Training Log Archive: kissy

Training event at Pitcher Hill. This was a very fun run. I managed to move fairly steadily, resorting to walking through much of the sage. And I didn't make any disastrous errors. Almost made a bad one on the way to #12, but caught myself at the last second. I took one bad fall going downhill on a sage-covered hill. I fell into a log with many limbs sticking out. One of them jabbed my right boob, which hurt. It is going to leave a bad bruise, but I will not post a picture on AP.

An early evening run at Happy Jack while Mikell was hanging controls at Remarkable Flats. It was a beautiful evening. I like running there, and seeing the cross country trails that we ski on.

Another loop around Wash Park. I find this quite enjoyable. I am definitely walking quite fast, listening to my podcast. And, I get to study everyone who passes me. Tonight there was a large running group that I passed on my way into the park as they were assembling. They then passed me about halfway around the park, and it was fascinating to see all of the different running styles. People who have good running form are such a pleasure to watch. They almost seem like they are floating on air.

I also enjoy looking at what the guys are wearing. For women, it looks like you want to find the tightest, shortest clothes. But the guys run the whole gamut. You have to ones who are wearing their long, baggy nylon shorts that just swish all around their legs. How can that not chafe them? Then you have the ones who are running in teeny shorts and no shirt and who really have no business doing either. Ick! But then, every once in awhile, you are rewarded with the perfect body, cute little running shorts, and a great stride. Quite fine.

C • aww 14

I spent the weekend at Peaceful Valley Boy Scout Ranch, helping with the ARDF National Champs, which were occurring after a long, strange trip.

Back in June, I was pulling into my garage when I got a call on my cell phone from Los Angeles, CA. Curious, I answered and the voice on the other end said, "Hi, this is Marvin Johnston from LAOC." Ok...can I help you? "I'm calling about the ARDF National Championships." Huh??!!

It appeared that one member of RMOC had volunteered to put on these champs, even after the rest of the club leaders said we weren't interested when initially asked just 1 week after the US Classic Champs in 2014. But now they were on, with a full blown website, a crowd of folks coming from China, and Marvin wondering when the registration site was going to be turned on! Yikes!

To make a long story short, the member who signed us up did do a lot of the work, but the event was pretty much saved by Doug Berling, RMOC member extraordinaire, stepping in to save the day. And when Doug told me last weekend at Round Mt. that he desperately needed help, I said I'd come down to help him.

It was actually a pretty interesting experience. Definitely orienteering geekiness at a totally new level, but it was kind of nice to see the enthusiasm and dedication of the folks who were there. I got an idea of what regular orienteers must look like to newcomers. And the Chinese group did show up, all 58 of them. They were all kids, age 19 and younger, with about 5 coaches, from Canton, China, where radio orienteering is pretty big, evidently. The trip was completely government sponsored and paid for, and the kids were having a great time! Doug and I learned how to say "e-punch" in Cantonese...not sure how it's spelled, but it sounds like zzzzzzcah.

Not everything was done correctly, but I think we got most of it right, and everyone seemed happy when they left. I'm already thinking of better ways to do things next time we host the ARDF champs, but Doug just covers his ears. I think I might have found my new sport.

C • ARDF 5

I had intended to go for a run at Peaceful Valley, but after working all day in the hot temps and in the sun, I was in no mood. So, I drove home, thinking I would go for a walk in Wash Park. Normally, I would have just gone home and collapsed, but I'm doing a fitness challenge at work, and I'm on a team with other folks in my department, and I was about 12K steps short of my goal for the week. I couldn't let down my team or make someone else carry my goal, so I got out there and walked a loop around the park, which turned out to be the perfect number of steps!