Training Log Archive: kissy

I wanted to see if cycling aggravated my leg, and it did not. I'm sure it helped that I was on a trainer with no hills. I did this while watching the dismal Redskins-Giants game. It all started out so promising, and then...the 2nd half. Bleh!

C • Game 3

Since I am apparently not able to run yet, I decided to take another long walk in PWF. This time I brought Graham and the dogs. Before we left, I peered out the window and it looked as though it could start snowing any second, so I bundled on a sweater and a down jacket. However, when I stepped outside, it was surprisingly warm, so off it all came. Funny how deceptive looks can be.

I took the day off from work today and was planning on a nice trail run in PWF. By the time I hit the road, however, both Rt. 1 and I-95 were parking lots, so it was the Hood loop for me.

Everything started out okay, but at about 2 miles, my inner thigh (the one that I hurt in the rogaine) starting hurting again. When I got to the one bigger hill on this route, I had to walk up because it was just too painful. It wasn't too bad on the flats, but going up or down hill was bad. I guess I hurt it worse than I thought.

C • Still Recovering 5

My friend, Meg, and her kids came to visit today, so we took a hike in PWF, of course. It was a bit on the cold side. The hike was especially fun because it included finding letterboxes. Normally banned from federal parks, this letterboxer got a special NPS permit to set these out. I am not neutral about letterboxing.

Here is an update since the race. Monday: I could barely walk down the stairs. I had to take one step at a time. I felt much worse than after any of my marathons. My arms were so tired that it was difficult to type for a long time. By Monday night, I was exhausted.

Tuesday: I could walk down the stairs semi-normally. I had to drive to NJ, and every time I got out of the car, I looked like Frankenstein for the first few steps.

Wednesday: Back to normal. I was going to do a little run in the morning but it was 24 degrees, and I hadn't brought enough warm clothes. I was supposed to go home today, but was stuck in NJ for another day.

Thursday: Woke up with a splitting headache, upset stomach, and an achy body. I'm not sure what it is, but it's not good. I drove home on cruise control and collapsed in to bed. My headache is a little better now after a few hours of sleep, but I still feel achy. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.

C • Monday and Tuesday and Wedn... 3

Event: DVOA Fair Hill, Mid-atlantic champs
 

AR-Ogaine, Douthat State Park, VA

My first 24-hour race, mainly to see what it felt like to race through the night. And, it didn't feel that bad. There was a period where I felt particularly down, but that was near the end and was short-lived. The worst pain was a cramping inner thigh muscle that developed as we were coming down the last ridge. It made it impossible to climb down the hill from the last control, so I had to do a butt slide down.

All in all, I was very happy with this race. I had wonderful teammates, and I think they would concur that everything went well. The weather never became as stormy as predicted. There were very light flurries throughout the night, with some howling winds in the morning. It wasn't scary at all to be out in the woods at night; actually, it was kind of cool to be orienteering at 3:00 a.m. I don't think I would do it on my own, though. I had more than enough warm clothing...enough to do a full change after each quadrant. We definitely had enough food...more than enough! And the controls were, indeed, place correctly, as guaranteed by Ronny.

The terrain for this race was particularly brutal. Very mountainous, with a lot of climbing and descending on particulary steep slopes. My arms are almost as sore as my legs from all of the pulling up the hills and self-arresting down the hills.

The best part was that we all stayed friends and had a good time. Everyone had their own map (Thanks, Nadim!!), so there was no need to break out the knives. We came to a route choice consensus at each control (well, except for the few times the 3 women over-ruled Peter), and then we just headed to the next control. It all had a very peaceful, easy feeling to it (except for maybe that one incident regarding the trail vs. the service road).

So, thanks to Peter, Peggy, and Barb for coming along on this little adventure. Be ready to be roped in to my next scheme!

C • comment 2

AR-Ogaine, Douthat State Park, VA

The chilliest morning so far, but very invigorating. I felt like crap at the beginning, but then I my body warmed up and everything was back to normal. Thought I'd be slower, but I guess not.

I'm getting excited for the rogaine this weekend. I'm normally someone who makes big plans and then doesn't follow through, so I'm especially proud that I'm following through on this. It helps to have team mates that you don't want to let down.

28:50 @ 3 miles

I took the dogs to PWF for a beautiful morning run (both the morning and the run were beautiful). The temps were warm and the leaves were so colorful. Unfortunately, the falling leaves nearly drove the puppies crazy. They kept leaping in to the air, trying to catch them. They calmed down after a bit and were actually really well behaved on the leash. Maybe they are learing something.

I felt pretty good, too. I took one really nasty fall, though. The leaves covered all of the roots and rocks on the trail, so I didn't see this one root and went flying. I scraped up my right side and jammed my thumb. The worst, though, was the palm of my hand that hit a rock and was cut up, bruised and swollen. I'm sure I'll heal quickly, though, so At One With Nature is still safe.

The dogs quit on me just shy of the car. I guess they're a little out of shape. So, we "cooled down" with a walk to the car.

No running yesterday or today. Instead, a lovely drive on the NJ Thruway to Basking Ridge, and two days of mindless meetings. Can you say "fun"?

I felt tired today, probably from staying up so late, but I was not going to miss one second of this historic moment. I cried with joy when Virginia was finally declared for Obama. A Democrat governor, 2 Democrat senators (with a win last night for Mark Warner), and going Democrat for the Presidency. Finally!!

I watched the returns from 7:00 until 1:00 a.m., and as the night wore on, I just kept smiling more and more. It was such a feeling of lightness and joy. Like this dark cloud was lifting away. Then, to see the crowds at Grant Park...it was an incredible sight. And what a difference from the gathering in Phoenix, where the majority of the people were white males.

29:06 @ 3

C • difference 11

Another day, another loop. I felt slow today for some reason, but my time at 3 miles said I was just the same as usual.

29:02 @ 3

I decided to take advantage of the time change and go out for an early morning run. Since I never seem to find any time during the day, I realized that I just need to get out in the morning for a run so I'll at least have *something* done for the day. It was just a run through the neighborhood, along the same route I've been running now for almost 20 years. Would I rather have been on a trail through the woods? Yes. Would I rather that it would have been a longer run? Yes. But if I wait around each day, trying to see if I can get away or not, and then usually realizing it's "not," my training log is going to continue to be full of the nothingness that is has been. And, if I do find some time later in the day to do something more, then I'll take it and be that much happier. So, I'll run my little loop through the neighborhood, hoping that sometime in the near future, things will be better.

30:03 @ 3

Helped my sister move her stuff that has been in my basement for the past two months to her new house. Tomorrow will be more of the same.

So, this has been a totally sucky week. It was bad at work with a lay off on Thursday where 30% of the work force was let go. Many good friends whom I've worked with for a long time. The worst was a husband and wife who were both laid off. Bad at training...or the lack of training. Just seemed like there was no time and no motivation. Hopefully things will turn around next week there. I'm going to try to get in a long hike next Saturday in preparation for the rogaine. And I need to get to REI to use my gift card on some winter items. Just a blechy time.