Training Log Archive: BigWillyStyle

Event: GVOC Watershed Park
 

Mappy.

This was my third time at Watershed Park, and I still haven't discovered the best way to attack those trails. This time around I moved with a little more caution through some of the trickier areas in order to maintain higher-than-usual level of map contact. No major issues (unlike last year), just 15-30s bobbles here and there. 4-5 I attempted to head due north to the large trail, but instead managed to head northeast and came out at the junction along the 10-11 line. Incredibly, I did the EXACT same thing on the way 8-9.

Other stuff:
-Overran 13 to the trail junction and had to double back
-Probably took a poor route to 18 (went east instead of south)
-Bobbled 19, 23, and 28 inside the circle - just trouble spotting the control
-Drifted too far north 19-20, missed the white path through the woods
-Got flummoxed by an unmapped trail 20-21

I probably left three or four, maybe five minutes out there, and ended up 1:06 behind Adam Woods, 0:55 behind Magnus. I can live with that under the circumstances. I'd like to see the splits but I can't find them online.

On a separate note, I think I surprised some of the Canadians at Sprint Camp - which is understandable, because I surprised myself as well. I've now met almost all the Vancouver guys near the top of the board and it's amusing to detect a little "Where did this guy come from?" puzzlement now and again. I even got a "oh, YOU'RE Will Enger!" on Sunday.

Basically, being good at orienteering is fun, and earning the respect of others who are good at orienteering is satisfying, encouraging and humbling all at once.

C • Map 2

The Sounders do it again! Some guy named Barrett scores a 94th-minute goal to beat the defending champion KC's. It wasn't the prettiest goal, but we'll take it. This year's team is missing a bunch of familiar faces - Ianni, Hurtado, Johnson, Gspurning - but as long as we've got Lamar Neagle we'll be okay.

I did my regular strength routine while watching the game, also stealing/borrowing Tori's "plank pyramid" exercise ( a combo of planks and pushups) which is not easy! No knee setbacks to report, so I'm gonna go ahead and run tomorrow.

How that goes will determine whether I'll be able to get one more week of solid training in before scaling back into final prep after the Cedar Mountain race next Saturday.

Knee is feeling a bit better.

I felt a twinge in my knee on Sunday, and it has not gone away. Almost no pain, just the awareness of "differentness." I went on an easy ride today to stretch out and see how it felt - results are unclear.

I'm trying not to worry, because this happened immediately - as in like three days - before Sierra Summerfest in July and I was still able to compete more or less normally. Looks like I'll have to go into rest mode for a bit. I suspect it's an IT band issue, somewhere in the vicinity of the knee connection. Errrrgh.

:(

I'm planning to take a day trip this Sunday up to the GVOC meet at Watershed Park in Delta, and I can offer a free ride for 2-3 more people should any other Seattlites care to join.

I figured I'd give first dibs to the few and the proud among you who actually read my Attackpoint log. If ya wanna go, let me know!

C • Ride 3