Training Log Archive: vmeyer

Actual distance and climb: 4.63 miles and 90 m
Error time was ~11 minutes.

Route

A new day, a new beginning. Go for the gold! Yesterday was a long model event. Apply what I learned.

I was pretty sure that today would see a whole range of emotions for me and others, but I never imagined it could turn out like this.

With an earlier start to the day, I decided to skip carrying water to lightened my load, use my new compass, put bug spray on my head, and try for safe routes. With Sandy starting 18 minutes behind me, my goal was to lose to her by less then 18 minutes. However, with Kris starting just 2 minutes behind me, I was feeling that pressure instead. Can I get to the first control before she does?

S-1 A little confused by the trail the start and then the overgrown field, but I figured it out pretty quickly. Made it before Kris. Whew! :)
1-2 Afraid of this leg, so I took it slowly and hoped to find the property line signs, and I did. Yeah!
2-3 On compass. Nail it. Go figure.
3-4 About 2 minutes lost. Long, convoluted way around, but I wanted to play it safe. Messed up a bit just near the end after being confused by the dry swamps.
4-5-6 Well done (for me) using the stone walls, boundary line and compass. This compass thing being my friend is nice.
6-7 Safe, out of the way route.
7-8 Right to it.
8-9 About 7 minutes lost. Probably the only control I wished I had taken the option I considered first - from the stream below the control. I attacked it from the other side instead. Just before the control, I did a full face plant, smashing my glasses into my face and drawing blood. I thought I had a bloody nose, and then decided it was a cut chin. It didn't seem too bad, so I kept going...right by the control...twice. Literally, right by the control, probably within 5 feet each time. Circled around again, figured I had been looking incorrectly down the reentrant instead of up into the shallow part, and the third time by I found it. Agh!@#$ The only control that I was really ticked off about all weekend. I will chalk it up to being shook up from the fall and the blood collecting on my shirt.
9-10 About 2 minutes lost. Wow, what a difficult trip down the hill through the ferns and crap.
10-11 With the hamstring pain, this usually fun, easy leg type of leg couldn't have been less fun.
11-F Gathered myself and tried to beat what I imagined Mary's time to be. Close, but officially 1 second slower, and probably should be 2-3 since the finish control Mary tried to punch first was missing.

Very pleased with who I got myself around this course. And, I beat the 18 minute spread to Sandy, who finished 2nd behind Peggy.

And, I guess there was enough blood to warrant a check by the first aid gut - Sam? Tom? Heck, I asked his name twice this weekend, but it still escapes me... The cut was on my cheek, not my chin, and it was tiny. But, I got some attention with the pretty purple bandage.

C • Any idea if/when there will... 2

As I suspected, today was kind of weird. Excited that I did well, and thus I finished 3rd in my class, supplanting Kathleen from a medal. That made me feel kind of unworthy, since I wasn't really affected too much by the misplaced control yesterday.

Sadly, adding to the awkward results ceremony was the fact that the Red course was voided today since two controls were not out there. They had been picked up yesterday, and a lack of event day existence check didn't bring the error to light. Sad for all of the Red, Brown, Green X runners, as well as for the organizers who put so much effort into the event.

Oh, and Sandy won the bet, since I ended up helping in the results tent for a while, despite both Mary and Sandy's best efforts to lure me away with food, and the fact that I was losing... However, I figure I didn't lose, because there was nothing on the line, well, except maybe my pride. But, I did interact with more people outside of the results tent during 1.5 day of an A-meet then I probably have at the last 5 A-meets combines. So, I am a winner too!! :)

Erin and I spent some time in the control circle today. I said something about her getting there first but perhaps not doing so well once she was there. Look at my tracks! I still am doing some very comical things out in the woods, so who am I to talk?!

I made it home after dropping Sandy in Philadelphia. It took until ~1 AM to get the 12 pack of diet coke out of my system. Glad I already have leave for tomorrow.

Day 2 - Green X - Splits

Event: 2011 US Classic Championships
 

Race timing: EX2 Crab Bolt at Seneca Creek

Tyler did an excellent job doing the race timing in my absence. Looking like it will be easier to cut back some of these events next year.

Actual distance and climb: 6.27 miles and 125 m
Time lost was ~45 minutes

Route

Not too confident going into this event. Hamstring injury, which I probably suffered in mid-June at work, has really hampered any serious training. Adding to this was my 2008 experience in similar terrain. Decided that this weekend would be all about relaxing, having a good time and actively socializing (i.e., not hanging out at the epunch/results table all weekend just because I don't do well with idle time).

Sandy was pretty sure that I couldn't follow that plan (the part about not hanging at the results tent), so we had a bet. I even asked a handful of people to pull me away out of the results tent, if I was just hanging out there. I could offer assistance in an emergency only.

Well, this bet actually was key in getting me to the first control today.

S-1 About 6 minutes lost, most of it in slogging through swamps I should have/could have avoided. I was so frustrated since it felt like I was just stuck and lost. I was discouraged to know that Sandy was starting just six minutes behind me, and that I wouldn't make it to even the first control before she did. I wanted to quit and figured I would just go back and hang at the results, but I remembered the bet and got out of the swamp and to the control. I came into the control from my direction just as Sandy was punching. Bummer, but I actually managed to put it out of my mind.
1-2-3-4 Happy with this sequence of controls. Used the the stone walls well and took conservative routes. Never thought about
4-5 About 25 minutes lost after I lost my mind. I headed 90 degrees in the left direction, scaring Kathleen who was on her way to 3 since she thought I was bailing and maybe hurt. Nope, just stupid. I even puzzled out that she must be heading to 3 and where that meant I must be, but it didn't actually sort me out. So, I fumbled and bumbled around, tried to convince myself to find the big water, and just couldn't get there. Finally did and then the control.
5-6 About 8 minutes lost. After finding the control I took a couple of falls, soft landings in mossy areas, but my legs cramped each time. Second time I was on my back spread eagle, and I was offered assistance to get up from a nice, young man. I demurred and managed to get upright on my own. Brain fart after I got between the lakes to the trail. Sorted myself out with less time lost then the last control.
6-7-8 Safe route and and accurate compass work.
8-9 About 6 minutes lost. Right to the area, or close enough, but it wasn't a good sign to see Francis, Gail, and Patti (sp?) among others looking for the control. Finally found it before those three, and I tried to indicate as much. Francis and Patti got it, but Gail took a bit longer.
9-10 Happy to see buildings, tents, etc. to get me headed in the correct direction to the Go control.

Very happy to find all of the controls, and literally every one myself. I led a few people in, but I did not see anyone going to any of my controls. I did feel badly for those people who may have thought my orange shirt was a control and headed my way during my wanderings.

The deer flies were often around my head, especially on the scalp where my hair was parted. I was afraid to spray my head with bug spray because of my asthma and how inhalants affect my throat. I was even carrying some with me, and I should have used it, but I didn't. Just kept picking them off of my scalp. Ugh!

Heat was an issue near the end, but then I had hoped I wouldn't be spending 2.5 hours out on the course, though I wasn't surprised. Glad I had my water and a GU.

It was easy to keep to the no work plan since we needed to take a bus back to the parking from the finish, and I really needed a cold one (diet coke). Also, there was a feast back at the parking hosted by Erin and Mary. Lots of nice conversation, and a great way to enjoy time with others at a meet.

C • The last section of your ro... 7

The Green X and Brown courses were voided because of the misplaced control. So, tomorrow will be for all of the marbles.

Since I had already made most of my errors before this control, I was the beneficiary of this decision. I am no longer in 9th place. I am tied for 1st again. Tomorrow is a new day, a new beginning. I could do worse tomorrow, or I could learn from today...

Day 1 Green X (Course voided) - Splits

Ride in. Best day of the week with temps in the mid-70s and low humidity. Glad I did this. Last rode on July 6 - too long!

Temps around 90. Went out behind the building to run on my little track of dirt, but sadly, it is not a viable option anymore. The little trail through the weeds has been scraped clean, and there are BIG machines tearing up the area on the upper part of the road. So, I bailed and ran around the paved track. Ran a quarter, walked a quarter, repeat, repeat. Then my hamstring/butt was painful enough that I walked the rest. Pooh! At least it was some time on my feet.

I will make an appointment for some kind of therapy or whatever after the New York events.

Ride home. Headwind. Pooped. Thought I would have to walk up the hill, but I gathered myself at the bottom, and then was able to pump like a mad woman and made it up, heart beating like crazy. Then disaster, almost...in my tired state, I tried to switch from the small to middle ring before I was at the top, and the chain came off. Spinning, and going backwards quickly, and wondering if I was going to get unclipped before I fell over. I did get unclipped safely. Whew. Walked the last two blocks home.

C • To avoid rolling backwards... 3