Training Log Archive: PG

Had an early morning date on the golf course, first-round match in the club's match play championship. Not sure why I signed up for it, since I found a few years ago that I didn't enjoy golf when it got too serious. I think this time it was part of my effort to meet some new people this year.

So, anyway, I'm driving up to the course and I'm feeling nervous. And I'm feeling stupid for feeling nervous, I mean it's just a round of golf, so I spend the 20-minute drive thinking about nervousness and what it does to you and how to deal with. And trying to come up with something that will calm me down. (Of course a little nervousness is often a good thing, shows you care, but this was a bit much.)

So I think back to times I've been nervous before sports events. Most of those have been before O' events, but the problem certainly declined over the years, run enough events and pretty soon A meets are no big deal, and then national championships are no reason to panic. But international events can still fire up the nerves. And I still haven't found a way to deal with it, other than to keep competing so that eventually even the main events become somewhat routine.

But this was just a little local club match, and my stomach was still rumbling.

And then I thought back to the Western States 100 Mile in June, 1993. First time at the event, the grand-daddy of the 100-milers, across the Sierra from Squaw Vally to Auburn, CA. It wasn't my first 100-miler, I'd finished four others out West that were just as hard, but I remember as we were driving east on I-80 up into the mountains and I got a sense of the scale of what lay ahead, I was literally shaking. Nervousness, anxiety, a healthy dose of fear.

And I remember at some point I said to myself, Would you rather be coming up here to run tomorrow, or coming up here to crew for someone else who was going to run?

And the answer, quite immediately, was that I wanted to run. And so the next question was, Well, if you are doing what you want to be doing, why are you nervous?

And somehow that settled me right down.

And I thought about the golf match, and I asked myself, Why are you doing this? Is it for some form of hoped-for athletic accomplishment?

And the answer was, No, I see it as a nice way to meet someone I wouldn't otherwise meet.

And the conclusion from that was, And that's making you nervous?

I calmed right down, and a little while later the drive off the first tee was dead center. And the company was good, very nice guy. And as fate would have it, he had lived in the Tahoe area for many years, working building ski lifts, had worked at Squaw Valley a bunch, had even watched the start of Western States most years, certainly the couple times I'd been there. A small world...

Out just before dinner, direct route to the top of Toby, same as last Thursday but didn't have the willpower to put the extra 5 pounds in the pack. So a little quicker, heart rate a touch lower at the top (170).

C • Do you run back down with the ... 5

Then ran back the round-about way, striding out more, back to more normal pace, feeling reasonably good except for the pack bouncing around a bt more than I cared for.

More pleasant day-dreaming, including thinking back to Sunday and the trip over to Clint's fine meet at Crandalls, and how if Phil had gone and we'd driven together, then we surely would have stopped on the way home for a nutritional break, something similar I'm sure to our stop after the Billygoat, when he got a large bag of something he claimed were "health food chips," I mean, I think they had a little bit of whole grain in them though they were mainly fat and salt, and I got a rather large container of some delicious ice cream, all packed full of beneficial calcium and protein.

And I thought about this for a while and decided that tonight might be desert time again, have to follow Wyatt's advice and not get the weight too low (and it was 126.5 after the run).

So that got me most of the way home, reality intruding just a bit towards the end in the way of little aches and just general tiredness.

And then I get home and see that Phil had been laid low by food poisoning on Sunday evening, which is something you shouldn't wish on anybody, and I'm thinking, damn, he should have come to Crandalls, at least he would have had a good base of health food chips to fall back upon.

Off to Sugarloaf Frostee.... :-) :-)

C • container of ice cream 18

Was about to go out in the early afternoon, though feeling neither inspired nor energetic, but the radar showed storms moving this way and a little too close. So I lay down for a moment.

Woke up an hour or so later, storm had passed and the sun was out, had a little food , dug a few holes for some plants Gail was putting in, and then headed out. And felt much better.

Old Deerfield / River Road loop, hardly any wind, pavement almost totally dry, and for the first time this year had some zip in the legs. I'm not a good cyclist and everything is relative, but it felt like there was a little power in the quads, something that might at least register a positive number on one of JJ's power meters, if I had one. And it felt great!

Three minutes faster than any other time on the loop this year, and within a couple of minutes of times from a couple years ago when I was doing more biking. Excellent. Good for morale, the psychological equivalent of an extra-large chocolate milkshake.... :-)

Weight was 127 afterwards. Which is not to be confused with the G, which is only measured in the morning. Need to drink up.

C • So did you determine how large... 5

So I went to Eastern Mountain Sports to start looking into things that might may a rogane more enjoyable -- better socks, better shoes, other blister prevention/treatment stuff, a little bit bigger Camelback.

At some point some sales guy comes over, do I need help.

Well, it depends, do you know you stuff, I ask.

Well, it depends, he says, if you want to know the chemical composition of the glue that holds the shoes together, then I'm in trouble, but I know a thing or two.

Now I'm hopeless when it comes to gear, just never have paid attention, but we talked for the better part of an hour (the store was not busy, very stormy out), and he was pretty cool. Even to the point of, when he goes to get me a pair of Montrail Hardrock shoes to try on, he gets a pair in his size too and puts them on, just so he remind himself of how they feel.

So I didn't get any shoes, got to do some more research first. Did get a couple different kinds of socks. And did, in my best imitation of Barb, though not nearly as well, spend a bit of time proselytizing about the joys of orienteering.

Nathen, nice guy. I'll be back.

Oh, and I passed on Sugarloaf Frostee on the way out, on the way back it was closed up tight. Maybe tomorrow.

Event: Crandalls Park Sprints
 

Warm-up, legs ok, just no energy.

Woke up too early again, but once the mind warms it, it's clear sleep is done for so might as well get up.

Went to a WCOC meet at Crandall's in Tolland, CT. First of two sprints. New "map in progress" by Clint Morse. Very fine area. No, make that very, very fine. Clint suggested it was ok to run in shorts, and I thought, great, it's warm, I'll put on shorts, most of the course will be on trails or through open areas.

So it turned out most of the course was just through the woods, but I have hardly a scratch on my legs. I wasn't running aggressively, but still, that's quite something for summertime in New England. It's not like the forest was totally clean, but it sure was clean enough to make running a pleasure.

I think I was feeling the recent lack of sleep, especially on the brain. (I was feeling real drowsy on the drive over, if it had been another 15 minutes I think I would have had to pull over for a nap.) A couple of dumb mistakes (wrong turn going to #2, what's this big open area..., then only off about 45 degrees on the approach to 5), both at least corrected quickly, plus several times not spotting the control right away. plus running cautiously, but it still felt pretty good. No, I can do better than that, it felt great!

Legs were tired, fell once, stumbled a couple of times, but hamstring seemed fine.

Sprint A map.

Took about a 10-minute break, and then headed off on sprint B. The brain was apparently still in another time zone, and the legs checked out on me energy-wise towards the end, but still, no injuries. Excellent.

Forest again nice, I was still in shorts, still no scratches. I've marked on the map (short dark blue cross lines on my route) places where I stopped, not knowing for sure where I was, probably stood for 10-15 seconds each time, then got going again whether I'd figured out anything or not. I count about 6 times, including once about 15' from the flag at #6, just didn't see it. Yikes. So the time was pretty slow. But that's fine, the main thing was the legs were still ok.

Sprint B map.

I wanted to take a look at the upper part of the map, but didn't have the energy to run the green course (plus there was a strong feeling to quit while i was ahead). So I just headed off on a brisk stroll, checking out the terrain. Really fine! And there's a lot more terrain Clint hasn't started mapping yet.

Then drove home, drowsy again towards the end, and took a much-needed nap....

Rest of map.

Sprint B - Splits

Sprint A - Splits

Feeling depleted and sleepy, so two breakfasts and a nap before we head off to visit with Charlie and Rhonda for the day.

Got my tent back, thanks to Jerry Rhodes of CROC. And pad, and sleeping bag, and pillow, and towel, and pants. :-)

And said farewell to one toenail, and most of the skin around it (that's enough details).

Ooooh, and the really big coup -- I happened to look at the date as I was about to post this and it was June 9th. June 9th? Yeah, June 9th! Anniversary #34. And the big deal is we've both been up a while and I was the first to remember, usually Gail's the one. So I go find her and give her a big hug and we laugh.

I think one year it was quite late in the day before either remembered.

We got married the day Secretariat won the Triple Crown at Belmont. Pulled out the TV during the reception, much to Gail's grandmother's dismay, because everyone wanted to watch. So now when I see something in the papers talking about it being time for the Belmont Stakes again, it reminds me that another anniversary is coming....

C • anniversary 4

Up too early, as usual. And 129? Feeling very dehydrated, sweated off 4 pounds on yesterday evening's outing and obviously didn't replace it all.

Direct route to the top is pink, round-about route back via the S curves is blue (where different).

Hamstring not too bad. And the evening outings are fun. At least for now. Not looking forward to the arrival of the first FDFs....

C • While the G seems to continue ... 1

Leverett loop, clockwise. Was going to be an intensity 2 ride, if that, I was feeling beat after a round of rogaine practice on a hot and steamy day. So I started out a little slower than usual, and felt lousy, but after about 15 minutes and a few hills the legs seem to get a little life, and I kept up a decent pace and effort the rest of the way. Pleasant surprise, although not totally unexpected, as today had already been dubbed "Feeling Young, Feeling Good Day."

"Feeling Young" because at some point out on the links it occurred to me that there were a whole lot of other men out there who either were old, or sure looked old (and fat, too), and compared to them, I was looking pretty young. And I was certainly looking as young as I am ever going to look again, barring some major cosmetic surgery. So I decided that I ought to enjoy being young, and today ought to be "Feeling Young Day." And it is quite possible that this is also "Feeling Young Week," and though I don't want to look too far ahead, quite possible "Feeling Young Month," as well.

So that was part 1. And part 2 was when we were standing on the 17th tee and I had the honor but we were still waiting to hit, and one of the guys looks in my direction says something like, "Well, the guy with the funny shaped head is up." Well, I didn't hesitate a moment before I responded, "Which one of us 4 guys with funny shaped heads are you talking about?" and a third guy says, "Boy you sure got that right," and we're all laughing. And there have been many times, given that I have in fact had a funny shaped head all my life, that such a comment would have been hard to swallow. I think I'm making progress. Therefore "Feeling Good Day" and let's hope at least "Feeling Good Week."

So anyway, one thing is sure -- after another of Gail's fine dinners that I am about to sit down to (fish, snow peas, big salad), I am then planning to venture out to a local establishment called Sugarloaf Frostee for one, or possibly two, chocolate milkshakes. Or something equally good. All in celebration of FYFG Day.

Ooooh, just one, but it was good.

C • yum! 7

Decided it was time to make some progress on my course setting duties for the US Relay Champs, so I headed down to Osbournedale to take a look around. I had a few vague ideas for the courses, but nothing even close to specific, just mainly wanted to see what it was like when the vegatation was up, and also to look at the possibilities for course flow (how to route courses out, in, and through the start/finish area).

So I walked around a while, partly just looking at the possibilities, partly doing some field corrections that were minor in scope but significant in terms of course setting -- like where you have a band of thick stuff on the edge between field and good forest, you have to get the gaps mapped right. trying to do what they did so well at Fair Hill down in DVOA-land. I won't come close to there precision, the goal is to come close enough to make the orienteering fair.

And then I sat for a while and drew up some possibilities, again just flow in and out of the S/F area, and then I walked a bunch more doing some more corrections, seeing if some possible legs made sense.

And finally more sitting, perched on a low wall where an announcer might be, checking the sight lines to various possible spectator controls, thinking about where people would be and how they would be moving, trying to visualize how it would look on the day. And I quite liked what I had come up with.

Now I'll put it away for a couple of days, then take another look and probably make a lot of changes.

A bunch more trips needed, but at least I got started, and felt like i made progress.

Beautiful day, nice drive down thinking of past glories/failures in a variety of running events, thinking of meet notes for the relay on the way back, interupted by a short visit to the Tradition in Windsor for a pleasant 9.

C • Corrections 14

Another good dinner, finish watching the usual depressing news, then on with the pack again, except this time I added one of Gail's 5-pound ankle weights. Oof. And of again vowing not to push it, but then of course I did as it got steeper, even a little quicker than last time, why is this necessary? But still very enjoyable. And sweating away and huffing and puffing at the top. Oof, again. Pulse 175+.

And somewhere on the way up I decide I really ought to run back the round-about way, because the hamstring is doing better so I might as well test it again.

As I start out on the way down I think back to the spring of 1981, 6 months after I had the plastic joint put in my big toe, and I was still struggling with the recovery, still wondering if I'd done the right thing, and one day out on a lengthy trail run I kicked a rock head on, and the toe, oh, it hurt, and I thought, there goes another month to recover from this, but 2 or 3 days later it was much better, and then a couple weeks later I kicked another rock real bad, and this time it was better in a day, and it was the first time I allowed myself to think, it's going to be ok.

So the hamstring seemd sore yesterday, good today, so maybe it's really on the mend. And about when I was thinking this I clipped a rock and went sprawling, oof, but no damage done. Though i did trip a bunch more times, whether it was the growing darkness or just picking my feet up less with the pack, who knows, but I think I may well be sore again in the morning. But hopefully not too bad, nor for too long.

And in the meantime, a pretty good workout for the feet, and the shoulders, and the back, and even the legs and the lungs. Only other complainer was the toenail on the little toe of my right foot, which is in the process of declaring independence from the rest of the foot.

Got out late in the afternoon for a bike ride after several hours of quite skilled rogaine practice, not even spoiled by the fact that I was giving so many strokes, one a hole to one of the guys, that the day turned out slightly on the negative side financially.

Which reminds me, the guy getting 18 strokes is 89 years old, still plays ok if he can keep from choking towards the end, but is also getting pretty down about how frail he is getting and how his game is slowly fading. And the other guy I play with often, Bob, about my age, very friendly, real nice person to play with, and he makes a point every so often of giving the old guy a little pep talk, as opposed to the mindless harrassing chatter you normally hear. Now we are all playing against each other, and yet Bob's helping the guy. And every time I see that I'm in admiration of his generosity. Something to work on for myself....

Anyway, no thunderstorms to run from today, just very windy, as it was on the bike. Swirling, gusty, one moment you're floating, the next moment it feels like your pedaling in mud. Good exercise, I suppose, also just general good practice for dealing with adversity. And that's good practice to have, because Mother Nature isn't always always benign.

The ride was one of my usual loops, up River Road just across the river, a few hills, then back via Old Deerfield, pretty flat. Old Deerfield is were Deerfield Academy is and they were setting up for either graduation or alumni weekend. That's where Phil's daughter goes, 11th grade, next year she'll be graduating. Like her dad, she's very smart.

A poignant and very sweet day on the personal side, some very nice e-mail traffic.

And, people, it looks like I may have totally SCORED on the rogaine partner front.

And finally, just in case Boris does a Swampfox and blows up his own training log, I want to save a comment I put there a couple of days ago:

Hey, no fair, that was what I was going to write. Well, sort of....

I agree, it's really cool, thank you, Kenny. I've been afraid that the various added clusters would somehow make it less useful or appealing, but that hasn't happened. And with any luck, Kenny's Google payments are larger every month, and pretty soon will be large enough that he can quit work, hire a nanny for Samantha, do some good training, and have a chance once again to excel at O' events that don't involve beer.

I use it for several reasons: to keep in touch with friends, to motivate myself to train, to have fun, and, and Barb says, to keep a diary about more than just training, or just orienteering. The latter is quite weird. I think diaries are supposed to be private, though maybe that is an old-fashioned concept. Much of what I write is not of a particularly personal nature, but some is. And sometimes it's a bit scary just putting stuff out there, opening yourself up to who knows might come reading.

But then it's there, in black and white (well, maybe white and black) and there are two great joys -- one is the various feedback you get, sometimes flippant, sometimes hilarious, sometimes serious and thought-provoking, always supportive. The other is the chance to go back in time, to see what I was thinking and doing, sometimes just to see specifically how I prepared for an event, sometimes to see more generally what I was doing and thinking. And that is the greatest pleasure. And the more I have written, and the more openly I have written about what I am thinking and doing and feeling, the greater the pleasure it is. And as I get older and remember even less, that will be even more true.

C • so tempting, leave comment or ... 1