Training Log Archive: maprunner

Ah, now I understand. When I finished the race yesterday, I felt bad right away. I knew something had gone wrong, and it was not a good run. I was really disappointed in myself. However, I try to stay positive, generally, on my AP log, so my write up concentrated on the bright side of a PR. But in reality, I was quite bummed all evening and resorted to eating lots of comfort food. But I couldn't define what was wrong.

Until Gene posted this lovely photo he took of the start:



My form is terrible. And now I remember that my arms were not right during the whole race. Which is really odd, since my arms are usually fine. Why didn't I follow my usual form in this race? I don't know. I'll have to work on concentrating on form in future races.

But now I do know that the start blocks and the spikes DID help me. They helped overcome my awful form :)

And again, notice how REALLY fit everyone else is. And these women are 45-49! Good for them.

Lesson learned. Time to practice, practice, practice, and prepare for my next race on Aug 24.

EDIT: got some feedback from Gene, who said my form was fine, and that the photo just caught me at a bad moment. So, there you go. Proof that I am over thinking this :)

Unfortunately, Gene also told me that the event on Aug 24 is canceled. Bummer. I was looking forward to trying this again before next spring.

C • 10 seconds 5

PTOC sprint at Hodge Park. Fun to be on a new map, especially one that required some navigation and map reading ability. Thanks for making the map and setting the course, possum!

I felt good, despite a lack of sleep. I was moving along alright until I hit 6. I couldn't find the marker. I looked all over the bridge, and in the deep grass on either side. Never found it (everyone else did).

At this point, a strange thing happened. I was on the edge of the golf course, and an irate golfer started towards me, demanding to see my map. I shouted back that I was in a race and was not going to stop. He continued to yell at me that we shouldn't be running here, and demanded that I stop. I ignored him. (He continued to yell at other orienteers in the area)

But now I was frazzled and in A Mood. I was very confused and hesitant on my way to 7. As I left 7, Irate Golfer was back. I told him that I wasn't in charge, and he said he didn't care, we were doing something dangerous and should stop. I continued.

Some confusion trying to find the small hidden trail to * (correction 10). Then more confusion, in my mind, as I approached 9. Crossed paths with Chatty Guy, who I didn't want to talk to, and because I was now really In A Mood, he wouldn't have wanted to talk to me. Momentarily got 6 and 9 mixed up, and thought I had been searching around 9 when I couldn't find 6 earlier. Crazy thoughts, eventually settled down and found 9 (hidden in the grass).

Finished the course, and was dying to get away so I wouldn't rip anyone's head off. Ran into a guy and his 10 year old daughter (also named Mary :) who were friends of Pat Slusher. They didn't want to try a course on their own, so I gave her some basic instruction, and walked with them to three nearby controls. Glad I did this because it calmed me down and put me in a better mood.

Course length listed as 2.3, Garmin says I ran about 4.5. Could it have been closer to 3.5k? A case of 1:4000 vs 1:5000 perhaps?

Thanks to the organizers for giving me credit for 6, and listing me in the results.

route

USATF Master's F45 100m prelims. 17.10 seconds = PR

Well, this was an interesting experiment. The first thing I learned is that track races use your age on the "day of". If this event was held just two weeks from now, I would have been the youngest in my age group instead of the oldest :)

I knew I would be way down in the results, but it was master's track event close to work, so I entered. I trained, bought spike shoes, and learned to use starting blocks. I thought that would magically make a half second disappear from my PR. It didn't.

I was unprepared for the start of this race, because of all the new things I had to deal with. I know how to physically warm up for my orienteering start time. This was very different. I tried to warm up, but I had to stay nearby the tent where they were announcing the heats and handing out lane numbers. So, I barely jogged at all.

Then, they started leading us to the track 15 minutes before the start, and I didn't even have my spikes on yet. Which left me almost no time to do the "fast leg" warm ups that my coach suggested. But no one else in my age group was warming up either. Did they just not care, because it was a prelim heat? Did they warm up a half hour before? I always thought you had to do a warm up right up until the start of the race. How much "down" time can you have?

As I was preparing to start, I felt very calm, which is good. As I was running the race, I still felt calm, which is not so good. I didn't push as hard as I could. When I finished, I could tell that it was a lackluster effort, and my low HR confirmed it.

However, in the end, I managed a PR (by 0.1 second). There was a stiff head wind, so I suppose that could have been a factor.

The best part of the day was seeing all of the other athletes. So many really, really fit master's athletes. Tons of muscles, very little body fat. Very inspiring. Especially seeing so many 75+ athletes.

Some things that went right today:
1. I used the starting blocks and sprint spikes with no problem
2. I was relaxed at the start
3. I learned how a track meet works, so I'm prepared for the next time
4. MeanGene came out to support me and take photos. Thanks Gene!
5. PR

results

Learned to use starting blocks, just in time (my race is on Friday). And I love sprint spikes: I feel fast! No heel strike for me, land on the ball of the foot. It was 100 degrees today (not fun!), but we stayed in the one patch of shade on the track, and took it pretty easy. Only two (short) all-out sprints today.

Checking out the courses for the Sunflower State Games. (I was vetting, so I took it slow, and went to controls out of order. My time is not indicative of winning time). Hot. Fun courses. Glad I was able to take it slow today, because I'm tired, for some reason:) No run for me this afternoon.