Training Log Archive: TomN

In an odd coincidence, both my daughters were playing in the same Ultimate Frisbee tournament in New Jersey this weekend. In fact, their teams played against each other. So we went to the tournament for a day, to watch them play, and to wish Mei-An a happy birthday.

Biking to work. The center was closed but since Florence was coming in and I could get a ride home, I came in too. This was my fastest trip by far. I picked up 10 min by riding on the road instead of the trail on Sligo Creek Parkway (not much traffic), and 10 min by coming in the main gate via Goodluck Road and Cipriano Road (because the back gate was closed). It's 2 miles shorter this way, but not very pleasant on Goodluck Road. It was a really nice day, 50 when I started and almost 60 by the time I got in. Breezy but mostly from behind.

Goddard perimeter road. Sunny and 50s.

Early this morning I figured I'd just sleep for 4 years. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be able to.

Early run, 34 degrees at 7 a.m. Maybe a little overdressed, but hey, it takes a while to get used to this. By 10 a.m. when I went to vote, it was up to like 60. No armed militias outside the polling place, so I guess they've decided to let the election rigging proceed uncontested, at least in Maryland, which, according to the polls, is the most pro-Clinton state in the country.

Biking to work. It was 40 degrees when I left home. Tech-T, thin long-sleeve, bike jacket, buff, gloves, tights. Pretty well equipped, and comfortable all the way through, although I was not pushing the pace. I thought about taking off a layer, and I would have, if I had wanted to push harder. Still, I saw at least one runner in shorts and T-shirt, and also (in the second hour) a cyclist in shorts and jacket but no gloves. OK, my gear was versatile.

The advanced course at Great Falls. We had an unusual level of difficulty getting this course approved, in a park where the approval difficulty was already nearly maxed out. Less than a week before the event, the NPS took out a number of our control locations, and insisted on the following rules for the remaining controls: (1) all competitors shall travel on a straight line between checkpoints; (2) competitors shall use trails wherever possible; and (3) competitors shall cross streams only at bridges. Needless to say, these are inherently mutually exclusive choices.

The resulting course was odd-looking, but pretty good. There was route choice, and variety among the legs. If you ignored the rules (and you had to ignore at least 2 of them at any one time), it was good orienteering. Not the maximum difficulty the park has to offer, but good running in great woods.

Advanced - Splits