Training Log Archive: PG

With Phil, some in the flats, some in the lower hills to the east. Warm day, but a nice ride. Probably would have gotten out on my own, but probably only done half as much. Great to have company.

A few aches from yesterday's mazing. No problem for biking, certainly would have been for running. But don't have to think about that for another year. :-)

Now, post-ride, legs feel pretty beat. Some combination of tiredness and soreness. It should pass.

Event: 2018 CMOUSA Corn Maze Champs
 

Corn Maze Champs at Mike's Maze. Thought I'd give it a try. Last time I ran was a year ago, about 50 yards. So I should have been well rested (for running).

Butt still hurts. But I was motivated enough to try and finish at least the sprint. So I'd run a little, walk some, keep repeating.

Of course, that actually meshed pretty well with the orienteering demands. My brain and eyes can't really manage reading the map on the run any more, so lots of walking breaks are just fine.

Got around with no mistakes of significance. Could have planned better to arrive at the correct entrance to the mini-maze, but no big deal. Really quite pleased to have done it.

Maps are here.

Corn Maze Champs Classic. Well, I hadn't killed myself in the sprint, nor were any body parts complaining other than my butt, so why not have a go at the classic. Though it seemed like it was going to be a long and rather painful outing.

But you know how it works in orienteering -- you find the first control, and then the next, and then the next, and pretty soon you notice you're just about done. And so it was. About 18:30, seemed like an outstanding time. :-)

No real mistakes again, helps to be going slowly and walking a lot. And between the sprint and the classic I'm sure I claimed a few scalps, though I'm not sure who qualifies as a scalp these days. I mean, I know Tori does (got her in the sprint), and I know Phil doesn't, the line is somewhere between them but who knows where.

(Seems I forgot to save my route, so it and the night course are all part of the same track. Whatever.)

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Corn Maze Night Champs. I was on a roll. A nice dinner with JJ and Nancy and Gail, and then there really was no excuse not to try the night. Well, except for the matter of skips, of which I was given only two by JJ, a travesty if there ever was one. Clearly should have been a number in the double digits, were there any justice. But it seems not.

This seemed more of a challenge for my aging brain, and in fact there were times my brain was not up to the challenge. I think twice I was rescued by arriving at a control that I was not looking for -- just had to check the code numbers in the clues to find out where I actually was. It was certainly not inspired orienteering.

But I got around, a little over 35 minutes. I suppose an advantage of only two skips is that it was easier to keep track of how many you had left. I made it even easier, skipped the first control and the last.

Most memorable was the last 100 yards, in a (losing) sprint with Kristin to the finish, the fastest I've run in several years. I kept expected some body part to suddenly seize up, but fortunately the finish came soon enough.

Afterwards, sitting around, Phil suggested that I clearly should get back into running and orienteering. I think I already have. Got the next outing planned, should be just bout a year from now, back at Mike's Maze.

C • Skips 2

Sprint - Splits

Classic - Splits

Night - Splits

Passed on the bike-O outside of Boston, just wasn't particularly motivated to go on my own (Phil's travel plans were different). Plus I wanted to lend a bit (a very small bit as it turned out) of assistance to Gail, who was setting up a one-person show (first ever!) at the hospital in Greenfield. 20+ paintings. She had a couple of artist friends to help with decisions on what to hang where, so all I contributed was carrying stuff in and out.

But it's pretty cool to see it happening. Will be up for about two months.

And then off to Northfield to do a loop from there that I'd been thinking about -- up the long but gradual hill to Warwick, then north on 78 into New Hampshire, back over Burt Hill (shorter but steeper climb, 8%). And, most important, a side trip in Warwick to check whether biking up the fire road on Mt. Grace was at all possible. I don't really think it is, but I wanted to check.

It was a fine ride, but I blew it. Went sailing right by the access to the fire road. It was just before the turn onto 78, I'd thought it was a little ways after, and before I knew it I'd gone downhill a ways, turning into where the hiking trails start from. But no access to the fire road. And I just couldn't talk myself into going back up the hill, and then starting the climb for real. So it will have to be another time, or maybe never.

But it was a good ride anyways, much cooler than it's been, and Burt Hill was quite fine, the grade always changing as were my gears. Learn a little something each time I do a hill like that, and not just how slow I am.

Another go at the B17 climb on Mt. Tom. Just really hard. That's the first steep section. The second steep section is probably about the same pitch, also probably a little shorter, but it feels worse.

Usually almost immediately after a hard climb there is a sense of exhilaration. After this one today I'd say the lingering thought was -- don't do it again, it's just too hard.

Time for the climb (0.95 miles, 711' climb) was 16:25 last time (last September), 15:19 this time.

Not even going to pretend it was fun.

And then back to the car with no sense of urgency, but not dogging it either.

C • not fun 1

Whately loop just before dinner. Rather pleasant.

It's getting late in life but better late than never, time to get with the program and get a proper toy. Seems like I'm not the only one who was having a good time....

C • Boys and their toys ;-) 4

Very relaxed outing. Including a stop at the maze, chatted for a while with Dave, then when his dad showed up, a while longer with Mike. Also a stop to look around at the east end of Lake Warner. Still pretty soupy weather.

Early outing, a few harder efforts.