Training Log Archive: DWildfogel

US Middle Champs, Moreau Lake, near Glen Falls, NY. M65 Brown. Rain. On the way to the first control, some wet brush wiped across my glasses, making the map very difficult to read. That happened many times. Pretty much all I could see on the map were the marshes, so was reduced to taking bearings from marsh to marsh and marching over whatever was in between. This worked fine for the 2, 4, 5, 6, 7. On 1, must've narrowly missed the control then wandered around for a couple of minutes. On 3, lost contact with the map very early in the leg and proceeded very slowly in the general direction of 3 until I luckily ran into a trail; rest of the leg was easy.

Got a big break when PG came by on the last part of the leg to #7. I could see Peter a lot better than I could see the map. Got a big boost sticking with him for the next couple of legs. Was able to do 10 on my own (compass bearing to the Finish), though I was now moving much faster than I had been before seeing Peter.

Very unsatisfying day (despite winding up 3rd US). Would like to try that forest when I can see the map.

My route is on the meet's RouteGadget website.

1.6 km, 150m climb walk to the start on a rocky trail, and then the same trail back. Going back was tough because it was steady rain and my left big toe was very sore.

Walked up part way with Jeff Seager and part way with Peter; walked down with Marie Josee.

Middle Brown Y - Splits

Event: 2013 U.S. Individual Championships/Team Trials
 

US Sprint Champs, Camp Wakpominee, near Lake George NY. M65 Brown. Good weather, felt physically ready, though as usual, hard to get the eating completely right for an afternoon start (2:52pm). Did very well for most of the course, but a ridiculous error at #9 cost me two places and I wound up 4th (Charlie DeWeese was 2nd, Rick Worner 3rd).

After first 7, only :17 behind Peter and :50 ahead of the next competitor (Chuck Spalding). First thought for #8 was to go around on the trails, even though it was a lot of extra distance, because it would be highly likely that I would do that well - and I can go so much faster on trails then in the woods, especially in green. But then I thought the optimal possible time would be through the green to the clearing, and I ought to go for the max. Mistake. The green slowed me down so much I certainly would have done better going around. Making matters worse, never saw the clearing, had to bail to the creek. Lost :25 - :30.

Making matters still worse, I stewed about that wrong decision a bit as I headed to #9. Nailed 9, but when I got there, the control code was not what I had in my head. Turned out that I still had the code for 8 in my head (probably because I'd been stewing about the wrong decision going to 8). But didn't think to check my clue sheet! Tried a few different places but kept coming back to the same spot. Finally, Gary Kraght, who I'd passed leaving #3, punched that control, which made me look at my clue sheet and discover that I'd been in the right place all along. Aargh!! 90 secs blown.

Regrouped, had a real good leg on #10; did 10 -> F only :06 slower than Peter. But the crazy error at #9 did me in: missed 2nd by :22 and third by :09.

My route is on the meet's RouteGadget website.

Good warm up.

Sprint Brown - Splits

The usual weekly accumulation of morning stretching.

Casual walk around the DeWeese's property. Given how I felt walking up the hills, figured that that was enough for today.

Travel day. Up at 5am, plane at SFO at 8:58. George and Leslie pick me up at Newark and we drive to Charlie and Rhonda's, arriving just before 10am.

Front of house, 2 easy loops: 603, 505. Felt considerably better than yesterday; back and hip issues seem manageable.

Cool down

Front-of-house, two easy loops: 621, 534

Starting to today, wanted to start moving my schedule forward to make the transition to East Coast time easier. Instead, got up an hour late, ran an 2 hours late, etc.

Cool down

Theraband only, 2 sets for each of the 3 exercises. These are irritating my back, too, so no more for a while.

Drive back from the Russian River.