Training Log Archive: bishop22

Event: 30th Annual Billygoat Run
 

Billygoat at Clear Lake Scout Reservation.

After lining up the line, I didn't much look at the map on the way to C1, until we hit the trail - there were too many good navigators leading the way, so I just focused on not falling or running into people, as it was fairly crowded. When I did look at the map, I couldn't see a skip, so I figured I'd postpone thinking about that for a while. I punched C1 just ahead of the Saegers, and there was a clear line of runners to C2, which was due north, so I stayed ahead. As I approached, I saw Brendan taking a fairly long look at his map, and he went left, so I followed him. I noticed the Saegers went right, so I got quite worried. I didn't see Brendan's plan on my map, so after we went left of the big swamp, I thought we were going to go right of the next 2. Between verifying that C13 was C13 and starting down the wrong trail, before spotting Brendan on the trail (he had gone between the pair of swamps) across the way, I had fallen a minute behind him, but I ran the trail fairly hard and had caught up when we left the trail. When we joined the pack that had gone right, I had caught up to Nate, despite my delays and was still ahead of the Saegers.

I ran into trouble in the thick stuff leaving C4 and several people got ahead of me, including the Saegers and Randy. I think it was C6 where Joe B came in the wrong way and I had his bright yellow shirt to follow for a bit. I didn't see the trail that should have been used to get to C10, so I lost some time there. Before getting to C11, I thought about skipping the short out-and-back to C12, but I could see Joe went straight, so I continued on.

I punched C12 just after 3 cadets and they stopped to look at their maps, but I just got out of there, on the line. Happily, that brought me to a trail that I stumbled on before seeing it on the map, and I saw that it was going to be a good route for most of the way, so I picked up the pace, significantly. Sitting still, I think I have pieced together what I did. When the small trail curved around the spur near the main trail, I thought I was curving around back between 8 and 9. Somehow, I missed the main trail as I was distracted by the maze of stone walls (I must have thought the main trail was just a path alongside a wall). Then, I heard the creek and continued on the path to where it crossed. I thought I was at the main crossing, but when I got across, none of the contours lined up, and the trail was south of west, rather than north of west. I spent several minutes trying to figure out my error, looking for parallel creeks, etc. Finally, I realized that the creek had ended and the trail was running alongside a creek, and I figured out where I had to be. But the damage was done. Peter came in from the proper direction and punched just ahead of me, so I followed him past the pond and out to the road.

I was going to stay with Peter, but he is still coming back from injury, so I picked it up a bit and passed someone, then passed Jeff Saeger. I had planned on cutting left of Sperling Pond, but when I got to the trail junction, it looked real nasty getting down to the small trail, so I decided to go right. I got to the turnoff that was mapped, but there was a gate there, and it looked like it may be a private home, so I was stumped. First I doubted that I was seeing the right driveway, then I thought I might have to go around, but I was at the edge of the map. I finally convinced myself that I was supposed to cut thru, just as Peter came to the intersection - I had lost all of my hard effort. This was quite depressing and made it difficult for me to do much running towards C15, 16, 17. I committed to C18 before I noticed the little trail that I could have taken, had I gone left of the little pond. I walked most of the hill to C18, so Peter and Jeff were still just a bit behind.

So, now I had no choice but to skip C19, so I fought thru the mountain laurel towards C20. I knew I had gotten pushed to the left, but I didn't know how far left, but, luckily, there was a trail junction to confirm my position and the cairn was very prominent. I angled left to the trail and followed it all the way to the T, for an easy C21, then used the stone walls to aim for the patch of open land, to the road, for the final run.

I should have been under 2:10 (8 minutes on C13 and too much walking after I was bummed out and no longer behind anyone). Oh well, it just increases my desire to return next year. Nate had a pretty fine run. He needed to follow the 2nd group, instead of the 3rd.

The Goat - Splits

Ran around the race course are before and during the 5K Sarah's Run at Holy Trinity. Nate, Joe Freshman and Bobby joined me. Nico, Chris and Whitty ran the race, finishing 3rd, 5th and about 12th.

Brought stuff to run or swim, but my boss moved a 2pm meeting up to 1pm, so I ran out of time to prepare and had to work thru lunch.

Probably a good idea to take the day off, since my legs are still feeling pretty beat up.

With the rest of the family at MIT, Nate and I did the next best thing and went to see 21. I never watch BOATS movies (well, except something like Pre), because of the way they twist the truth. I really liked the book and I knew the movie was going to be different, so I just ignored any link to, or departure from, reality.

Oh, then Nate and I got home and watched Numb3rs and saw one impossible chess position displayed. Someone dropped the ball.

Steeplechase intervals with the Distance Runners. Ran from Schroeder to the Thomas track for a warm-up - the big boys absolutely smoked me on the way over. We carried 3 barriers out of storage - one couldn't be adjusted, so we left it at girls height.

The boys did 6 x 750m, going over 6 barriers. Some of the younger kids did 5 and Bobby and I (and JP, after his late arrival) just did 4. My excuse was that my legs are still pretty beat-up from the weekend and yesterday's long outing. And I want to try to recover for the Billygoat on Sunday.

I went 3:20, 3:14, 3:09, 3:07. The barriers were not easy to get over. I only hurdled the low one and a high one a couple of times. I almost fell backwards off of one. The boys did quite well. Nico was around 2:30 on all of them. Nate was 2:32 and then just a bit higher. Alex beat him on most and Kenny beat him on some.

The jog back to Schroeder was much friendlier.

Vetting control locations for the Relay Champs next weekend, so the maps can go to press. William has some sweet courses designed. I wish I was running. I guess spectating should be quite fun, though.

Time was kept by starting and stopping my watch as I started and stopped running or jogging or doing something slower. I was out for about 2:40 total.

As baseball players say, it was such a nice day, let's play two, so I checked out the Rec course locations as well.

Ran with a gmap-pedometer print of the area around Gates-Chili HS before (28 minutes) and during (14 minutes) the meet.

Chelsea (and 2 others) got yanked off the 1500m starting line, since Gates didn't enter anyone. That meant she was fresh for the 800 and ran a pretty decent 2:32, to finish 1 second behind Megan. Then the coach told her she was going to run the 3000 (unplanned), and the coaches decided to run the 3000 and the boys 3200 at the same time, so Nate got to catch up to her. Chelsea just ran hard for a couple laps, learned she wasn't going to beat the one Gates girl, and coasted. Meanwhile, Nate was in a tactical race with 2 Gates kids (after his only teammate faded at the mile mark). With 2 laps to go, the top Gates kid went, and a half lap later Nate took off on the other Gates kid and finished 2nd.

They both had to return for the 4x800 relay, with just the 4x100 and 4x400 to recover. Nate ran third and stayed about 5 seconds behind the Gates kid, which gave Nico a shot at catching the anchor, but he couldn't get by.. Chelsea led off and took care of Gates top girl, by over 10 seconds on the second lap and the girls went on to almost lap Gates.

I didn't leave my cube all day (from 8:05am to 8:40pm): no meetings, no lunch, no exercise, not even a bathroom visit. And I still didn't quite catchup from missing Friday. I think I got out of my chair a couple of times, but I'm not sure.