Training Log Archive: JanetT

Event: EMPO - Grafton Lakes Foot and MTB O
 

Intense abs...omg. I bet I'm gonna hurt tomorrow.

Mostly hiking, some jogging when the trail was flattish or downhill or not-rock-strewn.

South Mountain Preserve starting from the Alpine Street parking area. About 70, overcast, and a bit humid but not oppressive.

Two nature notes: picked a branch of a sweet smelling shrub I couldn't identify, and ID'd it this morning as autumn olive, an invasive. It's mostly in the flattish areas in South Mountain and not too widespread at the moment, but noticeable. Also, saw a small bird, most likely a warbler. I couldn't begin to tell you what kind but the coloring was generally bland (similar to wren but it didn't have the angled tail), so maybe a worm-eating warbler?? Ebird has a frequent visitor who reported seeing this one yesterday.

When I brought the branchlet home to identify Glen made a comment about my inner librarian. ;-)

Edited heart rate zone numbers today, both in my AP profile, and on my Forerunner 220.

In the drizzle. I was hoping to beat the rain but it was either fine drizzle or light showers and not distracting. Wore a lightweight short sleeved shirt and my light OR rain jacket. Low 60s. Jogged a bit on the downhills of Northwood and Bowood.

Last night's thunderstorm (we had a tornado warning but the suspect cell went about 20 miles west of us near Maxatawny and I didn't hear reports of actual tornadoes spotted there) brought down a ton of maple seeds which then were washed down the sides of the roads into piles.

Saw what I think was a female cardinal but she looked almost golden. Interesting.

Focus on ankles (strength and stretching), though we didn't do much balance work

Event: 2018 Billygoat XL
 

Pygmy map on RouteGadget

Pygmy version of Billygoat XL at Blue Mountain Reservation (1:10000) near Peekskill, NY. Nominally 7.6 km with ~300m climb

Maps were printed on waterproof paper with no cases. It survived a fall into a creek but was stiff enough that it's hard to fold so it was like running with a stiff placemat part of the time.

Finished a good 53 minutes behind Kseniya, but only about 4 behind Susie D. And if I hadn't messed up the navigation to 11 I would have been closer, so I'm pretty happy with my time. 6th overall of about 16 or 17 Pygmys.

Talked briefly to Eric Bressler (LIOC) before the race where he reminisced being about the same speed as me, and it turned out that from #1 on he was right behind me. He pulled a bit ahead on the trail run to the first control (big trail left of the line), but I reached the flag ahead of him, I think (micro route choice in to the flag). I also took a different than him from the last control in.

So I only messed up when a large group of Billygoaters caught up at our #10 their #14 (EC, boulder) and started one way but then second guessed the route around/through the marshiness. They (Paul Bennett and entourage) went left to go around and I didn't want to follow because I wasn't sure they were headed to the same next control, so went right, intending to cross a short section of non-green marsh, between hill and uncrossable marsh, and along stream, just south of the line. But apparently I ended up much closer to the big trail than I thought and was saved by a family hiking by when we shouldn't have been able to see anyone. Corrected and followed cliffs along hillside SW of the control. Slipped on a stream crossing (wobbly rock) and got my pants and legs wet so it was a good thing there was only a bit more than a km left to go.

From 14-AV in to AR I didn't want to run the road so contoured the hill below the Lodge and probably took longer than I would have if I'd run the road, but whatever.

Fun...thanks to Joe, Geoff, Rick, Donna, Craig, and all the volunteers who set out/picked up controls, and put out snacks (and cake!).

Happy Mother's Day to all moms!

Pygmy Goat - Splits