Training Log Archive: kissy

Traveled over to the Snowie Mt. range and went for a little hike. Beautiful wildflowers were out, including glacier lilies, marsh marigolds, alpine forget-me-nots, and buttercups. There were still quite a few snow patches through which we had to cut snow steps...and of course be ever vigilant for snow snakes. We also saw a few marmots cavorting among the rocks. High-tailed it out of there just in front of a thunderstorm.

Took a refreshing ride north on 287 out of town. I didn't see any survey markers or surveyors. Came back and toodled around town a bit. No signs of any new hotels going up. Finished up with a quick tour of the UW campus...here there was much construction going on.

I test ran my sprint at Jubal E Spring, but not at race pace. I think it's going to be a good one. A less than optimal route choice, however, will make all of the difference.

Some easy running through the fields, practicing reading the map in wide open spaces.

Ran on the Jubal E Spring map, hanging streamers for my Painted Toenail sprint. This is one of three sprints that will be part of the Foot Fetish sprints this weekend. The area was very dry and prickly. I scared up two mule deer fawns that were hiding behind a rock and a sage bush. I felt pretty fine, aside from the fact that I've had a low-grade headache for the past few days. I think I need to drink more water.

Travel day to Denver for business. Spent 3 hours on the tarmac waiting for a line of thunderstorms to pass before we could take off. Good times.

Also spent 4 hours in the yard, mowing the lawn and pulling weeds...my favorite!

I also finally got around to another pedicure. My toenails are now sporting the wonderful color of "Cha-Ching Cherry." Yum!

Another drippy run. I felt pretty good today in spite of the heat and humidity. The difficulty breathing came back today, but not until the last quarter mile, so that was an improvement. I think it might just be the pollen.

C • Uniforms 1

This was a very weird run. I got back to my hotel room after work, changed into running gear and headed down to the lobby. By the time I got down there, it had begun to *pour* rain. Now, I thought someone was maybe dumping water off of the roof because when I had just been up in my room, the sky was blue and sunny! I waited for about 20 minutes with no sign of letting up, so I headed back upstairs. When I got back into my room, I looked out the window, and the sky was blue and sunny again!! I thought I was going crazy. Sooooo, I headed *back* downstairs and finally got started on my run.

Ran through a neighborhood behind the hotel, in the general direction of Tampa Bay. Quickly found myself in an area of what must have been multi-million dollar homes, right on the bay. Between looking at the incredible homes and the equally incredible yards, my mouth was agape for the entire run. The bad part of the run, however, was the 95 degree weather with 99% humidity. The people who had to ride back up in the elevator with me were not very happy!

Rode the trainer in the hotel while reading the paper. (Wow, I feel like Charlie!)

This was actually a half-hearted attempt at a workout before I decided I'd rather be outside running no matter what the weather was doing.

Travel day to Tampa/St. Pete for work.

Rode for an easy hour watching what was, perhaps, the worst movie I've ever seen, but there was absolutely nothing else on. The movie was "Kiss Toledo Goodbye" with Christopher Walken. I'm sure it was the low point in his career.

Another not so great run. I had a side cramp for the first 15 mins., and I had trouble breathing. This happened on my last run, too. It's like there's a rumbling in my lungs, but I can't cough it out. Very annoying.

I forgot my tinted goggles, so had to close my eyes on each return length since the sun was blindingly bright.

6 x 50 free
200 kick
3 x 200-100-50

C • The sun? 2

A very lethargic workout. I ran too soon after eating breakfast and had stomach issues the entire time. I hadn't planned it that way, but that's just how the morning went.

Ran the Beer Chase, Quantico's traditional end of the season race. Peggy designed a 3-loop course on the Jug Bay map, with the required beer drinkings at the beginning and after each loop. It was quite evident why I will never live up to the reputation of my stepfather...I was a miserable failure at drinking the beer. I was amazed at the speed with which some of these people were downing their drinks!

The orienteering was quite simple, although I did manage to drift right on the second control of the first loop. We could skip a control on Loop A (3.134km), so I skipped #8 mainly because I had forgotten about this little feature of the loop until I was almost finished and there were only 9 controls. On Loop B (3.22-3.33km), there was a control forking where you could pick which fork you wanted to take. I think nearly everyone picked the southern most fork. Loop C was more like a sprint as it was only 1.66 km with Yellow level orienteering.

All in all, it was a terrifically fun course in a beautiful location -- Dave Linthicum's house right on Jug Bay -- site of an orienteering meet right before Peggy and Nadim's wedding. There were plenty of old-timers there, as well, with Hillary Cane paying a visit from Tasmania.

C • Route Choice 5

After a morning visit to the Farmer's Market, I headed to Fredericksburg Battlefield for a run. The weather was more than anyone could ask for...70 degrees, breezy and sunny. I was intending to just go for an easy run, but once I started, everything felt so good that I picked up the pace and turned in a pretty good time. Even with a massive hill on this course that you have to go over twice since it's an out and back course.

Oh, boy, could I tell I hadn't been in the pool for awhile. I had to cut the workout short (was supposed to be 60 mins.) because my calves and toes kept cramping.

3 x 100 (50 free/50 breast)
4 x 75 (25 back kick/25 free/25 back kick)
8 x 100 (1-3 free; 4-6 breast; 7-8 free)
300 pull

Rode the trainer while watching the premier episode of "Windfall." Seems like it could have potential. We'll see.

Running through the neighborhood in disgustingly hot and humid weather. Threw in a few intervals to keep it fun (6 x :20 fast/:60 easy).

This always feels so good with all of the stretching and downward facing dogs. Oh, yea, and the relaxation at the end. Yum!

C • dogs 8

An easy run through the neighborhood with many wildlife sitings...albeit they were all dead. I saw a box turtle, garter snake, ringneck snake (a baby one), bunny rabbit, squirrel and what I thought was a bird but upon further inspection, turned out to be a black leather glove. Oops.

I had planned on swimming tonight, but I absolutely smashed my finger today, and I figured it might be a better idea to do something that didn't involve my hands so much. Maybe tomorrow.

C • Smash! Bash! Crash! iomega ... 2