Training Log Archive: kissyIn the 7 days ending Mar 27, 2010:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| « | » |
| » now | ||||||||||
|
|
| |||||||||||
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | |||||||
Saturday Mar 27, 2010 #
9 AM
Running 50:20 [2] 3.28 mi (15:21 / mi)
I wanted to run in a new area that I had seen on a county map...Black River Wildlife Mgmt. Area. There was a trail that ran alongside the river and promised flat terrain for 7 miles. My kind of running.
Well, the problems began in just getting to the parking area. I forgot to take the map with me, but I was certain I would remember the way. I was mistaken. I meandered through the back country roads, taking which ever ones seemed to be heading the way I wanted to go. And the stupid thing was I kept crossing over the Patriot's Path trail, which the Black River trail is part of. So, I could have just stopped at any of those trailheads and gone running, but I was determined to find the parking lot I was looking for. At least now I know a bunch of new running spots.
I eventually did make it to the parking lot, but there was no obvious sign of a trail heading out. I started on one, and then that ended, so I turned down a side trail, and kept looking for trails that were heading the way I wanted to go. Sound familiar? I would have just gone through the woods, down hill towards the river, but the woods were nothing but sticker bushes.
I eventually followed the faintest of trails, heading downhill, until I came out on a huge power line. I looked back up the trail I came from, realized it was not visible from the power line, so I made an arrow of sticks to point the way. Then I headed along the power line, thinking I could fine the actual trail crossing, and I did! So I followed it down to the trail by the river and found the flattest trail in northern NJ! It was beautiful. But, it was also time to head back to the car. So I looked for a few more seconds, and then turned and headed up hill.
I followed the correct trail this time and realized that had I just gone straight at one point in the beginning of my journey, I would have been on the correct trail. But going straight looked so much more sketchy than turning on the clear, wide trail that I took. Oh well, live and learn.
And, finally, it was freezing cold this morning! WTF?? It was 24 degrees when I started and 28 degrees when I finished. Wasn't it just in the 70s last week??
Well, the problems began in just getting to the parking area. I forgot to take the map with me, but I was certain I would remember the way. I was mistaken. I meandered through the back country roads, taking which ever ones seemed to be heading the way I wanted to go. And the stupid thing was I kept crossing over the Patriot's Path trail, which the Black River trail is part of. So, I could have just stopped at any of those trailheads and gone running, but I was determined to find the parking lot I was looking for. At least now I know a bunch of new running spots.
I eventually did make it to the parking lot, but there was no obvious sign of a trail heading out. I started on one, and then that ended, so I turned down a side trail, and kept looking for trails that were heading the way I wanted to go. Sound familiar? I would have just gone through the woods, down hill towards the river, but the woods were nothing but sticker bushes.
I eventually followed the faintest of trails, heading downhill, until I came out on a huge power line. I looked back up the trail I came from, realized it was not visible from the power line, so I made an arrow of sticks to point the way. Then I headed along the power line, thinking I could fine the actual trail crossing, and I did! So I followed it down to the trail by the river and found the flattest trail in northern NJ! It was beautiful. But, it was also time to head back to the car. So I looked for a few more seconds, and then turned and headed up hill.
I followed the correct trail this time and realized that had I just gone straight at one point in the beginning of my journey, I would have been on the correct trail. But going straight looked so much more sketchy than turning on the clear, wide trail that I took. Oh well, live and learn.
And, finally, it was freezing cold this morning! WTF?? It was 24 degrees when I started and 28 degrees when I finished. Wasn't it just in the 70s last week??
Thursday Mar 25, 2010 #
6 PM
Running 38:29 [3] 3.04 mi (12:38 / mi)
Made it back to Jockey Hollow after work. I got a little later of a start than anticipated, so I got back to the car a little past 7:00, which is the official closing time of the park. Now, I didn't think that the park actually "closed." PWF had signs that said it closed at dusk, but it didn't really close. Well, Jockey Hollow really closes. When I got out of the woods, there was a Park Police officer at my car. I apologized, said I was sorry that I was late and it would never happen again, and he let me go. But, I had to drive through the park to the front entrance since he had already locked the gate at the back entrance. So, now I know.
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 #
Event: QOC: Little Bennett Day
11 AM
Orienteering race 1:15:46 *** 6.48 km (11:41 / km) +160m 10:24 / km
ahr:138 max:156
QOC local event at Little Bennett. My first orienteering event where I ran (instead of walked) since last April when I tore my ACL in half. Graham and I had come down to visit Mom for the weekend to celebrate her birthday, and of course we had to go to the local QOC event. Luckily, it was pretty close to Mom's house, and kind of on the way home to NJ.
It was a very warm day, which I wasn't used to, but that didn't really matter too much since I wasn't moving very quickly. I was more tentative, bordering on scared, than I thought I would be. I was very, very careful with my knee, and I didn't go through anything that was thick or messy underfoot. I was also very careful going downhill and contouring. I kept having visions of falling and bending my knee in a very painful way.
The run ended up going pretty well. I went right to every control with no problems, which was good. I didn't fall, not even once, which was good. I got pretty scratched up, which was also good in its own "I'm an orienteer again" kind of way. My knee did get pretty sore and tired towards the end, and I wasn't lifting my leg very high, so I had to be extra careful. But, all in all, a successful first outing.
It was a very warm day, which I wasn't used to, but that didn't really matter too much since I wasn't moving very quickly. I was more tentative, bordering on scared, than I thought I would be. I was very, very careful with my knee, and I didn't go through anything that was thick or messy underfoot. I was also very careful going downhill and contouring. I kept having visions of falling and bending my knee in a very painful way.
The run ended up going pretty well. I went right to every control with no problems, which was good. I didn't fall, not even once, which was good. I got pretty scratched up, which was also good in its own "I'm an orienteer again" kind of way. My knee did get pretty sore and tired towards the end, and I wasn't lifting my leg very high, so I had to be extra careful. But, all in all, a successful first outing.