Training Log Archive: Doris

@ Quantico (Hangman tree)

Not the first start, so I saw people starting at the start line, that was interesting.

Better this time because I practiced the day before.

Had assistance on both the long legs (to 3 and to 8), both times I was within 150 m of the control. Didn't feel too badly for the help on the way to 3 because all three of who happened to bump into each other were lost. I'm getting used to reading the smaller features (fallen trees, deadfall, rock piles, and knolls), the big features - the hills and the rivers are harder because I can't really "see" how tall they should be or how far off into the distance or how steep the crevices are.

C • Glad you felt up to a second day 5

Day 2 - Green Y - Splits

Event: QOC Quinquagenary @ Quantico National Meet
 

@ Quantico (Beaver Dam Run)

Can I be both pleased and disappointed? Ack, I have no idea what I'm doing. First, it was a gorgeous weekend to be out in the woods, I generally had a wonderful time when I wasn't in the midst of thinking I would have to abandon my mission. My mission was generally to not give up, if I had to I would go to a main road and reorient there and go back and really try. I started early enough to believe I wouldn't be the last person out on the course even if I took ages (which in the end I did - take ages).

I was the first one to go on this first day at 9:30 am. Thank you to Amy who explained all the starting line etiquette because since I was the first person there, I had no idea what I had to do when and there was no one in front of me to watch. I failed to read the course notes which mentioned the explosive fields, I had to clarify what was meant by a mandatory crossing and also what it meant that the starting triangle was not at the start.

Then it took me about an hour to find the first control. I couldn't believe I would have to give up even before I started. Thanks to Amy again, who I bumped into to explain to me what all the black Xs meant and the green Xs and to lead me to the first control which was the same as her third control. Then she headed off in her direction with a cheerful - you can do this! I did the rest of the course without any help, but it took me a long, long time & the whole time, I had this discouraged feeling that I had just picked something that was too hard for me and that I had been silly to sign up and try to run my age group. Walked mainly, some running here and there.

I was late to my volunteer gig at the refreshment stand which was fine, though I feel badly I wasn't there to help during the real rush. Thank you to Jane who really wanted to help me post-run through my map - the most helpful tip was to tell me what the brown dashed contour lines meant (quick elevation change) and what the black thin dashed lines meant (rides). I feel like I should know all this by now, but somehow I haven't experienced them enough to really know.

Ooof, I'll have to download the route to remember what I did exactly because I can't remember now. I woke up very sore the next day not quite believing that I was going to try this again.

Day 1 - Green Y - Splits

@ Rockville swim

regular strength.

@ King farm loop

5 miles easy

@ Rockville swim

regular strength. forgot to do pull up routine.

@ Rockville gym

3x1 mile @ 7:41 pace.

Working on that hanging on feeling. Didn't quit.