Training Log Archive: kissy

Went for a ride out on the flats. Just toodled around, taking interesting looking tracks. I was headed towards Laramie Range, when the incoming dark skies and lightning bolts convinced me that I ought to head home. The storm never passed over me, but seemed to skirt around the edge of town.

Ran the Memorial Swampfox race on the new Mook's Marsh map. It was one long course (10.6k), with options to cut off early for a short, Green or Red course. I was going to take the cut-off for the Red course, but felt pretty good at that point and had been orienteering fairly well, so decided to do the whole kit and kaboodle. It was a very fun course, with some wide open field running, some intricate navigation, and sage, sage, and then some more sage. The weather was also cooperating, with bright sunshine and clear blue skies. There were a handful of RMOC visitors, but no one did the Dew.

This was not so secret mt. bike training. While SF hung controls for tomorrow's event, I went for a ride on some of the roads there. I found a really nice trail that paralleled a stream with massive amounts of beaver activity. It started raining a bit on the way back, but that just felt good. I rode with my iPod and just felt glorious as I was zooming along, singing at the top of my lungs with no one around to hear me.

After biking and control hanging, I convinced Mr. Fox to try letterboxing again. His last foray (about a year ago) was quite unsuccessful, and he declared himself "neutral" to the whole idea. But today was a bit more successful, and he might just be turning the corner. After letterboxing, I agreed to look at the geocache he found by Tie City, but I must admit, it was a poor substitute for letterboxing.

I ran about 2/3 of the Killer Bee loop on the Artillery Spring map. I would have done the whole thing, but I have a blister on one of my toes that was getting worse and the last third of the course isn't the most fun part, according to Mr. Fox. So, I opted out at the 15th control. I had a few problems early on, I think mainly because I haven't run on a 1:15000 map in a while. Once I hit the grasslands though, it went much better.

It was another beautiful day, with light winds and perfect temps. My AOWN sighting today was 4 elk in an aspen grove near Jubal E. Spring. So fine.

I ran the Green Night-O course on the Lights of Cheyenne map. I could definitely feel the altitude today, with tingling arms and legs and shortness of breath. I messed myself up a few times when I thought I remembered where the control was from the Night-O, only to find that my memory is fading. It was splendid running weather with grey skies, light winds and a few sprinkles of rain. It was nice to get out on a map and get used to reading all of the variations of yellow again.

A very easy run at Happy Jack after a day of travel. It was much cooler than at home, but it felt good. The altitude was a bother on the way up Summit Trail, but not so bad on the way back.

AOWN - one mule deer and three of the infamous Laramie turkeys. Aren't they supposed to be out East right now? Or have they made their way back already?

C • 1

Nothing too strenuous. Just a spin while watching the boob tube. Too bad it wasn't Trash TV Thursday.

I was sore last night after the race, but I didn't feel too bad this morning. I knew I had to go to Hemlock Overlook to hang a few controls for some training next weekend, so I decided to forego the orienteering meet at Fountainhead, and just do an easy trail run at Hemlock, hanging out the controls along the way. I even convinced my daughter, Caitlin, to come along. She runs on the roads and seldom ventures into the woods, but she was game. It turned out to be a beautiful day, and this run was the perfect post-race workout.

This was a nice mix of trail running, mt. biking and paddling. The worst part was a .75 mile leg that climbed 1000 ft. That was a killer...and some people did it while carrying their bikes! My team placed 5th female team and first female masters team. Other than the mountain climb, the running was pretty easy, mostly on trails around a lake, so nothing too strenuous.

C • Splits 4

The biking was a combination of single track and some roads. Again, it wasn't too difficult. There were a few places where we had to walk up hills, mainly because the trails were getting congested. There was alot of back and forth on the same trails.

I love canoeing, and I am always in the back since I'm the only one on our team who knows how to steer. The first paddle was into a pretty stiff wind, and a few times I was worried that we were going to tip over. The second paddle was with the wind, and we went 5 minutes faster. It was a little amusing to see some of the other teams making huge zigzags across the lake.

So, I was sitting in my hotel room in Saddle Brook, NJ, debating whether or not I should go shopping at a swanky mall near here (The Shops at Riverside) or go to the fitness room. Cristina was IM'ing me that, of course I needed to go shopping, and then she told me how much she LOVES shopping. But I resisted and headed to the fitness room, which was thankfully empty. However, shortly into the workout, I started feeling light headed and shaky, and then realized that the only thing I had eaten all day was a yogurt at 8:00 this morning. So, I cut it short and headed back to my room for some room service. Maybe I'll hit the mall tomorrow.

C • And after all that, neither of... 9

Not a lazy weekend, but not a weekend full of training. I spent almost all of the daylight hours out in the yard, having a wonderful time. It looks beautiful now.

I hadn't done this one for awhile, so I thought it was time again. It seemed difficult to do today...guess I need to do it more often.

I worked later tonight than I thought I would and almost gave up on running today, but then remembered a convenient park on the way home. So, I stopped by Wakefield for a quick workout, running through the intoxicating scent of honeysuckle (good) and clouds and clouds of gnats (bad). When I finished my run, my face and white shirt were speckled with kamikaze bugs. Yuck. The good news, though, was that I've discovered (or more exactly, remembered) a convenient park for after work runs and I actually stopped there tonight, late on a Friday evening after a long day at work, when all I *really* wanted to do was go home and relax. Yay!

Another evening of cycling, but I threw in some out-of-the-seat intervals to mix it up a bit.

C • Running while cycling 7

C • Running while cycling 1

It was such a beautiful morning, how could I not go for a run. And what a great run it was. I felt good and had that flowing feeling going. I bet if someone took my picture today, I would look like I was moving quickly! I even inched closer to that elusive 9:00 mile mark, but not quite.

AOWN was two more squashed snakes on Dead Snake Alley.

C • At Odds With Nature... 1

The jet stream rules!

I want to be just like Mike.

C • role model 1

Long Course at Team Trials. This was *not* a spectacular day. I was so worried about reading the depressions and hills, when I should have been concerned with all of the trails, which is where I had most of my problems. The day started out badly with trouble getting to #1 and a bad route choice to #2. Then...the disaster better known as #3. I totally misread the trails, and at one point, I was running 90 degrees away from where I should have been heading. Finally, a quick check of the compass told me what an idiot I was. Controls 4 - 11 went okay, just slow going to make sure I didn't get lost again. I was off a bit on #12, and then another mini-disaster to #13, where I finally relocated off of #1. Some hesitation into #14 and 15, mainly because I was just mentally exhausted by then. Controls 16 - 19 were pretty easy, but I was done with this course back at #12, so I didn't push it too hard at the end. Oh well, 2 good days out of 3 isn't too bad. It was a wonderfully fun weekend, traveling with Valerie, Sandy and Cristina. And SMOC, Vlad and Erik Weyman all did wonderful work that added up to quite an enjoyable weekend. Thanks!!

Middle Distance at the Team Trials. This was the best run I've had in a long time. I didn't really miss on any control, just cautious on a few when the contours started confusing me. And I felt good running the whole time. All in all, a good day.

C • Congrats 5

Forgot to note my AOWN experience...a sand hill crane flying over the finish area. Quite spectacular, but I wish I had heard its cry.

C • Cranes 6

Event: US Team Trials
 

Sprint at Team Trials. First let me say, I really don't enjoy sprints, at all. So, when I made a mistake out of the start triangle by going down the wrong trail, I thought this was not going to be my day. But, it actually turned out to be okay. I probably ran as fast as I could run for that day and only made one other mistake, on #8, and came in with a better time than I had predicted. So, I was happy with this result.

Just a little something on the trainer to say I did it.