Training Log Archive: AliC

Good first two races of West Point, 1st on Red in Middle and Sprint. But tomorrow will race up on Blue, see how it goes... main goal is to be doing long races for training for WOC long, in hopes of getting to race in the final again!

Run/walk to start- uphill!

West Point Middle, Red

Raced well, some small errors on first few, just off by a bit, not in full touch approaching the circle. More precise circle-envisioning would be good. But was running fast and really wasn't that far off on any of them. AP even says no time lost, actually, although there definitely was, esp on #1 and #4.

Oh, and did anyone go via the road to #14? I gave it a quick thought, then didn't, but given rockiness of the area, I think it might just have been the best route!

1499/2000

West Point Sprint, Red

Ye-haw sprint! Felt good + fiesty, bashing through the woods, finding *almost* all the controls exactly where I wanted.

But then there was that piddly little leg, 6->7. Went on a wrongish compass bearing, and was waiting for my second little-path crossing, but it didn't happen, panic! Turn around, head back, see a boulder, go to it, my control. Phew. But that was bad. What should have happened: look up, see cliff, go just below it, a smidge to left of nose. Even weency legs require respect!!!

1517/2000

Red Sprint - Splits

Red Middle - Splits

Mmm, left achilles still quite sore, so another day off, considering upcoming weekend. Routegadgeted Billygoat too.

And today, got the news that I'm allowed to remotely observe from the telescope in Spain next week- woo! Less romantic, but *way* more convenient then going there myself. And with this time granted, should be able to finish the project! So long as the water vapour content of the atmosphere isn't too high during my time...

C • Spain by remote control, tr... 2

Yee-haw!!! Submitted my paper!!! Finally. Meant to yesterday, and then a disaster cropped up, invalidating one of my assumptions, so had to figure out what new approach to take. Turns out, it actually makes things better, as in less uncertain, so that's nice. We shall see what the referee thinks...

Out at Earl's trails, a-testin'. Leaves are coming in, lower visibility here and there... Streamers were at all features, numbered correctly. Woo!

1473/2000

And almost didn't do the second course. But then felt fine on my little in-between joggeroo, so headed on out. And was all fine and dandy, except at the second to last control, I got something in my eye- like some sort of chemical or something off a tree branch, not an impact... it stung super-duper badly, could not open that eye for awhile, had to sit down, cry it out. Kinda like when I used Cristina's evil contact solution. Ouchie!

1484/2000

Easy-peasy noonie run around doubly extended Puffers. With, ta-da, new company! Two civil engineering grad students, Wystan and José. She (Wystan) just did her first half and José described himself as a recreational runner, they did the first 20 min or so with us before opting for normal Puffers loop.

Then the rest with Sanjay and Alejandro, Sanjay has 7 sisters upcoming and Alejandro is in a 2 week easy spell, so no pace-pushing, which was good, because still some Billygoat tiredness in my legs!

Also, ordered up a new pair of 212's, some Espresso Love and Jet Blackberry, the BG used my last gel of the previous stash...

C • Gu 10

Recovery joggeroo with some tiiired legs, just around the neighborhood, avoiding climb where I could. Just about everything is sore, calves, achilles, quads... suppose that's expected.

Core + back + side plank. Side plank instead of SJJs since those hurt my knee last week, will maybe work back into them...

Only 2 rounds of hammies, because hey, whoops, dinner was ready and more tempting... =)

Billygoat @ Moreau - 4th place overall!

A really good race, ran fast, and pretty clean - two smallish mistakes (8, 17), maybe one not-seen and thus not-executed faster route (3). Otherwise, some pretty fast sailing through gorgeous and interesting woods! And of course, some mass-start fun running around others. Many thanks to EMPO for a fantastic event.

#1 - Obviously can't be skipped because of #2 really nearby, so up up sidehilling, following masses of folks, but somehow then everyone goes this way, that way and I'm on my own, slugging uphill for a bit. Then speedy guys are sailing in from my left (Will, Boris, Sergei) and link up with them into #1
#2 - Nearby, following the mini-train, the guys are running fast...
#3 - Some scattering of directions, I liked the stream-marsh route, went for it, and then hey, alone. Boo. Maybe should have played the follow for longer, but eh, I didn't see the route they were taking (um, there was a trail, upon later inspection) so didn't want to chance being dropped without a plan.
#4 - Caught by Eric K, Nick D. either right before or after 3, running with or slightly behind to 4
#5 - Eep, choice!! Pondered, decided right, Eric had gone that way, but nope, he was already disappeared. And Jeff and Nick were heading left, ah, I'll head left too... turned out probably to be a good choice, you could really cruise, staing below the steap to the left, then easy with the big marsh at the end. But Jeff fell off to the left at some point...
#6 - Caught by Giacomo some point in this leg, then we were a mini-group of Nick-Giacomo-Ali until 10
#7 - Some descending cliff issues, otherwise easy
#8 - Whoops! Nick shot off for the low approach and Giacomo and I followed, we all botched it, way too low, but I corrected first which gave me good time to eat my gel, take some water and still be first off.
#9 - Led to this one, used the trail
#10 - Also led, just left of the line. Then at the control, paused, unfolded my map, both checking for obvious better skips and making it clear that I intended to skip 11, then left. But boo, neither Giacomo or Nick followed, I was hoping for company...
#12 - Alone, but executed well, straight east, counting marshes then on trail to another marsh and in.
#13 - Compass- marshes -compass - marsh, alone.
#14 - Eric caught me on this leg, decided to try to stick with him, then we caught Boris right close to the control.
#15 - Trying to keep contact with both Eric + Boris and the map...
#16 - Tumble down the hillside, the guys just descended faster, one backwards-in twist ankle crunch = painful. But I could go a similar speed on the trail, so still kept contact.
#17 - Well, keeping up with the guys obviously took a toll on my brain, instead of reading 16 -> 17, I tried to read a nearly-parallel nearby little segment from #2->#1. And nothing made sense... so totally lost the guys while trying to figure out where the parking lot was around #1...
#18 - And back on my own, as I'd be for the rest of the race. Trail to little valley to trail and in.
#19 - 2nd tumble down. Not as fierce a descent on my own, but good on the compass, straight to the hill right before the control.
#20 - Perhaps a bit hesitant, aimed off a bit tot he west to hit trail if I didn't run smack into the field, did end up bouncing off the trail.
#21 - Straight to it, and choice, which way around the pond? I decided left...
#22 - Left was probably right, but I should have used trails more, I was more just on the lake bank, not as fast.
#23 - Trails, saw Boris running anti-parallel at some point.
#24 - Around right side of ditch-stream
#25 - Ouch last uphill!
#26 - And in, seeing some folks just heading out for that last little loop

Didn't really know I was in 4th when I finished, was super psyched to hear!
1453/2000

C • Thanks 8

Up.

Moreau is awesome, so volunteered to pick up a few controls when asked. Did 4-right-hand-5-12-3. Nice to be able to stop at the viewpoint at the top for an actually look around. Such a gorgeous day!!

1457/2000

Down.

Billygoat - Splits