Training Log Archive: maprunner

Training #1 on the Happy Jack map. This was a green course from a few years ago. I had been warned that it was a physical course, so I cut it short.

It wasn't a great day. Every so often, I have these days when I'm mentally out of it, as soon as I wake up. I never quite notice it however, until I'm on the way to the first control, and start making mistakes. Today I managed to avoid huge mistakes, but I was still slow and hesitant, with many lapses in concentration.

Stopped a few times to admire the view, and appreciate that I was out in the woods instead of at work today :)

C • Nice views 1

Training #2 on the Gates of AMT map, testing the sprint for this year's 1000 Days. I was better mentally than I had been this morning. Maybe it was because I had eaten lunch, maybe it was because a rain storm had passed through and it was now 60 degrees. Any way, it was fun course and I was concentrating well.

But then there was a long tricky leg, where I told myself to be careful. I was quite surprised to see Mike still looking for the control (he had passed me at the previous one). Instead of stopping and looking near Mike (he's never that far off) I continued on, trying to make sense of all the rock features. Finally I woke up and started reading the contours, and found the control then.

Managed the rest of the course OK, until I bonked going up a hill near then end. I was tired and sloppy, but slogged through to the end. After sitting and eating some more, I felt OK, which is a good sign that I can recover sooner than I used to.

Event: Foot Fetish Sprints
 

Sprint #1

My goal was to concentrate on this as orienteering practice, and not as a race. I succeeded there; I never looked at my watch once.

It was good training. I'm definitely rusty, especially on reading ahead, but I did a better job of relocating (than I have done in the past). I actually had a fairly clean run; my only bobbles were due to stopping too soon on the longer legs.

Sprint #2

I was tired, and therefore made some sloppy mistakes. Twice I went down parallel reentrants; once I was saved by seeing other runners; once I had to relocate on my own.

Looked at my HR once or twice, to make sure I was moving as fast as I should be (although I was deliberately walking these courses; altitude!)

Lots of fun, and excellent training.

Map hikes as I picked up markers from my course and Sprint #1. I took my time looking at the rock features in the terrain vs. map. I also practiced looking ahead.

Good map reading practice, especially since I was tired from the morning races and found it hard to concentrate at times.

Hanging control markers at Idonwannabe for tomorrow's sprint. I forgot how hard it is for me to read the rock features up here, so I took longer than expected to double check control locations. And whenever I tried to jog a bit, my HR went through the roof. My body doesn't do well at altitude.

However, it was lots of fun to do "real" orienteering again; I've gotten complacent with the little bit of park O I've been doing at home lately.

Mid Year Progress Report
Jun 30 or YTD '06 vs. (Jan 1 or YTD '05)

weight: 0.918 (1.000)
body fat %: 0.813 (1.000)
continuous jog: 80 min (35 min)
total training: 81 hours (62 hours)
orienteering: 41 hours (20 hours)

C • Nice 2

Moved around at Bonner Springs park, checking the map for accuracy, and possible control locations. I was out longer than this, but it was a lot of stop and go, so I'll only log 15 minutes.