Training Log Archive: GswedeIn the 31 days ending Dec 31, 2018:
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Monday Dec 31, 2018 #
BBA 25:00 [2] 3.5 km (7:09 / km)
1 PM
Running 1:15:00 [3] *** 13.48 km (5:34 / km) +72m 5:25 / km
33c
Easy run on the Levee with a microsprint included and followed by 5x20/40s. Feeling tired, but the good type of tired.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sWMu9UL1zsvyCniz5
Control Count: 308
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sWMu9UL1zsvyCniz5
Control Count: 308
2 PM
Circuit Training 30:00
Sunday Dec 30, 2018 #
1 PM
Orienteering 2:33:27 [3] *** 19.86 km (7:43 / km) +584m 6:44 / km
20c
Este muerto está muy vivo - Capítulo 2
Really fun terrain. Really nice forest. I am so tired.
Part 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vhntx9Tkgs1cZ31j8
Part 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vQChsd7fS5sXJ76VA
There was a logged area between the triangle and where I stopped on the way to #4 in Part 1. I tried getting through it but the trees were dense enough to convince me otherwise. The other logged area was south of the train tracks in Part 2. Again I tried crossing, but quickly determined it wasn't worth my time.
It's surprising to see just how much I underestimated for 5 and 12. I haven't run on 1:15,000 for a while and I had to continually adjust mentally for the scale. But it seems like I need to continue working on sidehilling and diagonal downhills.
For 5, I'm just surprised I misread the contours that much. I felt really confident about it, but I should have been clued in by the distance. I have to get back to 1:15,000.
On the way to 12 the contours stopped making sense. Although, now I understand that what I was seeing was actually the terrace of 12. Again, the scale, because I had actually crossed several terraces coming down the hill, but obviously 12's terrace was much larger.
I didn't miss 8, but I decided to skip it. I wanted to check out the northern ridge to see just how bad the green was. All the green was mountain laurel and it wasn't bad on the way to 6 and 7, but then it got bad fast after 7. And the ground was very rocky. So after several minutes tripping over mountain laurel and slipping over rocks, I decided to look for the trail, which was apparently right next to me and I had no idea.
Very beautiful, squishy forest in the area around 10 and 11.
For Part 2, the downhill from the start to the train tracks was a blast. Again lots of terraces on the way down. There were lots of 1.2-1.5m cliffs. I'll have to see if I can map them and do some downhill exercises :)
Control Count: 300
Really fun terrain. Really nice forest. I am so tired.
Part 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vhntx9Tkgs1cZ31j8
Part 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vQChsd7fS5sXJ76VA
There was a logged area between the triangle and where I stopped on the way to #4 in Part 1. I tried getting through it but the trees were dense enough to convince me otherwise. The other logged area was south of the train tracks in Part 2. Again I tried crossing, but quickly determined it wasn't worth my time.
It's surprising to see just how much I underestimated for 5 and 12. I haven't run on 1:15,000 for a while and I had to continually adjust mentally for the scale. But it seems like I need to continue working on sidehilling and diagonal downhills.
For 5, I'm just surprised I misread the contours that much. I felt really confident about it, but I should have been clued in by the distance. I have to get back to 1:15,000.
On the way to 12 the contours stopped making sense. Although, now I understand that what I was seeing was actually the terrace of 12. Again, the scale, because I had actually crossed several terraces coming down the hill, but obviously 12's terrace was much larger.
I didn't miss 8, but I decided to skip it. I wanted to check out the northern ridge to see just how bad the green was. All the green was mountain laurel and it wasn't bad on the way to 6 and 7, but then it got bad fast after 7. And the ground was very rocky. So after several minutes tripping over mountain laurel and slipping over rocks, I decided to look for the trail, which was apparently right next to me and I had no idea.
Very beautiful, squishy forest in the area around 10 and 11.
For Part 2, the downhill from the start to the train tracks was a blast. Again lots of terraces on the way down. There were lots of 1.2-1.5m cliffs. I'll have to see if I can map them and do some downhill exercises :)
Control Count: 300
Saturday Dec 29, 2018 #
7 AM
BBA 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
2 PM
Orienteering 42:09 [4] *** 6.55 km (6:26 / km) +147m 5:47 / km
14c
Double whoa.
Map: https://photos.app.goo.gl/evzBhL168LNseQdFA
Terrain: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NNb1mHLQb1NiA2MGA
After thinking it over, I can say that this is one of the best terrains I've ever run in, and definitely the best in PA.
It was a mostly open oak forest interspersed with stands of white pine and enough blueberry to make things interesting, but not so much that it was too much work to move. The blueberry did get a bit past my waist on the hilltops, but even then it wasn't that bad.
Not as technical as Hickory Run or French Creek, but it just felt like a place meant for orienteering: cliffs, contour detail, decent runnability. I feel lucky to have run there.
Control Count: 294
Map: https://photos.app.goo.gl/evzBhL168LNseQdFA
Terrain: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NNb1mHLQb1NiA2MGA
After thinking it over, I can say that this is one of the best terrains I've ever run in, and definitely the best in PA.
It was a mostly open oak forest interspersed with stands of white pine and enough blueberry to make things interesting, but not so much that it was too much work to move. The blueberry did get a bit past my waist on the hilltops, but even then it wasn't that bad.
Not as technical as Hickory Run or French Creek, but it just felt like a place meant for orienteering: cliffs, contour detail, decent runnability. I feel lucky to have run there.
Control Count: 294
Running 30:00 [2] 5.0 km (6:00 / km)
Running from and then back to the parking lot on the trail that you had to follow through private land to get the tract of state forest. A more accurate term for this trail would be "the memory of a trail," because I lost it about 12-13 times in a half mile.
7 PM
Circuit Training 30:00
Friday Dec 28, 2018 #
7 AM
BBA 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
9 AM
Orienteering 1:15:02 [3] *** 9.56 km (7:51 / km) +373m 6:34 / km
14c
Whoa. That was some really nice forest. I'm going to be back here often. I was a bit ambitious with the course, but I wanted to explore the different parts of this tract of state forest. Really spectacular, and the map was pretty good for KP with features added in from hillshading. The main thing I've got to change is the stream in the SE corner, which was actually a creek where I had to go up to my waist to cross it.
Warmed up for 15 minutes checking out the map and then went.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BAf8dCaueeRyE2Ca9
Control Count: 280
Map notes: This was a really fun, physical terrain with very open forest that is almost exactly what I'm looking for. I got a really good workout here, which I wasn't able to get in Tobyhanna yesterday because of the dense forest. The most common tree type seemed to be oak.
The green was either white pine or hemlock with very low visibility but decent runnability.
It might be a bit rougher in summer since it looks like ferns and stiltgrass have gotten quite established in some areas. But I'm sure it's still usable.
There's also a complex network of trails throughout this tract that I left off because they would make it too easy. But it could be good terrain for beginners.
Warmed up for 15 minutes checking out the map and then went.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BAf8dCaueeRyE2Ca9
Control Count: 280
Map notes: This was a really fun, physical terrain with very open forest that is almost exactly what I'm looking for. I got a really good workout here, which I wasn't able to get in Tobyhanna yesterday because of the dense forest. The most common tree type seemed to be oak.
The green was either white pine or hemlock with very low visibility but decent runnability.
It might be a bit rougher in summer since it looks like ferns and stiltgrass have gotten quite established in some areas. But I'm sure it's still usable.
There's also a complex network of trails throughout this tract that I left off because they would make it too easy. But it could be good terrain for beginners.
Thursday Dec 27, 2018 #
7 AM
BBA 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
12 PM
Orienteering 1:25:00 [3] *** 9.61 km (8:51 / km) +119m 8:20 / km
8c
Exploring Tobyhanna.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UPi1Uu3nevrqcFCi8
I wanted to test my theory that the higher up you go here the more boreal the forest gets, particularly in terms of soft ground. That seems to hold true here. The ground was significantly softer than in many other parts of the Poconos I've been too. And the marshes are very good for extremely soft terrain. There's no shortage of marshes in the Poconos.
The problem for orienteering here, and in many other parts of this region, is that the forest is just one big dense stand of beech. It would seem that since the deer prefer not to eat beech, they've eaten many of the other species, leaving beech trees with a competitive advantage. And the trees have enjoyed this privileged position. At least that's my amateur opinion.
I stopped after 10 because I had seen enough and didn't need to get any more sticks in my eyes. It's encouraging to see that soft terrain like that does exist here. Now I've just got to keep searching for a forest that I can actually move through.
Control Count: 266
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UPi1Uu3nevrqcFCi8
I wanted to test my theory that the higher up you go here the more boreal the forest gets, particularly in terms of soft ground. That seems to hold true here. The ground was significantly softer than in many other parts of the Poconos I've been too. And the marshes are very good for extremely soft terrain. There's no shortage of marshes in the Poconos.
The problem for orienteering here, and in many other parts of this region, is that the forest is just one big dense stand of beech. It would seem that since the deer prefer not to eat beech, they've eaten many of the other species, leaving beech trees with a competitive advantage. And the trees have enjoyed this privileged position. At least that's my amateur opinion.
I stopped after 10 because I had seen enough and didn't need to get any more sticks in my eyes. It's encouraging to see that soft terrain like that does exist here. Now I've just got to keep searching for a forest that I can actually move through.
Control Count: 266
Wednesday Dec 26, 2018 #
2 PM
Orienteering 1:30:03 [3] *** 12.0 km (7:30 / km) +232m 6:51 / km
11c
Recon around Snow Hill Rd. In general, the ridges and hilltops north of the road had enough blueberry and young saplings to make everything reaaaaaaally not fun. It's good to have varied terrain and vegetation though. Different challenges to develop different skills.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SQW6FXJ85J7vSq7j8
Loving all the different options here. Again, I'm struck by the fact that there are too many locations within 1hr of me to use properly in just this next year. I need some help.
Control Count: 258
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SQW6FXJ85J7vSq7j8
Loving all the different options here. Again, I'm struck by the fact that there are too many locations within 1hr of me to use properly in just this next year. I need some help.
Control Count: 258
Monday Dec 24, 2018 #
8 AM
BBA 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
3 PM
Running 1:05:08 [3] 12.63 km (5:09 / km) +139m 4:53 / km
Reincorporated 5x20/40 with this run to keep the legs fresh with speed. Orienteering can sap the speed from your legs. So it's important to keep 'em moving fast to be able to call on that speed when you need it.
Sunday Dec 23, 2018 #
2 PM
Running 2:15:01 [3] 23.75 km (5:41 / km) +663m 4:59 / km
Wissahickon Wanderings
Saturday Dec 22, 2018 #
7 AM
BBA 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
3 PM
Running 34:41 5.67 km (6:07 / km) +420m 4:28 / km
15 minute warmup followed by an attempt at the three Strava segments up Mt. Minsi. I was able to take all 3 pretty solidly. Great workout.
I felt really strong at the start. I haven't felt that in the legs for a little while now, but I was able to drive really well through this. It did start to sting once I got to the steep sections though.
I felt really strong at the start. I haven't felt that in the legs for a little while now, but I was able to drive really well through this. It did start to sting once I got to the steep sections though.
Orienteering 42:08 [3] *** 5.39 km (7:49 / km) +99m 7:10 / km
11c
Este muerto está muy vivo.
A downhill course to work on moving through terrain after doing hard work uphill. It worked. I was very tired. This will be a good training exercise for Norway and other soft terrain: a hard uphill effort of 10-20 minutes followed by a normal course.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qaEudP7AbE1x7t426
After going over the gps, it really drives home the point of how being physically tired can significantly affect your navigation. I started to drag a lot around 11 and that's where I got sloppy. 100% focus all the way through, Greg.
Control Count: 247
A downhill course to work on moving through terrain after doing hard work uphill. It worked. I was very tired. This will be a good training exercise for Norway and other soft terrain: a hard uphill effort of 10-20 minutes followed by a normal course.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qaEudP7AbE1x7t426
After going over the gps, it really drives home the point of how being physically tired can significantly affect your navigation. I started to drag a lot around 11 and that's where I got sloppy. 100% focus all the way through, Greg.
Control Count: 247
Friday Dec 21, 2018 #
7 AM
BBA 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
3 PM
Orienteering 56:19 [3] *** 7.15 km (7:53 / km) +216m 6:51 / km
11c
https://photos.app.goo.gl/XWEzw1629UxtEhWr8
Since it was warmer out today, I decided to explore one of the higher elevation maps. Higher elevation being an oxygen-depriving 500-600m ;) But the vegetation does in fact change significantly as you climb in this area.
My first parking location went well, but when I got to the creek I realized that I had forgotten about all the overnight rain. What looked like a tranquil creek previously was not very crossable. I wasn't in the mood to risk crossing a creek with rapids that intense. So I went back to the car and actually found a better parking spot.
Pretty similar to Hickory Run again: dense beech forest, although much more pleasant than Hickory Run in most parts. Ground was quite soft for this area, although I'm sure that part of this is due to the overnight rain.
Control Count: 236
Since it was warmer out today, I decided to explore one of the higher elevation maps. Higher elevation being an oxygen-depriving 500-600m ;) But the vegetation does in fact change significantly as you climb in this area.
My first parking location went well, but when I got to the creek I realized that I had forgotten about all the overnight rain. What looked like a tranquil creek previously was not very crossable. I wasn't in the mood to risk crossing a creek with rapids that intense. So I went back to the car and actually found a better parking spot.
Pretty similar to Hickory Run again: dense beech forest, although much more pleasant than Hickory Run in most parts. Ground was quite soft for this area, although I'm sure that part of this is due to the overnight rain.
Control Count: 236
Thursday Dec 20, 2018 #
2 PM
Running 1:05:00 [3] *** 10.18 km (6:23 / km) +185m 5:51 / km
18c
The Poconos certainly aren't Norway, but all this terrain running is beating me up quite a bit. Attempted a long run today, but was just too tired to hold a decent pace, especially on the hills.
I was able to check out the micro sprint map of Glen Park. Absolutely perfect place for a truly physical and technical micro. But 2.5m contours doesn't get across how steep the terrain is. I'll have to rework it. Really looking forward to using that area for micro intervals.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tB7jVFpg93LFRAhq6
Control Count: 225
I was able to check out the micro sprint map of Glen Park. Absolutely perfect place for a truly physical and technical micro. But 2.5m contours doesn't get across how steep the terrain is. I'll have to rework it. Really looking forward to using that area for micro intervals.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tB7jVFpg93LFRAhq6
Control Count: 225
Wednesday Dec 19, 2018 #
7 AM
BBA 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
2 PM
Orienteering 1:18:03 [3] *** 10.54 km (7:24 / km) +262m 6:35 / km
19c
Absolutely beautiful forest. Extremely fun.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TGbE4WjvZ7hmbiFB9
I let Ian start before me so there was at least a bit of pressure on him to stay ahead and a bit on me to catch him.
Caught him at 4 and told him to stick with me and watch how I orienteered.
Then I let him lead a few legs and gave him some feedback, until I stopped focusing on the way to 8 and lost contact completely. Ugh. Yes, maintaining focus doesn't just happen, Greg.
The forest was really open, runnable, and fun. But it wasn't too open, which I really like. It felt much more pure that way. Natural. There were sections of dense saplings, rocky ground, and other obstacles. But that just makes it more interesting.
Once I can get more people out here, this will be a really good area for some one-man relays to work on high-pressure situations.
Control Count: 221
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TGbE4WjvZ7hmbiFB9
I let Ian start before me so there was at least a bit of pressure on him to stay ahead and a bit on me to catch him.
Caught him at 4 and told him to stick with me and watch how I orienteered.
Then I let him lead a few legs and gave him some feedback, until I stopped focusing on the way to 8 and lost contact completely. Ugh. Yes, maintaining focus doesn't just happen, Greg.
The forest was really open, runnable, and fun. But it wasn't too open, which I really like. It felt much more pure that way. Natural. There were sections of dense saplings, rocky ground, and other obstacles. But that just makes it more interesting.
Once I can get more people out here, this will be a really good area for some one-man relays to work on high-pressure situations.
Control Count: 221
Tuesday Dec 18, 2018 #
BBA 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
Jog followed by Achilles exercises
12 PM
Orienteering 1:30:56 [3] *** 9.51 km (9:34 / km) +318m 8:12 / km
30c
Two courses at Hickory Run.
First was a course through the mountain laurel made by my Spanish friend Richi. He's never been to Hickory Run or had any encounters with mountain laurel. There's a plant around Madrid that's similar, but not quite as bad. So I think he underestimated how difficult some of these controls would be. I was thinking of skipping some, but I figured that shying away from a challenge isn't a good habit. Even if that challenge involves lots of crappy fighting through mountain laurel.
Course 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/CftR6ExXkP9NGLL96
Second course was a micro to feel some speed since I knew I wasn't going to be moving too fast on the first one. Pretty good overall, but I really do need to get back to wearing protective glasses here. I lost contact on my way to 6 because of all the branches hitting my eyes and then struggled to get back into the map.
Course 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/FkPfVj5Tr5MNEBCm9
(Fixed the link)
Control Count: 202
First was a course through the mountain laurel made by my Spanish friend Richi. He's never been to Hickory Run or had any encounters with mountain laurel. There's a plant around Madrid that's similar, but not quite as bad. So I think he underestimated how difficult some of these controls would be. I was thinking of skipping some, but I figured that shying away from a challenge isn't a good habit. Even if that challenge involves lots of crappy fighting through mountain laurel.
Course 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/CftR6ExXkP9NGLL96
Second course was a micro to feel some speed since I knew I wasn't going to be moving too fast on the first one. Pretty good overall, but I really do need to get back to wearing protective glasses here. I lost contact on my way to 6 because of all the branches hitting my eyes and then struggled to get back into the map.
Course 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/FkPfVj5Tr5MNEBCm9
(Fixed the link)
Control Count: 202
3 PM
Circuit Training 30:00
Pretty intense leg and core workout from Freeletics
Monday Dec 17, 2018 #
3 PM
Running 1:15:00 [3] 12.73 km (5:54 / km) +78m 5:43 / km
28c
Legs were feeling pretty beat up, so I stuck to the levee today.
But, I also checked out a new micro sprint map I've been working on. Contours are great, vegetation good, and trails decent. With a few hours of field work I can probably get it to shine.
Map: https://photos.app.goo.gl/tvkzytBoAH7VL1Dt5
Interesting to see where the GPS lost a stronger signal. I did go to 12, definitely did. I remember it.
I wasn't sure of whether to count this for the control challenge. I've decided to, since I'll likely do more of these. But we're only going to count a quarter. Otherwise it would be too easy to get to 800 ;)
So again, that's half for control picks and a quarter for micro-sprints. Woo! Micro-sprints!
Control Count: 179
But, I also checked out a new micro sprint map I've been working on. Contours are great, vegetation good, and trails decent. With a few hours of field work I can probably get it to shine.
Map: https://photos.app.goo.gl/tvkzytBoAH7VL1Dt5
Interesting to see where the GPS lost a stronger signal. I did go to 12, definitely did. I remember it.
I wasn't sure of whether to count this for the control challenge. I've decided to, since I'll likely do more of these. But we're only going to count a quarter. Otherwise it would be too easy to get to 800 ;)
So again, that's half for control picks and a quarter for micro-sprints. Woo! Micro-sprints!
Control Count: 179
Sunday Dec 16, 2018 #
9 AM
Orienteering 1:17:17 [3] *** 9.96 km (7:46 / km) +437m 6:22 / km
17c
Uphill warmup + uphill for the first 3 controls, followed by a downhill exercise. Very rocky and slick up top, so not a very fast downhill for the first bit. But it got better as I kept going. Really enjoying feeling the speed.
Had originally planned to go to Hickory Run (40 minutes approximately from my house), but a huge translation project meant that I didn't have time for that. So I went here as it's only 10 minutes away. I might be getting a little spoiled here.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/hgxTQyAB3VGTktK26
Control Count: 172
Had originally planned to go to Hickory Run (40 minutes approximately from my house), but a huge translation project meant that I didn't have time for that. So I went here as it's only 10 minutes away. I might be getting a little spoiled here.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/hgxTQyAB3VGTktK26
Control Count: 172
Saturday Dec 15, 2018 #
3 PM
Orienteering 48:24 *** 5.78 km (8:22 / km) +228m 7:00 / km
13c
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zyhJjQDa43fAgpSZA
Intervals at Egypt Mill. Skipped 10 because there were too many downed trees there and I didn't have enough sunlight left to pick my way through all of them. At 15, there are lots more young white pine and that cut down the visibility enough that I just couldn't get a handle on where I was.
Focused on intensity and 100% focus. I didn't run particularly fast here, but it was fast for this terrain.
Control Count: 162
Intervals at Egypt Mill. Skipped 10 because there were too many downed trees there and I didn't have enough sunlight left to pick my way through all of them. At 15, there are lots more young white pine and that cut down the visibility enough that I just couldn't get a handle on where I was.
Focused on intensity and 100% focus. I didn't run particularly fast here, but it was fast for this terrain.
Control Count: 162
Running 20:00 [3] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
Friday Dec 14, 2018 #
Circuit Training 35:00 [3]
Decided to reconfigure the Freeletics plan after yesterday evening's discussion. Because like it says in the first mental concept of orienteering, my competitors don't care about my self-esteem. They don't care that I'm very busy and struggle to find time for strength training and neither does the terrain in Norway, or anywhere else in the world for that matter. There aren't any free passes.
It looks like a much lighter plan that I can combine better with technical training. We'll see how it goes.
It looks like a much lighter plan that I can combine better with technical training. We'll see how it goes.
Thursday Dec 13, 2018 #
9 AM
Orienteering 2:10:00 [3] *** 16.28 km (7:59 / km) +411m 7:05 / km
28c
I had a long run on the schedule today. And since I was a bit let down after not finishing yesterday's course, I decided to go check out more parts of Saw Creek. The open forest there is so much fun. Dense, low-vis forest like Wolf Springs and Hickory Run are excellent training, but they can also be very discouraging and frustrating. Stuff like Saw Creek is great for boosting the morale.
Part 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/WrKHXwphLrGVm4XPA
Pretty good overall. Just got a little thrown off at 13 and 17. The contours are pretty tough to read there. It'll be a lot more difficult when the leaves are out. Surprised at how far off I was at 21. But there was also a lot more green than what you can see on the map. And I did find a very thorny, dense green patch there.
Part 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/J8moDqjmoD7bUdyeA
Found a deer exclosure on the way to 1. There was a gate through that had a sign encouraging use inside the exclosure, but, as exclosures tend to be, the forest was so dense on the other side that I didn't see the point of even trying to go through. That wasn't why I came here.
Started feeling really tired around 6. It's surprising how I can be in such good shape, but 1h30 of easy running through terrain can tire me out so much. I think it really goes back to Jack Daniels' Training Principle #2: Specificity of Training. It's like how cycling can help prepare you to run a marathon. It's good, certainly better than nothing, but not enough. Running on roads is good, even better on trails, but they're just not enough to prepare for the full-body exercise of orienteering.
Control Count: 149
Part 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/WrKHXwphLrGVm4XPA
Pretty good overall. Just got a little thrown off at 13 and 17. The contours are pretty tough to read there. It'll be a lot more difficult when the leaves are out. Surprised at how far off I was at 21. But there was also a lot more green than what you can see on the map. And I did find a very thorny, dense green patch there.
Part 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/J8moDqjmoD7bUdyeA
Found a deer exclosure on the way to 1. There was a gate through that had a sign encouraging use inside the exclosure, but, as exclosures tend to be, the forest was so dense on the other side that I didn't see the point of even trying to go through. That wasn't why I came here.
Started feeling really tired around 6. It's surprising how I can be in such good shape, but 1h30 of easy running through terrain can tire me out so much. I think it really goes back to Jack Daniels' Training Principle #2: Specificity of Training. It's like how cycling can help prepare you to run a marathon. It's good, certainly better than nothing, but not enough. Running on roads is good, even better on trails, but they're just not enough to prepare for the full-body exercise of orienteering.
Control Count: 149
Wednesday Dec 12, 2018 #
7 AM
BBA 25:00 [2] 3.0 km (8:20 / km)
3 PM
Orienteering 1:05:01 [3] **** 8.55 km (7:36 / km) +145m 7:01 / km
10c
Exploration over at Wolf Springs that was a bit of a bust, but still productive.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/34yj8mEWZdAduNSj8
The vegetation was very similar to Hickory Run: a mixture of dense beech forest, beautiful groves of hemlock (1-2-3, and 12), and not so beautiful but definitely challenging bits of hemlock and rhododendron (10-11).
I wasn't able to do the part of the course west of the road since it was posted with No Trespassing signs. I thought it was all land owned by a nature preserve, so I decided not to risk it and check it out online. It turns out the owner is Pocono Lake Preserve. It sounds like a nature center, but it's just another development that buys up public land and doesn't let anyone on it. There's a big section owned by the Nature Conservancy past it...So I might just end up there by accident one day.
Extremely dense forest up towards 8-9, had to turn around because of it.
Kartta doesn't pick up too well on the beech forest because the lidar is flown in winter. It did do an excellent job of reading the low-runnability areas of hemlock and rhododendron.
There are other public areas here. I'll just have to stick to those. This one looked extra fun though.
Control Count: 121.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/34yj8mEWZdAduNSj8
The vegetation was very similar to Hickory Run: a mixture of dense beech forest, beautiful groves of hemlock (1-2-3, and 12), and not so beautiful but definitely challenging bits of hemlock and rhododendron (10-11).
I wasn't able to do the part of the course west of the road since it was posted with No Trespassing signs. I thought it was all land owned by a nature preserve, so I decided not to risk it and check it out online. It turns out the owner is Pocono Lake Preserve. It sounds like a nature center, but it's just another development that buys up public land and doesn't let anyone on it. There's a big section owned by the Nature Conservancy past it...So I might just end up there by accident one day.
Extremely dense forest up towards 8-9, had to turn around because of it.
Kartta doesn't pick up too well on the beech forest because the lidar is flown in winter. It did do an excellent job of reading the low-runnability areas of hemlock and rhododendron.
There are other public areas here. I'll just have to stick to those. This one looked extra fun though.
Control Count: 121.
Tuesday Dec 11, 2018 #
8 AM
BBA 25:00 [2] 3.0 km (8:20 / km)
Running 1:10:00 [3] 13.5 km (5:11 / km) +80m 5:02 / km
Felt pretty tired today. So I decided to stick with the Levee loop. Nice and easy.
Monday Dec 10, 2018 #
2 PM
Orienteering 1:22:01 [3] *** 8.98 km (9:08 / km) +384m 7:31 / km
10c
Had an easy run planned today. So I figured I'd go out to Spackman and survey the damage from the March storms on that side of the map.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Fgtj9kpMu1wmooLK6
Surprised with how good I felt, until I didn't. This often happens to me on this map: I feel great for a while and then hit the wall hard and get very hungry. It happened to me today leaving 11. Since I didn't have much sunlight left I decided to call it a day.
I suppose I'll have to carry some fuel with me while I'm out there in the future.
Cons: Have to find a good way to carry a sandwich bag on me.
Pros: Get to eat gummy bears while orienteering
Map notes:
The areas that were completely destroyed were in the immediate area of PEEC actually. There were other bad parts throughout the forest, but nothing really terrible, and certainly easily avoidable if mapped. I've seen much worse in my orienteering career. I've also updated the map from what I saw. I'll keep trying to make little updates here and there to keep those areas in mind.
There were also new, very dense stands of hemlock and white pine. The areas of 5 and 7-8-9-10-11, for example, should be almost completely light and medium green now. Those are more difficult to map because I can't see the perimeter like I can with fallen trees. Working on it.
Control Count: 111
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Fgtj9kpMu1wmooLK6
Surprised with how good I felt, until I didn't. This often happens to me on this map: I feel great for a while and then hit the wall hard and get very hungry. It happened to me today leaving 11. Since I didn't have much sunlight left I decided to call it a day.
I suppose I'll have to carry some fuel with me while I'm out there in the future.
Cons: Have to find a good way to carry a sandwich bag on me.
Pros: Get to eat gummy bears while orienteering
Map notes:
The areas that were completely destroyed were in the immediate area of PEEC actually. There were other bad parts throughout the forest, but nothing really terrible, and certainly easily avoidable if mapped. I've seen much worse in my orienteering career. I've also updated the map from what I saw. I'll keep trying to make little updates here and there to keep those areas in mind.
There were also new, very dense stands of hemlock and white pine. The areas of 5 and 7-8-9-10-11, for example, should be almost completely light and medium green now. Those are more difficult to map because I can't see the perimeter like I can with fallen trees. Working on it.
Control Count: 111
Sunday Dec 9, 2018 #
11 AM
Orienteering 1:08:14 [4] *** 11.75 km (5:49 / km) +333m 5:05 / km
23c
Mid-Atlantics Blue course
The GPS looks good, but I didn't feel very precise. I kept letting the hillsides pull me off bearing in my final attack, like on 6, 14, 20.
I was able to keep up pretty good speed in this terrain despite the heavy load this week and lack of speed training. It helps that the forest was very open, albeit scratchy.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/JmTwb2cjbiCcVStw7
The GPS looks good, but I didn't feel very precise. I kept letting the hillsides pull me off bearing in my final attack, like on 6, 14, 20.
I was able to keep up pretty good speed in this terrain despite the heavy load this week and lack of speed training. It helps that the forest was very open, albeit scratchy.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/JmTwb2cjbiCcVStw7
Running warm up/down 20:00 [3] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
2 PM
Orienteering 15:35 [4] ** 3.22 km (4:50 / km) +118m 4:05 / km
9c
Mid-Atlantics Relay
A sprint through open forest to catch up to Cat-ch↑. Unfortunately his team gave him enough of a lead to hold me off very safely as I saw him finishing when I went through the spectator control.
This was great training despite being a relatively simple course. I don't always get that much motivation to really move through the forest. I was reminded of my less-than-great interval session with the Spanish and Attunda in Portugal in February.
You need to train, but you also need to train fast... if fast is what you want, of course.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Bdj5hESFvmWmPDKr7
Control Count: 101
A sprint through open forest to catch up to Cat-ch↑. Unfortunately his team gave him enough of a lead to hold me off very safely as I saw him finishing when I went through the spectator control.
This was great training despite being a relatively simple course. I don't always get that much motivation to really move through the forest. I was reminded of my less-than-great interval session with the Spanish and Attunda in Portugal in February.
You need to train, but you also need to train fast... if fast is what you want, of course.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Bdj5hESFvmWmPDKr7
Control Count: 101
Running warm up/down 20:00 [3] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
Saturday Dec 8, 2018 #
7 AM
BBA 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
Achilles is feeling really good. What a surprise: when you're consistent about doing the recommended exercises, you feel better.
12 PM
Running 1:10:00 [3] 13.58 km (5:09 / km) +78m 5:01 / km
Legs feeling better than I expected after a hilly long run and a speedy ascent of Mt. Tam. Good sign. Mid-Atlantics tomorrow.
Met a guy today at a café who is the head of a AT Hikers center in the town of Delaware Water Gap right on the Mt. Minsi map I made. We got to talking and he's got an extensive history in outdoors activity in the region (as well as summitting Denali!) He sounded intrigued by orienteering and was happy to hear I've made a (basic) orienteering map of Mt. Minsi and environs. I'll send that to him later.
Also, I'm working on two microsprint maps of town parks here in the twin boroughs of Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg. Both are beautifully open forest, but also have enough in the way of contour and vegetation detail to make for some good fast training even for me. They're also a good chance to really start learning more about mapping.
These maps are really basic so far, but I'm looking forward to putting in some more work to make them come to life.
Glen Park (lots of work left to do, but looking fun)
There are lots of parks like this in Eburg and Sburg. So I think I'll donate these maps to the townships when I get them to a decent level so they can add orienteering to the list of activities offered in town :)
There's also a really great plan to connect all the regional trails.
Really hope even half of this goes through. But tonight, I'll be going to an indie film fest down the street from the house.
Met a guy today at a café who is the head of a AT Hikers center in the town of Delaware Water Gap right on the Mt. Minsi map I made. We got to talking and he's got an extensive history in outdoors activity in the region (as well as summitting Denali!) He sounded intrigued by orienteering and was happy to hear I've made a (basic) orienteering map of Mt. Minsi and environs. I'll send that to him later.
Also, I'm working on two microsprint maps of town parks here in the twin boroughs of Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg. Both are beautifully open forest, but also have enough in the way of contour and vegetation detail to make for some good fast training even for me. They're also a good chance to really start learning more about mapping.
These maps are really basic so far, but I'm looking forward to putting in some more work to make them come to life.
Glen Park (lots of work left to do, but looking fun)
There are lots of parks like this in Eburg and Sburg. So I think I'll donate these maps to the townships when I get them to a decent level so they can add orienteering to the list of activities offered in town :)
There's also a really great plan to connect all the regional trails.
Really hope even half of this goes through. But tonight, I'll be going to an indie film fest down the street from the house.
Friday Dec 7, 2018 #
7 AM
BBA 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
11 AM
Running 1:10:00 10.78 km (6:29 / km) +513m 5:15 / km
Went for the Strava record on Mt. Tammany again. I set it at 14:15 in September and today I was able to do 14:08. Although I did make a wrong turn today that cost me about 10-15 seconds.
The climb was followed by a relaxed jog up top before jetting down the hill. The goal is to combine the uphill and downhill into a loop to test fitness. But I'm not that strong yet.
The climb was followed by a relaxed jog up top before jetting down the hill. The goal is to combine the uphill and downhill into a loop to test fitness. But I'm not that strong yet.
Thursday Dec 6, 2018 #
2 PM
Running 2:10:01 [3] 22.17 km (5:52 / km) +621m 5:09 / km
Exploring more of Godfrey Ridge/Glen Park/Fox Hill. Decided to check out some new loops, some dead ends, and some new routes. Pretty good place to have right next to town.
Wednesday Dec 5, 2018 #
11 AM
Orienteering 55:00 [3] *** 7.28 km (7:33 / km) +160m 6:48 / km
12c
Streamer pickup from the Harriman O-Fest Training. I originally planned on doing much more, but the road out of Kanawaukee is closed now for winter. Looks like I'll have to do a much longer run to get into that area.
My roommate Ian picked up the other ones out here. He was surprised at the size and number of the rocks in Polebrook. I told him that there's much more waiting out there for him to discover.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BkYDU69wU7MCt1nE7
Control Count: 69
My roommate Ian picked up the other ones out here. He was surprised at the size and number of the rocks in Polebrook. I told him that there's much more waiting out there for him to discover.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BkYDU69wU7MCt1nE7
Control Count: 69
5 PM
Running 45:00 [3] 9.0 km (5:00 / km)
Ian and I both wanted to do a bit more since we were expecting more earlier today. So we went out for an easy run on the levee.
Tuesday Dec 4, 2018 #
BBA 30:00 [2] 3.0 km (10:00 / km)
5 minute walk
15 minute jog
5 minute isometric calf hold
100 eccentric calf drops
15 minute jog
5 minute isometric calf hold
100 eccentric calf drops
2 PM
Running 1:10:00 [3] 12.47 km (5:37 / km) +269m 5:04 / km
Over to Glen Park/Godfrey Ridge for some climbing. There are lots of trails here and plenty of climb, but it's just a bit too far from my house to get some serious climb on an easy run. I'll have to bike over so I spend less time running there.
Monday Dec 3, 2018 #
7 AM
BBA 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
Beautiful mist hanging over Brodhead Creek this morning.
3 PM
Running 1:10:00 [3] 13.5 km (5:11 / km) +60m 5:04 / km
Wow. I am much more beat up than I expected. Legs are feeling all types of sore.
Sunday Dec 2, 2018 #
11 AM
Orienteering 1:15:15 [3] *** 8.33 km (9:02 / km) +414m 7:14 / km
12c
First training by Wolf-O in Stuckey Pond/Egypt Mills.
Kept it at an aerobic pace so I could push in the sprint afterwards.
I had to skip 6, 14, and 15 because of the fallen trees in those areas. Luckily, it looks like I've been able to update those areas from recent satellite images. So I'll be able to avoid those sections in the future.
Forgot to mention: the cliff at 3 was a bear den. Sans bear when I arrived, but it was clearly a space set up for winter. Maybe I should have gone in to try out the porridge.
In good news, there are lots and lots of young hemlock and white pine sprouts coming up in these ravines that look to be very healthy.
Also in good news, there are parts of the map that were previously mapped as light or medium green but seem to be opening up a lot. Obviously, they're a lot more open in winter, but it's hard for me to see much changing in summer for lots of spots out there.
Rainy and chilly. I meant to do another training on Spackman after this, but I should've brought a dry change of clothes to train in. Slipped my mind.
I always forget just how much you end up climbing in this terrain. You get the feeling that you're out of shape and really struggling and then you remember that you're constantly climbing and dropping.
Map: https://photos.app.goo.gl/oVCLKVYfnC56Y48j6
Kept it at an aerobic pace so I could push in the sprint afterwards.
I had to skip 6, 14, and 15 because of the fallen trees in those areas. Luckily, it looks like I've been able to update those areas from recent satellite images. So I'll be able to avoid those sections in the future.
Forgot to mention: the cliff at 3 was a bear den. Sans bear when I arrived, but it was clearly a space set up for winter. Maybe I should have gone in to try out the porridge.
In good news, there are lots and lots of young hemlock and white pine sprouts coming up in these ravines that look to be very healthy.
Also in good news, there are parts of the map that were previously mapped as light or medium green but seem to be opening up a lot. Obviously, they're a lot more open in winter, but it's hard for me to see much changing in summer for lots of spots out there.
Rainy and chilly. I meant to do another training on Spackman after this, but I should've brought a dry change of clothes to train in. Slipped my mind.
I always forget just how much you end up climbing in this terrain. You get the feeling that you're out of shape and really struggling and then you remember that you're constantly climbing and dropping.
Map: https://photos.app.goo.gl/oVCLKVYfnC56Y48j6
Orienteering 19:04 [4] *** 2.49 km (7:40 / km) +65m 6:47 / km
10c
High-intensity sprint. Found a bunch of thorns, had to dig deep to push through them.
Map: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xS6bC3Tqd4V2tpjM7
Control Count: 57
Map: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xS6bC3Tqd4V2tpjM7
Control Count: 57
Saturday Dec 1, 2018 #
Running 1:00:00 [3] 12.0 km (5:00 / km)
Easy jog on the levee. Tomorrow's Sunday. That means no hunting and time for double technical sessions!