Training Archive: jimaIn the 7 days ending 2008-02-16:
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| S | M | T | W | H | F | S | |||||||
Saturday Feb 16 | ||
| XC Ski 30:00 [3] 6 km (5:00 / km) | |
| shoes: White/Red/Black Fischer Skatin | ||
| Setting out the near controls for the ski-o, with my mind racing the whole time, trying to figure out what I'd forgotten.
Was very pleased to see that all the trails had been groomed including the one higherup on Cobble - otherwise the Blue course was going to have a tough climb and an exciting descent. Should have rousted myself up earlier and gotten there in time to ski to the southern part and check controls and trails, but too late to worry about that. | ||
| Note | |
| Was a bit disorganized - wasn't sure until the last minute how I was going to establish start order. Pushing to get things going just at 10:00.
Finally just made a list of all the entrants by course, and started putting start times next to names and calling them out. Screwed up a couple of folks - gave Candice Raines a red map instead of a green and then gave Bob Lux a green map instead of red. Bob didn't care one way or the other - he seemed perfectly happy with just doing the green distance. Candice was a little upset - wanted to compete in her age category. She'd also been thrown by the one short trail that hadn't been groomed and was roped off as closed at one end (the end she approached). She saw the roped off trail, thought "closed - not a trail" and kept going back and forth looking for the trail she was supposed to cut over on. Concerned about a couple of folks who were out longer than I was comfortable with, but they came back OK. Sprint went very well. Decided to have 1 minute start interval (for ease of calculating times), but to start racers in pairs to increase the sense of competition. Wish I could have been out in the center of things to see which way folks went. 2 second difference between first and second. Was feeling great about it as most of the folks were in and excitedly comparing routes and discussing relative choices right near the start / finish. Using the GNA clubhouse made things a lot easier. Not sure Andy had tolkd anyone else we were going to be there, although I'd also talked to Igor. A couple of folks were waxing and scraping inside - Nina was there and grabbed a broom and dustpan and was quickly cleaning up after them. Not sure if she was irritated or just a neat freak. Very grateful for help from Tim, Ben and Jon. Tim helped get stuff set up prior to the start, before he had to head off to work. Ben showed up shortly after and helped with start/finish, then brought Jon back after lunch to help with the sprint and clean up afterwards. | ||
| C • gunstock ski-o 1 | ||
| XC Ski 30:00 [2] 4 km (7:30 / km) | |
| shoes: White/Red/Black Fischer Skatin | ||
| Control pickup at the end of the day - a good feeling.
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Friday Feb 15 | ||
| Snowshoe 3:00:00 [3] 12 km (15:00 / km) | |
| shoes: Axis 930 Snowshoes | ||
| Stomping in trails and setting out the southern controls for Saturday's event. Had been out last weekend setting the same trails, but hte 8" of snow then rain had hidden most of my previous effort. Not sure if a couple of the cutovers I created will be used by anyone, but I convinced myself that it was a logical route for me to take while setting them.
Ran into a couple of maintenance guys with chainsaws while I was on the Knoll and Rock Loops. They were clearing out the numerous bowed over trees and fallen branches. Talked to them for a minute or so, probably thought I was nuts, as I approached from through the woods on one of my cutovers. Was pusing to get this done, as I still have to print maps for tomorrow, decide what to do about the map exchanges (really don't want to ski out to the southern tip of the map to put out the second maps for the Blue and Red courses). Did have the thought to just pass out both maps at the start, back to back. Folks are going to be more concerned about getting their maps into the holders and looking for the first control, than in studying the second map to see if there was an advantage to be gained by looking at it early. Other than knowing you'd see a control you would be coming back to later, I don't think it will make much difference. | ||
| XC Ski race 37:21 [4] 7 km (5:20 / km) | |
| shoes: White/Red/Black Fischer Skatin | ||
| Night ski-o at Weston. This was a hoot!
Mass start 3 map motala. Skimpy snow cover except the loop where they make snow. Had warmed up during the day, but was cooling down enough that it was hardening pretty fast. Slick, fast and fun for the most part. Scale (1:3500) threw me at first. Got the first control quickly, then over-shot the second one I was going for. Realized it when I was almost to the far end of the dogleg at the NE corner of the map. Since I had a control there, got it and was more careful on the way back. Don't think I lost too much time as was an out and back for that part of the first map. Northern most fairway had decent cover, except for the one large puddle that had frozen smooth and slick. One just south of it had a lot more bare spots, exposed paved cart tracks, etc. Got my ski stuck under the twine holding the covering on one of the snowmaking pipes as I went over it. Lost a few seconds having to back out if that. Got all the contorls - first for the M50s. | ||
| XC Ski warm up/down 25:00 [1] | |
| shoes: White/Red/Black Fischer Skatin | ||
| Warmup prior to the race. Making sure my headlamp would stay on.
Cool down afterwards - picked up a couple of control stands after helping Aims with scoring - a confusing effort, as many folks had punched several controls in inventive places. | ||
Tuesday Feb 12 | ||
| XC Ski (Skating) 41:00 [3] 8.6 km (4:46 / km) +190m 4:18 / km | |
| shoes: White/Red/Black Fischer Skatin | ||
| Evening ski at Gunstock.
Had my map holder with the Green course for this weekend in it - was goign to ski that to get a sense of the flow, after putting out a few stakes for some of the close in controls. However, my headlamp died about 50m after I started, must have been turned on in my bag. Just enough moonlight that I was able to ski, but couldn't do anything with the map. Did the whole time with the mapholder and headlamp, not that they were of any use to me. Good training in preparation for the Friday night ski-o - being comfortable with the extra stuff on my head and chest. It's a different feeling skiing with very limited light. Trails are groomed well enough that there's no problem skating smoothly. Downhills feel very fast, I feel every ripple in the trail. GPS says I topped out at 27 km/hr on one downhill, over 20 km/hr on a couple of others. Downhill slopes lit up for night skiing, some extra reflected light on that side of Cobble Mtn. Mentioned night skiing by headlamp to someone at a meeting yesterday evening (to the effect that I'd rather be skiing than at the meeting). He said, "of course, you don't do that alone, do you?" and seemed rather surprised that I do. My response was "I used to be young and foolish, I'm no longer quite so young." What's the worst thing that could happen to me - crash and burn and be lying there until (or if) the groomer comes by in the early morning? Sometimes carry my cellphone with me. There is a good signal on most of the trails, assumes I'd be able to call for help. Oh well, I have seen numerous critter tracks out there, at worst I'd be a nice evening snack. Critters gotta eat too... | ||
Sunday Feb 10 | ||
| XC Ski race (Ski-o Pre-run) 1:21:00 [4] 13.4 km (6:03 / km) +340m 5:22 / km | |
| shoes: White/Red/Black Fischer Skatin | ||
| Pre-racing the Blue course for next weekend's ski-o. Mostly took the right hand route, which wasn't always the best way to go. Generally satisfied with control placement and route choice options.
Another 3-4" of pretty wet snow. Had been groomed in many areas, but some trails untouched. Went across the marsh - not too bad. Was wet enough that I had some kick with skate skis. Could have a winning time of about an hour. Got a few strange looks, with the map holder. | ||