Training Log Archive: Ricka

Stopped at Knob Noster SP for dusk run after day in KC. Parked at road bend near corral. Immediately 1:15000's 5M contours confused me. reentrants seemed much larger on ground than 'one wiggle' on map. Confused until I hit trail. Rest of run, augmented by pace-couting, went very well. Felt good for being on short sleep two nights. Ugh, long 3-hour drive home still.

2 warm-ups again.

Great course design - but very physical (lots of thick rose) on steep galacial terrain. Cautious on 1-3; surrised to catch Rob at 1. Medium leg to 4 - trails very confusing - lost trail in dark pine forest. PUshed west - okay pace; little map contact or confidence. Hit trail in big field - relocated, but still not confident. Got to N end of pond - 'hope its mine' - it is - see Rob again. 5-10 orienteered very well - read and used map features well - things coming up fast and accurate. See George Walker at 10 - he'd gained only 3 minutes on me. Toward 11, felt good, suddenly hit trail - well beyond 11 and extra up and down. Weird. Bounced back and finished okay. Lots of good map reading - #11 was disappointing (right was safer and less climb) 1st M55; 9th on course - 10 min behind 8th. Tired!

Sat next to #2 female US pole vaulter, April Steiner, on plane ride to STL. On way home from 2nd in meet in Osaka - fun chat - she signed my O' map :). She works and trains in Arkansas.