Training Log Archive: PGIn the 7 days ending Jan 4, 2015: |
| « | » |
| » now | ||||||||||
| Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | |||||||
Tuesday Dec 30, 2014 #
Note
It's usually interesting to look back at the end of a year and think about what was done, and what was not done. And also, what one might hope to do in the coming year.
I look back on 2014 with a sense of pleasure. With regard to orienteering, the year was perhaps unusual in that really only one event mattered, from the point of view of having hopes, and even that was felt to be a very faint hope. The event being the O'Ringen, the hope being to win a day.
It's nothing that I had reason to expect, but very much in my mind was that it was now or never. I was in my first year in M70, that matters. Though probably more important was where the event was, in southern Sweden. Different forests than what the rest of Sweden offers, both in the lack of low vegetation and the relatively firm running surface. Both suit me. For once I felt that I could almost keep up.
And if I'd had to pick a day, it would have been the day in the sand dunes, because I can do that stuff. But the odds were still, what, 1 in 10? 1 in 50? Or worse?
And then it all works out, you have a good run and you get very lucky too, others miss. Unreal.
-------------
Goals are funny things. I've found that while it's very good to have them, it's usually the effort that matters more than the result. One of my fondest memories is a serious attempt at breaking 5 minutes for the mile when I was 45, best until then was about 5:15. Got down to 5:02, and then 5:01, and that was it. But rather than being bummed, it was immensely satisfying because I had made a serious effort.
Of course it's nice to reach the goals too, though sometimes it happens in unexpected ways. Over almost 20 years I made an effort to break three hours for a marathon, had a 3:02 and a 3:01, figured it was not to be, then ran Boston at age 50 in 2:57. Where did that come from? Life is full of surprises.
And then this year at O'Ringen. Second the first couple of days, but a couple of minutes behind. I figured, again, it was not to be. But then, well, you never know.
Enjoy it while you can.
---------------------
Otherwise a good year in many ways:
-- Cataract surgery on both eyes, the result is just wonderful. At this point in life you expect all parts of your body (and your mind) to just keep getting worse, so for something to get significantly better is, well, unreal. I used to notice every single day how bad my eyesight was getting. Now I notice every single day how much better it is.
-- The journey taking care of my mom continues. I made a significant change in her care in September, got Lina to quit her job and, along with her family, take over 24-hour care. I laid off all the contract aides, not pleasant but I tried to do it the right way (severance pay, unemployment available, good references, don't burn any bridges). Mom is clearly happier and doing better.
-- I retired from the tax world as of, well, today. I spent a couple of hours at the office yesterday, organizing files, cleaning up loose ends, and all the vibes were that I was making the right decision. Time to move on (though to what, I'm not sure). I will miss the ladies there, always took wonderful care of me, but then I think I have the best of the bargain, can always stop by and chat without having to do any work.
-- My orienteering was certainly good this year, though I competed mostly in M70 so it's hard to know for sure. Right now I'm in a down period, not training, trying to let things heal, so I'm not sure what lies ahead. At some point orienteering will fade away. It has threatened to do that a few times in the past. Perhaps this time it will be for real? Or perhaps not. i certainly hope it's the latter.
-- I feel less of an obligation to do things, like organizing O' events. A long time ago, early 80s, I was meet director for an A meet at Silvermine, it was a fundraiser for the senior team. I think we made about $2,000. My thoughts afterwards were that it would have been so much easier to earn the money elsewhere and just write a check.
That feeling certainly exists now, especially as I see more and more of the bitching that goes on. I love AP, but these days it is mainly for the space it gives me to keep what is in effect a diary (not just a training log). The other discussions are too often dominated by unpleasant people and I just stay away.
But writing a check is still a good thing to do -- you can't take it with you -- so it's a matter of figuring out what is worth supporting. My general theory these days is to find young people doing good things, give them some help, and then enjoy seeing what they can do. Seems like the best investment I can make.
-- I played a fair bit of golf late in the year. I'm enjoying it more and more. I'm sure it helps psychologically that, unlike my running/orienteering, I am playing as well as ever. That will not last, of course, but while it does, there is great pleasure in, as the saying goes, just hitting the ball and going to find it. And with my new eyes, the latter has gotten a lot easier.
-------------
As far any goals relating to sports for this coming year, or forever, I can't really think of any related to O'. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
The one sports goal that is out there, and I'm pretty sure it is out of reach, is to shoot my age on a proper course, tees in the 6,000-6,400 range (the back tees make it just too hard). This year the gap was 8, I think that's as low as it's ever been. Getting as close as 5 should be doable, anything closer than that would take all the stars being aligned right, plus a lot of luck, plus probably steadier nerves than I have, especially on the last hole or two if I knew there was a chance.
Regardless, it is the effort that counts. Though who knows how long the body will be willing and able.
I look back on 2014 with a sense of pleasure. With regard to orienteering, the year was perhaps unusual in that really only one event mattered, from the point of view of having hopes, and even that was felt to be a very faint hope. The event being the O'Ringen, the hope being to win a day.
It's nothing that I had reason to expect, but very much in my mind was that it was now or never. I was in my first year in M70, that matters. Though probably more important was where the event was, in southern Sweden. Different forests than what the rest of Sweden offers, both in the lack of low vegetation and the relatively firm running surface. Both suit me. For once I felt that I could almost keep up.
And if I'd had to pick a day, it would have been the day in the sand dunes, because I can do that stuff. But the odds were still, what, 1 in 10? 1 in 50? Or worse?
And then it all works out, you have a good run and you get very lucky too, others miss. Unreal.
-------------
Goals are funny things. I've found that while it's very good to have them, it's usually the effort that matters more than the result. One of my fondest memories is a serious attempt at breaking 5 minutes for the mile when I was 45, best until then was about 5:15. Got down to 5:02, and then 5:01, and that was it. But rather than being bummed, it was immensely satisfying because I had made a serious effort.
Of course it's nice to reach the goals too, though sometimes it happens in unexpected ways. Over almost 20 years I made an effort to break three hours for a marathon, had a 3:02 and a 3:01, figured it was not to be, then ran Boston at age 50 in 2:57. Where did that come from? Life is full of surprises.
And then this year at O'Ringen. Second the first couple of days, but a couple of minutes behind. I figured, again, it was not to be. But then, well, you never know.
Enjoy it while you can.
---------------------
Otherwise a good year in many ways:
-- Cataract surgery on both eyes, the result is just wonderful. At this point in life you expect all parts of your body (and your mind) to just keep getting worse, so for something to get significantly better is, well, unreal. I used to notice every single day how bad my eyesight was getting. Now I notice every single day how much better it is.
-- The journey taking care of my mom continues. I made a significant change in her care in September, got Lina to quit her job and, along with her family, take over 24-hour care. I laid off all the contract aides, not pleasant but I tried to do it the right way (severance pay, unemployment available, good references, don't burn any bridges). Mom is clearly happier and doing better.
-- I retired from the tax world as of, well, today. I spent a couple of hours at the office yesterday, organizing files, cleaning up loose ends, and all the vibes were that I was making the right decision. Time to move on (though to what, I'm not sure). I will miss the ladies there, always took wonderful care of me, but then I think I have the best of the bargain, can always stop by and chat without having to do any work.
-- My orienteering was certainly good this year, though I competed mostly in M70 so it's hard to know for sure. Right now I'm in a down period, not training, trying to let things heal, so I'm not sure what lies ahead. At some point orienteering will fade away. It has threatened to do that a few times in the past. Perhaps this time it will be for real? Or perhaps not. i certainly hope it's the latter.
-- I feel less of an obligation to do things, like organizing O' events. A long time ago, early 80s, I was meet director for an A meet at Silvermine, it was a fundraiser for the senior team. I think we made about $2,000. My thoughts afterwards were that it would have been so much easier to earn the money elsewhere and just write a check.
That feeling certainly exists now, especially as I see more and more of the bitching that goes on. I love AP, but these days it is mainly for the space it gives me to keep what is in effect a diary (not just a training log). The other discussions are too often dominated by unpleasant people and I just stay away.
But writing a check is still a good thing to do -- you can't take it with you -- so it's a matter of figuring out what is worth supporting. My general theory these days is to find young people doing good things, give them some help, and then enjoy seeing what they can do. Seems like the best investment I can make.
-- I played a fair bit of golf late in the year. I'm enjoying it more and more. I'm sure it helps psychologically that, unlike my running/orienteering, I am playing as well as ever. That will not last, of course, but while it does, there is great pleasure in, as the saying goes, just hitting the ball and going to find it. And with my new eyes, the latter has gotten a lot easier.
-------------
As far any goals relating to sports for this coming year, or forever, I can't really think of any related to O'. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
The one sports goal that is out there, and I'm pretty sure it is out of reach, is to shoot my age on a proper course, tees in the 6,000-6,400 range (the back tees make it just too hard). This year the gap was 8, I think that's as low as it's ever been. Getting as close as 5 should be doable, anything closer than that would take all the stars being aligned right, plus a lot of luck, plus probably steadier nerves than I have, especially on the last hole or two if I knew there was a chance.
Regardless, it is the effort that counts. Though who knows how long the body will be willing and able.