Training Log Archive: dlevine

Event: WPOC Keystone Capers A-event
 

Pool was cooler than Tuesday, but still warmer than the lap swimmers like.

Left shoulder is very sore; has been for a week, but this is the first workout in which I've felt it. Pool was also warm enough that watercizers were commenting that there must have been a change in policy.

Field checking for Sprague Brook Middle courses. Paid particular attention to where there are clear brook crossings. Went to about 40 possible control locations, but seem to have set down my compass to tie my shoe on the way to the last one. When I got back to the car, no compass :-(

Up and down Centerline Road before the Hunter's Creek event. I really wanted to get over my "aerobic barrier" so I kept going uphill until it passed.

Start -> 1: Down the trail, cut the corner, and down the other to stream. Saw Kathy Bannister at the flag. 2:40

1 -> 2: Wanted to impress Kathy, so I ran up the hill on the trail, cut the corner at the top and ran the trail in. Had some footing issues. 4:59

2 -> 3: Trail to the junction with Hunter's Creek, trail up to the hill 100 m south of control, East of that hill and then in. 5:34

3 -> 4: Intermittent trail for what seemed like forever, could see the flag about two steps after the junction. Father/daughter closing in on it. Father told daughter to stand aside because I was obviously a very competitive runner. 4:01

4 -> 5: Once again, obligated to run to live up to my "reputation". Across the rib and in to it. 0:56

5 -> 6: Contour to it, going quite slowly through the high grass on the rides. 2:04

6 -> 7: Up the hill to the flat area. Drifted right and hit the rootstock N of control. Overshot to trail and had to think. Realized that the ride was too far away, so I turned south and saw it soon. 3:58

7 -> 8: South to where trail hit the ride and then took it in to the control. 1:30

8 -> 9: South on the trail to where the ridge-edge trail joined it and then straight in to the control on a bearing. Saw it from above soon enough to correct any minor errors. 4:18

9 -> 10: Across stream to trail to just before the control. 2:11

10 -> 11: Tried to follow the compass, aiming off right, but I missed it left. Hit the trail and turned south. Saw the green besides the trail and realized my error. Turned around and saw "the guy in blue" running down the trail coming at me. He was clearly leaving a control so I felt even more confident. Eventually found it, feeling very stupid. 6:05

11 -> 12: Angle to trail, trail south to trail on which the control sits, east to control. Bag had wrong number so I went on further, a bit confused. At the end of the trail, I was even more confused and headed back. This time, I checked the number on the e-punch and it was correct even though the bag number was wrong. Arrgh!!! 5:12

12 -> 13: I had seen that the woods opened up quickly, so I went a bit further on the trail and cut down to the main road to the junction to the flag. 1:32

13 -> 14: Back to train into and through the green slash. Started west trying to stay the right amount above the stream. Saw the control and the guy in blue at it. 4:13

14 -> 15: Down to stream and more or less "chasing" the guy in blue upstream. We passed each other a couple of times and he beat me to it. 2:42

15 -> 16: South to junction, then south, east, south, and then turn to it. Followed the stream in from where it crossed the trail. Passed the guy in blue at the second junction. 2:53

16 -> Finish: Out to trail and down it to the finish. 0:38

Total: 55:26. 1st out of 14. Not generally the fastest, but most of the folks behind me made at least one BIG error and I avoided those, costing myself only about 3 minutes at #11, 2 minutes at #7 and 1 minute at #12.

Back part of the orange course searching for a father-son pair who was well overtime. While going from #11 to #10, I heard them on the hill between me and the start. When I got up the hill, I listened again and went in what I thought was the right direction. Heard them again, but now they were close by and talking to Patty Lyons who was directing them back to the start. I chatted with Patty and then followed them in.

After a long layoff, I had to play Steve (probably our best player) in singles. Had no feeling at the beginning and fell behind 8-20. Got on a bit of a roll and lost 19-21.

Second game I felt more in it, trailed 5-7, led 15-7, and won 21-9.

Third game we were both dead. I couldn't do anything right at the beginning and trailed 7-15. I led 18-16 before winning a war of attrition 21-20.

What a workout!

Would have hit the desired "sub-27" time, but for watch troubles.

First swim at a respectable (if not good) pace. Time to up the distance a bit.