Training Log Archive: possum

Updated the Raintree map. Lots of detail work here, since the map is 1:2000. Addition to the building and the entire front third has changed parking, curbs, etc. Then the play area had many changes with mounds, culverts, steps. The only thing remaining the same was what the kids call the "back 40". Really got muddy from all the rain. Lots of map work to do on Friday while it all dries out.

Lots of hard stuff today with Jared. Got to do arm work with the heavy ropes while balancing on an upside-down Bosu trainer, and finished off with pullups and balancing pushups. Whew! These were after I was already tired from precision footwork and lots of jumps.

Went to Hodge Park to look at control locations, and see what's getting mowed. Good idea. Took out two controls that required wading through tall grass (formerly had mowed paths) Back to the drawing board on the course.

Slogged the trail around the lake. Time includes about five minutes to sit on a bench and redo the foot brace, and then try to get my shoe back on without a shoe horn. The brace seemed to work very well after I adjusted it. No heel pain. Overall, not too bad an effort since I haven't been doing much running.

Took ElRay out to Jesse James park for a sprint and sniff slog. The time is accurate, but the distance is only an estimate.

We hadn't been there since the snow melt, and they put in a disc golf course on the south far end. We overcame the fear factor by introducing her to the 18th hole goal. Then we went around the corner and several people were playing. ElRay, as a devout and practicing Frisbyterian, got really excited and wanted to join the competition. A good thing I have been working on upper body strength.

Slogged the Riverwalk trail. Not as many hills as Watkins Mill, but only a little shorter. Not too bad, since I haven't run in quite a while. The first mile was concrete sidewalk, so I managed about half of it on the grass. My foot hurt a little about halfway, but I finished ok. I will use the ace bandage next time to hold me together. In retrospect, I think that losing a few pounds would be the best for it--need to stop being Miss Piggy.

Workout with Jared. Last exercise was stretching a band with one arm while in plank position. Then the other arm. And three repetitions of each set.

Went to Hodge Park to finish up the sprint area for this summer's sprint run. Next trip will be to locate control points.

Fun sprint in the park in conjunction with our annual meeting. Upper 80's and humid. Easy navigation, but I haven't been doing much running with the weather, the ElRay, and the injured foot. Good to get out there, and see what I needed to work on.

Also stopped at Raintree to update a couple of areas on the map which have had major changes since last summer.

Several new wrinkles again today. Jared was glad to hear my strength and endurance were good over the weekend even though my navigation sucked.

The long race today at Camp Wakpominee started with a 500 m walk to the registration area, then a 1200 m walk to the start.

Today was not as technical, but it was a physical challenge. I messed up on 2, and had to search, then tripped on a rock and broke my magnifier off. I spent several minutes looking for the broken part and found it, but will need to order a new one when I get home on Monday.

No. 3 was my biggest problem. I was following the map well, but came to a trail short of where the control should be. It even had trail markers on it, but I couldn't find it on the map, so I wasted a bunch of time going back and forth on it, to see what I was missing. Finally, I decided to disregard it and go back to finding my control. I also messed up on the 4-5 leg--not because of not finding it, but making a very bad route choice and ending up in a marsh which almost sucked my shoes off. I got pretty tired trying to get out of there.

The good news is that I was strong physically, and I learned a lot about making better route choices.

Super fun weekend, and the opportunity to have much different terrain than we get in the midwest.

Long Brown X - Splits

We had a 1.6 uphill walk to the start, then after the finish, a 1.6 km walk downhill, in addition to the race.

The middle race at Moreau Lake. This was a disaster for me. I had not raced on this technical type of terrain, so I knew I would need to go slowly and read the map carefully. Unfortunately, the sprinkle at the start turned into a downpour, and I couldn't use my magnifier most of the time, so I couldn;t read the map.

On control 2, I looked and looked, finally ended up at no. 7, and went back to 2. I recognized the terrain, and knew I had been there before and missed the flag.

Carefully making my way to no. 3, I passed about 10 feet from a flag, but it was in a marsh and I was looking for a reentrant, so I didn't check the code. After about 10-12 minutes of searching, I decided to relocate, and again went by the flag, but this time I looked and it was mine!

I did spike nos. 1 and 5, then tried to get to 6, which I never found. In retrospect, I think I just didn't go quite far enough and stopped one small marsh early. I then found 8, was running out of time with the 2-hr limit, and hit 9 and came on in. Very disappointing.

Middle Brown X - Splits

Event: 2013 U.S. Individual Championships/Team Trials
 

Sprint race at Camp Wakpominee. Probably should have worn my O shoes, but with my foot problems wore my running shoes. Great terrain, and a good map. I made two major errors: controls 3 and 8. At 3, I started one direction, then changed my mind. Better policy to make a good decision first and stay with it. On 8, I didn't know the clue symbol and again, made a poor route choice decision.

The good part was actually running some of it, and not having breathe problems. I should have done better.

Sprint Brown - Splits

My Wednesday workout with Jared. Used some heavier weights and really sweated.

My foot didn't hurt on my walk yesterday, but this morning when I woke up, back to ouchy. I'm trying a wrap on it.