Training Log Archive: maprunner

We need to give our OK proxy to someone who is attending the AGM. Any of my log readers going? Willing to cast our votes for us?

C • Proxy 9

Sprint day. Mike drew me a course on campus, with some artificial boundaries thrown in for good measure. I was on my way to 2 before I even noticed the black line across the road. Had to make a quick decision, so I missed the fact that I could have gone under the overhang and down the stairs (almost a straight line) to 2.

My legs were slightly tired after the last two days, which helped me run a decent pace. Fast enough, but not too fast to cloud my thinking.

Was doing well until 10. There is now a construction fence up around the building, so I couldn't go precisely to the control. When I looked at the route to 11, I saw the black line and somehow thought to my self "I have to run back around the building" (which was not true). Then I proceeded to run along the back of one more building than needed. (Track is wonky here, maybe because I went under the overhang? I stayed on the sidewalk, due east, but my track takes me back to 9). Somehow it dawned on me that I was running around the wrong building (it was taking too long) and I finally realized my mistake and turned around. Looks like I lost 30 seconds here. Ugh!!!



I'm glad I did a M-L-S weekend. It reminded me how to prepare for the races, and take care of my body in between. It reminded me of how it feels to push hard, and the impact on my brain and navigation. It reminded me of how it feels to navigate well, and to navigate badly. It reminded me of my personal demons. I hope I can recognize them soon enough during the championships, and stop myself from making big mistakes.

C • Training dedication 2

Long "race" day, so Mike, Sandy and I headed to Perry. Sandy and I went out together, and started with 40 minutes on the trails (4 min jog/1 min walk). Then we were supposed to do the O courses, staying on the trails. I made a mistake right away (choosing the wrong trail) and then I ran way too fast (trying to show off? or caffeine kicking in?). Sandy was also talking to me, which was another distraction. I need to deal with this better. By the time we got to 4, I was wiped out and brain dead. I led us through the woods on a wild goose chase. Many alram bells were going off, telling me I was in the wrong place, but I kept making everything "fit". Finally I stopped and admitted I was wrong. Looked hard at my map and compass, and saw that I had done a 180. Doh!!!! So I turned around and ran back. At this point, Sandy left to go running on her own. Took me a while to relocate, and determined that I should have stayed where I was when I discovered my mistake. Decided to just skip the 5-6-7 loop, and head for the start of the next segment. Best option was to cut through the woods some more (which is not fun at this time of year). Made it tot he start triangle, took a minute to get orientated, and started again. Took it slower this time, and made no more mistakes. I was very discouraged about how I handled this long day. This is exactly the type of mistake I am trying to reduce. Lately I seem to have one big blowup on every race. Need to think about how to get better control before next month.

Time to prepare for competition weekends, so I am doing M-L-S over the next few days. Today I also wanted to remember my pre-race routines, so I asked Sandy to join me. I warmed up for 20 minutes, then I started at a specific minute, and Sandy followed me 2 minutes later. Goal was: navigate, navigate, navigate. Even though this was relatively easy course (thanks, Mike for setting it!) I did have to read and think. And I did get tired near the end, and had minor navigation lapses. Sandy didn't pass me until just after 7, which was later than I expected. I did think about her more than I should have; good practice. Also good practice to remember how my brain works (or actually, doesn't work) when I get tired.

Last Pound! class. It didn't meet my original goal of toning up my flabby old-lady arms. (Menopause sucks!) But it did give me an indoors exercise option during the heat of summer. And it really toned up my legs and core. So, that's all good!

A little bit of hard training at Holcom. Three repeats of "run as fast as you can for one minute" and three repeats of "30 meter sprints downhill"

Exploring the Lawrence dog park with Sandy and Kiri

Slept late, then lay in bed for a while longer (no desire to join Mike and Gene at the Ft Leavenworth event today). Then spent a few hours in the sewing room, working on my "Chanel-like" jacket. If anyone is interested in my sewing exploits, you can check out maprunner on Instagram.

By mid-afternoon, I knew I had to get the body moving. Haven't been to the the track in a while, and I have a race in a few weeks, so off I went. Forgot my Garmin, so no details on time or pace. A few repeats of walk-jog-run-sprint, some practice starts and then 4 repeats of 115 meter sprints. It was a relatively cool day, with a strong tailwind, which made for a very pleasant outing. Had the track to myself until the very end.

Plan was to come home and do some exercise in the basement. But during the drive home from work, I suddenly felt very weary of it all, and instead I stopped at a liquor store and bought some Smithwicks. Got home and proceeded to lie on the couch drinking beer and watching the Olympics all night.

C • Love! 1

Nice evening, warm but not too warm or humid.
Things I saw during my ride:
rabbits: 6
cyclists: 4
runners: 2
Pokemon Go players: 2
drag-racing cars: 2

A beautiful morning, 22 and raining. It has been a while since I orienteered in the rain, so I was glad for the practice. We went to Carondolet, which is a park that I had only been to once or twice, which was a nice change. Mike and I ran at the same time, but on slightly different course. It was fun to see him out there. Did OK on the navigation, tried to keep moving the whole time. Couldn't get exactly to some controls, due to higher than mapped vegetation

And then a second course at Carondolet. Mike started first, and I started soon after him. I tried to keep him in sight. I slowed down a lot around 3-4-5,and he got out of sight then. So I tried to run a bit faster, and came closer to him by the end.

A super-sprint at Tower Grove. I was thrown off my the scale, made big errors at 3 and 5. I stopped at 5, because 6 didn't look fun (I started near 1, because that is where we parked the car).

But I immediately decided to run a bit more (towards 6, then back to 1)

I followed Mike as he ran the course. I was filming him with the GoPro. I had to run really really fast to keep up with him on the longer, easier legs. That was hard. He also got confused around 3, I was happy to see (although he found the correct control and I didn't)

We were in St Louis for a mini-vacation. Had to go back to my old favorite, Forest Park. First course was longer than I wanted (it was really humid). Couldn't get close to some controls because vegetation had grown up. (Map got wet the next day, so the ink ran. Didn't look like this when I ran)

Planned to run a second course, but I was tired, and running out of time to meet Mike. So I just did a few controls. I definitely was tired (and brain dead on 9)

Nice dinner tonight at Chef's Table, a fundraiser for Just Food. Six course meal from local chefs, with beer or wine with each course. Some really good food, some good wines. Unfortunately our waiter spilled a whole tray of full wine glasses on my back; that was not fun. Enjoyed the rest of the evening with Mke, and meeting new people. We didn't know anyone there, which was unusual. I also liked being in a part of town that was new to me (8th and Pennsylvania)

C • Spillage 2

Out to Clinton after watching the women's Olympic cycling. It had rained earlier, so it was really humid out there. Plus lots of cobwebs. But I enjoyed it.

I decided to combine some sprint (as in 100 m) training with some O training. I asked Mike to draw me a course with legs about 150-200 m long. I added some artificial barriers (black lines) to the west campus map, to make it a bit more challenging. Then I orienteered, alternating walking and sprinting each leg. It's really hard to read a map when sprinting all out! But this was a fun event, good training. Nice cool weather, too. And it took me out of the house, instead of sitting on the couch watching the Olympics all day.



Went to Gene and Dee's house this afternoon to help Dee learn a bit more about using a serger. I'm jealous of her sewing room (half of their basement!).

C • sprinting 2

A good day to be exercising indoors