Training Log Archive: bl

Event: West Point National Meet
 

West Point middle on Deep Hollow map. A B/B- run, 3-3.5' errors. First point was ok and really pretty easy once on the indistinct path. There was a big rs just before and, though warned about not counting on them, it bolstered me for the next point which was a RF on a slope among quite a few, 5-6, depending on how one might choose to map. I did not note the 3 mapped (small, c. 1m) boulders and rs on the slope before for more accuracy - got to the cliffs, went down a contour and then beyond & then saw the damn point around 3 contours up. Missed three by a bit, revisited on the way back to road after finishing & decided it was on an unmapped RF about 40 NW.

#4 continued with ambiguous map feedback - depended on seeing/passing a large boulder, Kadley pointed out it was a buildg (a circle with the tiniest of corners) & Steve noted it was a ruin of a bldg - not much above ground & why I did not note looking for a big bldr? Finally got near, did not cross the wide/deep stream (Steve did) - wandered up stream nearly 50m, noted a bridge (apparently mapped in wrong place). Made my way to my point to see others there confused - I was at the bldr in the circle but the code was not right.

#5 in my circle was a lone bldr - my description on my bib said it was a RS, I think the # was right. Punched and moved on. I think the next three all had codes that did not agree but were what was in the center of my circle. I had 9 points on the clue sheet, only 8 points on the map - so I was quite confused but felt I'd gone to all.

When I finished the cadet did not ask for my map & I could see that the long return offered the option of revisiting #3 then #2. That's when I saw 3 was clearly on the wrong Rf and #2 was not the best site for a point, unless perhaps if coming from above as Ken W did. It never occurred to me to look at the clue sheet on the map - which was correct & obviously quite different from what i was relying on. I haven't relied on a map clue sheets in years...never say never though.

Forest was lovely, courses not particularly challenging, map in need of more detail (and more accuracy) I'd say. Cadets were lucky the weather was reasonable early as they wanted the clothes drop to be at Rte 293. The start was 4-500 m ahead, and as it turned out, was right on the very same road - there were vehicles there. So had it been cold-rainy the solution would have been easy but insight seemed to be lacking. Eventually turned in to a lovely day.

Night at Round Pond. It started raining steadily around 10p and cont'd much of the night. It was warm, dry & cozy in the tent but the rain right above, beating on the rain fly, made for light sleep. Virtually no one there. Jim A and the Bundschuhs - we and the latter being Jim's guests.

C • #2 2

Sprint at Camp Natural Bridge. Good enough run, lost time by not knowing exactly where #12 was - between buildings & in a side niche at that. The rest (16 others) I went straight enough to - a few route choices that could have been better. In talking splits with Steve, after the first few, he was 15" or so seconds faster most legs. Didn't know it then, but that was MVR affecting endurance.

Middle - Brown - Splits

Sprint - Brown - Splits

200s & 8 400s @ BHS, got the HR up, 3-4 effort. Bright, breezy, cool.

The trail description said this stove dates from the early 20th century (so maybe 100 years) - on a 10' by 12' flat surface described as a hunter's or logger's cabin site. It might make another 100 years.

Sorry to see April go.

April lifts her skirts and runs away. Along comes May but she won’t stay. Soon there’ll be June but who knows her tune.

-- the "distaff" months, perhaps the fairest in the year.

200s, 400, one 800 all 3-4 effort at SPS track. The kids came for bball and track, time to go. Stopped at BHS, even busier (was after work). Called it a day.

To SPS track from parking.

Marathon Monday

How many random memories might come to fore - 48 yrs from my first; bill rogers’ '75 2:09.27, stopping to tie a shoe lace; ’76 95F; johnny kelly in latter years still out in the dark; rosie ruiz "subbing it", newton-wellesley internship/fire station/turn right to Heartbreak; Sara Mae this weekend at High Rock and many yesterdays ago at Boston; evolving from b&w to vivid color; 2013 blast; no wind, tail wind, head wind, motorcycles and helicopters announcing the head of the pack; disability classes; ’77 when hamstrung, I raced the 4th woman to the finish around 2:57 (with a qual of 2:44); last turn to Copley; now security check points; but mostly the competition-endeavor; and legions of people participating/contributing in one manner or another, even "street" musicians, magicians, panhandlers - all adding to an anthropological panoply. How could I forget Amby Burfoot, '68 winner.

There was a woman with “Heart” artfully painted on her right cheek. She was using an iPhone with a shattered screen so "broken heart” came to mind. I wanted to take a photo but the press of people & rubbing of elbows proved too much. Flags from all countries, many we could not make out. A downtown breeze that revved to chilly as the 2 runners I spoke to told me the course was hot. Times reflected that. How long a thin line trickled in initially and even an unfamiliar quiet spell when little happened. We left before the real show, the peoples’ story. We had Mocha in the car in the Commons garage. She’d already had 2 nights in the back and we’d had our time on the road with the A meet and boatyard. With marathon memories bolstering, it was time to leave Boston and this lovely but brief marathon day. Though as I put our Commons garage ticket in the meter, I held back. It was hard to leave such a splendid April moment behind - they come once a year and are now gone - again. But still some more await ahead.

Sunday Classic long, 4k. One bonafide mistake approaching #8 that cost approx a minute and several other small issues - total lost may have been 2.5’. Tops for me around 48.5’. Steve Tarry was the fastest Brown Y all three days. He's got more fuel in his tank. Ken Walker & I were close in Saturday middle final and Sunday long runs.

It’s both pleasing and important to perform to capability at these meets. I don’t always do it but pretty much did so this weekend. No mp’s and no significant loss of map contact are starting points. And w/o loss of map contact, there should be no mistakes to speak of.

A really fine weekend. Beth walked Mocha both days in the park & put in some see-how-it-goes miles for summer UK hiking with sciatica. We spent Sat & Sun night aboard the boat in Mattapoisett, and visited with Jim & Colleen in S. Dartmouth Sunday eve.

Classic Brown Y - Splits