Training Log Archive: ken

Event: Hudson Highlander XVIII
 

Event: QOC Oregon Ridge
 

The Highlander, my first in a few years. It was great, though there was plenty of suffering.

Started off somewhat easy on the first loop, but some time with a few suboptimal choices. Started the trail run in 11th, took it a bit easy for the first part, but then picked up the pace and collected a few people. A lot of the trail was technical stuff and bare rock, a bit hard on the feet. Felt ok on the third loop, but had some problems with uncoordination, tripping on stuff and scraping up my hands (maybe should have left my gloves on, but it was getting warm). after a while I thought I should slow down before I actually get hurt or mess up some more fingers. dropped off the group and finished that loop on my own, though I think they weren't far ahead. The last loop was long but deliberately more gentle with some nice road/trail options. Definitely slower here, blisters bothering me in the rocky forest but I could keep moving on the trails. Passed Wyatt and caught up to a cadet, Madison, who became my shadow for the last 45mins. He out-sprinted me at the end, and I finished 6th.

I was glad to be under 4 hours, though I would have liked to be 20 mins faster. It looks like I lost a pretty even 10 mins per loop to Jordan, who rocked it.

It was cold at the start, ~32F, and I wore a thermal t-shirt under my o-top and gloves. I warmed up very quickly with the initial climb, so maybe could have done without the t-shirt. 5x GU, before the start and about every 45mins after that. Mostly drank Gatorade at the aid stations. Just a touch of stomach cramping at the beginning of the trail run, maybe diluted gatorade would have been better. Also it might have been good to tighten my shoe laces towards the end, but too much and my heels start to hurt.

HL - Splits