Training Log Archive: bishop22

Event: Ontario Championships
 

ROC Meet at Powder Mills Park

"Orange Plus" course at Powder Mills Park. Nate started 2 minutes ahead of me and had the same first 2 controls. C1 was a trail run, and I cut thru the woods leaving it, and intercepted Nate in the clearing. He led me up the trail but went right and the control was left, so I got there first. I left, allowing a spur to push me to far east to the swamp, so Nate (with a different C3) beat me to the trail down below. Trying to keep up with him, as he effortlessly cleared a log, I caught my trailing big toe and went down hard, knocking the wind out of myself (and later noticed my elbow was swollen almost to the size of a golf ball). C3 thru C8 went very smoothly. Although the map was revised in Sept 2005, the trails leading in the direction of C9 seemed off, and I was only saved by the control being in a distinct clump of pines, but only after running well past the control. C10 was a major blunder that cost me the race, and then some (I lost by 2 minutes, but lost 10 minutes on this control). I came down the hill to the swamp, and should have been just SE of the mapped trail (which not mapped indistinct in last month's revision) thru the swamp. Didn't find it to my right (even though I went a more-than-sufficient 100m), so I came back and checked left - nope. Not wanting to waste more time, I tried to just head W thru the swamp. As I picked my way thru, I ended up heading S, and even a little E, almost exiting the park. Had to run around the swamp, then climbed above the green too far and missed C10 high, had to relocate 200m north, then come back. C11 was a pit that was just before the reentrant, not in it, as it looked on the map, so I lost most of a miniute there, before heading in after 1 last climb.

Splits:
1 - 2:50
2 - < 4:00
3 - > 5:40
4 - 5:55
5 - 1:50
6 - 3:14
7 - 6:16
8 - 2:16
9 - 7:12
10 - 14:14
11 - < 3:00
12 - > 1:37
13 - > 2:46
F - < 0:30

Up the river to the stone wall (24:45) and back (23:45). Only some residual soreness from last weekend. Hopefully, I can handle 3 races in 3 cities this weekend.

Not sure it counts as a hash - there was almost no beer at the finish. Trail was decent, though - first half was mostly thru terrain at Greece Canal Park, second half was mostly on trails (with headlamp).

84 - should have been better: started double-double, and put up a triple on 17.

Took it somewhat easy. Legs still a little sore from the Highlander - luckily I don't really use my legs to swim.
4:08/8:05
1:29,33,32,29,9 (on 1:50)
3:23,23

Event: Hudson Highlander X
 

Ran the Hudson Highlander. It was warm, I spent about 7 hours on my feet at the McQuaid Invitational yesterday, and I am not in marathon shape, so I guess the result could have been expected. I had expected to finish somewhere between 5 and 7 hours, but it was not to be (7:22).

Started off with an easy trail run (although I would have walked the hills if it wasn't so crowded), and things looked good early. Had sharp stuff in my shoe leaving C3, so I emptied it, put it back on, and took off after the line of people that passed me, WITHOUT my compass. Went 20-30 steps and turned back, but could not find the place I had stopped. After about 2.5 minutes of looking, and concerned passersby inquiring about my problem, the very kind Sam Levitin offered his spare compass to me (thank you, Sam!). After a quick last look, I was back on my way. Was slow but steady on the King of the Hill leg, and things were looking great again. Not for long! Didn't stay with the pack going to C7 and I misread which swamp was which coming off the bare rock down to the control. OK, let's make up for it - famous last words: missed C8 to the left (stupid!) and ran off the map - making it tough to relocate. Eventually found the stream and trail that led me back onto the map near C9, for a nice 13-contour climb back to C8. Was informed at C9 that there were now only 6 people behind me.

Trail run went fine - caught a few people on the trail and at the aid station, depsite being quite slow on the climbs.

Started the Surebridge map with Eric and Paul, and we wound up with Sandy and someone else. It was nice having the company. I started cramping on the way to C16, and had to stop for a couple of minutes, which was too bad, since C17 was a long trail run, and I could have put some time in the bank, if I didn't think I should walk. Still, finished the 3rd leg with about 2:14 left to the cutoff.

After the aid station, I was able to mostly jog the 1250m back to the Sebago map. I would have kept jogging the trail/road route to C20, but everyone else was going straight. Started cramping again, and had to take another break. Ironically, jogging was fine - it was the various excess leg movements to go over/under obstacles that brought on the cramps. Lost sight of most of the other stragglers by the time I got to C22. Did the rest with Sandy and the HVO guy.

- Splits