Training Log Archive: vmeyer

5.7 - 7 miles on the FR 205 depending on what program I used to read it. Either way, I am skeptical that it was that much. Or maybe, I am just ticked off that I wandered around for that much extra distance. You can see my circuitous routes on the QOC site: http://s91276857.onlinehome.us/gadget/cgi-bin/reit...

I started early (9:15 AM), and basically sucked right away. I hung in there knowing that I wasn't due to run the epunching until 11 AM, though official first starts weren't until noon. I stopped by the S/F after #9 and Kris encouraged me to finish the rest. I did, but while I was doing it, I contemplated how I would rate the course. I decided that is really, really sucked, but I would keep my opinion to myself until others had finished. However, I guess I looked like I had been through the trenches and people were drawing their own opinions.

Random thoughts:
Visibility was low with "white" woods having branches sticking out at waist to eye level. Eye protection was a good thing today.
20/44 starters were MP or DNF. Orange was way too hard.
It was hot and muggy. I drank at all water stops and made route choices through the S/F for more, but then I always drink a lot, and I should have carried my own water.
Thunderstorms came through for the last two hours we were there.
My Dell Rugged ATG's keyboard is indeed waterproof, or at least I hope it is because it got wet.
Everyone reported in by 4 PM with the last person punching the finish at 3:58:11. Yeah.
It is weird to have the meet on Saturday. I keep forgetting that I have tomorrow off still.
I was 2nd on Red (weak field).
Oh, and ticks, ticks, ticks. My skin is going to crawl for days.
Got to go to bed - doing another event tomorrow.

A preemptive strike to Day 3 of the Slide would have been to get up this morning and run, but that didn't happen. So, I brought my stuff to work to try and force myself to stop at the FT Ward Park on the way home. Going home first would only result in a nap and nothing else.

A small victory - I changed clothes and went to the park after work. It was a beautiful afternoon. I had hoped that a run would loosen up my chest so that I could cough. It did do that, but running, coughing and not peeing my pants at the same time was going to be a challenge. Coupled with each breathe being painful, I only ran one lap around the park.

So, I walked another lap, and the shin pain took my mind off of the lung pain, and I called it a day. I'm a wuss.

C • End of Slide 2

Day 2 of the slide.
Still wheezing.
Came home at lunchtime and decided to lie down for a just a minute.
Four hours later I got up...so, the slide may continue another day.

Day 1 of the Slide, though this rest day is needed, I know that I can easily add many unneeded ones on top of it.

Good effort in general. Poor execution of the long campus leg. Lost a couple of minutes there, as well as to #1.

Considering that I was wheezing from the minimal effort required to get from the Finish to the Start, I didn't feel too bad out there.

Chest is very congested. A much needed break time from events is coming up, and I sure need it. I have been away from home 7 of the last 8 weekends. I am worn out.

At the Sprint, it totally irked me that people were shouting out assistance to competitors who were skipping the GO control, and things kind of went downhill after that. Like my results (from 1st to last, to something in between), I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride all weekend. I had problems chilling, and thus my emotions were all over the place.

Green Y Long - Splits

Run (mostly) to the start. Chatted with Wil and Udaya a bit on the way.

Skipped #11, so a DNF. Still a nice day in the woods.

Event: US Team Trials
 

Uphill walk to the Sprint start.

One big mistake ending up a road lower going to #7, but clean enough to take 1st F50.

Green Sprint - Splits

Race Timing MMT 100 Miler Front Royal - vhtrc.org

I don't think going up and down the stairs 100 times quite equates with the 100 miles the runners did this weekend, but MY butt hurts, and DAMN, I have a cold as well.

Up since 6 AM yesterday (38+ hours) - not epic by some standards, but since I started out feeling fatigued, it feels kind of epic to me. And, DAMN, did I mention I am sick!! Agghhh!!!

Yes, I am desperate. Feeling a bit blah all week - napping after work, going to bed by 11, not getting up before 7:30. Chest is a bit congested, so I am guessing allergies. But, I needed to get the lawn mowed since I will be away this weekend, so I knocked it out, and it looks lovely.

I am feeling exhausted by the thought of this weekend's event - runner tracking for a 100 mile race. Hope to snag a couple of hours sleep this year during the 32 hours I'll be there. And, I have made it official - this is my last year.

Event: QOC Balls Bluff
 

Working the finish at meets can lead to a certain amount of disenchantment with some orienteers. At times it seems that certain people never have anything positive to say. They can always find something to bitch about. I really wish they would say something like "I really suck at this, that's why I couldn't find the control."

That's what I have to say about my course today, or at least part of it. Worked epunch, and got out at 2:15 on a shorter Red (5.9 km). Fairly clean the first 6 controls, though not totally steady on the long leg to 6. Mess up 7 & 8 a bit, but do okay on 9, 10, & 11. I don't remember much after that. It started to rain, I couldn't figure out the trails, some trails were pretty narrow and slippery, and I pulled up short. I then went side to side from the Potomac River to the housing development (across the width of the narrow map) for the next 40 minutes. I was just about to see if someone at one of the houses could point out where they were in relation to the park road, when I stumbled across a pile of crap in a stream which was marked with a black X on the map. It was now 4:15 and I hustled back to the finish.

Some thoughts here - I was not going to cry, but I may have wanted to. I was a bit scared, but more perturbed because I couldn't figure out where I was on this small map. I was concerned about worrying the people back at the finish (arrived 30 minutes later than the course close time). I had decided that I would not accept a ride back to the park if offered - what's that about?!

Anyway, I had a good day really - lots of exercise, it was fairly cool out, and we had some newbies at the meet. The poor execution on the one control is now history, and I will admit that I just suck at this (at times).

C • whiners 1

C • good thinking 1

The week sure got away from me. I would like to claim that I was resting the bruised thigh, or that I spent the time getting the rankings done. But that is only partly true, since the thigh hasn't hurt since Monday, and the rankings are a day away from posting condition. Mostly, I was just lazy.

C • Thanks for the rankings 2

C • How far away is the technol... 4

Walk to the start. Not as arduous as yesterday, thank goodness.

Roger and I before I headed off. Someone was complaining afterwards that the conditions were unfair because she had an early start in the foggy conditions, and she wanted me to agree with her. I had to disagree. Though the later starters may have had better conditions today, I requested and received an early start, so I have nothing to complain about.

C • Nice haircut! 2

Classic Green Y map with GPS

My time says I should be disappointed with this run, but considering the foggy conditions, and the fact that I have never done well at West Point, I'm not totally displeased. I couldn't see 10 feet ahead for the first 100 minutes or so. Not that I was mistake free...maybe 25 minutes of error.

#2 - I relocated from the marsh, but I didn't go far enough, so I had to relocate again.
#4 - I was trying to hit the pond, but I missed it to the left. I sorted myself out from the little ponds north of the control.
# out of 6 - Same compass issue plaguing me again. I thought I was taking the shortest route to the trail, and ended up paralleling it until I hit the other trail.
#7 - relocated off the boulder where another control was.
#8 - despite what the tracks show, I was actually on the trail. Happy with this long leg.
#9 - halfway through the leg, at the cliffs, I attempted to go down where I had no business being. Coach's voice was in my head - what was I doing there!? I backed up and took a safer route down. Did not get my feet wet in the swamp, despite crossing the tip. Had meant to go further around... Stopped too soon when near the control. Visibility really sucked here.
#10 - took the wrong route out of here? Saw the trail to the left later.
Finished strong. The fog had lifted at the end.

C • weekend 7

Found a big tick crawling on my side after we were on the road.

Event: West Point A-Meet
 

One of the toughest walks to the start ever.

C • Bah. 8

Walk back from the finish is quite stony but flat. At least I didn't miss the turn off like Ron B and head way up the hill.

Middle Green Y map with GPS

Pleased with my effort except for #8. I was there, but I didn't know it. So, I lost confidence and wandered around trying to figure out where I really was. About 7 minute of error, finishing 2nd ~ 1 minute behind Shelly P and 1 minute ahead of Trisha.

Rain and fog came with my 9:04 start. A couple of falls and smacked my left thigh. Nice bruise - I'll spare you the picture.

Sprint Map for Orange/Brown/Green

No tracks on this map. All was pretty much as expected, except for an idiot move out of 7. I ended up in the green hatched swamp, going in around #4, and I traversed the width of it coming back out of it at the building at the pipeline between 2 & 3. Like Coach said, why didn't I turn around as soon as I put one foot into the swamp water?!

I like the Sprint format, and I was looking forward to this race, so I am disappointed in my error. Though, it turns out that I was joined by fine company in the error department by George W who went off of the map.

A picture from the start - my other idiot move was wearing shorts and no gaiters...

C • Error Dept 6

Thanks to Julie K for the the red Peeps! Very cool addition to the collection.

I am the new caretaker of Big Peep. It was awarded a West Point pin and has to be handed off to a fan at the next A-meet. Don't tell Tom, but if Lisa is the only one there, she gets it back.

C • Big Peep 1

The ill advised chainsaw has been turned over to J-J, who is wisely going to have someone else use it to clear trail.

C • Gifts 4

Walked around NYC with Roger, after driving around quite a bit looking for a parking space. I don't know why he insists on doing that. Next time, I am taking the train in, and he can meet me there. :)

We had lunch in a Cuban place. It was pretty good, and the service was attentive.

Here is a self portrait...