Training Log Archive: iansmith

Event: Blue Hills Traverse
 

To the Zipcar from my apartment, and the return trip after the Traverse. Conditions were cold and wet.

The Blue Hills Traverse has a remote start, and I didn't want to need a ride to get back to my car after my run (since I had a fairly tight time schedule), so I elected to park my car at the finish and "warmup" on the way to the start. Naturally, this was a much longer run than I would have liked as a warmup, but I was very cold initially. I painfully rolled my left ankle again on the warmup, but the pain subsided after a few minutes and did not trouble me during the race (though I was careful when planting my foot).

Ross had e-mailed me the pdf of the map the night before. While I diligently avoided inspecting the controls, I noted the course went close to the road out of Houghton's Pond, so I placed a liter of water at the road triangle near 8 to make an improvised water station. I was worried I might not finish in time to make it to my concert comfortably, so I skipped running all the way to the start and ran to control 1 instead, where I started my race.

I ran the Blue Hills Traverse early (starting at 8:30 AM at control 1) with flags and e-punches out so I could make my wind ensemble concert with a 12:15 PM call. I was racing, though I think I could have pushed a bit harder.

I initially struggled to get into the map; I began my time at control 1, made a three minute error at control 2, and hesitated for about two minutes at control 3. At this point, I channeled my frustration into concentration and started to do better. It helped that I was much more familiar with Blue Hills West (from ARDF training); control 4 was the first on the west map.

I'm especially pleased about two things:
- Despite my ankle injury from last week and my resulting lack of running training this week, I had the strength and energy to push aggressively through the entire race, totaling about 2:30 of running. I took a GU twenty minutes before I started and at my "water stop" by control 8 fifty minutes into the race.
- Despite that I ran alone, I was able to run aggressively, and while I made regrettable mistakes, my run was of tolerable quality.
- My compass work was better than it has been on previous races.

A few observations:
- It took me some time to get into the map; I avoided looking at it during my warmup to simulate race conditions. I was very unsure of myself at the beginning.
- I made quite a few bobbles and chose poor attackpoints (controls 10, 14, 16, 18).

I have not yet analyzed the results, and while 10 min/km does not impress me, I am not displeased with my run. I think that given the advantages of a mass start, I could have been very competitive. My warmup run was about as grueling as the 2.2 km leg from the start to control 1, and the route I would have chosen (the road, around the left) was safe and quick.

I am not yet fast or skilled enough to legitimately win a BHT, but I have high hopes for next year (especially if Ross is course setter again). Many thanks to Ross for letting me run early.

C • Nice job! 3

Traverse - Splits

Commute.

Commute.

Commute.

Commute.