Training Log Archive: Spike

Warming up before the THOMASS race.

THOMASS race at Ancaster. Mass start race with a handicap system based on age and gender.

Fun, but a bit scary with all the ice on the trails and hillsides. I took a strange slide and hurt my arm a bit.

Route choice training at Ancaster. Peter and I took different routes.

I had more trouble with the ice than I had in the morning. More snow made it slicker. I ran in mixed shoes -- O' shoes on left foot, VJ Sarvas on right foot (which kept me from getting a blister from the AA).

I was tired at the end. The climb from the last control back to the car felt like Mt. Everest.

Jogging around on the model map at Rattlesnake Point. This was, I realized, my first time orienteering with a map drawn to the sprint standard.

Sprint race at Rattlesnake Point. A so-so race. I worked hard and didn't make any big booms. But, I wasn't moving really well and had "dalig flyt." I had a good race against Peter.

Relay training at Bronte. Another fun session; another chance to run a bit harder than you'd run on your own.

The area looked easier than it was because the open areas could involve some difficult running -- lumpy ground, ice that you'd break through, etc.

Night O' mass start at Westdale Village. The O' was easy with lots of the controls in street/park O' settings. Lots of fun.

A little pack disappeared after about 1 km. I couldn't keep up with them. Then I met a couple of lose dogs out for a walk and came to a standstill while I dealt with that. Most of the rest of the time I was on my own (shadowed/led by a lamp-less Hammer for a couple of legs).

Really fun.

Short jogs around the neighborhood. I tested two pairs of old O' shoes to try to find a pair that wouldn't give me a heel blister if I wear the active ankle. I know that the pair that is in best condition give me a blister (even with a good bit of work to try to make them fit better). I figure I need something better for the training camp. So, I tried two older pairs. I think I'll go with the "Lop" shoes. They don't feel perfect, but they might work better and I don't think they'll be any worse. I'll also bring the VJ Sarvas (which are fine with the active ankle).

C • AA & blisters 4

I jogged through a control picking course at Landahl. I have a memory of Landahl having nice forest. I don't know where that memory came from. The forest is thick and, in places, thorny. Fortunately, the park is full of mountain bike trails so you get some breaks from the junk. When you race a course at Landahl you can often avoid much time in the forest.

C • Ice storm 2

Easy jogging after the O' training. I stopped at the car and ate a couple of Clif Bloks, which made me feel a lot better.

Easy jogging to warm up. It was easy to warm up with the temps today -- must have been 60 at the start.

Clinton Cross Country race. Even though this wasn't orienteering, I'm logging it as O' becasue I carried the map and read it quite a bit. It was something like a line O'. The race was fun and fairly tough. I won M40.

On the trainer when I got home. I watched some football - Philadelphia v Washington. Here in the Joneski household we want both of those teams to lose.

C • That's pure blasphemy! Sorry t... 3