Training Log Archive: W

Setup race at University of Victoria. This is definitely more my style of sprint, sticking to pavement, finding shortcuts, no stopping. Unfortunately, I didn't find the shortcuts very well, and stopped a few times by going the wrong way. Felt like my stride had a bit more turnover, but the length was a bit shorter. It felt good, but didn't seem overly fast, judging by my effort and my finish time. Interesting to think about, though.

Wore HR monitor, which I don't like doing while racing, averages 166, maxed at 178.

Chase race still at UVic. For the second year in a row, I get the dubious privilege of starting first. On the plus side, it appears that I was one of the few people that actually got to put the map in their bag and get organized. Perhaps it would've been prudent to pre-bag in this case?

Anyway, the forest-y part was very conducive for whoever on my loops to just run right back into it, since they were close enough behind to have the advantage of relying on my highly questionable navigation. We then ran in a group of two until I gained back almost the entire advantage on the long leg to 12, and then pissed it away again to 14. Two stops and intense studying made me conclude that the wall was not passable and I went around. And... that was that. Pulled back 6 seconds on the lead towards the last control, but then he turned around and saw me coming and realized the urgency of his situation.

I went back and looked at that little area where the confusion happens, and I figure you just can't win, no matter how you map it. Its pretty complicated, and you can either map it accurately which might make it too confusing, or map it so that its easier to figure out, and that'll just make it too easy. We could debate about the best way to map it for years. Whatever.

Averaged 171 for HR and maxed at 180. About typical for me.

Closing run of the sprint camp, set by Todd. A fun little map, and cool course, especially the little rocky sections. If only an entire map was just that stuff. The long straight residential run wasn't entirely riveting, though probably necessary. Did it at a nice tempo pace, felt like I had a lot left in the tank.

Focused on high speed punching, see if I could punch and barely break my stride. It worked.... maybe 70% of the time, I actually think I'm a faster puncher than I used to. Its a low reward/high risk maneuver. Save fractions of seconds, or miss, have to stop, and lose several seconds.

But, 0.7 of a second would have meant the difference between tie-ing and having the outright best Canadian sprint performance for men. Sometimes, you gotta live dangerously.

Awright, this is the big one. The only one that counts. After last year's debacle I was particularly passionate about kicking some ass this year.

Started out my standard slow, and looked at number 1 with flashes of number 1 from WOC. "Let's try not to get ourselves lost before we start, shall we?". Turns out I lucked out and all the trails were there and I knew where I was, a minor miracle. Was really able to open it up to two, missed the shortcut to three, found the shortcut to 4, briefly considered going to the wrong control at 5, took the scenic, though paved route to 6 and 7, squeezed through the oddly small fence gap after 8, thanked my lucky stars I'd done some UK city racing to be prepared for what happens at 10, let Patrick give me a route choice idea to 13, didn't hit any kid baseball players at 14, couldn't see either gap in the green to 15, cut up my legs on some rather rough open to 16, thought about getting a new pair of socks to 17, and then sprinted at not quite my "sprint like a bear is chasing me" pace into the finish with an extra gear. Saving that for really really important occasions.

Naaaaailed it.

C • Congrats 5

Partner exercise, blah blah blah, wrote about this then accidentally deleted it so I don't feel like writing again.

Synopsis:
- Crack at Patrick about missing the two trees
- Continued disdain at my compass skills.

C • distinctive trees 2

Race at uplands park. This was some fun little train. Those really open rocky hills are always enjoyable to run over, save for when they're a tad wet and I'm overly concerned about keeping all my teeth.

Nevertheless, managed to run at a nice brisk pace. Also picked up on the shortcut from 14-15 that I think almost no one else grabbed, all thanks to the benefit of keeping my head up and noticing a gap. Shock and awe, something some knowledgeable people told me once ACTUALLY WORKS! And I remembered and did it! Its a miracle.

I wore my head camera for this, so I'm working on playing with 3DRerun on worldofo to get it going. I've uploaded my route to it, which is here:

http://3drerun.worldofo.com/index.php?st=Uplands&i...

I think I can add other people's GPX, or add other routes if other people have uploaded the same map to 3Drerun. Could be fun to mess with, so, people who where there, do it.

I mean, if you want, of course. *puppy dog eyes*

O-tervals at Beacon Hill park. After looking at this map, it might've been nice to do an actual race here. Instead, we made a monster group and did the intervals. I think the only way a monster group is particularly interesting is if you're in the front, because otherwise you're paying more attention to the pack to let you go places than others. At the front, you feel panicked and hurried, which is solid practice. Me nor my foot was really into blasting, so I sandbagged off and on. And watched to my chagrin as the chaos kind of put off some bystanders who nearly got run down. Pay attention, people.

Mass start Farsta at that park of the name I don't remember. Started off like a dumbass and just ran around anywhere I felt like. Eventually figured out what I was doing and got a little bit faster, though not very fast over the wet rock. Those Norges have an advantage here, since they don't seem to notice. On the other hand, Alberta has no rocks, or rain, or moss. Made a good decision on the start of the second loop to the left on the trail, which got me ahead of the other head-camera.

Head camera video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w-Rlp2uAVI&feature...

Did a chit-chat afterwards at dinner about junk I've done. The thing I'll remember the most is accidentally referring to Scotland as England, more than once. That went over real real well. She's probably going to bring it up at the next clan meeting.

C • Yup! 2

Event: Vancouver Sprint Camp
 

Woke at the crack o' dawn to head out to Victoria for the sprint camp. Every year I'm always pleased that I'm now permitted to come.

Okay, requisite crack at Louise done. :)

First event was a warm-up session at Royal Roads, which was actually a really cool looking tiny university. Really old fancy looking buildings. Man, if I'd known this place had existed, I'd have considered going here! I'm certain tuition is several gazillion dollars though.

Ran it at a nice brisk pace, definitely a warm-up run, seeing as how I didn't do any warm-up. Tried to use my compass a few times when I had the chance, and that went about as well as it usually does with my compass. Afterwards I went back for some more remedial compass practice and.... well, its a headscratcher. I think I just have a finite amount of brain power, and being effective with a compass is just not something that can fit in there, and my brain is not willing to push out any of my other concurrent skills, like breathing, the allow my compass to work.

Its really the only logical theory.

Logging the time I do these things is going to be a little wonky, because I only used my GPS for the actual event, and not to include warm-up and cool-down. I guess I'll just have to guess-timate. Not going to like, though, the warm-up got progressively shorter as the weekend wore on.

The first "race" of the camp, at Juan De Fuca. I anticipated it would be a nice emotional warm-up what with the open rocky hilltop being similar to what we might encounter at the WRE. I'm not quite sure what that guy in the orange shorts was doing, but despite giving an over an minute headstart, I caught him by number 2. The rest of the race was a project of finding a different route from what he took, which was almost always either 50/50 or slightly slower. There was one occasion where I was reminded that its typically better to approach a control at the bottom of a cliff from the bottom rather than the top, so I suppose there was some learnding involved.

Also, apparently kinesio tape is not fond of getting absolutely soaking wet with mud, water, swamp, and sweat. Total absence of stickage.

Went for a skate ski searching for some speed. 10 x 1 minute intervals at zone fast. Didn't quite find it.

An inauspicious start to the weekend.

Decent conditions though.

Hopped on the trainer for a bit of spinning in the morning, rode for a few minutes while standing. I really think I should do some sustained standing cycling. A little more weight supported, probably good for me.

C • New name... 3

Did a little line-o around the university and the kinsmen. I still tend to navigate around that place using features I know about (as in, go around Tory Turtle, along Hub, past convocation hall....), but it was a bit different only having a sliver of map. Hopefully just a reminder of how to read things and which way is up when holding a map.

Kinesio tape did a good job on the foot today, though its already peeling, so not impressed by that.

Also, new blog entry, finally! Better go find somewhere to buy a flat of redbull.

Scienteering

C • red bull girls 4

Went for a light jog around the RV to test out the foot and the new kinesio tape. It felt a little stiff, but less pain, so that's positive. Will continue to do all the others things, and the addition of the tape will likely also help. We'll nip this in the bud sooner than later.

Disappointed to only get this much training in today. Was going to leave the office early, but in standard lawyer fashion, they came up with something to do at the last minute that needed to be done right away. So, instead of leaving with 2 hours to spare, I had 45 minutes, which meant a quick spin was the only thing I had time for before heading off to watch the "Go Death Racer" movie, starring a few Attackpoint-ers. One of whom clearly needs to do about 200 more Nancy's to be less of a Nancy on the downhills.

Also, good news, I've drummed up a new U of A library log-in, so the blog will be back after a brief hiatus! Learning commences.... tomorrow. *cough*