Training Log Archive: Spike

Biking from home to the arboretum, putting out the markers, biking to the overlook, biking back to the arboretum, picking up markers, and then biking home.

Sprint at Clinton Overlook. I was a bit tired and didn't really get much out of myself - running steady and hard, but not quite flat out. Mook blazed the course in under 9 minutes.

The course was fun with a few short legs with some direction change, then a route choice leg, and then you were done. Gene put out some markers with no punches at the last two controls. One of them pulled me off. I was coming toward 8 and figured the marker might be tucked behind a tree. So I was planning to orienteer to the right tree. Then I spotted a marker on a tree from about 150 meters away and just went to it. I got to the marker - no punch. I checked the ground and was just leaving when I spotted another marker about 10 meters away. "Ah hah! Gene is being tricky!"

Warm, but not as bad as the last week or so.

http://www.sprintseries.org/doma/show_map.php?user...

Yuck:

105°F (feels like 116F)

And the "excessive heat warning" that was set to expire tonight was extended another day.

Work commute. It was really hot on the trip home. The "excessive heat warning" was expected to end today, but the NWS extended it through tomorrow.

Work commute. That was enough outdoor exercise for me because it was another "feels like" 110+ day.

My office has been uncomfortable all week (actually all summer, but except for this week it hasn't been so bad if I have a cool drink and a fan blowing on me). Today the temp hit 85 at my desk. I certainly don't work as well when it gets that hot.

C • Amazing. What's the point ... 11

Row, row, ro

The work commute.

Mary and I went out to dinner after work and I biked home after dinner. Being a little later and after a pop up storm, the temperature was a bit lower and more comfortable.

Work commute. I also biked to/from the grocery store.

On the trip in, I spotted a figure running fast across West Campus. As I got a little closer, I saw a map in his hand and realized it was Mook.

Mook was downtown and we had lunch. I can recommed El Jeffe at Esquina if you want a tasty (and huge) meal.

http://www.esquinalawrence.com/ESQUINA.html

Yuck:

Lawrence, KS (66047)
Fair
101°F (feels like 111F)

C • It would feel like 112F to ... 6

Work commute. It was quite uncomfortable on the return trip.

Row, row, ro

I spent some time looking at the WOC sprint maps. The courses look fun. It seems like there was a bit more difficult orienteering on the qualifying races than at previous WOC qualifying races. Maybe it is just my imagination. I guess I could make a comparison and see.

A general observation: the split times are consistent with most of the US runners taking just a few extra seconds at each control. I can imagine that checking descriptions and codes, punching (and I think they use Emit, so it is not quite as familiar), orienteering and folding the map, costs a few extra seconds each control. Over 20 or more controls, a second or two per control really adds up.

To/from Clinton for a run. I probably should have gotten out the door a bit earlier. It has been a hot and humid day. I sat at the computer and followed the WOC sprint finals instead of getting started right away.

On the trails at Clinton. I felt good for about 15 minutes, then ok for about 30 minutes, then terrible for the last 15. I saw MeanGene out there. He'd been going for over 3 hours. Tough guy.

During my bike-to-run transition, I added a few trees to the overlook map using the iphone app. I think the app will be useful for making those little changes to maps that you bump into from time to time. I typically carry an O' map with me if I'm running somewhere that has a map. I'll notice little changes - maybe a tree that was removed or a new tree that was planted, sometimes a new trail or a re-routed trail. With the iphone app, it takes just a little time to make the change and then move on.