Training Log Archive: PGIn the 30 days ending Apr 30, 2012:
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Monday Apr 30, 2012 #
orienteering 3:10:00 [0]
shoes: pegasus #2
Checking points at Earl's Trails, reasonable amount of progress (i.e. about half of the total). And a few map corrections. All done at a leisurely walk as the body would not have tolerated anything more. Though, actually, could be doing worse, hamstring not as sore as I thought it would be.
Deadline for getting all courses and map corrections is two weeks from today. Also the last day for regular registration (and late registration is only possible if we have space available).
And also a meeting with the park supervisor, just to review things. Still don't have an official permit, but that seems to be of no concern. He's reviewed the application and had no issues. Interesting that the permit application, submitted to Boston in January, reached him a couple of weeks ago, and he sent back his response a week ago. Things work in strange ways sometimes.
And we don't have to pay for any extra park personnel or any police for the road crossing, so that will help hold down expenses.
Deadline for getting all courses and map corrections is two weeks from today. Also the last day for regular registration (and late registration is only possible if we have space available).
And also a meeting with the park supervisor, just to review things. Still don't have an official permit, but that seems to be of no concern. He's reviewed the application and had no issues. Interesting that the permit application, submitted to Boston in January, reached him a couple of weeks ago, and he sent back his response a week ago. Things work in strange ways sometimes.
And we don't have to pay for any extra park personnel or any police for the road crossing, so that will help hold down expenses.
Sunday Apr 29, 2012 #
11 AM
orienteering 2:45:05 8.24 mi (20:03 / mi) +1430ft 17:13 / mi
ahr:134 max:160 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Made it around the Billygoat, walked the whole thing. Wrapped up the hamstring pretty tight, took 1200 mg vitamin I. It held up for quite a while, just a dull ache, but getting sharper pains the last 20 or 30 minutes. Glad it wasn't any longer, or hilly at the end.
Going slowly gave me the opportunity to witness some truly awful orienteering. Not mine, with one exception. The primary culprits were Jeremy and Jeff (last names withheld to protect the guilty), though to be fair, compared to Jeremy, Jeff was not so bad.
My own truly awful moment? Got hit in the forehead by a branch. Knocked my hat off, set it flying. Also my glasses. A few immediate cuss words, then down on my hands and knees looking for my glasses, which are not so easy to find when you don't have them on in the first place.
And while I'm looking, I'm thinking, first, well, they are sort of old, I've had them quite a few years, I guess having to get a new pair wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. And then second, hmm, I'm going to have a problem driving home. And then third, wait, I've got my contacts with me, I can put them on to drive home. And then fourth, you idiot, I've got my contact on, my glasses are back in the car, what are you doing looking for them out here.
And I picked up my hat and moseyed on, just amazed at my stupidity. Time wasted, maybe only a minute. But a bad omen for the future.
Other than that, spiked all the controls, no wasted time anywhere. A perfect walk?
Going slowly gave me the opportunity to witness some truly awful orienteering. Not mine, with one exception. The primary culprits were Jeremy and Jeff (last names withheld to protect the guilty), though to be fair, compared to Jeremy, Jeff was not so bad.
My own truly awful moment? Got hit in the forehead by a branch. Knocked my hat off, set it flying. Also my glasses. A few immediate cuss words, then down on my hands and knees looking for my glasses, which are not so easy to find when you don't have them on in the first place.
And while I'm looking, I'm thinking, first, well, they are sort of old, I've had them quite a few years, I guess having to get a new pair wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. And then second, hmm, I'm going to have a problem driving home. And then third, wait, I've got my contacts with me, I can put them on to drive home. And then fourth, you idiot, I've got my contact on, my glasses are back in the car, what are you doing looking for them out here.
And I picked up my hat and moseyed on, just amazed at my stupidity. Time wasted, maybe only a minute. But a bad omen for the future.
Other than that, spiked all the controls, no wasted time anywhere. A perfect walk?
C • OMG! 7
8 PM
Note
And then back to Litchfield. I am trying to keep a positive attitude, but I feel like I'm losing the battle. Feeling some resentment for being stuck as the primary family member, and no one else doing anything of significance. Not an emotional place I want to be, not one that is in any way useful. So I need to fight it off.
That said, maybe a short tale will serve to vent a bit....
My sister, who is a fair bit worse than useless in family matters, at some point a month or two ago made one of her rare visits, the point of which was to register that she had been here, not that she actually talks to my mom (that's a whole separate issue), and on this visit she brought a chocolate cake that she had bought at Stop and Shop. A nice gesture, though hardly a major investment (either financially or emotionally).
So the cake got delivered, and my sister called me up in Sunderland to report her good deed.
And then when I was back in Litchfield the next weekend my sister called again. The usual conversation with my mom --
Hi (my sister)
Hi (my mom)
How are you?
Fine.
Good to talk to you, bye.
Bye dear.
About 15 seconds, plus or minus a couple.
And then the phone back to me --
She sounded pretty good (my sister reporting on my mom, based on the 15 seconds)
Yup, she's doing OK (me)
More importantly, how was the cake?
Is there a single word that describes the emotions of anger and amazement and laughter and disgust all at the same time?
The next day I was back at work, a client who is very old and failing, but I have taken care of her for maybe 6 or 8 years and she really quite loves me. Loves her annual visits, I am very good at cheering her up. This time it was almost the reverse, it was me who needed cheering up.
Her daughter, also a client, also loves me, now comes with her.
So I told them about my mom, and about my sister, and about my sister's latest. And we had a good laugh. And I certainly felt much better by the time they left.
A week later, the daughter, also wonderful, comes in for her appointment. First words out of her mouth -- "More importantly, how was the cake?"
Laughter is so good for the soul, just have to keep remembering that.
That said, maybe a short tale will serve to vent a bit....
My sister, who is a fair bit worse than useless in family matters, at some point a month or two ago made one of her rare visits, the point of which was to register that she had been here, not that she actually talks to my mom (that's a whole separate issue), and on this visit she brought a chocolate cake that she had bought at Stop and Shop. A nice gesture, though hardly a major investment (either financially or emotionally).
So the cake got delivered, and my sister called me up in Sunderland to report her good deed.
And then when I was back in Litchfield the next weekend my sister called again. The usual conversation with my mom --
Hi (my sister)
Hi (my mom)
How are you?
Fine.
Good to talk to you, bye.
Bye dear.
About 15 seconds, plus or minus a couple.
And then the phone back to me --
She sounded pretty good (my sister reporting on my mom, based on the 15 seconds)
Yup, she's doing OK (me)
More importantly, how was the cake?
Is there a single word that describes the emotions of anger and amazement and laughter and disgust all at the same time?
The next day I was back at work, a client who is very old and failing, but I have taken care of her for maybe 6 or 8 years and she really quite loves me. Loves her annual visits, I am very good at cheering her up. This time it was almost the reverse, it was me who needed cheering up.
Her daughter, also a client, also loves me, now comes with her.
So I told them about my mom, and about my sister, and about my sister's latest. And we had a good laugh. And I certainly felt much better by the time they left.
A week later, the daughter, also wonderful, comes in for her appointment. First words out of her mouth -- "More importantly, how was the cake?"
Laughter is so good for the soul, just have to keep remembering that.
C • family 10
Saturday Apr 28, 2012 #
2 PM
orienteering 13:03 1.08 mi (12:05 / mi) +59ft 11:29 / mi
ahr:133 max:154 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Speedy Goat. First course. Took it easy, mix of walking and running. Leg felt OK, heel a little sore but hamstring OK.
orienteering 14:32 1.09 mi (13:20 / mi) +75ft 12:31 / mi
ahr:124 max:154 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Second course. Should have stopped after one.
Doing fine, running mostly but comfortably and carefully, and then hamstring twinged and that was that. Walked in. Not looking forward to tomorrow. Pretty unhappy.
The venue, Peebles Island just north of Albany, was very nice. A lot of nice woods, also trails, also some thicker stuff mostly avoidable, and we only saw about half the island. An unexpected pleasure.
Doing fine, running mostly but comfortably and carefully, and then hamstring twinged and that was that. Walked in. Not looking forward to tomorrow. Pretty unhappy.
The venue, Peebles Island just north of Albany, was very nice. A lot of nice woods, also trails, also some thicker stuff mostly avoidable, and we only saw about half the island. An unexpected pleasure.
Friday Apr 27, 2012 #
Note
89-6-1-8. Howling winds, at least on the holes that were a little bit elevated. Made it interesting. And reminded a couple times that 8's are generally not a good number.
Thursday Apr 26, 2012 #
9 AM
orienteering 1:46:47 3.31 mi (32:15 / mi) +833ft 26:02 / mi
ahr:98 max:121 weight:137.5lbs shoes: pegasus #2
Checking points at Mt. Tom for event 5. Feeling incredibly fragile, tripping on stuff, fell once and lost a bunch of skin on my left hand. And this is all just walking. Somewhat discouraging, although at least I can still find the points, just can't get there....
86-5-0-7, lost my driver, found my wedge (not physically, rather the ability to hit them properly), every day some clubs are lost, some are found, usually different ones, and also very rarely are all either lost or all found on any one day. Does such a thing happen in O' -- e.g. one day you can find the reentrants but not the boulders, and the next day it's the opposite?
86-5-0-7, lost my driver, found my wedge (not physically, rather the ability to hit them properly), every day some clubs are lost, some are found, usually different ones, and also very rarely are all either lost or all found on any one day. Does such a thing happen in O' -- e.g. one day you can find the reentrants but not the boulders, and the next day it's the opposite?
Wednesday Apr 25, 2012 #
2 PM
biking 1:06:11 17.01 mi (3:53 / mi) +1621ft 3:34 / mi
ahr:135 max:157 weight:137.5lbs
Another windy day, out of the west mostly. Cave Hill Road, nice hill on the way down, I'd give it a 38, Alex certainly a 45.
Got the OK from Earl, that's the Earl of ET, to have a water stop right behind his house. That will make it pretty easy to get the water and table there. Excellent. Of course the other one will be more of a problem.
83-4-0-7
Got the OK from Earl, that's the Earl of ET, to have a water stop right behind his house. That will make it pretty easy to get the water and table there. Excellent. Of course the other one will be more of a problem.
83-4-0-7
Tuesday Apr 24, 2012 #
Note
One of my regular 4-mile or so walks this morning, i.e. a round of golf, this time at my local course in Greenfield. A bunch of OFs get together early every weekday. Very windy and cold, and at one point a squall came through and it was sleeting for a couple of minutes. There were 10 of us guys that started, only 5 finished. It's a tough sport. :-)
86-3-0-7 (numbers are score, rounds for the years far, birdies, birdies for the year so far, with the goal for the second one maybe 75 and for the last one maybe 50?).
Heel was a little sore but hamstring better. Actually jogged a little bit yesterday evening while I was enter the early stages of panic at ET, and seems like it did no harm.
86-3-0-7 (numbers are score, rounds for the years far, birdies, birdies for the year so far, with the goal for the second one maybe 75 and for the last one maybe 50?).
Heel was a little sore but hamstring better. Actually jogged a little bit yesterday evening while I was enter the early stages of panic at ET, and seems like it did no harm.
5 PM
biking 39:56 10.55 mi (3:47 / mi) +614ft 3:35 / mi
ahr:127 max:148 weight:138.5lbs
Finally got out just before dinner after spending more time than intended thinking about event 1 courses. Very windy out of the south, so I took a route that someone not training seriously would take -- i.e. to minimize the headwinds. I assume anyone training seriously would want to maximize the headwinds.
In this case it was just a matter of which way around a short loop. I went north along the river, with the wind, more open fields so more wind. And then back on rolling hills and more woods, both of which give protection.
Plus I wasn't really putting out.... :-)
Plus stopped a mile from home to buy a bunch of asparagus. Wasn't sure about carry them, but they fit quite nicely and securely in my back pocket.
In this case it was just a matter of which way around a short loop. I went north along the river, with the wind, more open fields so more wind. And then back on rolling hills and more woods, both of which give protection.
Plus I wasn't really putting out.... :-)
Plus stopped a mile from home to buy a bunch of asparagus. Wasn't sure about carry them, but they fit quite nicely and securely in my back pocket.
Monday Apr 23, 2012 #
Note
And earlier, stopped for a very fast round of golf on the way home. Perfect conditions, windy, gloomy, threatening to rain, so almost no one there, but not actually raining. Many good shots including just missing a hole in one, ball stopped 8" behind the cup. And the shot was solid as can be, on the stick all the way. 74, but a shortish course.
And then the bike ride, and then out to see how the gang would manage at ET. And to take notes. And to realize that Gail should carry a cell phone, if only to cut my stress level.
And then the bike ride, and then out to see how the gang would manage at ET. And to take notes. And to realize that Gail should carry a cell phone, if only to cut my stress level.
3 PM
biking 49:04 13.59 mi (3:37 / mi) +541ft 3:29 / mi
ahr:135 max:151
Whately - South Deerfield loop, quite windy out of the south, getting blown around a bit. Pretty slow when going into it.
Sunday Apr 22, 2012 #
10 AM
orienteering 1:28:39 3.28 mi (27:02 / mi) +646ft 22:47 / mi
ahr:99 max:121 weight:138.5lbs shoes: pegasus #2
Hanging streamers at Earl's Trails for a course for the gang to try out. Woods are fine for the section I was in. Map seems to be OK even though I was using an older version (before a round of corrections by JJ in January). Spotted a couple of fixes needed, but that is to be expected, will be an ongoing process.
Hamstring started acting up after 20 minutes but then calmed down a little and wasn't too bad by the end. But I had not the slightest desire to run.
And dispatched two ticks that were running around. Saw not a single one the whole time I was mapping. But I guess from now on the routine is going to be bug spray (if that helps) and careful checking.
Hamstring started acting up after 20 minutes but then calmed down a little and wasn't too bad by the end. But I had not the slightest desire to run.
And dispatched two ticks that were running around. Saw not a single one the whole time I was mapping. But I guess from now on the routine is going to be bug spray (if that helps) and careful checking.
1 PM
biking 40:51 7.1 mi (5:45 / mi) +1358ft 4:52 / mi
ahr:132 max:159
Rain coming in, but just enough time for a couple of trips up South Sugarloaf without getting too wet, but did pull out the tights and gloves and extra shirts as it was about 50F. A bit of a struggle going up, as usual. 9:26, 9:39. Took the less steep way going down, even if it is one-way up, a lot nicer.
C • 24
Saturday Apr 21, 2012 #
Note
A late afternoon on the golf course, both good and bad. The golf was unusually and unexpectedly good, even par for the 10 holes I had time for. Reason and experience say that will be the best this year, all downhill now, but a good day is still a good day.
And the bad? Walking briskly to get in as many holes as possible, by the 6th my hamstring was acting up. The pace slowed to a stroll, but it is still irritated and I am still annoyed. Thought I was making really good progress. Meanwhile the Achilles is just a little sore, and the calf not at all. Who knows what will come next, but at this point I may be available for anyone wanting a guided 3-hour walk around the Billygoat.
And the bad? Walking briskly to get in as many holes as possible, by the 6th my hamstring was acting up. The pace slowed to a stroll, but it is still irritated and I am still annoyed. Thought I was making really good progress. Meanwhile the Achilles is just a little sore, and the calf not at all. Who knows what will come next, but at this point I may be available for anyone wanting a guided 3-hour walk around the Billygoat.
10 AM
biking 56:44 15.34 mi (3:42 / mi) +1220ft 3:26 / mi
ahr:132 max:152 rhr:52 weight:139lbs
Leverett loop, a little more hilly, but took them at a relaxed paced. Good just to get some riding in for some exercise. Next few days are supposed to be damp and cool so will see, very gradually, if some running is OK. Plus need to get out and work on the courses for Earl's Trails, the girls are eager to start doing test runs.
Friday Apr 20, 2012 #
Note
I think it's time to get moving on the course setting for Earl's Trails. In the past it's gone quickly enough, the hard part was always getting starting.
But now I have a course consultant for the first time ever, remains to be seen how that works out. But since that will lengthen the process, another reason to get going.
So I need to get out in the woods in the next week so I have something for my CC at the BG.
And that's maybe not a bad thing. The sooner I get at this, the less stressed I'll be. And my previous excuse for expecting to wait until the last possible moment -- that the event will be when leaves are up, so the course setting should reflect that -- that is now almost moot as spring vegetation seems to be appearing about 3 weeks early.
Fortunately over half the area is hemlocks, so I've already seen it in summer conditions.
But now I have a course consultant for the first time ever, remains to be seen how that works out. But since that will lengthen the process, another reason to get going.
So I need to get out in the woods in the next week so I have something for my CC at the BG.
And that's maybe not a bad thing. The sooner I get at this, the less stressed I'll be. And my previous excuse for expecting to wait until the last possible moment -- that the event will be when leaves are up, so the course setting should reflect that -- that is now almost moot as spring vegetation seems to be appearing about 3 weeks early.
Fortunately over half the area is hemlocks, so I've already seen it in summer conditions.
10 AM
biking 1:30:31 25.88 mi (3:30 / mi) +650ft 3:25 / mi
ahr:137 max:155 weight:138lbs
To Northampton to buy some new razor blades, basically an excuse for a little more flat riding. Breeze out of the south, so working harder on the way down.
Right leg is getting better, but not yet ready to try a little running.
Right leg is getting better, but not yet ready to try a little running.
Thursday Apr 19, 2012 #
Note
Another day putting more miles on the Subaru, now 228K. But it included a short tour of the under construction parts of the Yale Art Gallery and a lunch at TD College, and then 18 holes at a nice course on the way home. Game was a little shaky (90), especially in the circle (to use O' terminology).
Meanwhile spent time in Litchfield trying to get employees to work together, which is not easy sometimes, also decided it's time to get air conditioning in one form or other, so got a fellow over for the first set of bids. I will be glad when this phase of my life is over. Yes, that can be read to be quite cold-hearted, but it is the truth. Or maybe on this trip I was just getting a little tired of it all, a feeling so far avoided. Hopefully it will pass, because this phase is likely to last for quite a while.
I think one of things getting me a little irritated was starting the process on the AC, and then of course there is the suggestion that my sister-in-law should be consulted because she knows a lot about such things (she's an architect and very smart), which I'm sure is true, but at some point I'm going to revert back to one of my maxims in life which I used to use all the time when putting out Ultrarunning magazine -- whoever is doing the work decides. And since I'm doing the work here, at some point I'm just going to decide. And the others can get on board or not, at least it will get done.
Though I'm sure it will still piss me off. I remember the time the basement room in her house had an old moldy carpet and I arranged to get it cleaned out and replaced with something just fine and the only feedback I got was the color was wrong. WTF sometimes.
Just venting.... :-)
Meanwhile spent time in Litchfield trying to get employees to work together, which is not easy sometimes, also decided it's time to get air conditioning in one form or other, so got a fellow over for the first set of bids. I will be glad when this phase of my life is over. Yes, that can be read to be quite cold-hearted, but it is the truth. Or maybe on this trip I was just getting a little tired of it all, a feeling so far avoided. Hopefully it will pass, because this phase is likely to last for quite a while.
I think one of things getting me a little irritated was starting the process on the AC, and then of course there is the suggestion that my sister-in-law should be consulted because she knows a lot about such things (she's an architect and very smart), which I'm sure is true, but at some point I'm going to revert back to one of my maxims in life which I used to use all the time when putting out Ultrarunning magazine -- whoever is doing the work decides. And since I'm doing the work here, at some point I'm just going to decide. And the others can get on board or not, at least it will get done.
Though I'm sure it will still piss me off. I remember the time the basement room in her house had an old moldy carpet and I arranged to get it cleaned out and replaced with something just fine and the only feedback I got was the color was wrong. WTF sometimes.
Just venting.... :-)
Note
I should pass this on to guru Ken -- it would be nice if the splits on AP included those who didn't finish. Can't think of any harm it would do.
C • DNF 6
Wednesday Apr 18, 2012 #
3 PM
biking 38:29 10.51 mi (3:40 / mi) +771ft 3:25 / mi
ahr:129 max:148 weight:139lbs
More time at the office than I anticipated, but best to deal with things sooner than later. So just time for a short ride before heading off to Litchfield.
Legs were a little sluggish. Amazing how much easier it is, like yesterday was, if I haven't done anything the couple of days before.
Legs were a little sluggish. Amazing how much easier it is, like yesterday was, if I haven't done anything the couple of days before.
Tuesday Apr 17, 2012 #
walking 1 [0] 1.55 mi (1 / mi)
Got out for 5 holes, upping the year's count to 12. Playing 3 or 4 or even 5 balls a hole. Route.
So last Saturday I trashed my right Achilles down at the lowest part, and my right hamstring. Today the sorest part is my right calf, seriously, though that didn't have any trauma on Saturday. Meanwhile the Achilles and the hamstring are mellowing out significantly.
I guess everything is just connected.
I could think, shit, if it's not one thing it's another. But I choose to think, great, the ailments are on the move. That's usually a sign that they are about to depart. Almost time to go looking for tickets to WMOC.
Meanwhile the usual last-minute things to deal with at the office -- dead people's returns, people stealing other people's dependents, tracking down signatures and payments, calls to file extensions because they just don't have their act together. But not so much that I haven't had plenty of time to catch up on various AP logs that I've been neglecting.
So last Saturday I trashed my right Achilles down at the lowest part, and my right hamstring. Today the sorest part is my right calf, seriously, though that didn't have any trauma on Saturday. Meanwhile the Achilles and the hamstring are mellowing out significantly.
I guess everything is just connected.
I could think, shit, if it's not one thing it's another. But I choose to think, great, the ailments are on the move. That's usually a sign that they are about to depart. Almost time to go looking for tickets to WMOC.
Meanwhile the usual last-minute things to deal with at the office -- dead people's returns, people stealing other people's dependents, tracking down signatures and payments, calls to file extensions because they just don't have their act together. But not so much that I haven't had plenty of time to catch up on various AP logs that I've been neglecting.
5 PM
biking 28:31 8.39 mi (3:24 / mi) +184ft 3:20 / mi
ahr:126 max:152 weight:140lbs
Flat roads south of town, NW breeze.
And home in time for dinner!
And home in time for dinner!
Monday Apr 16, 2012 #
Note
Walking a good bit better this evening, after a day mostly sitting at a desk. I've always thought that a good way to deal with injury was not to think about it, not to stress over it, so that it get a chance to relax.
Perhaps transferring all that stress to tax returns is the ultimate way to test the theory. Hadn't thought of that before. But the leg is definitely better, both the Achilles and the hamstring.
Took care of lots of things today. Might have to get out the golf clubs tomorrow, or the bike, or both, since my calendar for "Independence Day" is wide open. :-)
Perhaps transferring all that stress to tax returns is the ultimate way to test the theory. Hadn't thought of that before. But the leg is definitely better, both the Achilles and the hamstring.
Took care of lots of things today. Might have to get out the golf clubs tomorrow, or the bike, or both, since my calendar for "Independence Day" is wide open. :-)
8 PM
Note
I had a bit of a discussion with Mike Minium Saturday evening. Mike is one of those folks who does more than you could ever imagine for orienteering, and does it well too.
Mire was the WRE event advisor. Responsible for the WRE, not the whole event. Nevertheless, when he made a visit in February to check things out, he checked all the controls, not just the M21 and F21. He's already written on AP about the difficulty of dealing with a map that you wish were better. One of those cases where you have choices, but none of them are very good, so you do the best you can.
And Mike visited #6 on Saturday's Brown course. And came back and told the organizers to fix the map or not use the control.
In checking things Thursday/Friday, again trying to check everything, not just the M21/F21, nothing had been done to #6. And it was too late for him to do anything. And he saw it was just on the Brown, and hoped we could deal with it. And wished there was a better choice.
I don't fault Mike at all. In fact I give him credit for all his efforts. But how is it that the event advisor can say it's wrong, and nothing changes?
Having said that, I will also admit that there is a part of me that sympathizes with the course setter, because I had had that role many times, and it is not easy. The grading system is OK/fail, where no mistakes translates to an OK score, and even one small mistake translates to fail. I wish there was another way. I wish there was a way of dealing with mistakes, so that one mistake wasn't fatal. But that doesn't seem possible.
And yet in Adventure Racing, which I have never done, misplaced controls and bad maps seem to be common occurrences. And they deal with it. Exactly how I'm not sure, but they deal with it. And there are a lot more AR people then there are orienteers.
We strive for perfection, and being human, often/usually don't get there. That's true for the organizers, also true for our performances as orienteers.
Are we just setting ourselves up for failure? And yet this seems to be the way we want it. Is there another way?
Mire was the WRE event advisor. Responsible for the WRE, not the whole event. Nevertheless, when he made a visit in February to check things out, he checked all the controls, not just the M21 and F21. He's already written on AP about the difficulty of dealing with a map that you wish were better. One of those cases where you have choices, but none of them are very good, so you do the best you can.
And Mike visited #6 on Saturday's Brown course. And came back and told the organizers to fix the map or not use the control.
In checking things Thursday/Friday, again trying to check everything, not just the M21/F21, nothing had been done to #6. And it was too late for him to do anything. And he saw it was just on the Brown, and hoped we could deal with it. And wished there was a better choice.
I don't fault Mike at all. In fact I give him credit for all his efforts. But how is it that the event advisor can say it's wrong, and nothing changes?
Having said that, I will also admit that there is a part of me that sympathizes with the course setter, because I had had that role many times, and it is not easy. The grading system is OK/fail, where no mistakes translates to an OK score, and even one small mistake translates to fail. I wish there was another way. I wish there was a way of dealing with mistakes, so that one mistake wasn't fatal. But that doesn't seem possible.
And yet in Adventure Racing, which I have never done, misplaced controls and bad maps seem to be common occurrences. And they deal with it. Exactly how I'm not sure, but they deal with it. And there are a lot more AR people then there are orienteers.
We strive for perfection, and being human, often/usually don't get there. That's true for the organizers, also true for our performances as orienteers.
Are we just setting ourselves up for failure? And yet this seems to be the way we want it. Is there another way?
Sunday Apr 15, 2012 #
Note
A day at an O' meet when your not orienteering is a bit of a drag, unless you are an organizer when it is just a lot of stress. I was someplace in between, not orienteering (no way I even considered going out), but just a relatively minor duty, part of the Review Panel for deal with the Team's petitions from folks who couldn't make it to the Trials.
A good discussion with the rest of the panel, general agreement on the final decision. You hope you do it right, you think you have done it right, but that doesn't mean that everyone will think the same. Just part of life.
And then off to the airport with Kissy for good company, and then an easy flight up to White Plains, and then, whoops, we sat on the taxiway for an hour and 20 minutes because the TSA folks had found a suitcase without an apparent owner, so the terminal shut down just as we were getting there. I will give credit to the AirTran pilot, he was on the intercom every 10 minutes with whatever he could find out about what was going on and what the prognosis was, and I think that made a big difference as everyone stayed pretty mellow.
Finally got off, the terminal was chaos, trying to run everyone back through security, and the access road coming in was chaos, I assume full of people either trying to leave or trying to pick up someone. Fortunately got away without further delay.
Right leg is unhappy, but no worse than yesterday, so I am slightly less bummed.... :-)
Posted my GPS track from yesterday on Route Gadget.
A good discussion with the rest of the panel, general agreement on the final decision. You hope you do it right, you think you have done it right, but that doesn't mean that everyone will think the same. Just part of life.
And then off to the airport with Kissy for good company, and then an easy flight up to White Plains, and then, whoops, we sat on the taxiway for an hour and 20 minutes because the TSA folks had found a suitcase without an apparent owner, so the terminal shut down just as we were getting there. I will give credit to the AirTran pilot, he was on the intercom every 10 minutes with whatever he could find out about what was going on and what the prognosis was, and I think that made a big difference as everyone stayed pretty mellow.
Finally got off, the terminal was chaos, trying to run everyone back through security, and the access road coming in was chaos, I assume full of people either trying to leave or trying to pick up someone. Fortunately got away without further delay.
Right leg is unhappy, but no worse than yesterday, so I am slightly less bummed.... :-)
Posted my GPS track from yesterday on Route Gadget.
Saturday Apr 14, 2012 #
Note
My favorite snippet from an otherwise too lengthy Board discussion about GPS was the following --
There is rampant cheating at these events. (from board Amy Williams, who is involved with orienteering in schools and was referring to events with lots of high school teams participating.)
By using GPS? (from another Board member)
No, not at all GPS, the old-fashioned way (meaning collaboration).
And then the Board quickly moved back to GPS, not wanting to handle that hot potato. Better to deal with the problem that might be than the problem that is.
There is rampant cheating at these events. (from board Amy Williams, who is involved with orienteering in schools and was referring to events with lots of high school teams participating.)
By using GPS? (from another Board member)
No, not at all GPS, the old-fashioned way (meaning collaboration).
And then the Board quickly moved back to GPS, not wanting to handle that hot potato. Better to deal with the problem that might be than the problem that is.
12 PM
orienteering 47:28 3.4 mi (13:58 / mi) +364ft 12:40 / mi
ahr:145 max:159 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Well, certainly not an overall wonderful day. But at least there was a good bit of pleasure to compensate for a bunch of shit.
Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first, and that would pretty much cover the 44 minutes starting at 12:30, when I started today's M65 course, until 1:14, when I slowly headed back to the finish, limping badly, having trashed my right Achilles, trashed my right hamstring, and taken 26 minutes to find a control that should not have been any problem if only it had been where it was shown on the map.
On the good side, a number of good conversations, a fine dinner with a BAOC group and my local regulars (Charlie, Phil, Gail), and a 10-0 Board vote in favor of a "carry but don't use" GPS policy.
Back to the orienteering. Perhaps the best thing I could have done was to remember my activity of the evening before, when a little searching had uncovered a blog that mapper Sam Smith had kept in the 3 years he had worked on the map. And as I read through the blog what struck me most was how much time he had put into it with what was apparently either a lousy baseman or no baseman. What I should have learned was not have high expectations, and orienteer according.
But, foolish me, I kept thinking that something on the map meant that there was something similar in the terrain.
Got to 1 and 2 OK, though feeling quite uneasy. To 3, followed the major ride (unmapped) that seemed to go about along the mapped vegetation boundary (nonexistent). Slightly to the left on approach, corrected quickly, and then managed to find the control in the wrong reentrant with the help of others.
To 4, not sure how I got from the first campground to the second when I was aiming for the control, but I did somehow. To 5, ran a long ways down the streamers to #11 before deciding that maybe 5 was a different direction. This one was surely all my fault.
But these were all minor matters. Got about halfway to six, was descending a short steep slope, and stepped in an animal hole, toes jammed up, nothing under my heel, sharp pains in the Achilles. Kept moving, it hurt but not so bad I had to stop. Got close to the control, well, I think the best analogy is to O's sister sport, golf, where a pro once was asked to explain how he managed to take 5 putts on a hole, and he replied succinctly, "Miss, miss, miss, miss, make."
I think on 6 I was "miss, miss, miss, miss, miss, miss, oh no, why is my hamstring hurting, oh no, my hamstring is killing me, miss, and then make." Much worse than the 5 putts, but then he knew where the hole was. I thought I knew where the O' marker was, silly me, I was looking close to the river, at the top of a slope, and on the edge of a green patch, whereas the flag was quite a ways from the river, nowhere near any slope, and nowhere near any green. Quite obvious if you just knew where to look.
I found it by happenstance, and then very slowly walked in.
Certainly a good day to have a GPS track. I found the control about 46:30 after I started.
Thought about protesting, didn't, decided I was hurt before I got there and might not have finished. Leave it to someone else. And then I listened to a few other sad tales of woe there, people wondering if it was them or the map, not sure, relieved to know it was the map.
And still the question -- what do you do? Protest or not? People seemed scared to. You don't win any friends by protesting. It can be quite lonely. What do you do?
Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first, and that would pretty much cover the 44 minutes starting at 12:30, when I started today's M65 course, until 1:14, when I slowly headed back to the finish, limping badly, having trashed my right Achilles, trashed my right hamstring, and taken 26 minutes to find a control that should not have been any problem if only it had been where it was shown on the map.
On the good side, a number of good conversations, a fine dinner with a BAOC group and my local regulars (Charlie, Phil, Gail), and a 10-0 Board vote in favor of a "carry but don't use" GPS policy.
Back to the orienteering. Perhaps the best thing I could have done was to remember my activity of the evening before, when a little searching had uncovered a blog that mapper Sam Smith had kept in the 3 years he had worked on the map. And as I read through the blog what struck me most was how much time he had put into it with what was apparently either a lousy baseman or no baseman. What I should have learned was not have high expectations, and orienteer according.
But, foolish me, I kept thinking that something on the map meant that there was something similar in the terrain.
Got to 1 and 2 OK, though feeling quite uneasy. To 3, followed the major ride (unmapped) that seemed to go about along the mapped vegetation boundary (nonexistent). Slightly to the left on approach, corrected quickly, and then managed to find the control in the wrong reentrant with the help of others.
To 4, not sure how I got from the first campground to the second when I was aiming for the control, but I did somehow. To 5, ran a long ways down the streamers to #11 before deciding that maybe 5 was a different direction. This one was surely all my fault.
But these were all minor matters. Got about halfway to six, was descending a short steep slope, and stepped in an animal hole, toes jammed up, nothing under my heel, sharp pains in the Achilles. Kept moving, it hurt but not so bad I had to stop. Got close to the control, well, I think the best analogy is to O's sister sport, golf, where a pro once was asked to explain how he managed to take 5 putts on a hole, and he replied succinctly, "Miss, miss, miss, miss, make."
I think on 6 I was "miss, miss, miss, miss, miss, miss, oh no, why is my hamstring hurting, oh no, my hamstring is killing me, miss, and then make." Much worse than the 5 putts, but then he knew where the hole was. I thought I knew where the O' marker was, silly me, I was looking close to the river, at the top of a slope, and on the edge of a green patch, whereas the flag was quite a ways from the river, nowhere near any slope, and nowhere near any green. Quite obvious if you just knew where to look.
I found it by happenstance, and then very slowly walked in.
Certainly a good day to have a GPS track. I found the control about 46:30 after I started.
Thought about protesting, didn't, decided I was hurt before I got there and might not have finished. Leave it to someone else. And then I listened to a few other sad tales of woe there, people wondering if it was them or the map, not sure, relieved to know it was the map.
And still the question -- what do you do? Protest or not? People seemed scared to. You don't win any friends by protesting. It can be quite lonely. What do you do?
Friday Apr 13, 2012 #
Note
Here is Course 3 (Brown, M65). Course 5 (Red/Blue) and Course 4 (Green) went the same general routing, just generally had some legs that required going further off the straight-line, so the effective distance was a good bit longer.
Click on the image for a larger version.
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Click on the image for a larger version.
2 PM
orienteering 19:35 2.21 mi (8:52 / mi) +128ft 8:24 / mi
ahr:201 max:249 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
USA Sprint Champs at the University of West Georgia. Beeline distance was 2.9 km.
Pretty good run, had to stop about three times to be able to see whether there really was a passable gap where I thought there was. Twice there was, once there wasn't. Actually on the latter, I really wasn't sure, so went around just to be on the safe side.
Sometimes the narrow gaps are really hard to see well. The map may be 1:4,000 as it was today, but it's just as hard to read as the 1:15 regular maps because the line widths and the gaps are small. But I guess that is just the way the powers that be like to have the maps.
First half was mostly dealing with the usual college campus stuff, last part had longer legs with significant route choice. Overall the course seemed fine, just longer than what a sprint is supposed to be. My guess is if you took a poll of everyone there, you'd actually get a majority in favor of being a little longer -- and therefore getting to do more orienteering -- but that is just a guess.
And I think that my course (Brown, M65) was a good bit shorter than the Blue/Red and Green courses in terms of optimum route, so the absurdity of the beeline distances (Blue/Red 3.1, Green 3.0, Brown 2.9) was lessened.
-----------------
On the 305 front, two items. For those of us not in the WREs, there was the option of taping the displays, and tape readily available. When I started, and I started fairly late, according to the start person no one had taped up.
Second item is the result of my research on whether my 305 helped me at all, and there the answer is clearly that it cost me time, maybe something on the order of 10 seconds. The reason for this, perhaps not a reason expected, is that for whatever reason, maybe negligence on my part, maybe a side effect of my recent slimming, whatever, by the time I had done 2 or 3 controls the chest strap for my heart rate monitor was slipping down. I'd pull it back up as high as I could, a minute later it was falling again.
I repeated this perhaps 5 or 6 times, then gave up, it spent the last half of the run around my race and recording some awesome numbers. But I can't imagine the time spent concentrating on the strap helped my concentration on the map, and for the first half of the course I several times felt like I was not paying nearly enough attention to my orienteering. Fortunately no mistakes, but I had the sense of going a little slower than I should have.
--------------
Beautiful afternoon, nice event set-up, good karma. Spent a while visiting pre-race with the first aid guy, figured maybe going there before would mean going after wouldn't be necessary. A very nice guy.
My only disappointment was that I was hoping that one of our controls would be on a statue of Newt, since this is where he got his start as a historian/consultant. But I guess plans for that have been suspended....
Pretty good run, had to stop about three times to be able to see whether there really was a passable gap where I thought there was. Twice there was, once there wasn't. Actually on the latter, I really wasn't sure, so went around just to be on the safe side.
Sometimes the narrow gaps are really hard to see well. The map may be 1:4,000 as it was today, but it's just as hard to read as the 1:15 regular maps because the line widths and the gaps are small. But I guess that is just the way the powers that be like to have the maps.
First half was mostly dealing with the usual college campus stuff, last part had longer legs with significant route choice. Overall the course seemed fine, just longer than what a sprint is supposed to be. My guess is if you took a poll of everyone there, you'd actually get a majority in favor of being a little longer -- and therefore getting to do more orienteering -- but that is just a guess.
And I think that my course (Brown, M65) was a good bit shorter than the Blue/Red and Green courses in terms of optimum route, so the absurdity of the beeline distances (Blue/Red 3.1, Green 3.0, Brown 2.9) was lessened.
-----------------
On the 305 front, two items. For those of us not in the WREs, there was the option of taping the displays, and tape readily available. When I started, and I started fairly late, according to the start person no one had taped up.
Second item is the result of my research on whether my 305 helped me at all, and there the answer is clearly that it cost me time, maybe something on the order of 10 seconds. The reason for this, perhaps not a reason expected, is that for whatever reason, maybe negligence on my part, maybe a side effect of my recent slimming, whatever, by the time I had done 2 or 3 controls the chest strap for my heart rate monitor was slipping down. I'd pull it back up as high as I could, a minute later it was falling again.
I repeated this perhaps 5 or 6 times, then gave up, it spent the last half of the run around my race and recording some awesome numbers. But I can't imagine the time spent concentrating on the strap helped my concentration on the map, and for the first half of the course I several times felt like I was not paying nearly enough attention to my orienteering. Fortunately no mistakes, but I had the sense of going a little slower than I should have.
--------------
Beautiful afternoon, nice event set-up, good karma. Spent a while visiting pre-race with the first aid guy, figured maybe going there before would mean going after wouldn't be necessary. A very nice guy.
My only disappointment was that I was hoping that one of our controls would be on a statue of Newt, since this is where he got his start as a historian/consultant. But I guess plans for that have been suspended....
Wednesday Apr 11, 2012 #
1 PM
trail running 31:28 3.24 mi (9:42 / mi) +659ft 8:08 / mi
ahr:139 max:156 rhr:52 weight:138.5lbs shoes: pegasus #2
Usual trails, more sprint training.
Entertainment from Freakonomics about quitting, very interesting, will have to remember to listen to the last 20 minutes. As usual, although the creators I'm sure don't realize it, there were numerous items with relevance to O', including an item from former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, who on quitting his post lamented that while other cabinet members got to go to exotic places around the globe, the Secretary of Labor ended up in places like Toledo, or St. Louis on a good day.
If only he knew those were two orienteering hot spots (one future, one past?)....
Entertainment from Freakonomics about quitting, very interesting, will have to remember to listen to the last 20 minutes. As usual, although the creators I'm sure don't realize it, there were numerous items with relevance to O', including an item from former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, who on quitting his post lamented that while other cabinet members got to go to exotic places around the globe, the Secretary of Labor ended up in places like Toledo, or St. Louis on a good day.
If only he knew those were two orienteering hot spots (one future, one past?)....
Tuesday Apr 10, 2012 #
1 PM
part trail, part road 44:34 4.79 mi (9:18 / mi) +659ft 8:14 / mi
ahr:136 max:151 rhr:50 weight:138.5lbs shoes: pegasus #2
Just trying to do a little sprint training in preparation for Friday (similar time and pace)....
L&F is progressing very slowly, but it is progressing.
L&F is progressing very slowly, but it is progressing.
Monday Apr 9, 2012 #
Note
I see the course lengths for Friday's sprint are --
Blue/Red: 3.1 km
Green: 3.0 km
Brown: 2.9 km
Orange/Yellow: 2.3 km
White: 1.8 km
As someone running the Brown course, I'm guessing there is a typo there. Or have the Brown course runners just gotten a lot faster?
Blue/Red: 3.1 km
Green: 3.0 km
Brown: 2.9 km
Orange/Yellow: 2.3 km
White: 1.8 km
As someone running the Brown course, I'm guessing there is a typo there. Or have the Brown course runners just gotten a lot faster?
1 PM
trail running 58:25 5.82 mi (10:02 / mi) +994ft 8:38 / mi
ahr:138 max:155 shoes: pegasus #2
Usual trails on the ridge, reasonably uneventful except for one dog encounter, and it was no big deal. Just that I came up behind a guy out walking with his dog, and as usual I made enough noise when I was still 50 yards away. He looked around, saw me coming, then after a moment deliberation, reached out to grab the dog's collar to hold him while I went by.
I said my usual "Thank you" in such circumstances, trying to encourage good behavior.
I got about 50 yards down the trail when I heard a bark, and then a bark a lot closer, as the dog, now freed, was heading right at me at full speed.
I suppose the owner would say it just wanted to play. And perhaps it did, for it didn't hit me or bite me, just scared me and caused me to cuss rather loudly. And then it retreated back to its owner.
Should I change my greeting in such circumstances to "Thank you, so far"?
I wish this stuff didn't bother me but it does. I've been lucky, but I've heard of too many bad outcomes. And once the bite or the injury is suffered, no amount of apology or explanation can ever undo it.
Maybe I should just run with a can of Mace?
I said my usual "Thank you" in such circumstances, trying to encourage good behavior.
I got about 50 yards down the trail when I heard a bark, and then a bark a lot closer, as the dog, now freed, was heading right at me at full speed.
I suppose the owner would say it just wanted to play. And perhaps it did, for it didn't hit me or bite me, just scared me and caused me to cuss rather loudly. And then it retreated back to its owner.
Should I change my greeting in such circumstances to "Thank you, so far"?
I wish this stuff didn't bother me but it does. I've been lucky, but I've heard of too many bad outcomes. And once the bite or the injury is suffered, no amount of apology or explanation can ever undo it.
Maybe I should just run with a can of Mace?
Sunday Apr 8, 2012 #
Note
Feeling very sore this morning all around my hips and butt, enough to remind me that my immediate gene pool had three of four hips replaced and that the assumption has to be that I'm heading there too.
But after a day of no serious exercise it seems that I feel substantially better. Perhaps along with the not-so-exciting expectation of reverting to childhood as you get older also comes the side benefit of things starting to heal faster?
But after a day of no serious exercise it seems that I feel substantially better. Perhaps along with the not-so-exciting expectation of reverting to childhood as you get older also comes the side benefit of things starting to heal faster?
Saturday Apr 7, 2012 #
Event: WCOC Sessions Woods
orienteering 1:00:09 [3] 6.2 km (9:42 / km) +1083ft 7:40 / km
rhr:51 weight:139lbs shoes: x-talon 212 #2
WCOC local meet at Sessions, courtesy of George and Lyn. Glorious day, upper 50s, sunny, breezy.
Red course, 6.2 km beeline, took the map without the trails on it. Didn't really seem to make much difference, no real mistakes, just a few extra seconds before I spotted the rock at #4 that was a pretty minimal rock, and the distinct tree at #13 that looked pretty much like every other tree. :-)
Legs felt pretty dead, from yesterday's hills I assume, but put out a decent enough effort.
No 305, left it at the office and not worth the trouble to go fetch it.
Red course, 6.2 km beeline, took the map without the trails on it. Didn't really seem to make much difference, no real mistakes, just a few extra seconds before I spotted the rock at #4 that was a pretty minimal rock, and the distinct tree at #13 that looked pretty much like every other tree. :-)
Legs felt pretty dead, from yesterday's hills I assume, but put out a decent enough effort.
No 305, left it at the office and not worth the trouble to go fetch it.
C • #13 36
Friday Apr 6, 2012 #
road running 53:07 [3] 5.1 mi (10:25 / mi) +1312ft 8:22 / mi
rhr:50 weight:139.5lbs shoes: pegasus #2
Mt. Washington training. Forgot my 305, so no tracks to complain about.... :-)
Three trips up South Sugarloaf on the road. No way to avoid it being work, but trying to keep the effort under control. 10:14, 10:16, and 10:13 going up, 7:31, 7:27, and 7:26 back down. Didn't feel too bad, helped by a beatiful day for running and a day off yesterday.
Quite a few people out, including a busload and a half from Mt. Holyoke College, the group was descending my first time up and seemed to have as many if not more men than women (and I think it is still a women's college).
Car Talk for entertainment. I figured out the puzzler, which I usually can't, though the odds are better if it has nothing to do with cars, as was the case this time.
And then a short Freakonomics item about how women only get 7% of the patents issued, and research showed that women were less competitive in mixed gender situations and more compeitive when just among other women. Or something like that, I probably should listen to it again. Does that have orienteering implications? And what about all the guys from the rest of the Five Colleges infiltrating the Mt. Holyoke field trip, is it bad for the women's prospects?
Three trips up South Sugarloaf on the road. No way to avoid it being work, but trying to keep the effort under control. 10:14, 10:16, and 10:13 going up, 7:31, 7:27, and 7:26 back down. Didn't feel too bad, helped by a beatiful day for running and a day off yesterday.
Quite a few people out, including a busload and a half from Mt. Holyoke College, the group was descending my first time up and seemed to have as many if not more men than women (and I think it is still a women's college).
Car Talk for entertainment. I figured out the puzzler, which I usually can't, though the odds are better if it has nothing to do with cars, as was the case this time.
And then a short Freakonomics item about how women only get 7% of the patents issued, and research showed that women were less competitive in mixed gender situations and more compeitive when just among other women. Or something like that, I probably should listen to it again. Does that have orienteering implications? And what about all the guys from the rest of the Five Colleges infiltrating the Mt. Holyoke field trip, is it bad for the women's prospects?
Wednesday Apr 4, 2012 #
1 PM
part trail, part road 44:25 4.77 mi (9:19 / mi) +594ft 8:20 / mi
ahr:137 max:154 rhr:51 weight:140.5lbs shoes: pegasus #2
Was planning to run for an hour, but the state cop just had a lot of questions, so I was late getting going and this was all I had time for.
Entertainment from Freakonomics, mostly about whether the media is biased, mostly disappointing/annoying because I didn't think much of their research choices -- what data to collect and how to interpret it.
Redeemed slightly by a very short segment on how to tell if employees are grouchy or not, The first two ways proposed by "experts" (and two is all that I remember) were (1) a lot of Dilbert cartoons indicated an unhappy workforce, and (2) in the employee parking lot, if the cars are mostly parked nose out, indicating a wish to get away as fast as possible at the end of the day, then that too was a sign of an unhappy workforce.
I knew without having to return to the office that there are no Dilbert cartoons posted, and all the cars are parked nose in. :-)
And then just enough time to buy a packet of beet seeds for the expanded container garden planned for this year.
Entertainment from Freakonomics, mostly about whether the media is biased, mostly disappointing/annoying because I didn't think much of their research choices -- what data to collect and how to interpret it.
Redeemed slightly by a very short segment on how to tell if employees are grouchy or not, The first two ways proposed by "experts" (and two is all that I remember) were (1) a lot of Dilbert cartoons indicated an unhappy workforce, and (2) in the employee parking lot, if the cars are mostly parked nose out, indicating a wish to get away as fast as possible at the end of the day, then that too was a sign of an unhappy workforce.
I knew without having to return to the office that there are no Dilbert cartoons posted, and all the cars are parked nose in. :-)
And then just enough time to buy a packet of beet seeds for the expanded container garden planned for this year.
Tuesday Apr 3, 2012 #
12 PM
road running 38:11 3.57 mi (10:42 / mi) +577ft 9:17 / mi
ahr:144 max:160 weight:139.5lbs shoes: pegasus #2
Nice run with JJ on the ridge. Beautiful day, good conversation.
Only downside was his mother brought me a big container of delicious chocolate chip cookies, raising havoc with my diet, and forcing me into a generous act of sharing with all the ladies, just for my own preservation.
Only downside was his mother brought me a big container of delicious chocolate chip cookies, raising havoc with my diet, and forcing me into a generous act of sharing with all the ladies, just for my own preservation.
Monday Apr 2, 2012 #
1 PM
part trail, part road 43:24 4.86 mi (8:56 / mi) +581ft 8:01 / mi
ahr:137 max:159 rhr:51 shoes: pegasus #2
Nothing special outing, but reasonably pleasant. Sunny, 50s, quite windy.
Enjoyed a Freakonomics show, partly about wine, and doea it really taste better if you know you paid a lot for it, and partly about food, more specifically about a dead mouse found in a salad and people's reaction to it. All very interesting/amusing, and certainly made the time pass quickly.
Enjoyed a Freakonomics show, partly about wine, and doea it really taste better if you know you paid a lot for it, and partly about food, more specifically about a dead mouse found in a salad and people's reaction to it. All very interesting/amusing, and certainly made the time pass quickly.
Sunday Apr 1, 2012 #
1 PM
trail running 1:11:36 6.69 mi (10:42 / mi) +1073ft 9:17 / mi
ahr:144 max:162 weight:139.5lbs shoes: pegasus #2
Trails up on Mt. Toby from home, first time in quite a while. Things are remarkably dry for early April, usually would be quite muddy now with ice and frost pockets, but then we missed winter.
In retrospect, thinking back to the WCOC meet at Ansonia last Sunday, I think that was a day when I had very good legs. It happens seldom enough that it's important to make notice of the event, otherwise the running always seems to just be a slog. Which is what today felt like.
And again today the 305 showed why you don't want to put to much faith in its navigation ability -- 14:42 for my fifth mile, the first half of which was gently down, the second half gently up. I guess I was going someplace between 9 and 10-minute pace. And it you look at the map and compare it with my third mile, there is clearly some sort of time or distance warp going on.
The track looks fine. I guess the electrons were just taking a nap.
In retrospect, thinking back to the WCOC meet at Ansonia last Sunday, I think that was a day when I had very good legs. It happens seldom enough that it's important to make notice of the event, otherwise the running always seems to just be a slog. Which is what today felt like.
And again today the 305 showed why you don't want to put to much faith in its navigation ability -- 14:42 for my fifth mile, the first half of which was gently down, the second half gently up. I guess I was going someplace between 9 and 10-minute pace. And it you look at the map and compare it with my third mile, there is clearly some sort of time or distance warp going on.
The track looks fine. I guess the electrons were just taking a nap.
C • track 21