Training Log Archive: AliC

Event: Estabrook Woods
 

Red course at Estabrook Woods.

This was the most similar to orienteering in southern England that I've done so far in New England. Trail choices were important and was not too tricky. My biggest mistake was to the low-information control #9. I pace counted (100) and think that gave me the right distance, but a bit off to the east on the bearing, must have been pretty close, but kept going farther as opposed to believing in the pace count....

Also bad to 2, too far west, but relocated based on contour detail in not forever too long. Number 14, I opted for the swamp route, which wasn't terrible (knee-height only), but I didn't do a great job of putting things together on the other side, had gone farther south then I thought already.

All in all, better than last week's prologue for sure, and probably running a bit faster than the afternoon chase, I hope!

From car to registration, registration to start, finish to download. Woo starting to actually warm-up and warm-down again!

Red - Splits

54-96-57 resting HR, so still low after this week of actually training, that's good!

Today is a day off though- tourist around Boston day! =)

Event: CSU Park-O: Boston Common
 

CSU park-O!! Happy to get to go to it. I went out in a major major thunderstorm, along with Alex and Kat. It thundered, lightninged and really, really downpoured. Made the orienteering a bit more challenging because it was difficult to see much of anything at times! =)

I flew by #2, which was a bit silly, and I think it was #13 that was in the wrong place, so contemplated that for an extra bit, checking around. I think I may have also gone through the fountain- didn't really matter, *everything* was so wet!

And, I was disappointingly slow. Getting slightly frustrated by being slow, but suppose it will turn around sometime in not-too-long now that I'm starting to train, right?

C • another thought 2

Trotting around afterwards with Boris, Ross, Alex, chitter-chatting, doing the course backwards... Much more fun than training on my own yesterday at Mt. Tom!

To and from physio, reading my way around a Leith Hill map- last year's BUCS relay. Much different than terrain here! Way fewer contours/rocks...

Pretty much back to pre-mono routine on this now! Did all my jump-roping, hopping about etc, just have one more thing to get up to 5 reps from 3. But really, I should go in more than once a week too...

First 7 controls of this year's Billygoat- wanted to execute my way to 1 and 2 better. Probably was a bit more timid running through the terrain than in the race itself.

Control, Time Today, Time @ BG
1, 9.09, 8.40- this time on path
2, 11.28, 11.27- this time straight, not to #5 first!
3+4, 8.55, 8.04- ug, oops, messed up hills on way to 3, went up aways thinking I was heading to 4 before the side of me that knew things weren't quite right won and I went back for it.... argh.
5, 2.26, 2.28 fine
6+7, 10.20, 11.35- hah, finally faster second time around! probably because I wasn't a total disaster leaving 6 this time- went for the road successfully
total to 7, 42.23, 42.12

Crunched my ankle 7->8 and decided that was enough for the day. Not a bad crunch, but it's more sensitive afterwards, so might as well not irritate it!

In general, was faster while racing, not today training.

To start, back from 7. Went up a firetower on the way back- great view!

Argh, wanted to do my ankle exercises @ physio, but they were just closing for their annual office lunch party when I got there. Still had to head back to mine and take the pizza dough out of the freezer that I forgot this morning. A bit humid out... thunderstorms to break it later?

Hopefully will re-motivate to do ankle physio later this afternoon, but some work needs to get done too!!

Good, remembered to take resting HR and it's not too bad. So reason I'm slow is probably just being out of training, not still needing to hold back because of the mono. It's week 5 since I probably started with mono, a guideline is things are supposed to be back to 'normal' by week 6. But 'normal' also won't come back til I get back into training and get fit!

C • 56 2

Nice run right from my house- over to 116 via Dana, Orchard, H-something, then down to a little brook, on a trail along it for a mile, then back on the bike path. Nice loop without waiting for cars much!

Felt ok, not fast of course, but ok! =)

Event: WCOC Osbornedale State Park
 

Little jog following the streamers up to the start.

Hmm... not too fantastic. Moments where things added up and went well, but also some relatively big mistakes.

First was #1- I attempted to read ahead the map a bit while running up the trail, and came off trail too high and didn't make sense of things quickly *at all*. Really should have recognized being too high as an option. Always must give the first control the respect it deserves.... about 3 min down to Sam on that... eep!

Then 7->8, wicked short leg, but decided first little reentrant I saw was the one west of my cliff, so opted for the one to the east of it, which made me look around some other cliffs first, then backtrack.

Worst however, was my approach to number 11. Was nearly on top of it, at the big boulder on the edge of the circle, but misidentified the boulder as one earlier and went right past. Found a control on a knoll, which thought might be mine, although did check control code to discover it wasn't. At this point, I *should* have figured out what feature I was on and to go backwards to my control, but I just kept on, arrriving at the massive cliff at the end of the spur and going all the way around it before really giving up and going back, finally admitting where I was... should have listened to slight misgivings earlier....

Not too well orienteered, not entirely sure why, I was trying, but think I need to keep patience to stay with the map, even though I'm more willing to let myself run now!!

Was a bit behind most of the other gals from the Prologue so started earlyish in the Boris-reverse-start method Chase. =)

Orienteered much better, but was a bit tired and not running too fast. Maybe not best route choice to 11 (through the green), but executed it well, although a bit timid going into the circle. Also hesitant to 14, where I really thought the ditch should be before the steep drop and found a too-early one. Went back to relocate and make sure on the ruin.

Passed the last folks in front of me on the road 7->8, then didn't see anyone else til Greg Balter finished second. Fun to be chased! Put a little pressure on!

Thanks Boris and Becky for the awesome day of orienteering, loadsa fun!!!!