Training Log Archive: Gil

Event: Niagara Ultra 100k, 50k, Marathon & Half Marathon
 

Niagara 100K/2. Somewhat disappointing exit at the half distance. My back started to have issues around mile 20. By 40K mark I was done for the day. I thought I'd at least finish the half regardless how long it will take.

Lesson (maybe) learned. After somewhat disappointing 2011 season when I'd have back issues here and there I did regular core exercises from December till Spring season during which I had few decent races. Somehow I stopped doing core exercises and I paid for it.

Otherwise - race venue was really nice. I certainly plan to come back next year. Also strategy I developed for the race was working out very well. From now on I should let others lead the race at the beginning. I was not too far behind them at turn-around points while my back was holding up. I was tempted to run faster however I thought I'll have enough time to catch race leaders.

Almost 5K loop from home. 1K almost fast

Tried to keep under 6 min/mile but it lasted for about mile and half.

Quality of sleep was 2 out of 10 at the best. I must say typical pattern when I am forced to skip physical activity

Before TNT

TNT summary - I totally sucked. Once I made small mistake going to first flag location my confidence was permanently damaged for the evening and I could not master decent loop. I could master 2-3 error-free legs here and there followed by awful mistake.

During 2nd or 3rd course I was hearing my O-coach from almost 30 years ago teaching us to take it easy going to the first flag and not to worry about few seconds lost because it is more important to connect with the map before letting it lose. Coincidentally that's what I did at last Sprint at Rotary Camp and had once of the best experiences in recent years.

But I am glad I did come out because I need to be humbled here and there and it's better to be humbled during training session then when it counts.

Also it confirmed that I need to start wearing glasses during O-events since I misread map in few places. When things did not make sense to me and when I brought map closer to eyes I realized I could not connect with the map because I was reading it wrong in the first place. Going back to Rotary Camp sprint - my performance was not 100% clean and there were many places where I could have saved 3 seconds but when I realized I made a wrong route choice because I just did not see trail on the map - that was first for me. I don't have a problem accepting changes that come with aging but it's time to figure out what can I do to improve map vision. More I do these darn Sprint-Os more I realize that it's O-niche I really enjoy.