Training Log Archive: Lori

Easy run with Presto from my apartment to the river and then did the JFK-River St. loop. My leg is gradually getting better, although it is still sore. It didn't hurt too much as long as I took really short strides. I tried going faster briefly, but I was quickly informed that this was a bad idea. It was pleasantly cool out and all in all great to be out.

CSU training at Franklin Park. I put this training on, so this time includes running from the T stop to the park, setting some controls, and doing laps around the field/parking lot that the Start/Finish was in while I was watching people's stuff. It was probably good that I didn't actually get to run the course because my leg is still sore, so this kept me from running for too long. I think the people who were standing around in the parking lot doing...something...probably thought I was incredibly strange.

I was planning on going on an easy run on the JFK to River St. loop, but my right leg disagreed. I guess I pulled my hamstring at some point on Sunday, and I thought if I went for an easy run it would loosen up but instead it just kept hurting, so I decided I was doing more harm than good and cut the run short. I stretched it out really well when I got home, so hopefully it will be feeling better tomorrow.

Some easy abs stuff that doesn't involve my legs at all, which limits my normal abs workout quite a bit. Mostly just lots of crunches.

Event: Quidditch-Orienteering
 

Quidditch-O Game 1. I was a Chaser in this game, which was tons of fun! I decided to go north around the hill where the control density was lower. This meant there was less chance of getting to as many controls but I was less likely to encounter any Beaters. This worked out really well as the only person I saw the entire time was Ross (my team's Snitch). The map on the north side of the park was not as accurate as perhaps it could be, which confused me a bit in places, but all in all, I was moving pretty well. I was also keeping an ear out for any breaking twig sounds to make sure that I wasn't about to get caught by a Beater. Presto was really funny because he could tell I was on the alert, so he decided he should be too. He had both ears straight up and was bouncing around looking for whatever he thought I was looking for (probably a squirrel or possibly a rabbit). I didn't start getting really nervous until I came around to the side of the hill the Start/Finish was on where the control density was higher, and it was more likely to run into a Beater. I was also carrying quite a few streamers at this point. I picked up a couple of controls on my way in but was mostly concerned with just getting back to the Start/Finish without encountering anyone. There also seemed to be an extremely large number of random people out for a hike with blue shirts on (I was on the red team and keeping an eye out for blue shirted people), which was a bit nerve racking. I managed to get back unscathed and turned in my 15 controls. I got back at around 40 minutes, so I went out and got another control, but at this point, Ian the Beater was around and tagged me. The time limit was almost up, and getting more controls was likely to just be a gift to the other team, so I went back to the Start/Finish for the last minute or so. Great game!

Quidditch-O Game 2. I was a Beater for this game, which was definitely less fun than being a Chaser, although it really wasn't all that bad. I started the game by running in the direction that I thought Keith and Jonathan had gone in (I figured I could catch them), but didn't see them anywhere, so I found a control and went to go hide around there for a while. It was conveniently a Snitch control (I didn't remember this when I went to hide at it, it was just high and therefore would have less mosquitoes). I hid there for a while, heard someone and got really excited, realized it was Vadim and Nik who were on my team. Sat there for a little while longer and got bored, so I got up and started moving away and saw Ian the Blue Snitch. The chase was on! He is definitely without a doubt faster than I am, so he wasn't particularly in any danger of getting caught. I don't think he was really going absolutely as fast as he could because I was more or less keeping up with him until Presto and I went on opposite sides of a tree, both got clothes-lined, and came to a screeching halt. Ugh! I sort of kept on after him for a while longer but pretty quickly couldn't see him anymore, so I trotted back to the Start/Finish to hang out for a while. I saw a couple more people on my team, but the only other person I saw on the blue team was Jeff (the other Beater) until low and behold, Ian shows up again. I once again felt obligated to futilely chase after him if for no other reason than to keep him from the Start/Finish to get another course and give me something to do since the Blue Chasers seemed well hidden. He got away again, so I returned to the Start/Finish. I didn't manage to catch any Chasers as they came in, but I did keep Les from getting back to the Start/Finish within the time limit, which I guess gave my team a 2 point advantage. I also tagged Ian basically because I think he thought he was inside the safe zone but was actually standing just outside it. We should probably streamer the safe zone more densely next time. I still had really good time in this game even thought I sort of felt like I was floundering a bit. We have a couple of changes in the rules to make, but I can't wait to play again!

Picking up controls after the games.