Training Log Archive: Bash

Testing the legs before the race.

I wanted to support the C3 Caledon Running Festival and was curious to see how bad a 10K race would feel after focusing on long slow distance for two years. It was nice to wear hot weather running clothes but not so nice to run in hot weather.

The race route was 5 km of rail trail and 5 km of rolling hills on a paved road. It wasn't difficult but road runners wouldn't expect a PB on it. My only goal was to not place last since it was a small field, consisting mostly of keen triathletes. I achieved my goal but set a Personal Worst time and only barely escaped the bottom 10%!

Within the first kilometer, I caught up with a boy who had fallen back from the main pack but was still looking good. I didn't want his spirit to be crushed as a result of being passed by some old lady in a skirt so I smiled and said, "Hey, come with me. You have nice running form." Ten-year-old Pete and I became buddies over the next 6.5 km until I pushed him to go ahead since I was fading in the heat. He did his first 10K last year at age nine and is keen to do a half marathon next year and an Ironman some day. I suspect he will.

Near the finish line, someone was cheering and calling my name - thanks, Coach LD! I was a little lightheaded from the heat when I first stopped running. One good thing about this race was that it provided more clarity to my thinking about future goals. I am clearly *not* able to do 10K races so my optimum distance lies somewhere between 10K and 168K. I still need to narrow that down a little more.

As I was chatting with 'Bent and Caron, a man came up and said, "Barb?" I didn't recognize him as he stuck out his hand to shake mine. Then I looked down and saw my running buddy Pete beaming and standing proudly beside his Dad, who had come to thank me for encouraging his son on the race course. That was the highlight of this event. :)

There was a training session available to DontGetLost Adventure Card holders at Rocky Ridge today at the same time as our 10K. I arranged with Meghan that we would take down the flags so that 'Bent and I could get some pre-NAOC training. Neither of us has done much orienteering all year so it's not going to be pretty when we get to Ottawa in two weeks!

We did this at a walking pace, navigating mostly separately and meeting at each control. Since we both forgot to turn on our GPS watches, here is AdventureGirl!'s track.
http://ar.attackpoint.org/sessiondata.jsp?sessioni...

'Bent may be one of the few people in the world to do a Mountain Bike - 10K running race - Orienteering workout combo today.

Congratulations to Matt and Rachel Wong! And also to Mr. and Mrs. The Minister, the proud parents of the groom.

First iteration of the Regular Course for Star Tracks mountain bike orienteering at non-race pace. I tried leaving out one planned control but this wasn't quite long enough - although I think it will be plenty hard enough.

After setting version 1 of the Star Tracks mountain bike orienteering course, I was so excited that I had to head out and test part of it, even though it was almost sunset. This is waaaay more fun than riding around to create GPS tracks of trails. In testing routes, I discovered some minor updates Mick and I need to make to the map so I ended up doing a little more GPS riding as well. It got dark long before I was done so I'll get to go back again soon. Time deducted for longer stops.

Time to revive Throwback Thursday, i.e. sharing Facebook #TBT pics here too. We visited my brother Dave in Gravenhurst on our way home from Algonquin Park. Hanging out with him used to be more adventurous than it is now...

Quick run around Palgrave West before a meeting of the Albion Hills Public Advisory Committee to discuss the trail plan. Unlike the Palgrave trail plan a few years ago, this one is pretty much all good news. Not surprising since Albion Hills is viewed as a "destination" - unlike Palgrave, which is a "forest and wildlife area".

I gave Thumbs-of-Death money to inflict more pain on my shoulder - actually all *around* my shoulder - biceps, pec and some mystery point on my upper back that he just has to press and it feels like I've been stabbed. I managed not to scream or leap up but couldn't relax my muscles very much - including my face, which totally gave me away. I could really feel the difference after last week's treatment but it's going to be a long road with lots of stretching and strength exercises.

Fantastic autumn weather! :)

Shana Tova! Off to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with 'Bent's family. Early autumn feels like the perfect time to kick off a New Year so this is one Jewish holiday I'm always keen to celebrate. Bring on the apples and honey!

Rodney Yee - Flexibility

Leanimal Shoulder-cises.