Training Log Archive: bbrooke

Possum Trot XX @ Knob Noster State Park.

I followed the pack to #1. But I was hesitant about plowing through the light green to take a direct route to #2, so I took the long route around on the road. Everyone else took the direct route, so this was a dumb decision on my part -- the light green was apparently not so bad and I lost a big chunk of time here.

In an attempt to get ahead of a few people, I left #2 without looking closely at my map -- and I went in the wrong direction for a few minutes. Recovered soon after but again, I lost some time.

After #3, I had to stop to take off my long-sleeve layer (which meant taking off and then putting back on my compass, clue sheet holder, and hydration vest...) and also to make a quick bathroom stop. Someday I'll learn about dressing 10 degrees warmer, or whatever that rule of thumb is, even when I'm freezing at the start.

Somewhere in between #4 and #5 (that is, with 19 more controls to go), my right foot grinded against a sharp rock covered by leaves. It tore a half-inch hole in my shoe fabric and gouged into the fleshy part of my inner arch. It hurt A LOT for the entire remainder of the course, and the pain slowed me down quite a bit. If anyone had been close to me, they would have heard me wince with every right-foot step: ouch -- oof -- eee -- ahh -- ugh -- yow -- f*ck -- ouch -- oh -- etc.

But back to the avoidable time losses: How did I miss the trail leading south out of #6?!? I took an around route -- again to avoid the light green (since I hadn't noticed the obvious trail going through the green).

Sloppy, inefficient route to #12, but I corrected when I saw the ruin.

On my way to #13, I planned to use the fence corner as a waypoint -- but I remembered too late that the meet notes said the fence was mostly gone. More time lost due to an inefficient wide route.

I veered too far to the left when I left the trail near #14 so I missed the trail I planned to hit as a catching feature after going up & over the ridge, and I wandered quite a bit before figuring it out.

Like most other people, I skipped #21. But I saw it (and it was helpful) when I went wide around the light green in between #18 and #19. Others said later the light green here wasn't bad -- so I should have gone straight through.

Along those same lines, I could have taken a more direct route from #22 to #23.

This was fun, but I'm apparently still terrible at deciding when to go straight through vs. around.

And, I was almost disappointed to take off my shoe & sock at the finish and not see blood or at least some discoloration -- something commensurate with the amount of pain I was feeling. There was just a swollen knot that I could feel but not even really see.

Fun lunch & beers with Amy, Cristina & JP afterwards. :-)

C • Well done. 6

Full Possum - Splits

Event: The Possum Trot XX - Weekend
 

Pre-Possum Long Sprint @ Knob Noster State Park.

I planned to take it easy, saving up for the main event tomorrow, so I mostly walked or jogged (no aggressive running whatsoever).

When I left #3, I thought I was going from #4 to #5 -- and also somehow managed to make a 180-degree error? I corrected before going too far.

I could have aimed off a lot less to hit the trail to #8.

On my way from #9 to #10, I deviated around the green slash (the thorns were really bad), and ended up missing off to the right.

Pre-Possum Short Sprint @ Knob Noster State Park.

I walked & jogged at a casual pace again, but I still managed to have an inefficient banana route to #4 and I second-guessed myself on the way to #5.

Fantastic weather and fun courses today. :-)

Long - Splits

Easy neighborhood run.

Strength Training for Runners class.

Weekly Runner's Roost group run -- up McCaslin, two loops around Harper Lake, and then back down McCaslin. It was a very pleasant, mild night (long sleeves but no jacket), with a huge moon rising and reflecting off the lake.

Quick neighborhood run in between work and dinner plans...