Training Log Archive: TomN

West Point Day 2 Green. The "new-style" map day. I like this map much more than the old style. Unfortunately, this didn't translate to much better performance, but my problems were more obviously my fault, as opposed to random chance. Generally good map contact and good route choices, but some control-picking errors.

On #1, I got a little off, looked back, saw a control and ran to it, but it was our #13. Relocating from that point was easy, but a minute or so lost. #2, fumbled with some rocks that weren't right, saw a control up on the road, and relocated quickly from there. Then a very enjoyable 3-4-5-6, in contact all the way, but slowed by a brief downpour.

On #7, it was hard to see the split rock that the control was "between," but another runner gave it away. Pretty good on #8, but I saw GlenT in the rear-view mirror, stayed ahead of him to 9 and 10, even-up on 11, then fell behind on 12 when I overran the control, thinking it was on the cliff to the right.

Sunday Classic, Green X - Splits

Event: West Point A-meet
 

West Point A-Meet Day 1. This was the "old-style" map day. Tomorrow we get the revised and improved "new-style" map. I think the issues were in focus today. The main problem I had was finding the feature in the circle. And the ones I had trouble with weren't necessarily the ones others had trouble with, implying that there was a certain amount of luck involved in hitting the controls.

It seems like every control entailed some scrambling inside the circle, and with 18 controls that adds up to a fair bit of time. The worst for me were 6 (seemed like a lot more rocks than mapped and had to relocate off the road), 14 (came over the bare rock and kept passing cliff after cliff on the way down the spur, worried I was getting too low), 15 (again more detail than mapped) and 17 (bad route choice through the swamp, but very difficult to make sense of the situation once I arrived in the right place). i admit to being helped by seeing other runners, particularly towards the end.

Still, I got from place to place in good time and I was happy with the run. Pushed hard, kept my wits, no big blunders. Plus it was a gorgeous day, which always improves one's attitude. It's funny to come across a pile of snow in a hidden crevice on a hot sunny day.

Saturday Classic, Green X - Splits

After a European teleconference taken at home, I got a run around the neighborhood in 60-degree weather, on the way to 70 this afternoon. Magnolias are suddenly in full bloom, and some fruit trees and Forsythia too.

Another easy run on the perimeter road.

Perimeter road at GSFC. Nice day, sunny and windy. Feelng good in the legs, lower back a bit stiff but not painful.