Training Log Archive: BorisGr

Event: QOC Hemlock Overlook
 

I drove out to Hemlock Overlook again in the morning for the junior training I was organizing. Valerie and Greg L helped me print the maps, and they looked great! Barney and I walked around and checked the streamers, and then it was time for the training.

We had a nice big group from Fork Union (9 kids), plus Diana and Anna, so that made for a fun atmosphere. I had them do one-man relays, with 4 loops of 500-600m each, in preparation for the rare relay at next weekend's Mid-Atlantic champs. I think they had a good time, and there was some nice head-to-head racing too. And two of the top three finishers were girls, which is pretty cool.

Coaching the juniors is so much more fun when there is a big, enthusiastic group like this.

My back was feeling sore, so I did not go out on a course (the fact that I had hung some of the controls and then done the night-O on the same map didn't make it any more appealing). Instead I did an hour on the elliptical at the gym in the evening.

I need to start logging my back and core exercises again to motivate myself to do them more regularly.

Barney helped motivate me by licking my face while I did crunches.

C • helped 2

Event: QOC Hemlock Overlook Night-o
 

Hanging flags at Hemlock Overlook in the pouring rain.

I ran the advanced long course at the QOC Hemlock Overlook Night-O.

I was pretty tired from the start, and started feeling my back after a few controls. Add to that a sizable mistake on #2, and it wasn't an amazing race. I ended up 3rd (I think), nearly three minutes behind Kenny and over 6 behind Jon T, who had a very impressive performance.

I love night-O, and I was really enjoying myself out there until a weird incident/confrontation spoiled my mood.

I had just punched #10 on my course with Chris G a few steps behind me. Another runner punched the control maybe another 20 seconds behind. It was a steep climb out of 10, and I lost some time in mountain laurel while trying to break out to the trail that I planned to take for my route. Chris was with me, and the other runner took a better line (and was probably climbing faster) and got to the trail just ahead of me.

We all ran the trail together for about 250 meters - the other runner in front, then me, then Chris. The other runner was pretty quick, and I was too tired to pass him, but was certainly able to keep up while reading the map. At one point the trail drops down a slope and then hits a T-junction. My plan was to leave the trail there, cross the stream, and climb towards the next, parallel, trail.

At the T-junction the other runner pauses, and I get ahead of him and continue with my plan. As I pass him, he turns towards me and says, aggressively, "I don't like to be followed." I was taken completely and totally aback by this. I certainly wasn't following him, in fact I was currently passing him and going on with my route, and anyway, it seems to me very out of line to just confront someone like that in the middle of the woods after having been together for a maximum of 2 minutes.

I asked "Are you being serious?" in probably not the most conciliatory tone I could have chosen - and that's definitely my fault. He continued to accuse me of following and saying that I left the trail at the same spot as he did. This was true, of course, and completely consistent with the route I had already chosen as I was leaving #10. When the runner stopped, I kept going, which is not something a follower would do. He told me that I had been running too closely behind him and again accused me of following, presenting the evidence that I left the trail at the same time he did.

At this point i overreacted and started talking back. I regret doing this - I should not have escalated. I am sure I said something dumb, like "What the fuck are you talking about?" In the end, we exchanged names, and Chris nudged me along to keep going.

There were just a couple of controls left. I finished the course and wait for the other runner to finish. When he came in, I immediately came over to shake his hand and make peace - I had no interest of leaving this lingering bad taste in my mouth.

He shook my hand, and then again proceeded to tell me that I had been following him and that he was justified in confronting me in the woods. Again, I should have let it go, and again I didn't because I am stubborn and terrible at walking away when I feel I'd been wronged. He told me that my response was disproportionate, which I completely agree with. However, he refused to acknowledge that his accusation was totally baseless and unnecessarily aggressive. He told me that I should have just said "I am not following you" instead of "Are you kidding me?", but I am not convinced that would have made a difference, since he was clearly already angry when he started talking to me.

At the finish he accused me of screwing up his race because he was distracted by our encounter, and I am sorry for that, but I don't think I did anything to initiate the confrontation.

Anyway, he reported the incident to the meet officials at the finish, and so poor Kathleen had to give us each a talking-to.

I thought that this was over and done with, but it left such a bad taste in my mouth that I feel like writing about it. The bottom line is that both of us were wrong. He was absolutely wrong to confront me and accuse me of following. And I was wrong to engage and escalate, instead of either ignoring or de-escalating. I am 35 years old, and still I haven't learned that lesson.

C • Actually... 14

Long Advanced - Splits

Lunchtime soccer. It was a gorgeous day today, just a pleasure to be outside. We were joined by Robbie Russell, who played in the Norwegian premier league for a few years, and then in the MLS, finishing his career with DC United two years ago. Now he lives around the corner from where we play. It was mesmerizing to watch him dribble past, create space, pass the ball - really fun!

C • Soccer 2

Elliptical in the morning

A strength/interval training video with Alli at home. Barney refused to participate.

C • Freeletics 14