Training Log Archive: TomN

QOC Bumble. As time goes by, I am appreciating this event more. It is a very fine format: mass start, 5 windows but the various color courses are allowed to skip from 0 to 4 windows. Approx. 10k with all the windows. Assuming everyone self-handicaps correctly, the finish should be exciting, runners from all competitive classes finishing together.

In the past I ran up to the "red" equivalent, skipping 1 window, but this time I ran "green" and skipped 2 windows. I figured no one could complain (I'm a year away from brown, after all) and also that I had a fair chance of winning at that handicap.

I was close. One of only 5 to finish in under an hour, outclassed by Peggy (4 skips) and Hannah (2 skips). There were two other guys on "brown" who may not have judged their handicap according to the same standards.

I can't say I took the best possible control order in the 3 windows, but my choices weren't horrible, and I executed them without errors. Good speed for the most part (walked up a few of the hills).

A nice day, sunny, cooler, and very little snow, despite the apocalyptic reports from earlier in the week. A couple of warm days and rain did the job.

At GSFC. They piled huge amounts of snow on part of the ring road, which now looks like a glacier, 10 feet deep, 400 feet long, the width of the road. So I ran on the perimeter road, which was muddy in places, but got back on pavement halfway around.

The usual. I'm doing reverse lunges off a 10" step.

Noontime run, sunny and high 40s. Some slippery areas. Running felt good, but my ribs ache where I landed hard last week. It got a little sore yesterday on the downhill legs where there were downed trees and other obstacles.

Control pickup. 8 controls just off the road north of the creek. Then loaded up the meet kit and controls, and took it all over to Dave & Heidi's for the Bumble next week. Little Bennett got a lot more snow than Greenbelt.

Complete exhaustion after dinner tonight, slept about 11 hours.

Event: QOC Greenbelt
 

O in the Snow, at Greenbelt Park. I signed up for Red but backed off to Green on account of the conditions. It turned out the snow wasn't too deep, but it slowed things down in places. I made a massive error on the short leg to 2, passing the little ravine on the uphill side, missing it entirely. I admit it, I was following some big tracks and they led me astray. But then I came into 3 from the exit side, and easily followed the tracks in to that one, so a little payback.

I kept up good speed for the conditions, took roads and trails wherever possible, and ended up with a pretty good time.

Green - Splits