Training Log Archive: kissy

Day 2 2017 Scottish 6-Days. Balfour Forest.

Today went much better. I came in 5th in my category! And I'm 6th overall for the two days.

My luggage arrived yesterday afternoon, so I had my contacts in today. What a difference it makes to be able to see! The orienteering was, once again, pretty easy, but the footing was not so nice. It seemed like we were either running through "open" fields covered in rocks, downed trees, and knee-high heather; or in the woods that looked beautiful, but once you were in them, you found out that it was just moss-covered rocks and knee-high blueberry. I fell a lot today! But my navigation was fine, with just one small problem at #7. I thought I had contoured on the same contour line (as needed), but I must have dropped down a couple of lines. The other problem was that there are several old logging "rides" in the woods, not all of them mapped. So while I thought I was at the one that was mapped right before my control, I must have been at an unmapped one. I knew I hadn't gone far enough, so I kept going, hesitating a bit. Once I got in the right area, enough things matched up that I knew to climb the hill, and then I found it.

And now we're home again at the farm, waiting for some swampfox pizza to be made.

C • Knee 5

2017 Scottish 6-Days. Day 1 - Glen Tanar

This day could have gone quite badly, but it did not. I was a little hampered by the fact that my luggage did not make it to Scotland with me. I had smartly packed an O-kit in my carryon, but I neglected to pack contact lenses. So, the question was should I run with or without my glasses, which are for long distance. I can't read at all with them, so there would have been a lot of flipping them up. Without the glasses, I can't see very well -- enough to not run into trees but not enough to pick up terrain subtleties. I chose to run without, and I think it did hurt me in a few areas. I ended up in 11th place, out of 43, but I'm running the W55 short course, so maybe the competition is not so fierce.

Other than the vision issue, I did fine. I found all of the controls, but maybe with a bit too much hesitation on the way to a few of them, and a few bearings that went too far from the straight-line. The woods were pretty open; we haven't gotten to the bracken yet.

It was nice to see some Americans here - Rick and Eileen Breseman, Charlie Bleau, Ron Birks, Rob Wilkerson, and Jim Eagleton. And it's so nice to be back to my third Scottish 6-Days. I am wildly in love with Scotland, so it felt good to be back. Mikell and I are staying in a loft apartment on Wark Farm. We are surrounded by banded cows, Hebridean sheep, and geese. It's lovely.

Body Pump

The humidity was much lower and it was cloudy, so this felt very, very nice. Went to my usual turning around point, Carolina Brothers BBQ.

C • BBQ 3

I went for a run on Belle Isle in Richmond, VA. There is a suspension bridge from the mainland to the island, which was pretty cool.



And a great view of the James River.



The island itself was okay, not great. It was kind of messy with lots of overgrown areas and then trash areas. The worst part was that I fell once, which wasn't too bad except I managed to smash my phone. :-( I'll have to get it fixed before I leave for Scotland on Friday.

Tried to get out early to beat the heat again. Supposed to feel like 104˚ today. It was "feels like" 95˚ when I went out, but I was in the shade for the most part, so it wasn't too bad.

A morning ride on the trail to try to beat the heat. It was nice because the trail wasn't crowded, and it wasn't that hot.

Body Pump

A pool swim at Shepherd University.

A run on the canal while visiting Mom and Don.

Body Pump

I tried starting the C25K session from my house, thinking the initial 5 minute warm up walk would get me to the park trail, but I didn't quite make it. The first running segment was on the asphalt trail and that did not feel very good on my knee. I'm really surprised at the difference between that and the dirt trail because the dirt trail is pretty compacted down. I also added in a few slightly hillier sections and that felt fine.

Another trip on the W&OD; this time with Marit and Bob. It was their first ride of the season, and I was impresses they could go this far right off the bat. They're coming over later for pizza party night!

A ride on the W&OD from my house. Made it out to Caroline Brothers Pit BBQ, but did not partake. The thought of eating BBQ and then getting back on my bicycle did not sound good.

It was a beautiful day and the trail was pretty crowded. It's easy enough to pass people if they are onesie - twosies, but I came upon a group of about 10 riders, not going extremely fast (hence me catching up to them). They were bunched up enough that there wasn't really room to pass a few of them and then tuck back in when riders were coming the other way. So I stayed behind them for a bit, but eventually I made a break for it, and just as I was at about the middle of the pack, the front guys started turning left onto a side trail that went to Old Ox Brewery. I pulled up quickly to avoid a crash, but really?? Where was the signaling for a turn? I guess they were too anxious to get to their beer.

I also saw a couple of snakes on the trail. They were the black ones, and I'm sure they are perfectly harmless, but I still do not like them all the same. Ick, Ick, Ick.

C • I do not like them 3

I was going to go biking today, but it rained all morning. I didn't want to bike in the gym and the only other cardio exercise I can do outside is running, so I went "running." I started back on my C25K program, which I like and which starts out slowly so I don't hurt my knee. It felt fine except for the downpour that hit me about halfway.

Body Pump

Summer Sprint Series training. This US Team fundraising series is something Peggy and I started in 1997(!) I think, to help us get to WOC that year. (Peggy - you'll have to correct me on timing). It's still going on and the summer woods around DC are still as spider webby as ever!

This was a contours-only map at Manassas in an area that was not very nice. There were a lot of downed trees, and it was very hot (92˚), so after the first 6 controls, I decided I had had enough and headed back -- there were only 2 controls left, but they were a little ways out and I was right by the start at that point, with a nice bridge beckoning me to cross the stream and go home.

I didn't fine ribbons at two of the controls, but I'm pretty sure I was in the right place. When I have a minute, I'll put my tracks on the map and see if I was right.

After the training, I took a quick shower and headed to my sister's house to go with her family to a free concert in the park. It was a little embarrassing, as I was standing in her kitchen, to have my brother-in-law pick off 3 ticks that he saw crawling on my neck and arm and leg. Yikes! I found 2 more before the night was over. I'll have to keep an eye out for rashes. Her son kept his dog away from me so the ticks wouldn't migrate over. Nice.