Training Log Archive: hkleaf

Event: Big Blues Ramble 2007
 

The Toad AR - East Fork

C • In case... 3

Warm up run before the Middle.

CAOC Big Blues Ramble, Middle - Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Elk Grove Village, Illinois.
Blue Course: 5.9km, 25m, 16c. (1:10 000, 2m)
Course Setter: ?
~60F and sunny.

Possibly the worst performance of the year! Had trouble from the get go finding #1. I found Red #1 by the tree stump, but was unsuccessful using it to relocate. Thrashed around like a chicken with its head cut off, could NOT make sense of the map (no contours!) at all. So I bailed out towards the field's corner. From there I still wasn't confident attacking #1 (~200m). So I went to #2 to try working backwards. It's still about the same distance so I don't know why I thought it'd be easier at the time. Found the same tree stump again, searched around some more, and finally spotted the flag. The color on it was faded so it camouflaged nicely with the fall colors. I was so excited about finding #1 that I just ran off hastily to #2, thinking: "you just came from there, so it should be easy, right?" Gosh did I mess it up ever! Running in what I thought was the direction to #2, another competitor ran past in the opposite direction, and looked at me with an incredulous expression. Not knowing what to make of it, I pressed on. Then seconds later, I heard the dreaded "beep, beep, beep..." CRAP! I am back to the Start triangle! I wasn't actually there yet, but close enough to hear the starter beeps. I slapped myself silly and navigated to #2 on a correct bearing. But before I got there (~30m), my misadventure would take a further down turn! I was reading the map while maneuvering around some downfalls, only I didn't quite get around one of the trees! I must've ram into something sharp because it torn my pant pocket (lost whistle), gave me a nice long scratch and big bruise on the right thigh. It was so painful I stopped for a moment, and hobbled/limped along the rest of the course. All this happened before I even punched #2! What the ...? Going to #3 was slow, but I managed to correct an early bearing error and spiked the control. Then on a short leg to #4, the flatness got me once again. I never found the trail half way to the control, never mind using its bend as an AP. I circled around, tried re-attacking from different places, and still nothing. I simply wasn't reading the subtlety in the terrain. Many folks were also running every which way in this area, so that was distracting a bit. I briefly thought about quitting, but decided I might as well use the opportunity to train. After an eternity (12'), I found #4 with Feet punching right behind. He would quickly run away though as I was limping to #5. My bearing problems returned once more, and I overran the control by ~150m to the north. After that, I went extra slow, and made sure I checked the compass every few seconds. From there to #6 and onwards, it was a clean "run." The map was starting to make more sense as I learned to read the subtle changes in the terrain (dry marsh, veg boundaries, etc.). I even started running a bit from #8 on. I did manage to trip a couple more times though, and bruised my left knee on the run in to the finish! Incredible!

A much better run than the morning. If only I could just take out the huge 2:30+ boom! Still can't run fast though.

CAOC Big Blues Ramble - Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Elk Grove Village, Illinois.
Sprint Course: 2.2km, 9m, 12c. (1:5000, 2m)
Course Setter: ?
60s and still sunny. Simply a gorgeous fall day.

Feeling quite dejected after the middle. I ate a pbj and some snacks to replenish the system. Bill also gave me a couple of Aleve to help ease the pain. It's still painful, but I felt that the slower running actually helped it stay loose. So I ran the sprints, perfectly content that it'd just be another training session. The course was fairly simple, basically take a bearing and run straight on every leg. This would've been disastrous in the morning, but I've got the kinks worked out by now so didn't have much trouble. Except for #8. I thought I drifted right and overran when I spotted a patch of darker green. (In reality, I drifted slightly left and still short!) I circled around, relocated twice from the bike path without success, then decided to run towards #9 and use the more obvious trail bend. Third time was the charm! Unfortunately, I had lost >2.5min already! Without the mistake, I would've been close to the top 5, and receive much more valuable points for the SS08. It just wasn't my day. In fact, it's been a bad 2-week spell to my right leg - bruise after bruise after bruise!

Back at the hotel lobby, I tried to show PG my battle wound to justify my bad day. He wasn't impressed a bit. Without saying so, he pretty much told me to HTFU! I think I have to agree, I was being a wuss.

A bit before the Middle and Sprint.

Walked to the Kerry Piper's and back. Saw three wabbits. The Shepherd's pie was yummy, and the company was excellent!

Sprint - Splits

Middle (Blue) - Splits

Travel day to Chicago. We did walk a mile or so to an Italian restaurant for dinner and back. The smoke in there really irritated my respiratory system, and gave me a huge headache.

71F, rain! - Early morning hike with Dick at GCNP to scout out the terrain. It's similar to Middle Creek, but it's really lacking point features. Since there isn't a bridge crossing the Gunpowder, it was perfect timing to test the water with the rain. The first time we crossed, it was low at just above the ankles. As it kept raining, the current quickly picked up. The last couple times we crossed, the water got up to just below the knees. Anyway, it was good to spend some time at the park, even though its prospect isn't as great as I once thought.

Wildlife report: some varieties today. Some toads on a hillside way above the creek. A turtle. A big deer. Some kind of rodent. A flock of turkeys on the ground. And some sort of flying turkeys? I have no idea what kind of birds they are, but they were big (turkey like) and flying off the tree tops.

C • Point Features 4

72F, cloudy, humid, light wind - track at Withrow with JFT group. Most everyone just did a light workout to dial-in their paces for Columbus. I ran some 400s with Craig. Warm up and cool down 5 laps each. 11:09 (124/138), 11:23 (141/179)

6x400m (w/ 200m rest):
79.69 -- 142/166 (85.91 -- 150/168)
77.50 -- 160/174 (86.25 -- 157/174)
77.30 -- 162/177 (80.43 -- 162/178)
77.22 -- 166/179 (82.57 -- 165/180)
75.94 -- 168/182 (108.29 -- 160/184) *chatting w/ Annette
75.81 -- 163/179 (81.15 -- 165/179)

R shin started feeling the pounding after the 5th, so 6 it is. Besides, I wanted to save some energy for the Ramble. Ran these slightly slower than last week's, but the perceived effort was much easier. Happy to see the times keep getting faster per interval, but not happy with the consistency. It was rather undisciplined.

10x100m strides, w/ 20m recovery.

Recovery between intervals.

Level 11, Hills, 515c.
After going to Camp Michaels with Dick to talk to the caretaker. Boy that was a loooong drive down the hill to the creek!
Pretty low in energy today. Read the map of MWW, first the Pig Middle, then just created some random legs from the Long master map, working on making quick decisions and simplifying the legs.

69F, cloudy, humid - Easy run from the Spot to Eden Park Overlook and back. Chatted with Cathleen most of the way. I wasn't sure how the R shin would respond but overall it was fine. Only slight pain on the foot strikes.

Leg and back still painful, so I'm taking another R.I.C.E. day. I must've hit my L ribs on the fall Saturday, because that side is kinda sore.

Feeling pretty beat up today. I did push the mower very slowly and also stretched a bit. Otherwise, it's a day of R.I.C.E.