Training Log Archive: vmeyer

Event: QOC Patapsco Avalon
 

EX2 - Hemlock - Spring BYB Trail Run - timing

2014 race timing season started today at Hemlock Overlook Park in Clifton, VA. A good venue to start with, since the course is hilly and racers are a bit spread. Next week - Wakefield - the fast and furious course - more pressure. The company owner is looking at purchasing a chip timing system which will handle trail races, MTB races (with multiple laps), a tri, and lap races. I am in favor of this, because I see this as the way to eventually work my way out of the manual race timing business.

After stopping at the shopping center from hell for pet food on the way home, and HD for some flexible tubing for the pond, and a rest period while Roger napped, I headed to the pool. I was going to bike over, but it had just started to rain. It was packed, not only the lap lanes, but the diving well with synchronized swimming. So, I paced around waiting for a lane, and then watched three guys stand in the middle of a lane chatting for five minutes. When they made their way to the end, I asked if they were done, and if they were just chatting, they needed to take it elsewhere. "No offense." [Valerie speaks up - I am still shocked!] Two of three swam four more laps, and then I got half the lane with a guy who didn't deserve it because he didn't speak up himself.

Anyway, after all of that babbling, and muscling my way into the lane, I only managed 40 laps. However, with the encouragement of Charlie, Gail, and Cristina, I did them all with bilateral breathing every third stroke, or maybe that is every 1.5 strokes. Either way, it was exhausting, especially with all of the turbulence, but it was also a little easier today - I wasn't sinking quite as much.

I could have done 40 more all on one side, but I decided I did not want to reinforce the dominant side since I was making progress, and there were also people waiting for lanes. So, I got out - payback for being bitchy earlier. :)

May regret it later, but I decided that the foot hurts anyway, so I may as well stop babying it. Treadmill to be a little smart in case this was a really dumb idea. Five minutes each warm up and cool down.

Running at 1 minute @ 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8. mph, 12 minutes @ 5 mph, then the reverse of the first four minutes. Different parts of ankle and foot objected, but it felt good in general.

80 laps, last 10 included 7.5 of BS because I was pooped.

657 713 654 r27 700 710 r27 700 704 719

Worked more on breathing to both sides. Some whole laps and some alternating every third stroke to the opposite side. Overall maybe 80% alternating. It was not as awkward as yesterday, but I am not there yet.

Got there at opening, but had to share a lane almost right away. A very good teenage girl who was going twice as fast as I - less embarrassing than the lady with only one leg lapping me . :)

This visit with my sister went better since I went with a purpose. I do not do well with making small talk, so I offered to come and cut her hair. She accepted, even though I had butchered it the last time I cut her hair. But, that time we were four...

Not sure of the number of laps. Spent the half hour trying to concentrate on breathing bilaterally. I am hoping spreading the work to both sides will get the left side stronger and also make the bicep less painful. Not so easy to breathe from my non-dominant side, but I will continue to try . This evening, both biceps are sore.

C • Breathing 6

Aim was for 30 minutes, but the fire alarm went off, and then there wasn't enough time to finish before the pool closed.

80 laps, lane to myself, not feeling real peppy.
640 716 651 r26 656 640 r30 706 703 656

PT appt this morning. Off to the ortho foot/ankle doctor next. Almost caused a major accident on route 50 when leaving the appointment. Stupid move on my part. A wake up call.

Roger told me tonight that he thought maybe my "jock" days were over. It made me sad to think that it may be true. As inglorious as they were, I sure hope not.

C • Jock Days 3

A lovely afternoon spent with Sarah and Lailah. Lailah and I played with the dolls, then had lunch (her first grilled cheese sandwich), and then she announced that she wanted to go to the pool. So, while Sarah went for a run, Lailah and I went to the pool at Henderson Hall. Big mistake! It was freezing! She got wet up to her neck and 10 seconds later we were back on deck and heading for the showers. The showers are wonderful there - strong water and nice and warm.

Lane all to myself, two days in a row. WooHoo!

80 laps, though I wanted to stop after maybe 4. Tired today.
707 650 r33 646 649 r7 627 642 r13 652 644

PT appointment Thursday at 8:15 to try to figure out if PT is appropriate right now, or whether I need to go to the foot/ankle guy instead.

80 laps
658 639 644 641 644 r111 636 639 631