Training Log Archive: ernst

Event: 46th Blue Hills Traverse
 

Blue Hills Traverse. I have done many of these (around 20) but this one appeared to be different from the most recent ones, except a couple of controls that I recognized - I was surprised when Jeff told me that many of the controls were "recycled" from not too long ago. I guess the new start area and the last 4 controls leading to the new venue gave it a different feel. It was warm during the first few controls, then turned dark and rained for a while and quickly thereafter, it cleared out with a brisk wind, which was great - no foggy glasses and the temperature drop invigorated me.

I was with Tim and intermittently with Aaron which made for a fun run: we all navigated and fed off each other. During the second half I used the occasion to experiment with my magnifier, by zooming in on the control location usually in the middle of a leg and tried to memorize what I saw. That enabled me to attack about 5 of the controls in the middle of the course with confidence (otherwise known as spiking).

Navigational Errors: Drifted W on 3 (alone), but was able to correct (45 s); misread 6 and looped around looking for a renentrant (45s); hesitation to 12 - confused halfway about the trails (30s), - loved the 12 - 15 short leg sequence, but then did a 180 out of 15 (1 min), to 19: drifted too far to the right before hitting the trail but corrected ok. (30 s). The rest was fine except the guessing game to 23/24 (map unreadable). I also was fighting hamstring cramping on my left (problem) leg, so ended up trotting behind Tim on these legs. Our pace was however slowing and that helped me recover from cramping near the end. I ended up beating Tim: I had an advantage to find the finish since I had warmed up around the scout camp. I ended up in fourth place about 20 minutes behind the winner. Not bad

This turned out to being a very enjoyable event, and the indoor facility was a big bonus. Thanks to the Saegers for organizing it again!

Traverse - Splits

All day with 2 rowers that we rented from the university. They were very fit, and I let them do the heavy lifting. I did a bit of chain-sawing which got me sore shoulders, plus some lifting, stacking and some brush hauling. That took most of the day, but I guess it is worth about 90 minutes of light exercise.

Bike to work. All on road.

Running home late, after attending event on food evolution and GMO's - that featured the movie plus a panel discussion. Very interesting and enlightening. Besides the topic, the theme also was how to overcome political polarization and explore common ground by using science results.

Route: W. Foss Farm to Spruce Wood - direct route. I was feeling sluggish - had too much dinner to eat, was overdressed, etc. but just wanted to get home.

Run to work. Chose the road due to time constraints. Lots of sticks and debris from the storm from 2 weeks ago still along the shoulder. Not much different than running on say unimproved dirt roads.

Running home with headlamp. W Foss Farm with extra loop by shelter, then Highland field, direct route to Surrey, then Griffith and back on S Clyde's trail to house.

Run to work. Another swift one. Looks like a PR, but I stopped twice off the clock. In this cold weather, warming up means sprinting up the trails!

C • PR & stopping 2

I managed to pull myself away from work early enough to run home before dark. Well, the last mile was in semi-darkness, and I had to stop to put my headlamp on since I passed two suspiciously parked pick-up trucks - hunting season!

NW loop around CW, then South of river back to Mill Rd, West Foss Farm, then towards highland and a loop on John's trails, finally home as usual. Target was 6 miles.

Swift run to work on a cold morning (low 30's). Felt good

Running home in the dark on the "ski" route. It has fewer single tracks, so it is easier, safer and faster at night. New batteries in the headlamp helped!