Training Log Archive: AliC

Yep, that's right, 3am for 9 miles in the dark! Tagged off from awesome Emily who did a 9.8 mi and *much* hillier leg right on schedule and then went at it. Turns out people apparently run faster in the dark. I felt pretty comfy running this pace for 9 mi on rolling hills. It's definitely a different feeling, the miles sort of flew by.

Had support from Tom and the rest of the van about halfway through, other than that, just looking ahead and working on passing other runners. Passed 42 this time. Most fun were people with fun back lights. One person had multi-color flashing lights, could fixate on that for awhile while I caught him or her.

And then immediately into the Van, heading to our next major exchange point. I simultaneously navigated, changed and ate the sandwich Tom made me. Then 2h45 of sleep on a gym floor.

And the final leg! We had been battling Team Beef from Montana since the beginning, so they were our rivals. On the penultimate leg, their runner passed and made 3 minutes on Emily. So up to me to catch their last runner. And yep, managed in 1.5 miles, phew!

So then just had the rest of the 4.7 miles to try to keep up the pace and battle the heat. Final hill in the sun was tough, but happy with the pace I was able to keep up.

Way to go team!! Hung out a bit, then back to Seattle via Mukilteo ferry. Then back to Portland with Tom.

C • Wow! 14

And Ragnar! The Northwest Passage edition with a fun team of 12 (the 'Free Radicals') including other orienteers Eric B., Zarina P., and Will E. I had leg 12, so the very last one of the set.

This was my first leg and was soooo flat. Like running in Toledo. Two miles in one direction through farm fields, two miles in another direction through farm fields. Tried hard to not go too fast, because much more running and not that much sleep ahead! Passed 20 people. Most memorable: the muu-muu wearing runner.

Then tag off back to Van 1 and we had a picnic dinner and then an hour and a half nap or so before back at it for nighttime running!

Lunch run with Tom, double Todd and Chris. Did Harney Heights, except one Todd peeled off early because of ankle and then Tom and I peeled off early because of needing to head to 7-11 and get cash out. Stopped for a sausage at Otto's on the way home.

And track workout. Must happen for sprinting!

Alternated 400s and 200s with 200 roll-ons x 6. Had a longer 400m roll-on halfway through. Felt pretty good and times were faster than last week, although 1) it was hotter last week and 2) I had a day off yesterday, so legs should be more recovered. Anyways, can't be bad. Hope the 200s work for a little more speed.

Then President's Summer Research BBQ with my students and Yan from Econ. Talk of Pluto. And many of the astro things that make the news that I just don't know about!

Monday PIR Women's Cat 4/5 - 8 laps

A fiestier race from the beginning this week. Lots of people just breaking when there was no reason to. Is that part of this sport? So strange. Anyways, did a respectable number of pulls, including into the last lap. Then I pulled off the side, but no one would go fast enough, so I didn't really drop all the way back.

On the backstretch, one woman sprinted, opened a gap that looked pretty unsurmountable, and I thought that was it. Then another woman shouted 'let's get her', and started leading out a sprint. I followed, then kept pushing when she dropped off the pace and then led from there on in, standing on my pedals for the very final sprint.

Kinda neat, strange to be a newbie at a sport.

C • Get it girl... 2