Training Log Archive: maprunner

Last training session, at Rockhouse (oops, Blockhouse). Nadim joined us briefly, by showing up early to hang markers for us on his map (thanks!). Then Peggy and Heidi joined us for the beaver O training (at least that's what Mike calls it). Lots of pressure to be the leader, especially with the rest of the Ornithology-Lovers Training Camp following behind. But very fun to try to follow along on the blank map. Heidi and Peggy graciously went at our slow pace, so I did a pretty good job of staying in contact with the map throughout the exercise.

Valerie knew the perfect way to end the weekend: a trip to G Street fabrics, complete with 25% off everything with an extra coupon for 25% off one more item. Heaven!

Thanks: Valerie for your kind hospitality and great company, with every detail just right; Roger for the excellent food, and Lisa for the great company and conversation. It was a fabulous weekend.

C • You are welcome! 4

First training session of the day was a greenish course. There were no tapes or markers, so we each wore a GPS to track where we went. It was really good practice; one really had to be careful you were in the right spot. I goofed up right at the start; I was distracted by having fun with Lisa and Valerie, and had not yet turned on my brain. Left the start fine on the way towards #1. Had some difficulty finding #1, but eventually decided I was in the right spot, and started toward #2. Nothing made sense. I decided to bail out to a known location, and looked down at my compass to take a straight line. Wait a minute, the big "N" north arrow on the map was upside down. What ??? Ugh, somehow I had turned my map around and was doing a 180. Headed back over to #1, found the correct location, and moved back towards #2.

The rest of the course went better, with only slight bobbles at 4 and 9.

It was very hot and the bugs were out but the company and the woods (so open!) were great.

Second training session was a line O. We wore the GPS units again. This was great practice. Took it very slow and easy. I think I did OK, until the very end, but we'll have to wait until I get home, and download the track, to be sure.

Day one of the training camp (which I refuse to call OLTC). First exercise was a contour only map at Fountainhead. This was a lot of fun, for most of the course. My brain went dead after I climbed a big hill on the way to the last control, and I just started wandering around for 30 minutes. This habit of mine is getting very annoying--must work harder to avoid this in the future.

Left leg tendons and muscles protested a bit at the beginning, especially on the steep hills, but felt better as the day progressed. Yeah!

Second training session at Hemlock. Kissy hung out two controls for us (thanks!) each about 1K away from the parking lot. Idea was to practice taking different route choices out and back. I decided to only do one control, because I didn't want to strain my legs too much today. Took the flat woods route out and the steeper trail route back. Back was only 30 seconds faster, which is a bit deceptive since it was mostly uphill.

training weekend

Walked around the PTOC sprint course at Sar-Ko-Par park. It's more fun to run a sprint; there are fewer challenges and decisions when one walks. Achilles felt fine most of the time, until I tweaked it again on the way to last control. Oh well.

Walked around at lunchtime. Felt good to be moving again. I tried to get my HR above 120, but I couldn't do it on flat pavement. Left Achilles was fine until 20 minutes, when it began to make it's pressence known. Not really painful, but not normal either. Would have cut the walk short, but I was on an out-and-back route. Iced it afterwards.

My Achilles tendon has been acting up since the weekend, so I'm taking a few days off from running, and trying the famous "I&I" method.

A nice day in Lawrence. Met Mike's mom and step-dad downtown for a picnic brunch as we watched the collegiate cycling championships. Also saw Mike's dad and Mean Gene, as we expected (they are both big cycling fans). Very exciting racing, and great to be so close to the action. Too bad the event moves to another city next year.

Then we headed out out to Clinton for a trail run. My legs were very tired from yesterday, and it was hot and humid. I walked to warm up, then jogged 9 minutes, walked 1 minute, for a total of 2 hours. I got tired at the end, but overall, this went better than I expected. (Although, as I'm sitting here 90 minutes later, every muscle in my legs is (are?) protesting.)

Corporate Challenge 5K. I'm not fond of road running (this was my 4th 5k ever; last one was 5 years ago) but I felt I should do my part for the company. The Shawnee Mission park course has two long hills: one in the middle and one at the end. I had run the course a few times in the last few weeks and I had determined the best HR for me to maintain throughout.

Of course, I started too hard; lots of adrenaline and lots of other people. And my HR was almost always higher than I planned. But I ran the whole way (a first) and pushed hard at the end when I saw I had a chance to break 30 minutes.

Splits (mile 1, 2, finish): 8:20, 10:15, 11:14

C • Great job! 8

slow and steady at SMP. The trails were wet and sloppy. It was fun to explore the new trails put down this spring, and to scare all the deer who thought they were alone.

Moving around PNS on a very rainy day. I had the place to myself, which was very nice. I walked more than I planned, mostly due to a stitch in my side. How do others handle this? Do you run through it? Stretch? I kept trying to jog, but ended up walking again until it finally went away.

A very nice AOWN moment: I stopped to admire the waterfall, which is usually a nice steady stream. Today it was a (comparatively) raging white water. I just love running water. Some day I will have a house with a waterfall in the living room.

C • side stitches 6

PTOC sprint #1 at Loose Park. Goal was to see if I could think with a stuffy head, and to have a clean race. I jogged about a third of the way, and felt OK. Did OK on navigation; was pulled off by the other bunch of trees at #2 (correction: #4), and started to doubt myself and waver on the way to #6. Otherwise clean. Have to do better in the second race this afternoon.

PTOC sprint #2 at JCC. This course was more fun, because there were more obstacles (buildings, uncrossable fences). It was also easier in one way, since they used regular markers (the morning event used night O units) which were visible from far away.

One tiny mistake on a misplaced control; one more tiny (but public) mistake getting to the finish (didn't see the fence on the map). That last mistake was costly, in that another female competitor witnessed my mistake, and avoided that trap when she ran. She beat me by 5 seconds. Such is the nature of sprint courses.

I felt good this afternoon. I made it around the whole course at a slow steady jog and was reading the map fairly well.

Many thanks to Dick and Mike for making two new maps and setting the courses.

C • Sounds fun 1

So, I happened to be chatting with the Mayor of Kansas City this evening (at an exclusive Inauguration reception):
-Hi Mark
-Hi Mary
-I'm glad Mike will be working with you.
-I'm glad too. The other day, I was asked how I was going to handle open meetings, and I stalled on the answer. I thought to myself "I'd like to talk to Mike about this before I answer".

Cool!

The best part about this exchange was watching Mike's mom, who was standing next to me. She was totally beaming with pride to hear the Mayor praising her son. I was only smiling with pride :)

It's been a strange 6 months as Mike's job has moved from working for Mark Funkhouser, City Auditor, to Mark Funkhouser, Mayor. But I'm looking forward to the next four years.

Six months to go, and I'm pretty much on track to meet my goal. November 2006, my USOF ranking was 55. I need ~ 75 ranking to meet my goal. In the most recent USOF rankings, I'm up to 64.

Still lots of physical and mental training needed. Mostly, I need to get more consistent, and eliminate the big mistakes. I plan lots of long trail runs this summer, and travel to training camps to practice on maps.

Drove to work this morning, then sat in the car a few minutes to get enough energy to walk in. Rescheduled all my appointments, then turned around and drove home. Just woke up from a three hour nap.

Cristina, how long does this thing last? It just kills me to use a precious vacation day, just because of a stupid cold.

C • Bummer! 3