Training Log Archive: JanetT

Event: WCOC picnic and Sprints at Ratlum Mt
 

Ratlum Mountain sprint, the longer one, starting after the rainstorm had stopped leaving just wet woods (mid 60s). The rain was good and held off until early evening as we were leaving after the picnic (more on the drive home).

Careful/slow to start as I've been discombobulated before here figuring out where north is. Though I suppose I didn't take the best route, choosing to follow the beeline rather than taking a trail around to 1.

A little bit off on 2, coming in from the trail W, but I saw George W. (who had started shortly before me) coming out. Trails to 3, then climbed to trail past garden on way to 4. Fine to 5 and 6, then tried to compass to 7 but missed N on the wrong side of a medium green blob. Decided I must be too far north and headed S and saw George and Lyn leaving control -- okay.

Beeline again to 8, up and over the hill, hit the trail, and check off 2 boulders, small cliff, and large cliff then E. Down to white woods and it was there, off to the right. Marie smoked by me here on way out to 9. Trail to big trail and around past side trail and small boulder to where woods get "whiter", cut in to curvy trail, and see Marie zooming towards me -- must be that way. :-) Location of rootstock #10 didn't seem to match where I attacked from the hill; seems like it was closer to the swamp, SE of boulder on hillside... Easy in from there. So lost 30 sec on 2, a couple minutes(?) on 7, and less than a minute on 10 -- could have been closer to 40 min, but no better under these conditions.

FR=2.641 km

Second sprint (though it's numbered '3'); more short legs and quick direction changes. Took smaller trails left of line to 1, then checked too early for the cliff and fumbled around in the woods for a bit. Good to 2 and 3; circle at 4 was centered on west side of bare rock, but didn't check clue which was SW end of cliff (which wasn't centered) so had to climb down to it rather than looping in from below; ~40 sec. Fine to 5, fence corner, but then my brain told me to head west to the cliff, and I totally skipped # 6. Ugh--this can't happen at the sprint champs. Fine the rest of the way, though hesitant at 9, building north side when no bag was on the building--it was hung on a tree a few feet away--but I saw it when I turned to head back around.

Very nice courses by Charlie, and very nice picnic hosted by Charlie and Rhonda (plus a short WCOC meeting to set up fall schedule). Saw Claudia and Peter Grollman's twin baby girls (at a month+ old still smaller than my two boys were when they were born!) and petted up the two black cats and dog Hazel. WCOC is such a nice club. :-)

Distance adjusted for the control I missed; FR=1.902 km

Sprint 1 - Splits

Sprint 3 - Splits

At the Y, using balls for those killer hamstring exercises ;-)

Followed by thigh adductor machine, 2 x 12 @ 75lbs

In Chatham. Big class today; instructor had to go without a step...

Right hip is again tight, probably due to running yesterday, when my lower back was tightening up too (I suspect it's all connected somehow). I have been stretching; will likely 'roll' it later.

At the Y, using rings. Right hip was tight yesterday, and even more so after lunges today--ugh.

Albany Pine Bush, Kings Highway Barrens

I had never been to this section of the Pine Bush Preserve, and noted its existence on the preserve map, so decided to go there to see what it was like. Single loop trail; some of it went through some interesting woods, other parts through bland boring terrain with views of nearby houses. Small pond had loads of dragonflies darting to and fro, and I heard a bullfrog there too. Small dock was submerged at the land side and I wasn't willing to try to get out to the non-submerged part, just in case it wouldn't hold me.

Temperature was in the upper 60s/low 70s with a very nice breeze blowing.

Albany Pine Bush, Madison Avenue Extension barrens section. Wanted to run in this section as it offered more shaded trails than other areas.

As I made a turn onto a main trail I saw someone standing on the trail, then noticed the deer that was also on the trail between her and me. It soon decided we were too threatening and ran off into the woods. :-)

I had plenty of water for the run but nothing else and started to drag after about an hour so decided to walk this last section of trail back to the car.

New session in Chatham. Gorgeous day (cool, dry) after yesterday's humidity and storms. Stretching felt really good after the weekend's activities. ;-)

Event: Gay City State Park
 

Though it was cool when we left home (60s) it was warmer and more humid when we arrived at Gay City. Lots of sweat from running. I forgot my glasses, but they wouldn't have been any good after the first hill climb anyway -- the magnifier on my compass was sufficient on this map.

Straightforward course, straightforward navigation. No bobbles today. I was just slow because of the heat. I'm pretty sure I could have moved a least a bit faster on a cooler day.

The spiderwebs slowed me down too! Ick...taking time to try to brush the webs off my arms and neck. I counted at least a dozen that I hit, maybe more, plus there were a couple that I noticed and went around. Other runners took out different webs. But otherwise the forest was pretty nice and open, bits of ferns here and there but nothing scratchy. I even kept my feet dry in the marsh and stream crossings.

A weather/storm front (or two) went through after we left. Some branches down at home, plus over an inch of rain since this morning.

FR = 6.356 km

Green - Splits