Training Log Archive: PGIn the 30 days ending Sep 30, 2011:
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Wednesday Sep 28, 2011 #
Note
OK, time for a quiz just to see if you have been paying attention. The quiz relates to a couple of things that are part of OUSA's strategic plan. Just two questions so it won't take you long.
!. It is now possible to renew your membership online (and also to make a donation at the same time, such as to the teams). This is a good thing because by making it as easy as possible to renew (and donate), more people should do it.
Based on the most recent numbers, what percent of membership renewals are now occurring online?
(a) 10%
(b) 25%
(c) 50%
(d) 75%
(e) no figures available, no one is keeping track.
2. One important part of the plan is to increase the number of starts at local club events. Historically, local club starts have only been reported annually when club dues are paid. More recently, starts for the 16 most active clubs are being calculated quarterly. For the first six months of 2011 compared to the first six months of 2010, local club starts are:
(a) down 20%
(b) down 10%
(c) flat
(d) up 10%
(e) no figures available, we're still just getting the annual numbers.
Let's see who knows what the correct answers are....
!. It is now possible to renew your membership online (and also to make a donation at the same time, such as to the teams). This is a good thing because by making it as easy as possible to renew (and donate), more people should do it.
Based on the most recent numbers, what percent of membership renewals are now occurring online?
(a) 10%
(b) 25%
(c) 50%
(d) 75%
(e) no figures available, no one is keeping track.
2. One important part of the plan is to increase the number of starts at local club events. Historically, local club starts have only been reported annually when club dues are paid. More recently, starts for the 16 most active clubs are being calculated quarterly. For the first six months of 2011 compared to the first six months of 2010, local club starts are:
(a) down 20%
(b) down 10%
(c) flat
(d) up 10%
(e) no figures available, we're still just getting the annual numbers.
Let's see who knows what the correct answers are....
10 AM
track 32:20 4.0 mi (8:05 / mi) +502ft 7:14 / mi
ahr:142 max:167 shoes: pegasus #2
Over to the track in Litchfield for another of my short and not too stressful sessions. Not sure exactly what good they do me, but I just think that if I don't try to run a little faster sometimes, then my running will get even worse.
Or maybe just working on my sprint for the end of the Highlander....
8x200, 200 jog.
46,2, 45.2, 43.9, 44.4, 44.8, 43.7, 43.2, 41.7. Average recovery about 1:04.
Or maybe just working on my sprint for the end of the Highlander....
8x200, 200 jog.
46,2, 45.2, 43.9, 44.4, 44.8, 43.7, 43.2, 41.7. Average recovery about 1:04.
Tuesday Sep 27, 2011 #
Note
Under the "life is short, eat dessert first" general category, booked tickets for Istanbul. The pricing remains a mystery. Looked up the flights, there's a nice non-stop JFK-IST, $835 round-trip. Talked to Gail, were we ready to pull the trigger? Looked at the 5-Days web site, still possible to enter? Yes on both counts.
Back to purchase the tickets, too much time had expired, had to start over. Now the price was $785, $50 less than 30 minutes earlier. That's on Turkish Airlines. The flight is operated by them under a code-sharing agreement with USAir, and if you buy your tickets via USAir (exactly the same flights), it's $1700+ round-trip. WTF?
Needless to say, the Turks got our business.
Back to purchase the tickets, too much time had expired, had to start over. Now the price was $785, $50 less than 30 minutes earlier. That's on Turkish Airlines. The flight is operated by them under a code-sharing agreement with USAir, and if you buy your tickets via USAir (exactly the same flights), it's $1700+ round-trip. WTF?
Needless to say, the Turks got our business.
2 PM
road running 28:06 3.0 mi (9:22 / mi) +249ft 8:41 / mi
ahr:124 max:146 shoes: pegasus #2
I believe there is a phrase about football players that is not intended as a compliment -- he's short but he's slow. Today's run was of a similar nature, also not a compliment. Just a struggle. Stopped after 15 minutes for a while, then decided I eventually had to get back to my car, so finished it up the shortest way possible. Not pretty.
I can blame it on the warm and humid weather. Well, I hope I can, and it's not just totally me.
I can blame it on the warm and humid weather. Well, I hope I can, and it's not just totally me.
Monday Sep 26, 2011 #
11 AM
mapping (scouting the terrain) 51:28 [0] 1.21 mi (42:23 / mi) +410ft 32:07 / mi
rhr:52 weight:137lbs shoes: pegasus #2
So Eddie is working on the basemap for Earl's trails, and he adds in various small stuff that he can see, or thinks he sees, or thinks the lidar sees, or maybe some other way that I don't understand. And he wanted me to go out and check a few places to see what really is out there, like at a place where he thinks it might be a root stock, for example.
So I wandered up and down and around and about. Conclusions:
-- Most of the possible root stocks were not there. Very few root stocks in the area.
-- He's picking up the jeep trails real well, and the bike trails almost not at all, and some old abandoned jeep trails pretty well. Too bad about the bike trails, but good about the old trails -- even if they don't make the map, they can be very useful for fixing the positions of other things.
-- Contours were generally excellent.
-- And I found a few mappable features that I didn't know existed, nice place to put controls. A pleasant surprise.
-- I think we'll be able to do some good orienteering there.
And then 3 hours wandering up and down and around and about on a very hilly golf course. Beautiful afternoon and my game was sometimes really good.
So I wandered up and down and around and about. Conclusions:
-- Most of the possible root stocks were not there. Very few root stocks in the area.
-- He's picking up the jeep trails real well, and the bike trails almost not at all, and some old abandoned jeep trails pretty well. Too bad about the bike trails, but good about the old trails -- even if they don't make the map, they can be very useful for fixing the positions of other things.
-- Contours were generally excellent.
-- And I found a few mappable features that I didn't know existed, nice place to put controls. A pleasant surprise.
-- I think we'll be able to do some good orienteering there.
And then 3 hours wandering up and down and around and about on a very hilly golf course. Beautiful afternoon and my game was sometimes really good.
Sunday Sep 25, 2011 #
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11 AM
orienteering 1:27:46 4.93 mi (17:48 / mi) +1339ft 14:10 / mi
ahr:143 max:154 weight:136.5lbs shoes: x-talon 212 #2
WCOC meet at Tarrywile. Red course, 7.9 km.
Pretty feeble. Warm and very humid and my energy level was about a -2 on a scale of 1 to 10. On every climb it seemed more a question of whether I was going to make it all the way up than of trying to move quickly. If the weather next Sunday for the Highlander is similar, it will not be pretty.
Mostly OK orienteering, little misses at 4 and 20. Just moving so slowly....
Pretty feeble. Warm and very humid and my energy level was about a -2 on a scale of 1 to 10. On every climb it seemed more a question of whether I was going to make it all the way up than of trying to move quickly. If the weather next Sunday for the Highlander is similar, it will not be pretty.
Mostly OK orienteering, little misses at 4 and 20. Just moving so slowly....
Saturday Sep 24, 2011 #
Note
Would have thought you were in the home of one of the Walker brothers -- older generation, not the younger, we're talking home repairs not high tech -- as Gail and I managed to replace various failing moving parts inside a toilet. And, hard to believe, so far it works, and it doesn't leak.
Total cost was about $9. I'm sure George/Ken (and Clark) would approve, although maybe not the latter because I did take my car to go to the plumbing supply store.
I had figured our odds of success were less than 10% (and our odds of doing significant damage to either part of the toilet or one of us well more than 10%), and that we would be calling a plumber on Monday. What a surprise. :-)
Total cost was about $9. I'm sure George/Ken (and Clark) would approve, although maybe not the latter because I did take my car to go to the plumbing supply store.
I had figured our odds of success were less than 10% (and our odds of doing significant damage to either part of the toilet or one of us well more than 10%), and that we would be calling a plumber on Monday. What a surprise. :-)
C • Hope 14
Friday Sep 23, 2011 #
2 PM
track 22:57 3.0 mi (7:39 / mi) +7ft 7:38 / mi
ahr:138 max:166 rhr:50 weight:137lbs shoes: pegasus #2
A very short session at the track on the way home from Greenfield, in the rain, and raining progressively harder as time went on. Didn't want to do a lot, but wanted to do a little faster running.
A mile to warm-up, then 4x200 with a 200 jog in-between. I was running a little faster and therefore breathing a little harder than intended, so lost my desire to do any more, and thought that might be the end of it. But after another slow lap, I thought I might as well see if I could still do a 400 in under 90 seconds, and was pleasantly surprised.
200s in 46.1, 44.0, 43.5, 43.2
400 in 84.5
One thing I'm doing at these occasional track sessions is just wearing my normal training shoes, instead of lighter racing shoes. The latter are tougher on the feel, especially my heels, and no point in wearing them just to train.
A mile to warm-up, then 4x200 with a 200 jog in-between. I was running a little faster and therefore breathing a little harder than intended, so lost my desire to do any more, and thought that might be the end of it. But after another slow lap, I thought I might as well see if I could still do a 400 in under 90 seconds, and was pleasantly surprised.
200s in 46.1, 44.0, 43.5, 43.2
400 in 84.5
One thing I'm doing at these occasional track sessions is just wearing my normal training shoes, instead of lighter racing shoes. The latter are tougher on the feel, especially my heels, and no point in wearing them just to train.
Thursday Sep 22, 2011 #
1 PM
run/hike 48:28 3.26 mi (14:52 / mi) +1125ft 11:12 / mi
ahr:130 max:148 rhr:51 weight:137lbs shoes: pegasus #2
Hadn't been on the Seven Sisters trail for a long time, so did that from the Notch west to just about the low place. And then back via the uppermost bike trail on the north side. A whole lot easier coming back than going out, even though neither seemed easy, as it was very humid and I was sweating a ton, and the legs were a little sore and tired too. SS seems to have gotten a lot steeper over the years....
I stopped in at the Visitor's Center afterwards and chatted up two young park employees there. Some about orienteering and maps, some about the park, some about the SS trail race. Nice conversation. One (Adam) was a runner, turned out I knew his uncle (Paul Bazanchek), the uncle has done a little O' and the nephew knew about it. Neither seemed to think there would be any problem with doing orienteering over at Earl's trails. Though of course they're not the boss. But it was a good start. Also, it seems that the Holyoke Range and Mt. Tom are all part of the same administrative unit, and I think Phil's had good luck with the authorities at Mt. Tom.
We can always do renegade O', but it might be nice to do regular O' too.
I stopped in at the Visitor's Center afterwards and chatted up two young park employees there. Some about orienteering and maps, some about the park, some about the SS trail race. Nice conversation. One (Adam) was a runner, turned out I knew his uncle (Paul Bazanchek), the uncle has done a little O' and the nephew knew about it. Neither seemed to think there would be any problem with doing orienteering over at Earl's trails. Though of course they're not the boss. But it was a good start. Also, it seems that the Holyoke Range and Mt. Tom are all part of the same administrative unit, and I think Phil's had good luck with the authorities at Mt. Tom.
We can always do renegade O', but it might be nice to do regular O' too.
Wednesday Sep 21, 2011 #
1 PM
trail running 57:47 5.74 mi (10:04 / mi) +1106ft 8:31 / mi
ahr:139 max:167 shoes: pegasus #2
Another extra-long run on my usual winter trails at Greenfield ridge. Legs a little sore but not so much to make make me pass on the run, though the 57 minutes did seem to last a long time. Need to get the ipod cranked up again if I'm going to keep doing this long stuff.
Nicest part of the run was when I heard a dog, and then another one, and pretty soon there were four dogs coming my way, all with pink streamers around their necks -- it is bear season -- and then a young woman, who also had pink streamers wrapped around her neck, started calling them. And they all dutifully ran back to her, and stood next to her off to the side of the trail while I ran by. I couldn't help but give her a sincere "Thank you" as I passed.
And at some point either before or after I ran I saw a van with a company name that stuck in my mind -- Hiking Paws. I assume I saw them in action. If they ever need a referral....
Nicest part of the run was when I heard a dog, and then another one, and pretty soon there were four dogs coming my way, all with pink streamers around their necks -- it is bear season -- and then a young woman, who also had pink streamers wrapped around her neck, started calling them. And they all dutifully ran back to her, and stood next to her off to the side of the trail while I ran by. I couldn't help but give her a sincere "Thank you" as I passed.
And at some point either before or after I ran I saw a van with a company name that stuck in my mind -- Hiking Paws. I assume I saw them in action. If they ever need a referral....
Tuesday Sep 20, 2011 #
4 PM
trail running 58:43 5.9 mi (9:57 / mi) +1175ft 8:22 / mi
ahr:140 max:159 weight:138lbs shoes: pegasus #2
From the gate, a loop around Mt. Toby. Starts will a long up, but once that is done, the rest is pretty benign. Except maybe it wasn't so benign, as I was putting in some effort, plus I'd already had a 2.5 hour quick stroll around the golf course, and, yes, the legs knew that I'd done that.
Trying to do a few longer runs -- and an hour qualifies as a longer run these days -- in anticipation of longer O' courses coming up. Probably too little and too late to make a difference.
Trying to do a few longer runs -- and an hour qualifies as a longer run these days -- in anticipation of longer O' courses coming up. Probably too little and too late to make a difference.
Monday Sep 19, 2011 #
5 PM
trail running 20:39 2.22 mi (9:18 / mi) +66ft 9:03 / mi
ahr:131 max:149 shoes: pegasus #2
Warm-up around part of the course.
trail running race 20:36 3.0 mi (6:52 / mi) +171ft 6:31 / mi
ahr:160 max:171 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Westfield 3 mile XC. Good and bad. Legs didn't feel very zippy the first few minutes, but then got better. Good in that I got the age 66 record by 12 seconds. Bad in that I ran the course 44 seconds faster 2 years ago. Oh well, could have been worse.
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Saturday Sep 17, 2011 #
Event: NEOC: Great Brook Farm NOD
11 AM
orienteering 1:13:10 5.54 mi (13:12 / mi) +568ft 12:02 / mi
ahr:141 max:160 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Great Brook Farm in Carlisle, MA. First time there. Perfectly fine area, nothing special, woods were a little thickish but still good orienteering. And a lovely day, good for both running and hanging out, and even good for a short trip down the road to Kimball's Farms for some ice cream, and then back to the meet site for some more hanging out.
So it would have been perfect if only my orienteering hadn't left me with a bit of a hollow feeling....
(1) I think me and the thumb compass are going to have to part ways. I'm just not getting much use out of it. I suppose I could just keep at it for a while and see if things improve, but it feels like a real struggle for less reward than my old ways.
(2) I'm certainly not reading the map well on the run, in fact I would say I'm only managing to get useful information if the level of detail is quite low. So that is discouraging. Had at least a couple of times today where I was looking at what I thought were trails on the map when they were really stone walls.
(3) I really slow down when the woods thicken up. And fall down more too. I think this may be a terminal condition, it is only going to get worse.
So my run really felt like a struggle. And that's on terrain that is pretty easy. My guess is that this is not going to get any better. So I'm in the usual dilemma -- is it better to accept the inevitable, and thereby probably hasten it's arrival, or fight against it, realizing that it is a losing battle.
So far my tendency in such matters has been to do the latter. We shall see.
Today's red course and my route.
192/2000
So it would have been perfect if only my orienteering hadn't left me with a bit of a hollow feeling....
(1) I think me and the thumb compass are going to have to part ways. I'm just not getting much use out of it. I suppose I could just keep at it for a while and see if things improve, but it feels like a real struggle for less reward than my old ways.
(2) I'm certainly not reading the map well on the run, in fact I would say I'm only managing to get useful information if the level of detail is quite low. So that is discouraging. Had at least a couple of times today where I was looking at what I thought were trails on the map when they were really stone walls.
(3) I really slow down when the woods thicken up. And fall down more too. I think this may be a terminal condition, it is only going to get worse.
So my run really felt like a struggle. And that's on terrain that is pretty easy. My guess is that this is not going to get any better. So I'm in the usual dilemma -- is it better to accept the inevitable, and thereby probably hasten it's arrival, or fight against it, realizing that it is a losing battle.
So far my tendency in such matters has been to do the latter. We shall see.
Today's red course and my route.
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192/2000
Friday Sep 16, 2011 #
3 PM
trail running 59:57 6.42 mi (9:20 / mi) +781ft 8:22 / mi
ahr:140 max:159 weight:137lbs shoes: pegasus #2
Out and back on Pocumtuck ridge (which the 305 says is 3.1 miles one way and 3.3 the other, apparently it is accurate to only one significant digit). Nice run on a really nice cool afternoon, can't help but feel good. And my ankle calmed down overnight and wasn't bothering me.
Think I might go to Great Brook Farm tomorrow. Never been there. Don't have great expectations, but someplace new is someplace new.
Upcoming minor targets to help get me out the door to train -- (1) Stanley Park (Westfield) 3 mile XC race, only two more left, Monday and the following Monday, need to do 20:47 or better, (2) Highlander, hopefully not the disaster (physically) of last year, and (3) the Boulder Dash, blue both days.
Think I might go to Great Brook Farm tomorrow. Never been there. Don't have great expectations, but someplace new is someplace new.
Upcoming minor targets to help get me out the door to train -- (1) Stanley Park (Westfield) 3 mile XC race, only two more left, Monday and the following Monday, need to do 20:47 or better, (2) Highlander, hopefully not the disaster (physically) of last year, and (3) the Boulder Dash, blue both days.
C • BOG 3
Thursday Sep 15, 2011 #
10 AM
trail running 1:08:13 5.95 mi (11:28 / mi) +1037ft 9:50 / mi
ahr:129 max:147 weight:136.5lbs shoes: pegasus #2
At Earl's Trails, this time mostly on the jeep roads that go more up/down rather than snaking along the contours. Just trying to give Eddie more data for his basemap production.
Rolled my right ankle, then 50 yards later rolled it again just the same way. A little gimpy for a bit, then mostly OK, but I think it may be bothering me for a while. No swelling, just yanked on a ligament a little. Well, actually I really have no idea what I did, just that it hurts some if I step on it wrong or rotate the ankle a certain way.
Rolled my right ankle, then 50 yards later rolled it again just the same way. A little gimpy for a bit, then mostly OK, but I think it may be bothering me for a while. No swelling, just yanked on a ligament a little. Well, actually I really have no idea what I did, just that it hurts some if I step on it wrong or rotate the ankle a certain way.
Wednesday Sep 14, 2011 #
10 AM
track 9:50 2.0 km (4:55 / km) +3ft 4:54 / km
ahr:136 max:147 shoes: pegasus #2
Didn't make it out yesterday, so today had to be it, and the morning the time.
Warm-up.
Warm-up.
track race 12:25 3.0 km (4:08 / km) +3ft 4:08 / km
ahr:159 max:170 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
3K time trial. Quite strange. My original thinking was that 12:30 ought to be possible, but then I ran a couple of faster bits in the warm-up and they seemed to be a struggle, so I didn't know what to expect.
Started off therefore not wanting to be too slow, and of course was too fast. Slowly slowed down. And debated more than once cutting it short, or mixing in a couple of slower 200s just for a break. But then just kept at it. And reasonably pleased with the outcome, 12:25.
1:37.6
1:38.9
1:39.9
1:40.9
1:40.5
3:20.4
0:47.1
Started off therefore not wanting to be too slow, and of course was too fast. Slowly slowed down. And debated more than once cutting it short, or mixing in a couple of slower 200s just for a break. But then just kept at it. And reasonably pleased with the outcome, 12:25.
1:37.6
1:38.9
1:39.9
1:40.9
1:40.5
3:20.4
0:47.1
track 4:43 0.8 km (5:54 / km) +3ft 5:52 / km
ahr:132 max:140 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Tuesday Sep 13, 2011 #
Event: 3000m time trial
Note
Eddie is producing a basemap of Earl's Trails. What I've seen so far looks excellent. So will have to dig out my mapping gear and try to resurrect my mapping skills. Should be interesting. And maybe I can get Ali and Alex to do a little, just as a form of precision training for the mind and the eye.
As for the use of the map, who knows. Maybe just renegade O', maybe something more substantial. Not the best terrain in the world but far far from the worst.
As for the use of the map, who knows. Maybe just renegade O', maybe something more substantial. Not the best terrain in the world but far far from the worst.
Note
Just for a change of pace, time for a blow-by-blow of today's "orienteering." Well, it's just like orienteering. Although the only time I've really orienteered much like this -- so many mistakes -- was last month in France.
1. (380) Two thirds of the leg (i.e the drive) went perfect, then botched the approach, and botched it again, double bogey (not good).
2. (140) Spiked, par.
3. (420) Long tough leg. Moving well, just slightly right at the end, corrected OK, bogey.
4. (380) Bad start, and then it got worse, including two tries form the same attack point when the first one got lost. Quadruple bogey (really bad). Time to start paying attention.
5. (130) Spiked, par.
6. (550) Pretty good all the way, par.
7. (290) Took safe route, then blew the approach, bogey.
8. (465) Good speed slightly left of the line, lost no time in the circle, birdie.
9. (360) Some seasonal marshes thanks to Irene, but my line was good and I stayed dry, par.
10. (360) A little right of the line, left a tough approach over a big tree, spiked it, par.
11. (180) Spiked, par.
12. (475) Real good speed, no time lost, birdie.
13. (280) Right at it, just a little sloppy at the end, par.
14. (560) Long leg but a slight tailwind helped, fast and solid, par.
15. (150) All good things come to an end. Straight uphill, stopped a little short, then went past it, took a while before I finally got it, triple-bogey.
16. (320) A little left of the line but very sharp on the approach, par.
17. (385) A little left to start, then tried to go over a green area and didn't make it, eventually another double-bogey.
18. (320) On the line all the way, birdie.
Conclusions about my technique: Need to do better at dealing with the inevitable times I get off my planned route, take a moment and make up a plan B rather than just bulling ahead.
That regardless, it still is fun to go as fast as possible (i.e. swing as hard as I can). Wish I could still do that in orienteering.
1. (380) Two thirds of the leg (i.e the drive) went perfect, then botched the approach, and botched it again, double bogey (not good).
2. (140) Spiked, par.
3. (420) Long tough leg. Moving well, just slightly right at the end, corrected OK, bogey.
4. (380) Bad start, and then it got worse, including two tries form the same attack point when the first one got lost. Quadruple bogey (really bad). Time to start paying attention.
5. (130) Spiked, par.
6. (550) Pretty good all the way, par.
7. (290) Took safe route, then blew the approach, bogey.
8. (465) Good speed slightly left of the line, lost no time in the circle, birdie.
9. (360) Some seasonal marshes thanks to Irene, but my line was good and I stayed dry, par.
10. (360) A little right of the line, left a tough approach over a big tree, spiked it, par.
11. (180) Spiked, par.
12. (475) Real good speed, no time lost, birdie.
13. (280) Right at it, just a little sloppy at the end, par.
14. (560) Long leg but a slight tailwind helped, fast and solid, par.
15. (150) All good things come to an end. Straight uphill, stopped a little short, then went past it, took a while before I finally got it, triple-bogey.
16. (320) A little left of the line but very sharp on the approach, par.
17. (385) A little left to start, then tried to go over a green area and didn't make it, eventually another double-bogey.
18. (320) On the line all the way, birdie.
Conclusions about my technique: Need to do better at dealing with the inevitable times I get off my planned route, take a moment and make up a plan B rather than just bulling ahead.
That regardless, it still is fun to go as fast as possible (i.e. swing as hard as I can). Wish I could still do that in orienteering.
Monday Sep 12, 2011 #
Note
One of the benefits of not having e-punching at Pawtuckaway is that it gives you a chance to enter your splits on AP, instead of having it done for you. Of course if no one does it....
So get with the program.
Had an Alex-type long weekend (Saturday morning to Monday evening), not in that I am broken, but rather doing my best to rack up lots of miles. I'm still not in her league, but it did seem like a lot of driving.
But Pawtuckaway needed to be done, and I needed to check in on mom who, it turns out, took another trip to NYC on Saturday, the second one I've not been involved in, just quickly down and back with Lina and Lina's daughter, no stops except for soup, the purpose apparently just to rekindle some memories. And then this morning I had a chance to play a round at the Plymouth CC, a very nice private course, so that couldn't be passed on, was out of mom's house before 6 to make that.
But no complaints, a fine long weekend in all regards except that Lina (my mom's primary caregiver) is convinced I am quite nuts, as every weekend I show up with new scars/scabs/lacerations. But then at one point she said that my mom was a tough old lady, and she guessed I was just the same and she had best get used to it. But I'm pretty sure she'd prefer it if I didn't croak anytime soon.
So get with the program.
Had an Alex-type long weekend (Saturday morning to Monday evening), not in that I am broken, but rather doing my best to rack up lots of miles. I'm still not in her league, but it did seem like a lot of driving.
But Pawtuckaway needed to be done, and I needed to check in on mom who, it turns out, took another trip to NYC on Saturday, the second one I've not been involved in, just quickly down and back with Lina and Lina's daughter, no stops except for soup, the purpose apparently just to rekindle some memories. And then this morning I had a chance to play a round at the Plymouth CC, a very nice private course, so that couldn't be passed on, was out of mom's house before 6 to make that.
But no complaints, a fine long weekend in all regards except that Lina (my mom's primary caregiver) is convinced I am quite nuts, as every weekend I show up with new scars/scabs/lacerations. But then at one point she said that my mom was a tough old lady, and she guessed I was just the same and she had best get used to it. But I'm pretty sure she'd prefer it if I didn't croak anytime soon.
Sunday Sep 11, 2011 #
10 AM
orienteering 1:05:18 [3] 5.7 km (11:27 / km)
shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Green course. Wasn't even sure I was up for that, feling very tired. But it looked like a nice course and I thought I should at least give it a try. And I got around pretty well, ran a fair bit, only 2 or 3 minutes of errors, so quite pleased, and certainly glad I'd gone out.
No 305 track for this one. Guess I'll have to be old-fashioned and draw in my route. It's bound to be more accurate that way. :-)
Very pleasant weekend, good company, good orienteering, and I'm still upright. Though I remembered only at the end that I had forgotten about my general desire to try to meet someone new at O' weekends. Got to get back to that.
Also got a number of nice comments about the write-ups I was posting during WOC about how the Team was doing. Nice to se some were reading them. And maybe they helped in their purpose, to make people in the federation feel a little more connected to the Team.
And speaking of the Team, there is a need for a person with a special duty, which is to check Ali every time she is leaving wherever she is and make sure she isn't leaving anything behind. Because she seems to do that quite often (the worst example I heard was arriving at a ski race only to discover she had forgotten her skis). And because it seems to be a family trait. So it is hard-wired. Perhaps we need an intervention.... :-)
No 305 track for this one. Guess I'll have to be old-fashioned and draw in my route. It's bound to be more accurate that way. :-)
Very pleasant weekend, good company, good orienteering, and I'm still upright. Though I remembered only at the end that I had forgotten about my general desire to try to meet someone new at O' weekends. Got to get back to that.
Also got a number of nice comments about the write-ups I was posting during WOC about how the Team was doing. Nice to se some were reading them. And maybe they helped in their purpose, to make people in the federation feel a little more connected to the Team.
And speaking of the Team, there is a need for a person with a special duty, which is to check Ali every time she is leaving wherever she is and make sure she isn't leaving anything behind. Because she seems to do that quite often (the worst example I heard was arriving at a ski race only to discover she had forgotten her skis). And because it seems to be a family trait. So it is hard-wired. Perhaps we need an intervention.... :-)
Saturday Sep 10, 2011 #
11 AM
orienteering 1:21:49 4.99 mi (16:24 / mi) +522ft 14:55 / mi
ahr:141 max:154 shoes: x-talon 212
Camping weekend at Pawtuckaway. (Short) Blue course.
Decent run. Tried a thumb compass. I think that I am going to find that I like having a little sharp end as a pointer, but not so much actually using the compass to determine direction. But will have to try it a few times before knowing for sure.
Got a good poke in the right eye about 10 minutes before the finish, in the white part of the eye. Vision was blurry/foggy, wiped my eye and it would clear up a little but then go foggy again, got better after a few minutes. I think it was just blood getting in the way, even though the world didn't have that nice rosy hue like it did when I became Cyclops for a week. Left a rather nasty looking bloody spot.
Dr Lex took a look and was inclined to send me off to the ER, since it seemed there was a tear in the iris and she was concerned that that the fluid inside the eye might be leaking out. I was (of course) inclined to do nothing. We compromised and agreed she would check it an hour later to see if it had changed.
An hour (or two?) later, and it seemed no worse, still looked quite bad but no fluid leaking to be seen, so no ER. Of course there was still a night-O' to be done, so that was just as good.
Decent run. Tried a thumb compass. I think that I am going to find that I like having a little sharp end as a pointer, but not so much actually using the compass to determine direction. But will have to try it a few times before knowing for sure.
Got a good poke in the right eye about 10 minutes before the finish, in the white part of the eye. Vision was blurry/foggy, wiped my eye and it would clear up a little but then go foggy again, got better after a few minutes. I think it was just blood getting in the way, even though the world didn't have that nice rosy hue like it did when I became Cyclops for a week. Left a rather nasty looking bloody spot.
Dr Lex took a look and was inclined to send me off to the ER, since it seemed there was a tear in the iris and she was concerned that that the fluid inside the eye might be leaking out. I was (of course) inclined to do nothing. We compromised and agreed she would check it an hour later to see if it had changed.
An hour (or two?) later, and it seemed no worse, still looked quite bad but no fluid leaking to be seen, so no ER. Of course there was still a night-O' to be done, so that was just as good.
8 PM
orienteering (night) 2:15:38 4.58 mi (29:37 / mi) +548ft 26:36 / mi
ahr:130 max:149 shoes: x-talon 212
JJ's Wicked Hard Night O'. Not sure how many years he's had it, but I haven't missed one yet and wasn't intending to DNS this one. Though I must say that afterwards I was having thoughts along the line, You are getting too old and frail for this foolishness.
A decent walk, with a scattering of little bits of jogging in the first half, and then lots of stumbling in the last 45 minutes or so. One bad control, #4, guess 5 minutes lost, maybe a little more, GPS will say, and one a little bit bad, #5, a minute or two, wandering with Will, who had almost no light. A good pair, the blind and the lame. He hung with me until 9 (picked him up on the way to 5), but then he couldn't go slow enough and was soon gone.
Otherwise mostly by myself. Was thinking I was doing quite well and almost done when I got to 11, only three more to go, but then I took a look at the next couple and decided I had quite a long ways to go. Ended up right on my predicted time of 2:15. The only casualty was my 305, no permanent injury, just ran out of juice with about 20 minutes still to go.
Beautiful evening, clear, full moon (not that it helped), nice course. I didn't finish last, but not by much.
A decent walk, with a scattering of little bits of jogging in the first half, and then lots of stumbling in the last 45 minutes or so. One bad control, #4, guess 5 minutes lost, maybe a little more, GPS will say, and one a little bit bad, #5, a minute or two, wandering with Will, who had almost no light. A good pair, the blind and the lame. He hung with me until 9 (picked him up on the way to 5), but then he couldn't go slow enough and was soon gone.
Otherwise mostly by myself. Was thinking I was doing quite well and almost done when I got to 11, only three more to go, but then I took a look at the next couple and decided I had quite a long ways to go. Ended up right on my predicted time of 2:15. The only casualty was my 305, no permanent injury, just ran out of juice with about 20 minutes still to go.
Beautiful evening, clear, full moon (not that it helped), nice course. I didn't finish last, but not by much.
Friday Sep 9, 2011 #
Note
Visited Mike's Maze today to check out the possibilities. Stay tuned....
Thursday Sep 8, 2011 #
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12 PM
trail running 51:03 4.12 mi (12:23 / mi) +932ft 10:12 / mi
ahr:134 max:161 rhr:51 weight:136lbs shoes: pegasus #2
At Earl's trails. First did a loop over the two main hills, then at the end 4 x 1 minute up the bottom part of the old lift line. Trails were in remarkably fine condition after all the rain we've had, just a few small puddles, no mud, no erosion.
Will any luck we'll have an O' map of the area by the end of the fall.
Also, detoured on the way home to check out a possible site for the USA Roller Ski Orienteering Champs. Not as good as I'd hoped, will have to go look at option B.
Will any luck we'll have an O' map of the area by the end of the fall.
Also, detoured on the way home to check out a possible site for the USA Roller Ski Orienteering Champs. Not as good as I'd hoped, will have to go look at option B.
Wednesday Sep 7, 2011 #
5 PM
orienteering 36:48 2.8 mi (13:09 / mi) +312ft 11:53 / mi
ahr:130 max:150 rhr:49 weight:146lbs shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Regular Wednesday evening renegade O- session, this time in Forest Park in Springfield, joined by Charlie and Clint and Ken Sr. Did two sprints that Phil set for a NEOC meet a couple of summers ago.
So first I did sprint 2, hanging streamers. Think I got them all in the right place, but sure was doing some bad O' in the process -- made a mess of 1 and 12, and a real mess of 10 (where a compass would have help, but still, 5 minutes on a 100-meter leg in good woods! Here's the map with my route from two years ago.
Had rained all day, so every was wet and muddy and the woods were getting dark. Very good fun.
131/1200
So first I did sprint 2, hanging streamers. Think I got them all in the right place, but sure was doing some bad O' in the process -- made a mess of 1 and 12, and a real mess of 10 (where a compass would have help, but still, 5 minutes on a 100-meter leg in good woods! Here's the map with my route from two years ago.
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Had rained all day, so every was wet and muddy and the woods were getting dark. Very good fun.
131/1200
orienteering 25:49 2.56 mi (10:05 / mi) +308ft 9:03 / mi
ahr:148 max:164 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
And then sprint 1, which Phil had streamered. A good bit better, though still not doing a good job of planning ahead enough. Was a little trickier because the map for me was locked in Phil's car, and he was still in the woods. But then Ali came in after her first sprint and she had the two maps back to back in her map case. So I copied the controls for sprint 1 onto my sprint 2 map. Except controls 5 and 6 weren't there, the sprint 2 map was cropped differently, so did those by memory.
Pretty solid effort. Course and route from last time.
And then drying off and changing and putting on warm clothes because it was getting chilly, and then, of course, food! Stopped at the first place we saw, Antonio's in the south end, pizza/pasta. Training and then food just seems like a natural pairing. :-)
Of course I forgot to call Gail and say I was all set for dinner. But then Alex showed up, hungry, and my dinner was available, so everything worked out just fine.
141/1200
Pretty solid effort. Course and route from last time.
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And then drying off and changing and putting on warm clothes because it was getting chilly, and then, of course, food! Stopped at the first place we saw, Antonio's in the south end, pizza/pasta. Training and then food just seems like a natural pairing. :-)
Of course I forgot to call Gail and say I was all set for dinner. But then Alex showed up, hungry, and my dinner was available, so everything worked out just fine.
141/1200
Tuesday Sep 6, 2011 #
3 PM
track 30:26 4.0 mi (7:37 / mi) +3ft 7:36 / mi
ahr:143 max:162 weight:136.5lbs shoes: pegasus #2
At the Eaglebrook track. Same as last week, 8 x 200 (200 jog), but I decided there was no need to try to run the fast ones as fast as I could, that anything under 50 was faster than I can race at now and would do some good. So I did those a little slower, and the slow laps a little faster. And certainly suffered less. :-)
Quite pleasant out, 60s and light rain, a lot better being cooler.
And a mile before and after.
And despite what the 305's map shows, I did it all in lane 1.
Quite pleasant out, 60s and light rain, a lot better being cooler.
And a mile before and after.
And despite what the 305's map shows, I did it all in lane 1.
Sunday Sep 4, 2011 #
Event: WCOC - Sessions Woods
12 PM
orienteering 56:51 4.46 mi (12:45 / mi) +377ft 11:48 / mi
ahr:147 max:167 weight:137lbs shoes: x-talon 212 #2
WCOC meet at Sessions Woods, hosted by George and Lyn. Red course, 6.2 km bee-line. Warm and humid.
Missed the first 5 controls, after which things got better (fortunately). Plus the heat beats me down, never have like hot days. So overall could have been worse, I suppose.
Nice course, clusters of controls with long legs between that gave the option of trail runs. Nice to not have to spend all the time in the ferns.
In the match between the studs and the babes, I think they (Ali and Pavi) beat us (me and Joe) by 11 seconds. Joe, you've got to run faster. I did my part vs. Pavi.... :-)
Controls: 118/1200
Missed the first 5 controls, after which things got better (fortunately). Plus the heat beats me down, never have like hot days. So overall could have been worse, I suppose.
Nice course, clusters of controls with long legs between that gave the option of trail runs. Nice to not have to spend all the time in the ferns.
In the match between the studs and the babes, I think they (Ali and Pavi) beat us (me and Joe) by 11 seconds. Joe, you've got to run faster. I did my part vs. Pavi.... :-)
Controls: 118/1200
orienteering 28:26 1.02 mi (27:52 / mi) +59ft 26:25 / mi
ahr:97 max:119 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Picking up controls 1 through 6. At a slow walk.
I was thinking during part of my walk that I should try a thumb compass (and a magnifier?). Or is this dog too old to learn new tricks?
I was thinking during part of my walk that I should try a thumb compass (and a magnifier?). Or is this dog too old to learn new tricks?
Saturday Sep 3, 2011 #
Note
So my new control count started at the one-year anniversary of the first one, August 10. So far I've got:
France training -- 6
France spectator races -- 12, 12, 9, 15, 8, 10
Mt. Tom training -- 10
Norwottuck training -- 12
Total so far: 94
Goal: 1200 by WMOC next July
Special adjustment factor allowed -- every hour of mapping is worth 10 controls.
France training -- 6
France spectator races -- 12, 12, 9, 15, 8, 10
Mt. Tom training -- 10
Norwottuck training -- 12
Total so far: 94
Goal: 1200 by WMOC next July
Special adjustment factor allowed -- every hour of mapping is worth 10 controls.
11 AM
biking 1:14:30 20.33 mi (3:40 / mi) +397ft 3:36 / mi
ahr:116 max:138 rhr:54 weight:136.5lbs
Old Deerfield / River Road loop, moderate pace (actually the legs felt like they were doing some work, but the heart rate stayed very low, not sure what that combination means), partly to try to loosen up the legs, which are still quite sore, and partly to see the impact of the flooding on the local farmland, which in places was quite severe. Being 10 feet higher or lower made a big difference.
More traffic than usual in a couple of places because I-91 south is still closed between Greenfield and Deerfield, until they can be sure the bridge abutments are sound where it crosses the Deerfield River. Should be quite the traffic mess on Monday afternoon.
More traffic than usual in a couple of places because I-91 south is still closed between Greenfield and Deerfield, until they can be sure the bridge abutments are sound where it crosses the Deerfield River. Should be quite the traffic mess on Monday afternoon.
Friday Sep 2, 2011 #
5 PM
orienteering 58:05 4.02 mi (14:27 / mi) +850ft 12:02 / mi
ahr:141 max:159 rhr:52 weight:136.5lbs shoes: x-talon 212 #2
O' training at the Notch, course by Phil along the north side of the range. Legs were sore from yesterday. The plan today was to try to run a fair bit (except when it went uphill much) at a relaxed pace, and that went pretty well. Second part of the plan was to not worry about the controls -- if I found the right spot, fine; if I wasn't sure, well, just keep moving. I think I found most of them but probably not all. So a good session, thanks to Ali for the inspiration and Phil for the courses/maps.
And then food! Just down the road at a pizza place, very pleasant at an outdoor picnic table, listening to, among other things, gross stories from Phil's past.
I suggested to Gail that today's 6 controls should be part of her year-long goal of 600. She professed to be not interested. Should I start the count for her?
And I need to get my count going. I think a proper goal is 1200 by WMOC in Germany in early July.
The course, and my route (perhaps).
And then food! Just down the road at a pizza place, very pleasant at an outdoor picnic table, listening to, among other things, gross stories from Phil's past.
I suggested to Gail that today's 6 controls should be part of her year-long goal of 600. She professed to be not interested. Should I start the count for her?
And I need to get my count going. I think a proper goal is 1200 by WMOC in Germany in early July.
The course, and my route (perhaps).
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Thursday Sep 1, 2011 #
6 PM
trail running 7:58 0.95 mi (8:23 / mi) +52ft 7:58 / mi
ahr:132 max:143 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Down to Holyoke for the 5K XC race. Picked up Ali on the way, which meant we got caught in real bad traffic on Rt. 9, so got there 15 minutes early instead of 30. Just enough time for a warm-up (in which she is jogging and I am just about race pace).
trail running race 21:15 3.12 mi (6:49 / mi) +3ft 6:48 / mi
ahr:163 max:173 weight:137lbs shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Better than I expected by a good bit, I thought under 22 would be hard to do. So quite pleased, plus an age-66 record too by about 15 seconds.
Very entertaining at the start to see Ali take the lead, and she still had the last I saw, about a half-mile in. Meanwhile I was doing the best I could, and was pleasantly surprised by what the 305 said I was doing, though these days I don't trust it very much. But it said I was running about 6:45-6:50 miles, and that was encouraging, so I'm sure I hung in there better than I would have otherwise.
Legs are going to be very sore tomorrow.
Can anyone explain to me why my time for the first and third miles are different than my pace for the first and third miles?
Very entertaining at the start to see Ali take the lead, and she still had the last I saw, about a half-mile in. Meanwhile I was doing the best I could, and was pleasantly surprised by what the 305 said I was doing, though these days I don't trust it very much. But it said I was running about 6:45-6:50 miles, and that was encouraging, so I'm sure I hung in there better than I would have otherwise.
Legs are going to be very sore tomorrow.
Can anyone explain to me why my time for the first and third miles are different than my pace for the first and third miles?
trail running 16:05 1.72 mi (9:21 / mi) +20ft 9:15 / mi
ahr:144 max:153 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Cool-down, during which legs got progressively sorer....
O' training tomorrow at the Notch at 5:30 pm. Anyone interested let me know.
O' training tomorrow at the Notch at 5:30 pm. Anyone interested let me know.