Training Log Archive: hamlet

finally got a rest day in

Event: QOC Patapsco McKeldin
 

I did pretty well, just made some small mistakes on 3, 8, 14, 15, and to the finish.

3 was a relatively small mistake- I only lost about 30 seconds there because I didn't fully look at what the features are in the circle and didn't try to visualize it properly, so I got to the edge of the circle and got confused.

8 was also a relatively small mistake- especially compared to others. Probably also only cost me 30 seconds - 1 minute. I was running with 3 other people since control 4, and I was getting pretty psyched out about it and just wanted to lose them. At 8 I went to the wrong cliff, and it took me a bit to notice where it was on the map because it was exactly on the line of the circle. The others were a little further off and seemed just lost in the terrain which only had about 2 contours, and then those 2 cliffs, so I got lucky to have at least found that wrong one which I could use as an attackpoint. I then proceeded to completely lose them on my way to 9, which I think I executed really well, and I saw that one of the three people, the one that was up till then just in front of me, was way off so I was pretty proud of myself.

14, well, ignoring the fact that it was a really long leg and getting up the first hill onto the field took me too long because, well, ouch, I only made a mistake at the end where I started barreling down the wrong trail (which was at first parallel to the one I wanted to be on, just on the other side of the ridge). I noticed my mistake fairly quickly, but instead of smoothly crossing over the little bit of terrain between the two trails, I instinctively started running back on the trail before crossing over. Not the best mistake recovery, but oh well. I don't think I lost much more than about 30 seconds.

15 was definitely my biggest mistake. I was around a bunch of other people again, and after we left the trail and crossed the stream to go around the hill, I was thinking that they were wayyyy too high. I even thought I was too high, but since they were higher up I thought I was probably fine. Nope, I was about 1 contour too high which got me to a spot which really confused me. It looked like it was the right spot, just the control wasn't there. Even looking at my GPS track, I don't think I could've found where I was out there, it felt like it didn't match. So I decided to try going back to the trail, until I looked over and saw the control, so that was good. Now it makes sense that those other people were trying to hit the bend in the trail as an attack point, which was probably better than my strategy of contouring over and hoping I was on the right contour (especially given that the other times I contoured on the course I was always a little off).

And to the finish, well, I wanted to cut through the light green to the road instead of taking the trail, but I got sidetracked going on the rough open under the powerlines, and I noticed a little late and should've just stuck with the rough open but oh well. I was tired and i forgot to take a drink beforehand so that wasn't exactly the best-

Other than that I'm pretty satisfied with my course. Of course I could've run more, I always can, but I don't think I did too bad, especially looking at my past week of training. I do need to practice contouring more, but other than that I just need to pay attention. Also I need to stop getting so psyched out about other people if I want to stand a chance in competitions. Looking at my pace it looks miserable, but it is McKeldin after all so I can't be too frustrated.

It was a really fun course, probably the first course I ran at McKeldin that didn't just feel like a repeat of the course from the year before. It was nice that there was more of a focus on contouring, especially on that one steep hillside, rather than just sending the runners up and down over and over as I feel like usually happens. It's a hard park to set up a course that is more technical than physical, and I think this course definitely did the job.

Ran the yellow course because someone lost their phone and I figured I might as well go look for it. I didn't find the phone, (someone else did), but I found some car keys instead soooo....

I really need to start wearing my O-socks when I go out on these second, easier courses. I thought it was gonna be mostly on trails, but the person told me that they went mostly straight for every control, so no trails for meee

also I know I was slow for the fact it was a yellow course, but I was tired and when I wasn't on a trail (which was most of the time), I was walking so I could look more carefully for the phone.

and I thought I wasn't gonna run that much today

also just a note if I actually had my epunch i would've won yellow so yay :) at least I can still win against 10 year olds and families with kids

C • You save some elderly coupl... 2

Green - Splits

on my own- tryng out the permanent course there but instead of doing one of the courses I made my own course to get all of the controls, but it was very similar to the intermediate one.

C • Thanks for all your help. I... 1

basically felt like rerunning the other course I did. Intermediate permanent course and I went with a friend, not even trying to run or anything, just sorta chilling while I was navigating almost completely by memory. It was almost like a course review but in person, minus a few controls.

also, well, so much for a rest day.

I intended to do more but owwwww my legssss

a lottt slower than earlier, mostly cuz i was tired but also I didn't know where to go so I had to stop a few times to check the directions.

I felt slow and a bit sore from yesterday, and I thought that biking through Bethesda slowed me down a lot. Apparently not, apparently I was faster than two weeks ago- and I'm not sure if that was mostly because of the terrain or if I improved. Also my endurance definitely improved, because even towards the end I didn't slow down much at all and felt about the same as at the beginning strength-wise.
I could've done without all the people on the trail today, but it was a nice day so I can't really say I expected otherwise. I'm pretty satisfied with this biking.

also extra note: my pace is apparently the exact same as yesterday's, even when the climb is taken into account. nice