Training Log Archive: jtorranc

QOC Hemlock Overlook

Cycling from Vienna to Hemlock Overlook, at a somewhat higher than usual effort level since I'd promised to be on hand by 11am in case the meet directors needed help. Made a characteristic wrong turn off Clifton Rd onto Henderson Rd rather than Yates Ford Road but realised what I'd done after a few hundred meters (downhill, unfortunately). Was therefore slightly late but wasn't needed anyway so got out on my first course before noon.

Short course, i.e. sprint. Minor time lost to confusion over vegetation mapping on the way to 5 and maybe a few seconds slowing down to figure out where I ought to look for 9 since it didn't seem to be where the circle was centered - fortunately the reentrant was pretty clear in the terrain. Also did a silly S curve getting around the buildings to the first control. No significant problems though.

Hemlock Overlook Middle Red - pretty good race other than looking for 11 rather higher upslope than the cup depression it was hung on (I'd have to go back at walking speed or standing still to decide whether that was a map issue or not) and arguably taking an overly safe approach to 12, overshooting slightly to a distinct trail bend then coming back and up the slope to the control when it might have been faster to have contoured along the slope (though the bag was faded enough I might have run right by it if the rocky ground hadn't been visible from a reasonable distance). Other than that, I aimed off more than was necessary let alone efficient on several of them - I'm sure more precision will be required in New York next weekend.

Utterly beautiful day, BTW.

Cycling home from Hemlock Overlook and also the round trip from home to the Foggy Bottom Metro.

Short - Splits

Red - Splits

Sprint Four the Cure 5K - more fun than an interval workout, though also more costly. And a comparison to this time last year on the same course.

Time is approximate, since they didn't even have a clock for us to look at as we crossed the finish line this year. Distance was nominally 5K but there was something of a consensus that the course was probably a bit short (it's supposed to have been measured accurately but it seems conceivable someone might have failed to follow the instructions on placing the turnaround point of the out and back course precisely) . Second just like last year but the balance of probabilities is that I ran at least a bit faster this time.

Have researched the winner a bit - a formerly French runner named Philippe Rolly who was a very big noise in DC area running when he first showed up a decade ago. Doesn't appear to race so often now but he came fourth in the annual springtime Washington marathon this March in 2:32:39.

Cycling from home to the race to the Smithsonian to take in the Jim Henson exhibit at the Ripley Center to the MLK Library to home to TPSS to work then finally home again. Long day.

Cycling to work. Home by way of the aquatic center and the Freer Gallery, where I saw a perplexing Thai film.

Flutterkicking - trying to banish any last bit of stiffness after the long trail run on Wednesday.

Skating to work.

Cycling home by way of PCRM.

Cycling to work early in the afternoon, having spent the morning in a meeting at the FAA HQ. Unusual and I believe unprecedented speed presumably due to some combination of less busy roads and sidewalks compared to rush hour, lucky timing of lights and perhaps being at a different point than usual in my daily cycle. And, of course, effort.

Running home through Rock Creek Park. Didn't bring my headlamp so had to run the last half hour by the unsteady light of my bicible headlight held in either hand. Had better not do that again with sunsets getting earlier since it's practically begging to fall and hurt myself.

Cycling to work by way of the aquatic center and directly home after work.

Started with four or five minutes of various strokes then flutterkicked until it seemed time to head to work.

Warmup/cooldown.

Silly walks and, I believe but didn't pay attention to keeping count as well as I might have, 11x100m strides.

Skating to work in the morning.

Cycling home by way of TPSS.