Training Log Archive: AliC

****Things Learned****
1) When changing direction based on a feature, just do a quick compass check. At least rule out going ~40deg the wrong way!
2) Note that stuff may not be visible if you're a bunch lower- like a reentrant that looks really obvious on the map but is 4 contours higher...

Training at Pawtuckaway- route planning course from Ross

Planned routes with Lori, then went out. Most went well, two not so much. Crunched right ankle once, not too badly. And now understand why people complain about Pawtuckaway deer flies. Extra bonus try-to-focus part of the exercise! I would so trade back for stinging nettles over deer flies... Way more pain, but so much less annoying!

1
Plan: Down trail until end at a boulder then to pool, cross reentrant, head left of hill to 4 big boulders.
Reality: Pretty much fine, although not everything added up to me close to the control.
2
Plan: Around lake, at second bay, take a bearing to the biggish swamp south of the control, as soon as its visible, head to the north sadle-ish thing then to the control.
Reality: Around the lake just fine, not sure I actually used the swamp I meant to though...
3
Plan: Trail, around swamp, up rock wall to junction, then in through depression, reentrant.
Reality: Deviated from plan while going up up up along rock wall, decided to go off on bearing from the very distinct little reentrant, saved just a bit of distance, and did wel in the circle this time.
4
Plan: Down first long big reentrant, then hopping over to swamp, then up the reentrant to the control
Reality: Got distracted by a little reentrant on my way to the big one. Then, problem- reentrant along swamp I intended to use was actually 4 contours higher than the swamp and thus really not visible from swamp level!!! Oops. Turned up based on distance and ended up ok, if a bit north to be perfect.
5
Plan: Bearing to little pond, bearing to cliff, straight south bearing to wet pit among boulders.
Reality: Fine to pond + cliff, then went too low just at the end. =( Maybe confused south with perpendicular to the cliff? Use compass!
8
Plan: Use chain of marshes-linear marshes, turn off to control when I hit the saddle.
Reality: Terrible!!!! Started in the linear marsh, crossed the trail, then somehow lost it, popped into maybe a reentrant and got totally totally confused. When I relocated on a giant boulder I wasn't initially sure if I were left or right of the line (there were two giant bolders nearby). Argh!!! So I repeated this one. When I went backwards, I went right on the line, which was quite fast (3.37 as opposed to 8.01), but think it was more downhill that way. Then made myself execute my plan, and it went fine (4.47). Still not sure when I popped out of the linear marsh. Think straight was a better plan.
9
Plan: Fly to trail, run on it to hill, then use marshes until the very end.
Reality: Basically worked just like that, although really walloped my knee on a rock flying to the trail.
10
Plan: Trail. Reality: Worked.
11
Plan: Up reentrant aligned north-south, around right of the little hill to boulder.
Reality: Also not good! Up reentrant fine, then decided a big pond was a little pond and did strange things because of that. Repeated and realized what I did and went correctly.
12
Plan: Trail to stone wall.
Reality: Turned off a bit before stone wall to cut corner, ended up on slightly earlier hills, but ok.

To/from start. On way out, chatting with Alex!

Map memory with Alex

First few went well, once forgetting the bit in the circle and had the wrong hill. Then totally failed on my leg from the big boulder. And tried it again, and probably messed up in the same way. Finally found the silly reentrant not following my initial plan at all.

So what went wrong? Plan was south to the pond, then east through a bit of a saddle and up south again to the proper reentrant. South to the pond was totally fine, but then instead of going east, went north-east along this annoying linear-ish marshy thing that was dry enough to pose for being a reentrant. Argh.

I repeated this one, but Alex wasn't so up for it, and didn't like the deerflies (v. understandable) so continued on alone.

Good training again, like this exercise!

Okay, went out to Nororwotuck (someday I'll learn to spell it), and meant to just do hill intervals. But then I had a map with me... so ended up orienteering a bit too. And hill interval ended up being 12 min, so only did one (legs still feel pretty tired).

Oh, but I can't run on trails- I full-on wiped out twice while trail running and twisted my ankle once. Was totally fine in the woods though, maybe should just stay in them! But think it's because I let myself have longer map glances while on trails, and pay a little less attention to underfoot. Maybe need to pick up the feet a bit higher while doing that, would at least avoid tripping.

C • been there... 4

2-3-4 of Ross's course

Finally did a good job to 2- basically followed PG's route from when he was control hanging. Think that's basically how I tried to go my first time, but I read a depression as a hill top and got confused. Went smoothly, if still slow due to fighting green.

3- went better than last time because actually started from the right place slight off line at one point, but not far and still knew exactly where I was.

4- this time, avoided all trails, went in exactly on line, nice! not sure that was faster than using the trails, but needed more attention

Eastern approach trail from the bottom trail intersection to the top of Nortoworok. Up up up! Was not speedy, but kept up running the whole way tempo-ish pace. Feel like I need more leg strength.

To/from ankle physio. Sunny! Was regretting no sunscreen...

Ankle exercises. A good set again, left ankle feeling better than Wed, hopefully getting stronger!

UMass Campus

I made up two little courses around campus yesterday, and this was one of them. I tried not to figure out how to get to all the points while planning the courses and was somewhat successful...

Legs super-tired, so wasn't quick, but still vaguely more sprint-like orienteering than I've done much of anytime except team trials recently!

Jogging back from my finish way up behind Orchard Hill, then upstairs and back down over to the cafeteria for a blueberry muffin!

Warm up to track + 2 laps.

Session:
2 x (3 x 400, 1 min rest), 1 lap jog rest

79, 78, 78
80, 79, 78

Legs felt like lead on the way out there, and hurt for sure while intervaling, think its from yesterday's 9 miler... But time to try to start getting some speed in!

Cool down, 2 laps at track, then home. Although I took the wrong road home- must be tired!

Track drills- all those high-knees, kick-bum, skip, hop-type things!

Eeep- abs still sore from abs 2 days ago, so I wimped out after 5 min.

To/from physio.

Good ankle physio workout. Worked left ankle as well as right, since its obviously weak...

Jugglers Meadow- Teawaddle Hill Loop.

None of the noon lunch runners could join me today. =( Still was a good run, the rain showers were nice because they kept it cool. My longest run (~9mi) since the onset of mono, and think I kept it at a pretty good clip. Legs are definitely tired, was hard work getting back up to the 5th floor at work!!!

C • yeah! 2

Left ankle still sensitive. Little muscle/ligament that resists the common way ankles turn over, so need to stay careful and make it better!

Will try to remember to ice...

Evening training at Norwottuck again!

Warm up run and cool down on the map. Included a short hard run up a hill on the way there and back.

Did 2-3-4-5-6 of Ross's training course at Norwottuck

I don't see many signs of improving my ability to orienteer at this place. Hmph. Partly some new trails that confuse, partly me not dealing well with low visibility and green, I think.

trail junction -> 2
Plan: south on big trail, take little trail til obivious turn, go up reentrant till bolder, take bearing and head into the circle
Reality: south on big trail, incorrect little trail (not on map?), but went down a very green parallel reentrant for awhile, saw something bolder like, and tried to go to control. don't think I was even in the right place. argh.

2 -> 3
Plan: out to trail, along til rocks on right, then into the woods over knobbly stufff, hit next trail, work around hills to depression
Reality: realized on my way out to trail that I couldn't possibly have actually been at the right place for #2, but regrouped and basically followed the plan from the trail

3 -> 4
Plan: basically didn't have a good one when I started. Oops.
Reality: Ran well on a bearing til first trail, decided I was sick of running through green, so tran on trails almost the whole way there. Was nervous about turning off too late, so turned off early, but then had more to work with and went into the control well.

4 -> 5
Plan: Good bearing, trail, cross 3 reentrants, follow a mild reentrant to the control.
Reality: All good except choose the wrong mild reentrant right at the end, ended up at a dot knoll instead of hill first, but close.

5 -> 6
Plan: Hit trail, stay on it over hill, into woods on bearing, pace count.
Reality: Trail did wierd things not on map, ended up by stream outlet of big pond, relocated, found control. Argh. Should have had more warning bells go off. Trails not to be trusted!

C • Here's the training course ... 2

8 min abs, 1 min back