Training Log Archive: maprunner

Day two of COTC (sprint relays). I was on a team with Mike and Cristina. They very wisely put me on the last leg, so they wouldn't have to wait for me.

Decided to try to jog (not run) part of the course. Patched up the blister as well as I could. Then told myself to settle down and think only about the orienteering.

Started off OK. Was able to jog the downhills, but had to walk the uphills. Concentrating well, looking ahead well, going well through the first 4 controls (except for my stinging knee; see discussion)

Then the heel started to really hurt. I was cursing every uphill step. Stopped concentrating, started making dumb mistakes. Small parallel reentrant error on 5; walking right past my control at 8, and taking about 2 minutes to realize it. Spent way too much time looking for 9. Lost count going up and down hills, thinking about my heel. I had actually decided to try to find 10 and backtrack to 9, when I passed 9. Lost a couple of minutes here.

Still cursing every other step, I decided my only redemption would be to nail the last control and finish. After all, I didn't want to mispunch at the last control. Quickly noticed the three trees on the map, and the three control bags, and correctly headed to my control.

So. despite my poor performance, we still managed to beat Buckley's team :)

Again, the knee felt fine, even though I jogged about one-third of the course. Yeah!

Overall, it was a fun weekend. Always great to escape the 100 degree heat in KC this time of year. Gorgeous scenery was wonderful. But, as always, the best part was the company. Thanks Valerie, Cristina and Ted!

C • Weekend 1

Day one of my COTC, also known as the Long O champs. My goal was to walk, and have no big mistakes. Well, I did walk the whole way. And I did finish. But I am unhappy with my orienteering.

Messed up #1 by straying from the straight line; eventually, I approached the control from the wrong direction. Several folks were surprised to see me coming towards them as they were heading off to #2. Calmed down a bit after that, and wisely stayed on the road most of the way to #3. I was actually tempted to run once or twice, but I reminded myself that is was a long day, at 9000 feet, and I hadn't run in three weeks. So I walked.

On the way to #4, I felt a hot spot on the back of my right heel. Re-laced my shoe and continued on.

#5 was the big mistake. Once again, I had issues with relocating. I did decide to relocate fairly quickly, which is good progress. But on was on a vague ridgeline with many unmapped rock features, and I did not choose a bulletproof point for relocation. Convinced myself I had gone too far, so I doubled back. Passed many other folks looking for the same control. Wandered around checking every possible rock cluster. Stopped, tried to relocate again. Once I decided where I was, I went out of my way to pass another re-entrant, to confirm my location. Still walking slowly and carefully, finally went back to where I had been, and went beyond and found the control. Estimate I lost 15-20 minutes here. Inexcusable!

On to #6, without a real plan in mind. Wandered in the general direction, but had to relocate off an obvious stand of aspens. I wasn't where I had intended to be, but at least I now knew exactly where I was and how to attack the control. Passed an orienteer I knew, who asked if I knew where I was. I replied "No" since I don't believe in helping healthy adult orienteers, especially at a champs!

But I did ask this orienteer if, by any miracle, they had a band-aid. At this point, my right heel was definitely blistered, and hurting a lot. Of course, no band-aid. And of course, I stupidly kept on going.

This affected me for the rest of the course. First, I had to slow down a lot. And it hurt more going up hill, which forced me to take the road most of the way to #8, instead of the direct route. I went slower and slower, and got more and more tired. No concentration as I moved through the hills from 8-9-10. Ugly orienteering, ugly mood. I was really bummed to have taken over 3 hours. And to have had such huge mistakes. Good thing it was only a training camp :)

Afterwards, I surveyed the right heal. Pretty bad. Left heel was just a little bit better. This was the very first time I've gotten blisters while orienteering, and it was my own stupid fault. To help my knee, I have been using an arch support insert. I put this insert into my O shoes before the race, and it lifted my foot just enough to rub in a new place.

There was one piece of very good news at the end of the day: the knee felt perfectly normal during the race, and afterwards. No pain, no aches, no twinges, no swelling. Hurrah!

Colorado Training Camp (COTC)

We're off to Colorado tomorrow for the Long O. Since my knee is still acting up, and the event is at altitude, my plan is just to be slow and careful. I need to get back into orienteering competition mode; do my best to concentrate and navigate well.

In particular:
1. read 100 meters ahead
2. look around and ahead
3. don't think about how fast or slow I'm moving
4. have a plan for relocating, if needed

I'm really looking forward to this weekend; especially to seeing our friends again.

C • yay, CO! I'll try to bring ... 1

My first time on an elliptical machine. I liked it. It's very similar motion to running, and it is possible to get your HR up. But I was inside at a gym, and I could only stand it for 15 minutes before I got bored. Next time, I'll bring my book.

Threw in some time on the recumbent bike. By the end, I could feel it in my quads; they are really out of shape already.

I have a free thirty day "guest" pass to a gym near work. Wish I thought to do this a few week sooner.

Knee felt a bit stiff this morning, but didn't actually hurt. My legs were worse; I'm so pathetically out of running shape that my quads, glutes, hamstrings and calves are all a bit sore today.

before and after the run

first attempt at jogging in 2+ weeks. Wore my running shoes with arch support insoles, and neoprene knee brace. Stayed on the flat, wood chip trails at PNS. Felt a twinge about 30 seconds into the run, but decided to try to keep going. Felt OK the rest of the time. I can tell that I am out of running shape; bummer. The real test will be to see how the knee feels tomorrow.

around the neighborhood, looking at everyone's landscaping.

Event: 2007 USOF Convention and Colorado 5-Days