Training Log Archive: iansmith

NEOC Club champs at Mt. Tom. I started too aggressively and immediately ran into some difficulties on control 2 (2 minute error) despite a reasonably well chosen and executed route. My trouble today was orienteering near and within the control circle; I had a complete meltdown on control 9, losing about 15 minutes. Much of Mt. Tom is invariant under translation; the aggregate features of the mountainside (especially the middle of the map) do not change significantly. Even in the technical west region, full of cliffs and reentrants, the terrain looks very similar over a range of a kilometer. I had a lot of difficulty recognizing the small differences, and I really struggled in the technical areas. The climb didn't help much, either.

Overall, this was a very bad day. Kudos to Ian Finlayson's 75 minute championship run.

Blue - Splits

A gentle run to the Middlesex Fells for ARDF training.

ARDF training at the Sheepfold at the Middlesex Fells. I spent a while discussing ARDF mechanics and strategy with Vadim, including topics like exclusion zones, the various switches (clock, tone, and the other one), and general strategies for the order to take controls.

My only previous experience with ARDF was about twenty minutes on a short sprintesque course after a Park-O, so I am reasonably pleased with my performance. With my considerable inexperience, I actually get measurably better during a race; I expect that to still be true in two weeks, when I compete for the US Championship. I will be exposed to the 2 meter format for the first time next week; day 2 of the championship will be on this format. This amuses me.

Anyway, I took about 26 minutes to get to the first control - the only one to the south of the Sheepfold; I ran into Lori at the control, and she found it first. Apparently Lori beat me to 5 (I'm curious how), though I didn't have the best path, and it took me 19 minutes. I found control 2 off cycle as I noticed the bearing changing while I was running on a trail in its general direction. I caught up to Lori and got to control 4 just ahead of her, and while I took a longer route than I planned to control 3, I beat Lori to it (punching at around 69 minutes, also off cycle). I was a bit slow on the run into the finish; I was out eighty minutes. Apparently the competition controls will be full size flags, whereas today's were miniature.

I didn't have much difficulty maintaining contact, apart from when I was closing on control 5 on cycle through some messy trails. I didn't have a pen to record my bearings, though based on my memory, it's clear that the uncertainty in bearing is very large. I still have much to learn, and not much opportunity to learn it. Today's event was on such a narrow map that there really was only one logical order (unless you completely doglegged 1 and ran 1 3 4 2 5).

A morning run; I woke up before my alarm at around 6:50, dozed, rose with my alarm, and sat around at my computer reading ap logs for twenty minutes to avoid falling asleep. I eventually and unenthusiastically dragged myself out the door on what I planned to be a 40 minute run nested around a 20 minute tempo run.

However, ten minutes into the run, I decided that I did not feel up to a tempo run and would be better served by a more moderate run. I have heard it said that every run must have an explicit objective, so I would call this run an "injury prevention/aerobic" run. I just acquired Daniel's Running Formula, so I should know the proper name soon enough.

I felt rather terrible throughout the run, as though I would never be energetic again. Both of my calves felt tight, as though they were being gently squeezed from each side, my knees ached, and I lacked the energy and stamina to push hard. I suspect I may have been dehydrated. I moved gingerly and tried to maintain a steady, relaxed pace.

I have been blowing my nose unusually often of late; whether due to allergies or a mild, localized cold, it may be contributing to my apparent fatigue. On the other hand, my lethargy could be due to my general lack of enthusiasm for early mornings.

C • Every run must have an explicit purpose... 3

Event: CSU Pine Hill Park-O
 

I ran from the Porter Square vicinity to the Sheepfold at the Middlesex Fells for a CSU Park-O. I ran with a map of the route; my run was uneventful and generally pleasant. I ran in running shorts and a t-shirt.

I ran an allegedly 3.1 km Park-O at the Sheepfold in the Middlesex Fells reservation. This course, while nominally a sprint, was essentially a difficult middle distance race; no one, including two US team members, were faster than 10 minutes/km. Much of the difficulty is inherent to the terrain - which had particularly vicious vegetation today. It's difficult to course set for this sort of race in the Fells; a leg often becomes either a trivial trail leg or a highly technical leg. Farther north, the terrain opens up significantly.

I started well, and ran smoothly to 1-4; I had a 30 second error at five but was otherwise still in a sprint mentality. Then I had a six minute error at control 6, a stupid route choice at control 7, a four minute error at control 8 (which apparently was not on the right feature) and a minute error at control 9. This was one of my worst races this year, and I attribute that largely to my sprint approach to what was actually a much more technical race.

That noted, I think Lori did a good job with the course setting. I personally enjoy technical races (though I did not expect this one to be such) and prefer that challenge to a trivial urban sprint-O. My frustration with the course was almost worth it because certain others (notably MC) apparently also were frustrated with it.

C • Middle distance event 1

Climbing on the roof of my apartment building surreptitiously trying to break into my apartment (as I forgot to bring my keys and my roommate was not home). Fortunately, he returned after some time (though I did have a plan that I was sure would have gotten me into my apartment, but might gotten me arrested first).

Advanced - Splits