Training Log Archive: JanetT

Event: RHINO 5
 

Why do I keep torturing myself? Why do I keep trying to shortcut at Ratlum? :-) I need to teach myself to stay on trails as much as possible, especially at night, in foggy conditions. (low-mid 40s and some fog, especially from one's breath; glasses only worked for the first 4 controls... New headlamp helped a bit, but still isn't as bright as some I saw out there.)

Special thanks to Charlie and Rhonda for hosting the after-Night-O party! Great food and great company.

Slow to start, as I always have trouble orienting myself and figuring out which way to go from the house. Saw a short-course control near trail on the way to 1 and figured out it was the charcoal platform. Saw coach (who'd started earlier) come by to check it out and then re-attack the boulder, so I had a little bit of help as I mosied down the hill after him. Took trail to 2, back out to the trail to 3. Then I should have backtracked on the same trail but decided to cut through the woods, to the north (white and light green on the map), which saved absolutely no time at all and involved tricky footing. But I got to 4 okay. Number 5 was my big error; I got in the vicinity of the marsh but turned the wrong way, encountering Judy who was at the time looking for #6, so I had to turn back. Back to 6, which I found okay (though slowly). To 7, I meandered out to the small trail and hit it at the cliff (west of 6, NE of 7), then realized I wanted the larger cliff a contour up -- no problem. Trail most of the way to 8, then up above the cliff line to the very large boulder.

Attempted to find the trail west of 8 to get out to the big trail but apparently it didn't want to be found (by me); eventually ended up on the large trail much farther north than I should have. Had the company of Gail from there to 9 and 10 and 11. (Funny store she related about 11; I was just a bit ahead of her when I ran a stick into my shin and stopped. She had to stop too, she said, to avoid stepping on a branch which would have come down on my head. Thanks, Gail!!) Then back to the big trail and off to 12 where I pulled slightly ahead. Observed the bends in the trail on the way to 13 and took off at what I thought was the right point, figuring I had the very large trail and clearing to catch me if I over"ran" it, but I didn't.

Finally done, and could quit for the night. Surprised none of my foot ailments caused any trouble. I was using new insoles (ProFoot, from the grocery store) which helped support the arches; the unsupported toe area felt weird in the O shoes, but everything was okay afterwards.

RHINO - Splits

Hope it doesn't rain tomorrow afternoon/evening! Night O is tough enough without precipitation too (though one of the RHINOs -- the first? -- happened in an ice storm. We missed that one.).

With my favorite tool, the exercise ball.

Didn't do anything after class because I'm dragging a bit, RHR has been high and nose stuffy; right ankle (?!) has been giving funny pains now and then; and I woke up with a headache. Enough whining.

C • Hope you feel better 4

Well, I'm unlikely to hit 1000 controls by the end of the year, but I'm ahead of last year's total (870), so I'm happy. Maybe next year...

Hurray--steps today. Capacity crowd, but then another lady arrived late (as usual for her), and the one I set up near who's 22 years my senior gave hers up. She's quite fit for her age!

No tools (so I grabbed a couple of heavier weights for the anticipated upper body moves she throws in -- I substituted overhead triceps for the reverse crunches, and bench presses for the pushups). Sore shoulder this morning, even before the class.

Hill intervals. Feet felt okay. 1.73 mi

Pulldowns (10) and adductors (12x2@75#)

Another large class, so just floor aerobics, leg strength, and abs (and stretching).

Had a moment of hilarity this morning:

I was typing the word "rules" into a search box, only I managed to rearrange the letters. As I typed r u s l e , the auto-correct suggested "dyslexia." I laughed out loud. :-D

At Albany Pine Bush, Madison Ave Ext start/finish. Loved the packed sand trails with few roots and no rocks -- very soft on the (sore) feet. Tricky to cross the creek where the bridge was out (and a new one under construction). Did this loop (Red trail) in the opposite direction from runs I've done here in the past to make it seem a little different. Overcast and mid 40s so nice for running.

As we got ready to start we saw a number of folks in hunter's camo and bow/arrow setups. Only saw one of them on the trails later, and I don't think they stayed around too long. Glad to have been wearing a red shirt!