Training Log Archive: Linear Ice

Event: MNOC - Nerstrand Woods State Park
 

ROUTE
what the HECK happened at #3, and what was I thinking? I magically re-located, which is the benefit of having had to relocate so many times. It's becoming my secret weapon.

I loved this terrain last year, and was very much looking forward to another run through the Big Open Woods.

The course was great, with lots of very long legs, no trail running (pretty much impossible- all of us who tried it abandoned the muddy, water trails for swampy side areas). Started with a fun first leg down a long spur and to the creek; easy to follow big steep handrail and yet not short -- a great way to get into the map and terrain.

I liked every leg; got a little misplaced already on #3 (so much for "getting into the map and terrain!" --guess that was my real first leg). The rest I took more carefully.
Rain stopped mostly before I started, but there was a whole lot of wetness and deep river/creek crossings. Swimmable.

I noticed I am getting a little better at
Having a fairly good idea where I am
Having a better idea of what things will look like as I move ahead
Avoiding very tricky situations, or if unavoidable, exhibiting greater awareness and slowing down
Staying on a compass bearing
Not being distracted

And I am regressing at keeping steady running pace through the woods; perhaps due to the fact that it was all floody, but I think it was laziness and out-of-shapedness. Taking a gu/water break after an hour really pepped me up... though I hadn't felt tired before that.

Scanner is broken; will post route later. I'm quite curious... it felt good so I wonder what the data says. I looked at last year's run at Nerstrand and my notes say I had a great day, but the route looks pretty horrible. I think I was happy not to get completely lost at that point. Nice to see progress and higher expecations.

Thnx to Sean for a nice course

Four fairly easy controls

Red - Splits

Down St. Croix Trail towards Hastings , turned back at Carpenter Nature Center, spent a little time at St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, came home.
Lots of hills. Nice ride except the poor road with no shoulder.
On my driveway on the way back, saw a mini tiny little fawn, very wobbly and looked quite newborn. I stopped to look, saw its Mom, who stood quietly as did I, as did the fawn. Mom finally left (hoping I'd follow?) and fawn went to sleep and I figured I'd better be on my way. I'll check back in an hour....

It's almost two hours after my ride, and the little fawn is still snuggled up for (I hope) sleeping, and the doe was still skitting around nearby. I suppose this is all normal in deer world, but it must be worrisome with the coyotes, dogs around. (My dogs don't go down that far on their own.)

I joined Upper Midwest Trail Runners to try to inspire (force) myself to start taking my workouts a little more seriously, to possibly get into some trail races and for more social running opportunities. About seven people showed up to the fun run, which was at an easy pace and yet there were a few hills to still make it feel at least like a workout. I think I worked harder yesterday with Brian and Leila .... when I did half their workout. Still fun and I may go back next week for the even less formal fun run, then to Lebanon Hills in two weeks.
I did like the Battle Creek part of the park down by the river, which I hadn't run before but had heard about. Mountain Biking there too.

w Brian and Leila, they did another loop, and I used the old "I need to get the bonfire started" excuse to forgo the next set of hills.
Enjoyed hosting OTNT.

North loop of Afton State Park, down by the creek. After a mile I almost quit, due to AT acting up and my new resolve to train by "listening to my body"... I stopped, massaged it, it still hurt, but then (just one little bit more 'cause it was my favorite part) ran down the rooty rocky trail to the creek and no pain! What was different? I thought maybe the uneven surfaces, but then realized (due to AP thread) that my cadence is so much different as I'm leaping down this type of trail. So I upped my cadence on the flat trail, too... .and .... pain was gone. Wonder if this will be the trick that sticks? It did feel very choppy, jogging at 180 bpm. I noticed I was more over my foot, definitely ran different. It felt very slow and unnatural and I felt like I was breathing harder. I think I will go to a gait analyzer.

Finally got my bike lock, so rode bike to ASP for shorter run.
Warmed up first into Lakeland and back before tackling the coulee hill.

went slow, felt happy