Training Log Archive: kissy

One last hurrah at Hemlock before next weekend. Jon Torrance was kind enough to set out a training course and, I believe, had quite a few takers, which is nice. Once I saw the course was about 9 km., I knew I couldn't do the whole thing because of other commitments, so I just did 1 - 11. I had a few bobbles, but nothing too bad. I totally didn't find #5, but I knew I was in the right spot, which was some poorly mapped green areas with low visibility, and we were using the mini-controls, so I think I just didn't spot it. After 3 days of non-stop rain, the sun came out for today's session, although the woods were still soaking wet and I went very carefully over the downed trees, being careful not to step on any of them and go sliding down the trunk.

I felt good in the woods and this was an encouraging way to go in to next weekend.

A reporter and photographer were there from my local paper, The Free-Lance Star, and there will be an article in next Friday's paper. I asked the reporter to please just don't position the sport as a treasure or scavenger hunt. We'll see.

As I was driving to Basking Ridge for a meeting tomorrow, I stopped by Iron HIll in Newark, DE, for a training run. I had an old map from the Short-O Champs and copied the Red course from the most recent meet there. First let me say that when the park is not full of orienteers, it seems to be full of creepy old men.

I was also testing out running in contacts, and it seemed to go well. I popped them in right before running and took them out as soon as I was done. There was no fuzziness for the whole run, and none since, so that's good news. This weekend, I'll test doing this with my bifocal contacts. If those work, I might just be in business.

I ran today at a pretty leisurely pace and was 99% sure I was at the correct control locations. I even remembered having difficulty in one area of a bland hillside during the Short-O champs, so I went very carefully. This was definitely a nice way to break up the drive.

C • Just think, if you had worn... 6

A much more rewarding run. After a busy day at work, I almost didn't make it out for this run, but I opened the front door and it was so lovely out, that I couldn't resist. It was one of those evenings when the light was soft and golden, and the air was warm (but not humid), with little pockets of coolness. I did a warm-up and then 6 short hill repeats and then home again. A very satisfying workout.

A very depressing outing. I went to Pohick Bay Regional Park to run an old Red course and to test out my new glasses. Well, they were a disaster. The wrap-around'ish frame distorted things just enough that it gave me a headache. On top of that, if I left them looser (and more comfortable), they moved around so much I started getting motion sickness. Then, if I tried to cinch them tighter, they fogged up because there was no ventilation. I don't know what I'm going to do. I think I'll go out for another practice run, wearing my contacts. Maybe it'll be okay to keep them in only for when I'm running. Good thing I'm working this all out now!

C • I wear contacts (well, one ... 3

I went to the Battlefield this morning, but this time to run. What a difference from my last outing. I felt mostly good, but a little thirsty towards the end. It's still pretty warm. This was a nice morale boost from last time.

Unlike Cristina and her contacts saga, I am learning how to run in glasses. My eye doctor has concluded that I somehow abraded my corneas, and that is why everything was blurry. The prescription is to not wear contacts for a few months, and then try again. If things get blurry again, then it might be the end of the road for contact lenses in my eyes. In the meantime, I got some biking sunglasses, but replaced the lens with prescription bifocals to use for orienteering. They're quite stylin'...not! Did someone say "lasik?"

C • Photo? 4

First session of the year on the trainer. I was going to ride on the Battlefield, but guess what! It was raining! For the first time in 34 days. It was a brief, albeit intense, storm. Now, about 100 more of those, and we should be fine again.

Partial Hood Loop. Only part of it because I felt like crap. My legs were heavy, I couldn't breathe and my stomach was churning. I guess it just wasn't my day.

Today was officially "National Parks Stamp Day," as designated by me. I gathered up my sister, Marit, and her two boys, and my BFF, Meg, and her three kids, and Graham, and headed to downtown DC. I had planned a route that would take us from the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, through FDR (my favorite), the Korean War (my second favorite), Lincoln, Vietnam War (the saddest), WWII, Washington Monument, White House, Old Post Office, and Smithsonian Castle. The intention was to collect around 20 new stamps for our NPS stamp books. It looked great on paper...4.5 miles of nice walking through the city, seeing the sites on a beautiful day. Well, it took 6.5 hours! You can't travel very quickly with 5 kids under the age of 10; they want to play with everything along the way. Although, to their credit, I was afraid they wouldn't make it for the whole day, but they were running and skipping right to the end.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kissy223/sets/7215760...

C • stamps 3

Had a nice ride this morning with Valerie. She ventured down this way, so we went for a ride on Lee Drive. It was a beautiful morning; I was afraid it might be a little chilly but it turned out just fine with shorts and a light jacket. Nice ride and nice company.

C • Ride 1

The weather was spectacular for this running of the Hood Loop. I am so happy to be done with the heat and humidity. I felt really tight for this entire run. No comfort at any time, but at the end, it was a fast time. So, that was good. No aches or pains.

AOWN: Dead mole in the middle of the road, dead mole in the...

C • dead mole 4

This turned in to a rest day because I needed rest. Tanner and I were in the ER well past midnight last night. He has had a sore throat for a few days and it was getting so swollen that he could hardly breathe. It turns out he has mono, and will be home for a while. Ugh!

C • condolences 1

I was going to run the Hood Loop and was actually feeling pretty good, but about a mile into it, I could start feeling one of the hotspots from this weekend. After about two miles, it was quite painful, and I decided not to take any chances, so I cut the run short. When I got home, there wasn't a blister there yet, but it was awfully red and tender. Need to watch out for that one.

C • moleskin donuts 2

Short Stumble at Little Bennett Regional Park, Clarksburg, MD. I had contemplated doing the Long Stumble (~17 km), but decided I didn't want to possibly hurt my knee. It was an extremely hot day (low 90s), but I think I could have done the Long. When I finished the Short, I felt like I could have done some more. I didn't have any real problems at all; just a little off (but within eyesight) of a few controls. I was running well and didn't get hurt, except for a few small blisters/hot spots on my feet.

It was fun to run with different people throughout the course, including Don Davis and my brother, Erik. For the second half of the course, though, I pretty much didn't see anyone. All in all, a good day.

Went for a bicycle ride on the C&O Canal with Meg. Beautiful evening and wonderful company.

I ran some hill intervals today. I parked at the pool and ran about a mile warm-up, then 5 hill intervals at about 2:10 per interval, and then the cool down back to the car. This felt pretty good, although I could definitely feel it in my legs on the last interval.

The Hood Loop. I almost didn't run this morning, but as I was opening my front door to check the weather, a perfect V of geese was flying overhead, and it filled me with such a good feeling, that I decided it was a sign for me to go running. And it was fine Tuesday morning run. I was especially delighted to find that my knee is still feeling good. I think it is the weirdest thing that after Sunday's run, I didn't feel any pain. It's almost like I knocked something out of place in my knee during my run at Hemlock, and then it fell back into place on this past Sunday.

Another weird happening today was my trash sightings...10 empty cigarette packs. That's 10 packs in only 4.6 miles. That seems like a lot to me, especially since all you hear is that smoking is on the decline. I also learned that Newport seems to be a popular brand.

C • observations 4

Just an easy session of yoga to stretch everything out from the weekend. My knee was remarkably not sore this morning, for which I am eternally grateful.