Training Log Archive: TomN

NEOC Menotomy Rocks Sprint. A tiny urban park with one big hill and some surrounding knobs, capped by cliffs, and a few scattered rocks. Some bare rock, some open spots, some stream valleys, a pretty good terrain sampler in an area the size of a suburban shopping mall.

The sprint was 3 loops with a map exchange. There was an option to do it as a memory-O. No, thanks, maybe next time. The control-finding was easy, but I had trouble looking ahead and as a result was often hesitant and reactive. I really ought to be faster at this.

The meet drew a fair number of beginner-intermediates, including lots of parent-child combos. Enjoyed talking to TP, who was probably only there because he agreed to help out.

Feeling sniffly since Monday afternoon, sore throat and fevery last night. No run today despite temps in the 60s, too bad. Florence had it first, but left it behind with me and Mei-An when she skipped town.

More exploration of the Exeter Trails. I have trouble making sense of the map boards they put up at various points, but I think I went out Stadium Rd. and back on Trail 1. It feels like the rough consolidated snow is good ankle exercise.

Pine-Railroad-Swazey-Gilman-gym. Another sunny day, light breeze, about 40 degrees. Fine day to be out running.

A good run, Pine St-Railroad Ave-Swazey Pkwy-Gilman Ln-Exeter Trails-Drinkwater Rd-High St. The trail section was forested and packed snow, fine running in 40 deg, soft but not sloppy. I reallly have no idea where the trail went, but it ended up on Drinkwater Rd. I started out heading S, but when it crossed into Kensington I turned around (how about that, Kensington MD to Kensington NH!) and headed back N to High St. and home. Turns out the S route would have added another 4 miles. But 8 is enough, or so they say.

Flying Pig Middle Green. I felt better on this run than the previous two, but the results still weren't great. Two legs with 4 minutes lost on each one. But even if I hadn't missed those so badly, I don't think my pace wasn't good enough for a medal.

I couldn't find the deep pit on #3. Actually, I really don't know how to navigate this leg reliably. I had an idea I'd cross the rock band and spot the control, but that didn't work. Then I went back and forth below the rock band, and that didn't work either. Finally located the bend on the SE end of the spur, pace counted back up towards the control, and finally saw it, higher up than I had been before.

Something similar on #9, which I expected to be easy. Diagonal down from #8 to the trail bend, contour along in the white just above the veg. boundary, then drop down into the ditch. Only it wasn't there. Went way too far SE, saw the little rock pile, came back but a little too high, missed it again, got all the way to the other little ditch with a different control in it, then finally ran to the right one. Ugh.

From there to the finish I ran along with Bill Lankton, who was keeping up a pace too fast for me to get by, and my only really good opportunity, 15-16, I got a little too high on the hill and ended up losing some time.

Again, some fine terrain, less technical than I had feared, maybe a little nicer than yesterday (by which I really mean, fewer thorns). Fun weekend.

Middle - 8 Green M - Splits