Training Log Archive: Lori

My mom and I wanted to check our new receivers and practice a bit, so we headed out to Breakheart with SGB, my dad, Presto, and Kiwi. SGB and my dad went out to set transmitters, but there was some confusion about how to get them not to signal at the same time, and the end result was that two of the 2m controls were on at the same time. This sort of affected signal direction, but reflections were the real issue. I had some trouble with my new receiver. Even when I was right on top of a control, I was still on volume level 4 (usually when I'm close, I'm being blasted out at just about volume 0), so it was very difficult to know how close I actually was. Controls 1, 2, 4, and 5 were out, and 4 and 5 were transmitting at the same time. I got very close to 4, but was confused with reflections and the combination of a zipcar/hurricane enforced time limit made me decide to leave it. I then went off to number 2 and was quite close, but the volume wasn't really getting any louder, so I thought I must be hearing reflections on that one as well (in retrospect, this was the receiver being weird). I then went for number 5 and found it, but I read the number upside down and thought I was at number 2, which increased my confusion about 1000-fold. I then found number 1 kind of without incident except that even when I was quite close, it really wasn't very loud at all. Not exactly an encouraging outing on 2m. I will either need to figure out what's up with my 2m antenna or just use the one I used to use.

I then went out with my new 80m receiver to find two 80m controls, but this was a lost cause right from the start because apparently the direction button thing doesn't work on the new 80m receiver, so while I could hear volume, I had two equally likely directions at most times (except when I was at the edge of the map). Grumble. I'll either need to find someone who can fix this or borrow an 80m receiver as well. Right at the end of this it started absolutely pouring (I was completely soaked in seconds), which was actually incredibly pleasant and amazingly got rid of the mosquitoes.

C • What 80m receiver do you have? 9

Running to collect the last 80m transmitter with my dad and two dogs who looked absolutely incredulous at the idea that we would go out in weather like this :-).

Went on a run with Presto before lab. I was feeling pretty slow and tired this morning, but Presto was not. Luckily he tends to listen to me when I run with him, so I didn't just get dragged around, but he was definitely bouncing significantly more than strictly necessary. If we include his vertical distance, I bet he ran a lot further than I did :-). No rabbits today but the geese by the river were in a large gaggle, and Presto had fun pretending to herd them!

Mark offered to show SGB and me the Hale Triathlon course, so we headed over to Mark and Pia's. Unfortunately dogs aren't allowed at Hale during the summer, so Presto couldn't come. Instead he got to hang out with Pia and the kids. Apparently the twins tried to feed him sandwiches and take him on walks :-).

Mark, SGB, and I cycled over to Hale and then set off on the mountain bike course. My bike was if anything worse than last week, and I had to stop every couple of minutes to reset the chain. I really need to fix this/get a new derailleur/get a new bike because it's kind of dangerous (and annoying). The course has some really awesome parts and some (to me) incredibly scary parts, but overall it's a lot of fun. Mark gave SGB and me some really useful tips on mountain biking and showed us what someone who actually knows what he's doing looks like out there. We got back to the change-over area and then cycled the running part of the course, which also looks pretty nice. Then we hopped in the water to test temperatures and swim around a bit and cool off and stuff before cycling back to Mark and Pia's for lunch! Awesome afternoon!

A quick swim after biking for a while. The water is a perfect temperature, but completely brown, so going in the correct direction should be interesting... I'm going to have to do some cringe-worthy breathing to make sure I'm going the right way.

C • Cringe-worthy breathing 1

Since Presto hadn't gotten to do any running this weekend, and I figured I'm going to have to run after biking in a couple of weeks anyway, I decided to take Presto for our normal run after we got back. I was super dehydrated and really tired, but we made it around (slowly). Presto was SOOOO excited to be out, and we even got to see three rabbits :-).

I will be sore...