Training Log Archive: Nev-Monster

Warming up and a brief cool-down before the Summer Solstice meet at McCarthy Park. I really didn't need much warming up, but later I guess I found out I needed much more.

First Summer Solstice OOC event. Not a good run at all. It was probably over 30degC and I felt great for about 400m and then felt like garbage the rest of the way. Too bad, I should have done great in this stuff, lots of trails and open field running. We had 50 minutes to get them all, I was under than, but should have been faster if I was moving better. Nice little area for a sprint race.

Also, as a service to others: for dinner I sampled Noname imitation Kraft Dinner and found it rather poor. For sure not worth the saving of probably around 75 cents. I don't believe it's related to noname sports clothing.

Rather obscure fact: while at King's, my first album with the fictional rock band Leash, was called, Imitation Kraft Dinner. My bandmate Alex Ian I think now is a music producer in Iceland.

Cycling to and from Carleton trying to make up for being late one way and then trying to beat the rain on the way back. I was volunteering for the Canadian Athletes NOW fund, met Jane Roos and got a t-shirt out of it.
The National Capital Sports Expo was well attended, a full day before the first race, but not many hard-core runners. I met John Bingham and chatted with him a bit, he's a big fan of trail running. Watched Bill Rogers trip while trying to sneak through the wrong entrance into the expo.

Run with Freddy up in the Gats. Started at Keogan, went to Champlain, then Western, then around Burma and back, pretty nice run, but I was hurting from the coffee I had this afternoon.

Yesterday and today I had a phone interview for an Alberta position which would be amazing, a sheer shot in the dark, but would mean moving west soon if I got it.

C • If you get, then I welcome you... 13

Bread and butter run along the river and back along the canal. Finally it wasn't raining for the first time in ages. Felt pretty good, still won't do the Nat Cap races.

Resting from lots of running this weekend and very glad not to have to drive up to Carmen Trails as BG is picking up the rest of the controls.

Hanging controls in the morning and then taking them down after the Eastern Champs. Very long day and very wet early on. I was in charge of sending out people, but also had the most to do, which wasn't great as I was the last to leave then. Putting out flags in the rain was great, I was really accurate because of two reasons: a) some of the places I had been to twice already b) I couldn't go that fast carrying stakes. However, because time was of the essence I was rushing. I think my concentration level was really high because you don't want to be screwing around and delaying the start.

Then the rest of the day was watching and listening to people discuss the courses, which received only favourable review which made me feel very good.

Then, it was time to start picking up flags and my legs were really hurting from yesterday and this morning. However, the sun had come out and there were good vibes about today.

All in all, great day, people enjoyed the woods and courses, no complaints that I heard, except from the odd crazy Ukraine, but that's about fair.

C • Great race! 1

Event: Eastern Canadian Championships
 

Warming up and cooling down for both races today. Morning was in the rain, afternoon just in the wind.

Time to be corrected later as I knew something was up, but it took a while to figure out what was wrong, but one of the SI start units were mis-set.

Pretty decent race, just could have been faster. Had a bobble around 8-9, just didn't think about where I was going before hammering into the woods and probably went slightly off the map. Also drifted a couple of times in the woods. Not bad for an early season Middle race.

Sprint Race at Easterns. Again a solid race, but could be faster. Made a couple errors by not reading ahead until I had run past things on trails and then were committed to the route having missed a chance to cut distance. Awesome run by Hans to put us in our place.
Good course setting and a great area for a sprint.

Course C - Splits

Course 8 - Splits

More vetting for Sunday's Long race at Carmen Trails. I had two of the farmer's dogs come with me the whole time. I don't think they expected me to go so long, but it was great company.

C • Dog 1

Long run with Freddy. I was feeling sleepy all day so went for a long run which helped so much. Parked at P7 and went King Mtn, then Ridge to parkway, up trail 10, down Burma, around Fortune, back to Ridge and down.

Then food and beer at Karl and Megan's. Awesome night.

Hanging ribbons at Meech Valley for the Long day of Easterns. Very happy with the woods, it should be a good day for racing. Too bad many people are going to be in St. Louis, but them the breaks.

Highlight of the day was being chased by a massive angry beaver.

Nice and slow ride, first one of the year, with Alison Lampi. Lovely great day, legs felt actually really good after yesterday. Highlight: first time wearing bib-shorts. Lowlight: at the War Museum on the way home my right pedal fell off and I had to ride home with just the bar underneath. Evidently Geoff Kabush won a mtb race like that, so I could ride down a bikepath home. My Miyata needs a complete overall, or I'd like to buy a new one.

C • NevMonster the Estonian celeb 2

Event: Ottawa Adventure Run
 

Trailhead Adventure Run, racing as Team Fresh Air with Francis Falardeau. 1st place in Mens, 2nd overall to team Graham, BG and Marketa. My legs held out, but man it was close. Benoit's team and ours bounced back and forth early on, then they went ahead for much of it before having lots of problems near the end and let us by. We should have worked harder to try to catch the Grahams, but man, I don't think I could have made it.

Probably the best course I've run in Ottawa, very physical and perfect technical level. Couple little logistics things, but a great event. Hopefully they can get more teams next year.

C • Congrats! 6

- Splits

Hard run before the hockey game, I still need to add a few runs from this week. Legs felt awful as usual early on, then felt very good on the way back.

I'm running the Adventure Run on Sunday with Francis Falardeau, should be fun.