Training Log Archive: Rosstopher

link to RouteGadget page.

Very fun event. The last time I was out at Norwottuck was a training day before the billygoat and I remembered the woods being thick and unpleasant. I had low expectations about how fun the woods were going to be, but I knew that Phil would set a great course and I wanted to get some training in. A cold morning, good for running but not for standing around. I took a 1:15 map and set out. I didn't look at the map until I had started my time and then, instead of fully plotting my course right then, I just choose which way I was going to start and ran off. I thought that I would sweep up the northern part of the map and then work my way south. I was pleased with the route that I eventually settled on, but in retrospect I think I should have run counterclockwise instead because the hillclimbs would have been easier that way.

I started out feeling very relaxed, and I never felt like I was pushing too hard while running I didn't have too much trouble until 93, when I missed the depression by 30 meters or so and started to run the wrong way down the reentrant. I had trouble in that area before as well, I find it really hard to read the shape of the hilltops when I'm in that area, it's very subtle. I corrected quickly, not much time lost, just an indication that I was being a bit sloppy. Next little bobble was 63, I cut out too early and got in the reentrant a little too far east and then was confused by some of the cliffs, thinking that they might be the ones in the circle. Again, not too much time lost, but needed to pay more attention to the compass. A big parallel error on 92, thought I was running up one reentrant but was really the next one over, so that I stopped short one cliff. Now I was starting to berate myself for the errors, I still had time to get all the controls though, as long as I kept focused.

I climbed a few contours too high on 84, not seeing the dot knoll as I came up from the pond, and then ending up too far up the spur. The last mistake I made was heading down to 72, I was pretty sure that I had set off in the right direction but I guess the naturally tendency of the slope pushed me too far to the west. I got way over to the trail, saw a yellow course control, and had to come back in again. Now I was starting to worry about being overtime.

Pushed back to the finish pretty hard, and discovered that Jordan had edged me out. My guess is that he also had some errors, since he's been running so well this fall. I didn't see him at the finish, so I'll need to go read his log to see what he did.

Sam got excited about stopping at Atkin's Farmstand on the way home. I picked up a bag of dill flavored chips which was exciting because it's hard to find good quality dill chips outside of Sweden.

No training today, but we did go wander around Faneuil Hall, have pizza in the North End, and then back to Jeff and Judy's house. Cozy.

Not really exercising, but really exciting. I jogged over to the Post Office to drop my my application for a master's degree in molecular biosciences in the mail. Now that application is heading to Oslo, and I can check it off my list.

Feeling productive, I stopped off to get a haircut on the way home. I'm glad my iTouch (thanks Alex) has the kindle ap and good books (thanks Sam) so waiting around isn't such a burden.

C • EXCITING! 16

spent 4 minutes trying to get my bust gear shifter and busted gears to cooperate long enough to get me home. I jammed a pen cap in place to keep the shifter where I wanted. Success, but it's time to replace this bike. Replacing all the parts would work too but would probably be more expensive.