Training Log Archive: maprunner

The plan for today was to hang markers at Bluffwoods for next week's Possum Trot (which I could log as combined terrain and hill training for the week). And right on schedule, yesterday's sunny 45 degree weather turned to lower 30s and snow--how appropriate. Mike S, Dick N and I each hung a few markers. It was nice to be in the woods, in the beginning. Then the wet snowy conditions got the better of me. Hands and feet were soaked and frozen. It was hard to tie the marker at my last stop. Ran hard on the way to the finish, just to warm up.

I know how to fix the wet, cold feet (if I can remember where I packed my neoprene socks) but I don't know how to fix wet, cold hands. I wear polypro glove liners, which are just the right weight for most winter runs. I suppose I could carry a dry spare pair, but when they get wet, what then?

Fortunately, Nancy was clairvoyant, and had given Dick a thermos of hot water and packets of hot cocoa (plus Peeps for me :) Thank you Nancy--a hot drink at the end of today's run was so perfect.

Today is the end of my "6 hour" training week, but I'm a few minutes short. Question of the day: how anal do I want to be? Shall I row for 15:01 to meet my time? Adjust yesterday's entry to 30:01 (which we would be somewhat legit) or do nothing ?????

Mike and went to JCCC to vet the course. We were out longer than this, but this is about right for my effort. I walked/jogged between controls, with lots of stops to check map, review control location, hang tapes, etc. The course is coming along, though it probably should have been done by now. I guess the only real deadline is 1 pm next Saturday :)

On our way to the Jayhawks game. My boss gave us two tickets, in the front row! Never sat courtside before.

Long slow jog on the river trail in Lawrence. Very nice to run someplace (relatively) new for me, and to enjoy the beautiful day with just me and Mike out there.

Followed by another wonderful dinner at mom and Ron's. Usual diverse mix of family and friends from different backgrounds. This year we had a new guest from Senegal, which meant there were people from 4 continents at dinner. Have to find an Aussie and a South American for next year :) Great conversation all around; especially nice to hear the foreigners talk enthusiastically about Obama.

I'm trying to be good. Trying to walk past the Peeps in the grocery store. Tomorrow I will eat too much already; why add the Peeps temptation? But then I came home today to find a special package on the front steps from "Peepaholics R Us" in Peepsville PE. The package contained the full Christmas selection, including a flavor I had never seen (gasp!). The sugar cookies are very good, unfortunately :) Note that the sugar cookie variety are already consumed, and I have absolutely no regrets. Yum.

Many thanks to my (almost) anonymous donor (who sent it from ZIP code 52806)

C • Oops 2

Took advantage of the warm weather to walk around JCCC at lunch time. Making some suggested changes to the course (thanks Nadim!)

C • Welcome 1

Long flat course at SMP. It was fun, for a change, to run a course that someone else designed and taped (thanks Mike!). A good course that takes one through the nicest woods available. Tough woods navigation in the beginning; long legs at the end.

I wasn't trying to run at race pace this time. Lots of stops to alter clothing, or take a drink. Definitely felt better moving through the woods; definitely need to practice moving smoothly through the controls. Huge mistake finding 9; then got totally turned round and took three (!) tries to leave 9 in the correct direction. Ugh.

The goal of these long runs is to increase endurance. If I understand correctly, I can't change my VO2 max much, but I should be able to push out my lactate threshold. We'll see.

Special AOWN moment: I scared up what must certainly be the trophy buck of SMP. Most deer are scrawny rats; he was solid, wide and beautiful, with a large rack. Nice to have seen him.

End of a long weekend of training, so I treated myself to a massage followed by several hours of lying around watching the Giants.

long flats 3 - Splits