Training Log Archive: BigWillyStyle

For lack of somewhere else to go, rode ye olde commute route from days of yore; don't have the numbers in front of me but I think I was near or better than both my old PRs, and probably shattered two or three of my mile PRs - mainly the climbing miles. Weird.

Now that the Winter Series is complete, let's revisit the prospective storylines laid out back in November, and compare with how things went:

Will it be a clean Kiwi sweep?
Short answer: No. Our erstwhile Kiwis only raced twice, as they were out of town for three events, and somehow got conned into course-setting two others. Had they qualified, a sweep would've been entirely plausible, as their combined four scores were 1, 2, 2, 5.

Will Heather make a triumphant return?
Yes...for a fleeting moment. Heather won the first three events handily, then unfortunately was re-injured and may be done orienteering for good. A sad day.

Will the King of the Winter Series reclaim his throne?
Short answer: No. Though the Bonesaw led the standings early, he was ultimately undone by a combination of a fourth-place finish and an unfortunate tendency toward not bothering to show up.

Will the Portlanders throw any wrenches into proceedings?
Short answer: No. Only one total appearance from them - an Abra McNair fourth place at the first event of the season.

So, clearly a season of dramatic and unforeseen developments. We see that most of the prepackaged narratives ended up being non-starters (as prepackaged narratives tend to be). However, that won't stop us from dishing out some fun-spirited, totally gratuitous and in no way official or meaningful awards:

Comeback of the Year Awards go to: Heather Fourie, Nikolay Nachev.

Comet of the Year Awards go to: Rebecca Jensen, Eric Jones.

Commemorative Jourdan Harvey One-Hit Wonder Awards (formerly known as the W[ho]TF Do They Think They Are Awards) go to: Dusty Caseria, Nina Potrebich.

Course Setter of the Year Awards go to: Jourdan Harvey, Celia Schofield.

HUOC (House Un-American Orienteers Committee) Awards go to: Peteris Ledins, Ing Uhlin.

Lifetime Achievement Award goes to: Heather Fourie.

Newcomer of the Year Awards go to: Evan Derickson, Linnea Nasman.

C • Woo hoo! 1

Event: COC Winter O' Series / WIOL #7 - Fire Mountain Scout Reservation
 

Winter Series 7, Fire Mountain. Goals were:

1. Be physically able to warm up and start
2. Ignore possible knee pain Be attentive to possible knee pain
3. Complete the course without knee pain
4. Run/navigate/find controls etc etc.

Accomplished 1 and 2, mostly accomplished 3, though I did feel some twinges at times, usually while running downhill on trails. Also eventually accomplished 4 I suppose, in a haphazardly roundabout sort of way. Lost several minutes on 10, a minute or two on 12, bad route choice to 7, assorted other bobbles. Excellent course design by J and C!

Felt like total garbage physically and had zero speed in my legs, but that's to be expected after no running and very little exercise at all for two weeks. Not a good lead-up to Sprint Camp :/ but at least it's looking like I'll be able to participate?

C • all of the things 6

Ever since the first race at Anza Borrego 20 days ago I've had this weird weeping wound on the inside of the fourth toe on my right foot. Today, a 3/4" cactus spine came out! It is longer than the toe is wide! Human body > cholla.

I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured I hate being injured

C • Treatment 6