Hmm, maybe that's a bit of a stretch. But I did run some. :-)

And only botched one control, #2, maybe a minute. So overall not so bad, about what I am capable of these days. Thought with no mass start I might be able to hold my own against Ali, but not even close, she had me by 5 minutes.

Nice day. Company again from Gail and Ali on the way down and back, totally pleasant, plus some old friends down there, plus, doing my assigned homework, a chat with Eric Benson, friend of Ali's from Dartmouth days. She talked him into coming to the Blue Hills last weekend, first time he's been orienteering I think, he did the yellow and orange. And came back today for more! Green course today, I think he did pretty well, despite a botch or two, maybe just one big one. And then he and Ali did the orange course for training. He seems to be a real nice guy and a lawyer, apparently that combination actually is possible. Just needs to make sure he keeps his priorities straight and spends weekends in the woods instead of the office.

Nice production by the DeWitts, map by Rick, courses by Susie, thanks.

Since I'm giving a little thought to the Fair Hill marathon (or half-marathon), which is supposed to be long, obviously, but not difficult, mainly white/yellow difficulty, I thought I'd see if I could handle the white course. Managed OK, though not without having to walk up one hill and stumble some more on the rocks.

C • Fair Hill Marathon 6

Red course - Splits

In Forest Park in Springfield, a reasonable amount, maybe half, off trail. Very nice late afternoon, pretty much dark as I got back to the car.

Sure can tell I don't have any zip in the legs, but have to just keep at it. Midsummer when I was in good form seems eons ago. The challenge is to get back there by next midsummer.

Plus the usual long walk.

The route in Forest Park.

Stopped at the Holyoke reservoirs just as it was getting dark. Did the 5K course (25:51, about 8:20 pace), just to have a little reason to run a little faster, though the effort seemed harder than the time would indicate. But then I had a good effort last night, plus I am still walking my 5 miles or more every day.

Saw a Common Egret, first a distance ahead of me, I expected it would take off as I got closer, but it seemed quite mellow, I ran right by it about 5 yards away. Even my eyes could pick out the bright yellow bill and black legs. Surprised to see one this far north.

C • sick 3

Mt. Toby night group, doing the "truncated" loop (the full loop being 10+ miles). Three others -- Donna, a very good ultrarunner, always zipping off someplace to run 50 or 100 miles; Sarah, former bike racer, also good runner, second in the Vermont 50 Mile a month and a half ago, an hour and a half faster than me; and Rob, one of the best 50+ trail runners in New England. And then me, of course, totally outclassed, except I had by far the best light, which pretty much evened things out.

Nice evening, clear sky, about 30F. Nice run. Except Donna went splat about 15 minutes before the end, headfirst, reasonably hard landing. So we stood around for several minutes while she seemed like running was nolonger in the cards for that evening at least, and then all of a sudden we were off again, and running pretty quickly the rest of the way. Don't know what sort of psychological/emotional reaction was going on, just it seemed like at some point she realized that she was probably OK, that various races planned would not have to be canceled, and then, well, what are we standing around for, let's get going.

My legs and feet seemed to hold up OK. Would be nice if I could keep doing these runs.

Barely made it this morning, looked at my watch and it was 6:37 and class starts at 7:15 in Greenfield, 20 minutes away. But I was out the door in 20 minutes after getting dressed, breakfast, emptying the dishwasher and doing the dishes left over from yesterday, putting out the trash and recyclables. Moving very quickly....

Reminded me on the drive up, where I was also moving quickly, of a long time ago in Officer Candidate School, where acting quickly (and correctly) under stress was always being tested, often in inane ways.

Such as, your platoon, about 40 guys, would be standing in formation outside our barracks with a few minutes to kill before heading off to whatever was next on our schedule, and the order would be given, Everyone into their dress greens, move. And in 2 or 3 minutes we'd all be back standing in formation in our dress greens. And then of course the sergeant would say, What the hell are you doing out here in your dress greens? And 2 or 3 minutes later you'd be back in fatigues. And woe to the guy that was last.

You learned to do things awful fast, even with someone yelling at you.

There was a lot about that period of my life that really sucked, but it left me with some lessons that have helped any number of times. Even if for something as trivial as getting to class on time.

C • Roths 10

At Northfield Mountain, just getting dark. Feet a little sore, legs a little sore, neither one too bad, and both were better after 10 minutes or so oiling the joints. Not sure if the warm-up at Crumpin-Fox (a fabulous course) made things better or worse, but it sure was fun. I think the warm-up would have been more useful if I'd run right away, but after 15 minutes in the car to get over to Northfield things were quite stiff.

A bit more about the Traverse....

I was really surprised in a positive way by my run. Much less pain and suffering than expected. Partly because I walked up most hills, so there wasn't much heavy breathing. Partly also because when in the woods I made a serious effort to pick uncluttered micro-routes, and then thrash less while I was running. Result was fewer falls than usual and less wear and tear on the body.

Time for a semi-compliment -- congrats to Boris, but it seemed like the field was on the weak (or very weak) side. In an earlier lifetime I won the Traverse a couple of times and the field those times was equally weak (or even weaker?). But Ross was course setting and Clem was sprinting and Princess couldn't be bothered and who knows where Hillary was. But back to Boris, doesn't matter what the field was, the goal is to come in first, and he did, so well done.

And the shirt is really nice.

C • Where she was 10