Training Log Archive: pi

My right knee keeps bothering me, ever since that bike ride in April. Even though it doesn't affect my running, the slight pain keeps coming back when I run. I will take a longer break from running to see if I can get rid of it.

Photos from the Canadian selection races in Canmore: http://flickr.com/photos/magjoh/sets/7215760029257...

Selection race long. One of the toughest and most challenging courses I have ever run. The course started with some controls in detailed contour terrain in slightly green forest. Was slow to the 3rd, losing touch with the map, but got lucky and did not lose too much time. The long leg to 5 on a bland hillside required disciplined compass work. I got it ok, but many had problems here. On the trail to 6 the view to the mountains was amazing. Control 7 to 20 was in an extremely intricate area. I doubt if Gueorgiou could have done those cleanly... I took it very slowly, could not avoid a few problems, but nothing huge. However, after that I started to fade and lost concentration on 21 and 22, losing a few minutes. Then followed a gigantic leg with huge climb. Lots of walking, but hit the controls cleanly. Sadly, I had huge problems with control 28, the second last control. It was right next to two large trails, but something about the map made me always stop too soon and I was too tired to resolve it quickly.

Because everyone made lots of mistakes, I was actually in the lead a large part of the race. Even at control 27, a few minutes from the finish, I was in the lead, but that last mistake pushed me down to 4th.

C • Mt Laurie 2

Event: Moose Creek Splash (Canadian Team Trials West)
 

Warm-up.

Middle distance selection race. A good race for me. Was a little bit slow to 7, though I didn't really miss it. Hesitated on 15 just above the steep slope. For some reason could not spot the flag. Ran down the hill right next to it, still without seeing it and had to climb up 5 meters to punch it. Lost 45 seconds. Also lost 20 seconds running to the finish before the last control... 4th after Mike, Wil and Brent.

Selection race sprint. Like almost everyone, had problems with the first control. Had problems matching the map to the terrain around the re-entrant where the control was. Was steeper in reality to how I saw it on the map. Lost 45 seconds. After that it went well until 14, close to the finish, a single tree on a slope. Again, I couldn't match the steepness of the slope to what I saw on the map. Looked like a continuous slope on the map, but in reality there was a steep bank. Anyway, the flag was visible and I should have spotted the flag easily. Same issue as on 15 in the middle. I need to scan the terrain better. I was 4th at the 12th control, but dropped to 9th in a tight field.

Warm-up.

Sprint #1 at Dew Drop. Again, an old map with weak contours, but a great area for sprint actually. Lots of small hills and rock features. I had 3 smaller mistakes that probably added up to about 45 seconds.

Sprint #2. Much easier than the first and ran hard all the way with no mistakes.

Photos from the Sage Stomp weekend here!

Event: Sage - 6 Hr. Rogaine
 

Warm-up.

Test run of the M21E middle distance course I have planned for the Western Canadian Champs. New expanded area at Garden Creek. I had never been to the area before and ran the course as a race. Great area with nice forest. Made some mistakes, but don't think I could have done it in less than 40. Will shorten the course a bit.

Checking control sites and hanging ribbons together with Alex Kerr. I think everyone will enjoy the terrain here!

Warm-up/cool-down.

Sage Stomp middle distance at Red Plateau. Map is old and weak in the contours, but it was described in the meet notes. I adapted well to the map, ignoring the subtler features that were not mapped, and made no mistakes that had to do with the map. The terrain was great and I totally enjoyed myself. At the second last control I lost concentration and ran slightly off direction and missed to the right. Had to come back and lost 1:30. Mike S was 39 and Eric B was 41:45.

Warm-up/cool-down.

Last WET of the spring season at Iona. Fun area and fun course, running in the sand, over logs and through brambles. Took it easy. Trying to rest my knee all week to be completely ok for Sage Stomp this weekend.

C • resting the knee 2

Attempt to climb Crown Mountain. Started with the BCMC trail up to Grouse, which is 800 m climb. Then we did Dam Mountain and Little Goat, down to the pass between Goat and Crown. Halfway up to the peak of Crown, we had to turn back. The visibility was too poor to make correct decisions and the terrain was dangerous. After going back down to the pass, climbed back very steeply up to Goat Ridge and than we also climbed Goat. A 9 hour hike with a lot of climb. Tired.

Run from Andrea's house to Mosquito Creek on the Baden Powell.

Ran hard back from Mosquito Creek. Felt pretty good!

Training in Cates Park on a wonderful spring evening. First time I have ever done dice-O. Kind of like a star exercise. Roll a number and run to that control, run back to the hub and roll again. Fun idea! A bit much running back and forth on the same trails several times, though.

Run with Markez. Same as last week. A very beautiful, warm and sunny evening on the beach.

Warm-up/cool-down.

Did the stairs at UBC again. Although I felt tired, I did better than ever before. Did 5 consistent repeats.

2:16
2:16
2:17
2:18
2:16

Running Seymour Canyon and around Rice Lake. Checked the area just north of where our map ends. A section of really nice forest, map should be expanded!

Warm-up.

Training at Central Park. Tricky dog bones planned by Mike R. Had to plan ahead pretty intensely. I didn't feel like I got the best route. The running itself was only trails. I still feel that my right knee is not completely ok.

Run with Markez in the sand along the beach and some trails.