Training Log Archive: Sandy

TNT - ran with Sandy. Ran down to the trailhead then back up the hill home as my headlamp wasn't working, changed the batteries, then back down all the way to the drive, did 3 miles on the drive at 10 minute pace, then managed to jog the whole hill home. A somewhat weird workout, but a good one nonetheless.

Nice stretches and strength poses. Managed to pull a muscle in my side though and irritate my left knee again. Bummer. Will have to think about whether it's worth continuing to go if I keep stressing my knee. I guess I gave up karate for the same reason.

NAOC Long. Not sure what to say about this race. I really enjoyed it. I was relatively clean to most controls but did have a few errors of the drifting sort that I was able to correct quickly but they did cost some time. Couldn't run much even on the trails and then was very inefficient for the last two legs just like in the middle. So not a great result but I was very happy with my navigating. I've had some really bad races recently and so it was good to have some pretty good ones again.

All in all a great weekend; definitely worth the drive. And even though I didn't appreciate it beforehand, I really like the fact that the class had a number of very talented people in it any of whom could have won. We need more races like that.

Another good middle distance race. Three of my best four races this year are all middle distance (Team benefit in Florida, Team Trials and NAOC) which is a little odd since I'm not speedy. But I was relatively clean in tough technical terrain. My game plan was to just go straight, pace count and tick off features. Worked well until I deviated from the plan and tried to swing left to #7: every time I checked my compass I was going straight not left and I got concerned that I didn't really know where I was. But was able to read a small open area and some rocks and then just went straight to the control - lost a minute or more on hesitation mostly. Then went kind of brain dead after 9 and didn't take the most efficient routes although I knew where I was at all times, losing another minute or so. (Winsplits is great for seeing where you lost time!) Second overall to Peggy by 8 seconds - was astonished to be that close.

Event: 2006 North American Championships (Golden Leaf Orienteering Fest)
 

Sprint course - knees were suspect so I decided to go out at a moderate pace. Dumb route to #4 cost me a minute and trying to read the map and decide if I was allowed to cross the fence at #7 cost me 30 seconds. Other than that I was rather pleased - I picked a pace that I was able to maintain. I'm a little disappointed that my speed hasn't improved much, but there are lots of reasons for that and I just need to decide if I care and if my knees could handle it in any case.

Thanks, Cristina - I needed some motivation to do this.

C • You're welcome! 1

A little insurance...

C • Just rubbing it in. ;-) 3

Pilates class - not nearly so much time spent introducing the exercises so a bit more of a workout.