Training Log Archive: dlevine

Time includes a four-lane shift at about the 50% mark, so I can claim a moral victory in my goal to get below 33 minutes.

Cutthroat with Steve K and Steve B. (discounted)

Steve K., despite being one of our best players was on a ten-game losing streak (I contributed six). He came "armed for bear".

Game 1: Was close at 6-6-5 before Steve K broke out the ursine ammunition and pulled away steadily to win 12-21-9

Game 2: Was close (two-way) up to 16-12-4. I lost an epic point while serving at 18-17-7, but won the war as it completely drained Steve K. I won 21-17-9.

Game 3: Only one player had energy. 21-4-0.

BFLO Ski-O @ Byrncliff Resort

Okay, two years since I've been on skis; three years since a ski-O and fourth time on skate skis. Expectations couldn't have been much lower. Oh yeah, the conditions were iffy - with mud and rock creeping through in places. But the weather was great...

Start -> 1: Yup, I can't really skate. Up the hill to the junction and right to the control. Faster than I expected at 4:24

1->2: Right back out to the field, cut through the field to the N-S trail W of the line. Turned E right at the "groomed" trail, but it wasn't groomed, so I was a bit off. I ended up going N past the control through the hairpin on the completely ungroomed groomed trail. Saw the marker coming back and was so lost I wasn't sure it was mine. 8:20

2->3: Up the ungroomed path to the one that was groomed and took it straight to the control. 5:09.

3->4: Up the hill, noticing that the clearing extends further E than mapped. All the way to the last trail, turn R and go to it. 2:58

4->5: Dogleg back to the clearing, cut over to the trail to 5 and straight in. 2:53

5->6: Missed the right fork in the circle and overshot. Saw the building above me to the right as I went by, but ultimately had to come in from the N. Saw my first other skier at that point; he was more intelligently coming from the S. 3:55

6->8: Dogleg back to the main trail and down to the road. Cut across and headed in to #7, but paths and terrain looked odd. Realized I had to go around to the W, but as I started, I realized that the seventh control had been removed from the course. That made my path to #8 suddenly very good. Saw the other guy looking in the area of #7 and hollered to him as I punched in. I did lose time here, but I may have lost less than almost anyone else. 7:13

8->9: Back up the hill to the road, passed by my new friend and down to the parking lot. He was debating, but I took off my skis and ran to #9. 7:35

9->10: Put my skis on for the small loop E of the road, and then crossed it before heading up the hill (via E fork) to #10. My friend totally outdistanced me up the hill. 9:39

10->11: A little confused just after leaving the control, but got myself on track. High time is just a result of poor conditioning/technique. 5:17

11->12: Two people ahead of me had taken the direct route; one skating, one classic. So I followed, switching to classic when I got tired, 2:27

12->13: Up the hill, back to the field and straight in. 2:14

13->14: S, followed by a sharp left into the control. 2:06

14->15: Misread contours and made a poor route choice. S up the hill (2 contours) and over to the field and smoothly in. 4:42

15->16: New skier came in to 15 from my left as I punched. (Why must each bad choice be pointed out by someone else coming in the right way to "rub it in"?) He took off. My plan was to S and then go left, right, left in to the control. He was stopped at the first intersection. I turned left and went right in. He ultimately went around to the S. I was already gotten back up the dogleg before he came in. 2:27

16->17: Took a mental photo at the turn to the left and then got passed by my new friend on the hill. Followed him right in. 4:14

17->18: WHEE! Had all the turns mapped out in my mind and went without stopping after the first 30m. Passed my friend once again. 1:56

18->19: Fumbled with my skis on both sides of the road, but otherwise began to feel good. 2:31

19->Finish: Straight in, taking it easy and trying to look good. 1:25

Since expectations were low, I managed to exceed them.

Due to a fortuitous choice of exercises by the instructor, the quad held up well. It's sore, but wasn't asked to do anything explosive today, so...

The ability difference isn't as bad as these scores make it look, but today was a very one-sided show. At least the first victory was a come-from-behind...

15-2, 15-2, 15-0.

Time includes a four-lane hop to allow for better utilization of the pool, so it is actually pretty close to Tuesday's workout.

Singles with Steve again

Again, I had his number. There were a number of times when I was simply able to outrun him or his expectations (as he gave up even though I was going to make the play). He was half a step slow, so often set me up due to being slightly out of position when he struck the ball.

Game 1: Trailed 1-6, led 16-8, then we traded points the rest of the way with the lead always between 6 and 8. Won, 21-14.

Game 2: Steve was tired and I leapt out to a 20-3 lead before "hanging on" to win 21-11.

Game 3: Lead 10-2 and then we mostly traded, but for the first time ever, Steve seemed to give up. Won 21-13.

Afterwards, changing my shoes, I developed a bad burn in my quad just above the right knee. Iced it at home, but it hurts again this morning. We'll see if it takes well to exercise.

Instructor was very late, but always "arriving any minute" so nobody started class early.

Fitness class was cancelled due to instructor illness, so...

Got on the new bike at the Y that bishop22 writes about. Did the campus loop and then the guy next to me told me to try the "dragons game". I'm not an overly addicted video game player, but I started pedalling like crazy to get some of those dragons. Got quite the workout.

Singles against Steve K.

The scores are lopsided, but the match was intense. Steve had a lapse in each game, but most of the points were extremely competitive. By the end of the match, we were listening for the CO detector to go off because we had obviously used up all the oxygen in the court.

21-11, 21-13, 15-6. I'd never swept him before.

So Water Zumba proves (yet again) that I cannot dance.

On the other hand, you have to love any water exercise that begins with the music of the theme from Jaws!

New instructor. I now have very sore shoulders.

With Phil

Game 1: 15-3; enough said
Game 2: Led 7-5 after a marathon and lots of trading back and forth before winning the last eight to finish 15-5.

Two very different games with similar scores.

Pool was a bit warm and I was a bit tired

Young Tim does not take it easy on anyone in this class.

First, doubles with Brian against Jerry and old Steve. Brian was all over the court, bumping in to people and playing like a maniac (both good and bad). As his partner, just stayed back and cleaned up what mess I could. We started hot, but then started to have lapses that they could take advantage of. Nonetheless, we won, 15-2, 15-12, 15-13.

Then one game of cutthroat with Steve and Brian. I started cold and then got hot before Steve won the last five to win 20-21-7.

Cutthroat with Steve K and Brian

Served well to pull ahead in the first game and won 21-8-13
Steve pulled way ahead and my steady comeback wasn't enough 16-21-4
Close until Steve went on a run and the clock ended the game 8-15-2

Ran out of time before watercize or I would have done the last eight laps.

Had to fight off cramps early on. Hunh? Also, first sign of increased participation at Y since the first of the year; class was full and had some newbies.

Cutthroat with Brian and Jerry (minimally discounted due to the way the match went).

Games 1-5: 15-x-y where neither x nor 7 was ever over 7

Then Jerry left and Brian and I played singles

Game 1: 21-7.

One way to keep down the number of folks at the Y. Close the pool due to cold temperatures (in the pool). Still closed as of Tuesday morning.

Cutthroat with Dan and Steve K., the two best remaining players. Steve hadn't played in a month, Dan in six months and I had a sore hamstring so the expectations were low. Dan played the best of his life (unanimous agreement).

Game 1: I came back late to make it look sort of respectable, 16-21-7
Game 2: Steve came back late to make it look sort of respectable, 6-21-15
Game 3: I led early 13-6-6 and hung on to win 21-18-14

...with equipment...

What was supposed to be doubles with Dan, Brian, and Jerry became cutthroat when Dan decided to stay upstairs and "ride the bike and look at women". Yeah...

I didn't play well at all although I had a few inspired rallies. My best was a twelve shot rally where I was all over the court and it ended on a "hinder" (no play). What a bummer.

Game 1: Started slow, but came back to win 15-12-6
Game 2: Started slower, trailed 4-12-6, came back to lose 11-15-9
Game 3: Tried to focus and my opponents were gassed. 15-6-2