Training Log Archive: Linear Ice

Event: BGR Devil's Lake State Park
 

Quick after meeting/before Luau run at dusk.

Up at Wonewok, my first trail led me to a swamp, which I traversed. Not a great way to start cause it was icy, wet and I didn't have my Inov8s on, so the rest of the run was soggy.
Beautiful trails, rolling hills along small lakes.
I'll be working here through the weekend, so I hope to get another run or two, although I will also have to try to socialize a bit.

(Not sure how long or how far, will update if pwentz3l ever logs again since he had his garmin)
My first time at Nine Mile Park, although I understand it's a popular venue for OTNT events. I guess with the majority of O-ers living on that edge of town, it totally makes sense. Fun trails, nice topography for a city park.

I was also very happy to have an "event" on my birthday. It was definitely more fun that my second choice (read book). And, though I would have been quite content at home, when people ask "what are you doing for your birthday?" they seem to feel sorry for you when you give them "reading" as an activity.
However, when you say, "I am running through the woods with a headlamp and 15 other people" they say "oh that sounds like fun" while giving you an odd look..... much preferred.

Quite a few people showed up. pwentz3l suggested, "Maybe I'll run with you tonight, I'd like to take it kind of easy". Do you ever wonder why Pete is single?

Although it turned out that Pete's s idea of taking it easy involves starting with a run up a bunch of stairs and a hill....... which got me wishing that he really DID want to take it easy. Once I was warmed up (about 1/2 miles after the stairs), things got to be quite pleasant and fun. I do love running around at night. Although I think we did a kind of lousy job. I forgot to wear my contact, which meant I was fiddling with my reading glasses, and we were probably just not concentrating as much as we should have, didn't really listen well enough to the pre-event briefing, and spent a bit too much time looking for controls which were extremely hard to see in the dark. I think I will get a new headlamp soon.

Everyone except Jim was late back to the Finish. So Jim might have won this event, or maybe Molly since she was the first to get the anagram right at the end, or maybe me because I got it right too, and no one heard Molly...... In retrospect, the result was obvious since "WITCH" was written all over the event, from the invitation to the clue sheet.

Tom and Kelly, thanks for putting on an awesome fun event. And for having everyone over for the dinner afterwards. Delicious. Really fun catching up with everyone.

C • Single.... 2

C • night-o 3

C • Whoa. 2

Two hill climbs on the steep hill beside my house. Took the carpenter's bright working light, and lit up the hillside like a ski slope.

The park has a description that was drool-worthy,

Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park consists of 506 acres of hills and dramatic, heavily wooded ravines with occasional clearings of old field and prairie. This varied topography and landscape types means that its slopes receive different sun exposures. This creates an unusual variety of vegetation and habitats. Look for grouse, ermine, cottontail rabbits, deer and a number of bird species, including the pileated woodpecker.

I thought perhaps it might make a good OTNT Nite-site, or perhaps a mass-finish venue.

But the sign to the entrance said "Keep dog on leash" (which was not the plan), and...."Dogs only allowed in parking lot" (that wasn't going to happen) and "Stay on Trails" (also not the plan, and not going to happen....
but, and this is the inexcusable part.... there were really no open woods, other than a patch here or there. I tried; I walked through a few areas... but just wasn't haven't fun off the trail. Too much work.

Mostly it's just a good area for a short hilly trail run.

C • Cottage Grove Ravine 5

Cottage Grove wasn't big enough for my run, so I finished up at Lake Elmo and ran the permanent course in reverse order. Took my time and looked at my map a lot, just looking at how the map compared to the terrain. Stopped quite a bit. I just have GOT to get my brain better at the map/terrain conversion.
When I got to the controls, some of which were hard to find...due to vegetation; I made sure I looked carefully at all the features on the map, everything around me, looked to see what should have been more clear when I was nearby.
I really only started this exercise near the end but will do it more often. In a race, I don't have time to do this. I look at maps plenty while on my couch (or on conference calls), but not as much as I should on a course.

C • order ? 2

It's Spirit's birthday today. That's my horse. Fitting isn't it, to have been born on Halloween and be named Spirit?
When I was a child, my Mom always told me I could get a horse when I was "older", and I realized suddenly, twelve years ago, that I was "older".
I was not really a horse rider at the time, other than some trail rides and lessons when I was eight. But why not jump right in?! So I decided to buy a horse.

I was looking for a big shiny horse, really wanted a Morgan (I loved the book Justin Morgan had a Horse). But what really attracted me was the way he ran away from us in the field when we wanted to catch him.
Anyone who knows horses knows.... that's not a good thing. They shouldn't run away! But he had a nice flowy run (which translates to a big bounce in the saddle it turns out). And he was fast. He made a great barrel/poles/gaming horse for my daughter, but turned out to be a bit scary for me. He's still fast, still loves to run. So he'll get a good workout today, ,on his birthday. And a nice horsey treat.
Spirit is 33 today.