Training Log Archive: Ricka

Couldn't resist a jog on last day in west (rest day Tuesday?). Went east of Denver Airport motels in grassland - see PG's log for details.

And then weather was pleasant even in St. Louis when I landed!

Excellent run! 3rd or 4th on M55 today; edging Charlie S by 1 minute. 4th combined time on M55. In US Champs in M55, chronologically I've been 8th, skip, 5th, and 4th - hope for Wisconsin at age 59? (Train!)

Fast, open, runners' course. Mostly, 'point' and check off features. Premium on reading clues and looking ahead to assure smooth transition at each control. 1-2 minute error on #4 when I first checked small knoll to NE; rest was clean. Maintained pace much better than Sat - don't know why; but it was a bit cloudy, cooler, and 2% climb instead of 3%. Felt great. Chuck Spaulding again started 2 minutes behind me - he never caught me today. I mostly ran solo, until I saw a hoard of walkers on open legs to 12 and 13.

I was consistent in checking codes, BUT mispunched at #16, then walked into 'real' #16 and punched again - whew! Two controls were very close on similar features, below huge boulder.

With too little running lately and nerve->muscle injury (weakness) in left leg in July, very pleased with 2 days. LEft leg still weak - but functional.

What a great week in Wyoming! I really liked the low key courses and training TU-FR on a variety of maps and terrains - and the camaraderie.

Warm-up. After Sat race, legs felt better than expected.

US Champs: GreenX Day 2 - Splits

US Champs Day 1 - Wyoming. Course was quite technical in first 40%, then more open and faster. Real sloppy 2-minute error on short leg 2; told self, "That was stupid; I've got to plan and execute out here. Good news, there's going to be lots of time on next few controls." I consistently chose a safe route, checking offf significant features, pace-counting as needed to build confidence. Clean rest of way except couple of hesitations.

Chuck Spaulding of BAOC started 2 mintues behind and caught me at #2. I pulled away at #4 & #5. But he caught me at #9 and we ran resto of way rtogether along with QOC runner. We all kept "jog, walk, jog, walk" and no one could pull away. I was first in on all but 2-3 controls; first time I've 'pack-run' for that much of a course.

4th on M55, about 6 mintues behind #3 Charlie S.

Could only run about 2 minutes, then walk, even at warm-up pace.
We're at about 8500 elevation, but 5 days should have helped more.

US Champs Green X - Splits

"Ran" Green course on Pelican Bay map. Skipped 'boring' control #3; stopped for 10 minute break after #8; walked in last 3 controls. Pretty clean run on 'easy' terrain, but major error on #10 (I totally ignored attack point of 2 large boulders), then blew 'extra' leg on way back to repeat. Both legs much cleaner on 2nd try. Excellent training experience on fairly fast terrain. Lessons - 'use all available bright yellow open terrain'. White is also usually reliable and distinguishable. Of course, use all lilght green aspen groves.

Walked very technical terrain on East Pelican Bay map. Spent entire time on flat spur with lots of small boulder and rocky knolls amidst a few big features. VERY challenging - toally lost once - took 15 mintues to relocate - WARNING!. Lesson, 'use any available major features' and ''pace count'. (Except even though I knew that I switched from 1:10000 to 1:15000 from AM to PM training, I forgot to adjust my pace-count - everything came up short!)

Took AM off. Walked to coffe shop for coffee (!) and bought 2 newspapers. Walked to public libray for 1 hour compter access. Back to condo.

Tried to run Green course on Bisbee Hill map. VERY frustrating. I was tired, brain was tired, terrain was difficult. Humbling - toughest training map fo week for me. Lesson - 'some of this terrain is very technical - be careful!' and 'I'd better practice some pace-counting next couple days'.

4 loops of 1-man Relay. Putting all 4 maps in bag really simplfied logistics. Loops 1-3 were overlapping - very interesting. Two bobbles on loop 1; rest was pretty clean - hard to run!

Long map hike on Bisbee Hill map. Very frustrated and confused by rock detail in pine forest. Combinaiton of tiredness, brain, and map? Still very useful message for Sat-Sun. Be cautious! The terrain can be deceptively difficult in woods and relocation can be tough - stay in contact!

Green course at Laramie Daze. Rusty but stayed in contact with map and built confidence - nice challenging course.

Map hike - hot and tired. Spent most of time reading lots of boulder and rock detail on long ridge - great views!

Saw 1-eyed cow! large patch on right eye. he was a bit curious - rest really scatter as I aproached.

Event: 2008 Laramie Daze & US Champs
 

Picked up Sunday paper, "It's nice out here at 8 am!" Pleasant run as storm moved in and last 5 minutes in rain felt good.