Training Log Archive: Charlie

Long distance race at Middlesex Fells. Definitely a runners course, and I do better at this sort of thing than at more precise navigation, even if I am basically pretty slow. Didn't see the superior left trail route to #1 and thrashed through a lot of nasty green, including some particularly unpleasant smilax greenbrier, so slow, if no problem finding it. Then pretty good work 2-4, in good contact. Inexplicably left 4 the wrong direction - saw the trail below and thought I wanted to be on it. Then another wrong decision - should have just sucked it up and climbed back up and over, but I went all the way around to the S on trail. Approaching the control I got stuck in waist deep mud and had a lengthy time extricating myself. Seems the same thing happened to Charlie Shahbazian. Then easy to 6 and long trail run to 7. Saw Dennis coming back from 7 along the trail toward 8. Got a little confused up top and missed 7 to the left, wandering a bit until I just went down to the trail on the other side. Lost about 4 minutes or so here. Then trail to 8, where I saw George Minarik the same way I had seen Dennis earlier. Jeff S, much faster, went by between 8 and 9, as did Craig W, a little faster. Craig still in sight to 10, but when I cut off on trail to 11 he pushed on for the next trail and I didn't see him again. Passed by a group of red and blue runners on the trail as I was heading to 12. No problems from there on, hustling pretty hard to 15 and the finish, and apparently picking up a few places, as I was only 2 seconds in front of Craig and 15 in front of Phil. Generally a pretty satisfactory run. Somehow lucky enough to eke out a silver medal. Amazing.

When we were leaving and going under the tunnel that had 13 on top, I saw about 6 brown runners streaming down the hillside and examining the tunnel from underneath, having a hard time comprehending that the control was on top. It was pretty amusing. Of course I do stuff like that all the time, but mercifully off in the woods and not for public display.

my route

C • Nice job collecting silver! 4

Green-X Long - Splits

GreenX middle. Not deliberate enough in complex terrain. Very intimidated by #1, and took my time, hitting it right on. Getting to 2 took a long time, but no real problem, except Bill P had already passed me, starting 2 minutes behind. Overran 3, going right past the bag, probably within 2 meters but not looking at it. When I finally went back, Peter Goodwin was there. Straight on 4, but missing it. Right and getting down to the marsh, fumbling badly on the way back up. Trail route to the left was much better. Mix of straight and trail to 5. All trail would have been better. Spent a bit of time standing on top of the cliff before realizing I was in the right place and it was at the bottom. 6 and 7 ok. Met up with Peter again on the way to 8. A bit right of the line. A moment of disarray when I lost attention and thought I was farther along than I was, but recovered. Crossed EW stream, then NS stream and right in, a few folks at the control for confirmation. Drifted right on 9, still with Peter, so lost a little there, then left to the trail and all the way around to 10. Off to the right on 11 and dropped a minute, and off to the right on 12, dropping 3. Trail to 13 was easy, then off to the right on 14 and 15, running hard and just keeping pace with Janet T, who was moving slowly but going straight.

my route

Green-X Middle - Splits

Event: US S/M/L Champs 2011 & WRE
 

Sml champs green sprint. A little long and technical for a sprint, but a nice park and a good course otherwise. Alas several mistakes, including one where I thought I was going to a different control for a while. I'll post map and routes when I get home, as I just have iPad here.

Update: my route.

Not helped by waking up at 2 and not being able to get back to sleep.

C • iPad 2

Green Sprint - Splits

Dog walk plus a trip to the beaver dam near the bridge at Big Down Marsh, with R & S and Dennis and Louise, visiting from CA. Clearing, on the verge of some nice weather. Beavers are causing a lot of mischief, with a pretty good jump required to get across to the bridge without getting wet feet. Later I found the beavers have also moved back into my little pond, a situation I find intolerable.

C • Intolerable... 1

Still sore from Monday. Workout today was 6 rounds of 5 front squats (with DB), 10 situps, 5 jump squats, 6 pullups. Made first two rounds of pullups, then switched to ring rows. Much warmup and stretching, then hung around after jumping rope until it was time to go to hand therapy.

dog walk with the girls

Too sore for crossfit today. Just three loops around the upper trail, with about a 1 minute break. Sassy came along for all three. Third loop 15 seconds faster than first two. It's good to warm up.

Nice workout. Some deadlifts to start, then 15 minutes to do as many rounds as possible of 5 DLs, 13 pushups, 9 box jumps. Have to modify considerably, of course. did my DLs with 105, because the grip is weak and the wrist a little tweaky. Pushups on knees and on parallettes. First time pushups in 3 months. Don't go nuts. Sore knee, so did box step ups, but at 30" to make it challenging. Got 8 rounds.

down to the bridge and back with R & S. Beavers are having a field day down there. Lots of water. They'll pay.