Training Log Archive: kkling

My first Ultra Long. I got spooked right out of the gate by the Thunder clap that happened after the mass start. I got knocked to the ground by a near lightening strike when I was backpacking once, so I am more cautious of thunderstorms than the average person. When I got out to control 61 I had to reorient to get it, then it was just the mud I was battling. I had very little traction in the old running shoes. The only other control I struggled with was control 65. I came from the NW of the control and the vegetation boundaries were not distinct enough for me to follow. I had to reorient and come up from the south to find it. Again, I was glad to see that I did not wander around long looking for it, but just chose another attack path.

When I got to control 7, I realized it was going to take me about 4.5 hours to finish. I did not want to be late so I headed to control 12 and then in. When I punched in Matt told me the time limit was 5 hours, so again I felt rather foolish. I read the meet director notes again and it says 5 hours, so my mistake. At control 12 I used the vegetation boundary to find the control, I had no problem following this boundary.

US_Ultralong_2012_6 Green - Splits

My first relay. After the first couple controls I realized that this was going to take me about 2.5 hours. I wanted Bruce to have a chance to run his leg since he had to be back in Louisville by 6 pm, so I cut over to control 12. I knew it did not really matter teamwise since one of my team mates had already MP. As I got back and learned there is a mass start for this very purpose, I felt rather foolish. But sometimes you have to do something first, before you understand the rules. I wish I had it to do over again. I don't like not finishing because I feel like a quitter. I had to switch into an old pair of shoes for this race, since my right foot had gotten bruised last night.

Green - Splits

Event: OCIN A-meet (Night, Relay, Ultra-long)
 

My first solo night run. The positives of this race, I did not wander around lost for an extended time like I did at the North American. I had two controls that I had to reorient on, control 73 and control 49. Both I knew I was off rather quickly and reset to the last known point.

Negatives, I had some awful route choices. I am trying to understand why I made those choices. The bad ones looking back were 3 to 4, 4 to 5, and 13 to 14. The other negative was overall conditioning is starting to be my biggest issue now. When you are too tired to run on the roads the second half of the race, you will always finish at the bottom.

US_Night_2012_Green - Splits