Training Log Archive: matzah ball

Rode down from Illinois Beach to Lake Forest because the Metra wasn't running, then into forest preserves, met friend and rode more through very attractive forest preserves of 'savannah', wetlands and woods (unfortunately maintained as such by extensive bulldozer and herbicide to take out invasives like buckthorn and honeysuckle)

around Illinois Beach, unfortunately hiking trails were not marked and did not correspond to schematic park map, so there was a lot of walking through parking lot and along road to get to trails

from the meet hotel to catch 7am mass at St. Patricia's in Hickory Hills just east of the orienteering venue, then to Country lane woods. Then north to the Metra after the meet. Metra to organic restaurant in Evanston, which had some of the best food I have had in a restaurant in a long time, and splurged on wine and vegan chocolate cake etc. Then from Waukegon, after being put off a train because it was too crowded to Zion in the dark having real difficulties picking up things from the bike map (the next day I saw that the bike access was just a little slot in the edge of woods - not really even visible in daytime) and so circling around for quite some time, finally taking the obvious route that I should have taken in the first place, and arriving at Illinois Beach State Park.

Slept in my bag and bivy sack. Ground was hard and lumpy. Skunk and coyote pair pawed at the saddlebag with the food in it, but scurried off when I spoke sternly.

Tough race. Miscalculated one line and fought a lot of briars to control 6. Completely muffed 9, circled around, ran on trail all the way to the start, went back and got it.

warmup

Event: Big Blues Ramble 2007
 

from Super 8 to Busse Woods O event, and the from meet north to Metra station at Arlington Heights, then from La Grange Metra Station, to a whole foods and the meet hotel

For the first time, I felt very happy and relaxed at an A meet. Probably some sacrifice of speed and focus there, but I think very beneficial to just enjoy the process first and then work on getting faster and more precise.

warmup

Bike to Metro, then after arriving in Chicago via train, to Division Street for organic pizza, then CTA near O'hare airport onto more or less single track paths in forest preserves in big circle around airport and streets to Super 8

nursing home-lotta warm wind

spinning around block, making sure front derailleur is working

ran to Wilmore and back, felt too beat up to make the long trek to Eric's adventure run, but at least finally got out the door in the twilight.

take recyclables to Wilmore

then run roughly 4 x 1500 intervals in wilmore terrain with 1 minute rest. roughly 7 min mile pace

C • XC at Willmore 6

to fathers house on grants trail. Swung by Bill L. to trade maps. Then back more direct route - couldn't shift into big ring, even though guy at shop assured me it was fine when i took it back yesterday, so I spun like crazy and attacked the hills.