Training Log Archive: vmeyer

Instead of timing an EX2 race today, I participated.

The premise was to get from Fountainhead to Hemlock with the option to do it as a trail run, or to "bushwhack" if you wanted to. On the Blue trail would have been about 11 miles.

I went out with the goals of staying off trail as much as possible, and trying to use my compass to keep me heading in the direction that I wanted to be going in when I was off trail. I did this better in the beginning, and bungled up two big off trail sections near the end.

My other goal, besides finishing, was to be under 3 hours, and to not be last, if I could help it. Well, I didn't know my move at the end would accomplish the last part of this goal, but I struggled up the last hill behind 3 others. They took the trail and road around, and I cut though and edged them out at the line, otherwise, I would have been DFL. :)

It was warm, my butt was tired from yesterday, and my chest congestion is still present, but I enjoyed the event. A day in the woods is a good day.

Red fox in our backyard this morning.
Yesterday, I startled a fawn who ran off about 10 feet in front of me. Shortly after, I was within 6 inches of stepping on another one which was snuggled against a log trying to be invisible.

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