Training Log Archive: Linear Ice

Event: US Two-day Classic O Championships
 

I had a fairly decent race, was able to pick my way through the awesome and complex map and even plan my routes a bit, keep track of where I was, etc. In fact, things felt like they were beginning to come together a bit. Had a pretty bad route planned (very bad, in fact) from 2-3 and paid for it. Other than that.. pretty good.
And, I'm also enjoying seeing the people that I've met over the course of the last year, knowing a little more what to expect when coming to these A meets.
Definitely, it was fun a year ago to be so fresh and learning things about how things are done, and feeling nervous not just from the race but even wondering if i knew how to get through the start procedure... Or the download, for that matter! Not to mention all the stuff in between (the orienteering). But, seeing some progress is of course way better.
I think I came out in 4th place for my class, 35-40 out of first, but 10 or so out of 2nd/3rd. So the goal of course was to try to make up some of that time on day two......

To start, around start area, from Finish back

Day 1 Green Y - Splits

Event: US Team Sprint Series Final
 

Nice sprint in the cool rain at Saratoga Spring State Park.
I hadn't signed up initially, but was able to get in and am glad cause it was good to get my head into a map again. I made a few good route choices, one really poor one that gave me a heck of lot of extra climb, and some slow moments looking at the map scratching my head.....
but mostly, I planned, ran okay, found what I needed to and was able to look ahead a little. Little by little, the pieces feel like they are coming together, and the more they do... the more fun this sport becomes!
Terrain was lots of fun, with creeks, steep sections, trails, open and good course with route choices. Nice sprint.
Loved wearing my Icebugs in the mud. They feel so good.

C • This weekend 3

Was sitting in Charlie's car, still on Central Time, and he said... well I gotta go in 16 minutes, and since I was a few minutes ahead of him... oh crap! Got dressed, shoes on quick warm-up, and to the start in time just a bit fluttered.

I've been running so slow through terrain lately, with all the green stuff, or tall lumpy summer grasses. Last Sunday I thought I'd just try to relax a bit through a white area while I was placing controls, got a good pace and rhythm going down a hill -- felt so natural, relaxed. For about 20 paces and then I snagged my toe on downed barbed wire fence and face-planted. It was a gentle face-plant. But I guess you could say it ruined the moment.
With a few meets coming up, I think I'll need to do better than that so I went to my familiar, now de-itchweeded back woods and ran the 3/4 mile section twice, to the point where I was feeling it a bit again.

Event: MNOC Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve
 

No race for me today.
It's a little hard to watch everyone else run out, but I did enjoy working the registration.
And, when a LOT of time had gone by with very few people returned, and when they finally DID get in and looked thoroughly beat... I thought that maybe sitting and meeting people and just hanging out and eating bagels and drinking DMD in the beautiful weather wasn't really so bad. It was a rough long course, although there were plenty of nice comments.
Some gripes about the green areas and the barbed wire.

C • Thank you 4

Same run as my caramel-loaded run last Friday (1 mile uphill, flat, <1 mile downhill, flat), but this time I was able to maintain pace during final flat due to not feeling sick.
No more caramel for me I guess :(