Training Log Archive: maprunner

Ultralong champs, brown. Mass start. Fountainhead Park.

I decided on Saturday that I didn't want to do the green ultralong on a hilly course, so I dropped down to brown. So glad I did.

It had been a long time since I've done a mass start race, and this was fun. I ran a bit too fast at the beginning, of course, but it was worth it to watch George, Lyn, Sharon and Valeriy in action. I was within sight of them through the third control. Last saw Lyn at the 5th control. I should have followed her!

I looked at the leg from 5 to 6, and thought, I don't want to do this! There was a maze of mountain bike trails (filled with kamikaze riders, who had the right of way). I promptly got confused and went on the wrong trail, but I figured that out right away. Crossed the stream and took another trail. At this point, I slowed down to remove my hat and gloves, and then continued on. But the trail was doing funny things. I followed it some more, trying to make it fit. But then I gave up and said: just follow the contours, and ignore the trails. Ran down a big hill and then started noticing some brown course runners going the opposite direction. I stopped and looked again at my compass: I had done a 180!! Ugh!

After this, I had no joy in getting to 6. It was just a slog up and down the hills. And I was alone most of the time. Didn't see anyone until I approached 8. Followed some folks up the stream towards 9. This was good, because it forced me to pick up my pace a bit, although I was dogging it up the hills. I caught up with Gail at 9. Of course, she of the steady, accurate navigation, had passed me earlier.

From 10 onwards, it was pretty flat, so I pushed in towards the finish and passed a few folks. I was so happy to be under 2 hours, but of course, very disgusted with my big mistake. Sloppy technique.

Beautiful woods, once again. And so inspiring to watch the "oldsters" in action. I hope I'm half as fit as them when I'm in my 70s.

route, part 1
route, part 2

C • Brown Ultralong 1

UltraLong Championships - Brown - Splits

QOC race 2, middle at Hemlock Overlook. Another beautiful park, with runnable woods. And I had a decent day. Small bobble on 2 when I got pulled off by another marker. Was lazy and didn't want to climb the hills so I took the long route to (lost most of my time here, according to Winsplits and AP). Got tired at 11, and totally messed up this route choice, and route execution. Same with 12. Body and mind were just tired at the end, I guess. Nice course. But once again, there were extra "form contours". And control 12 was placed smack in the middle of the only thorn bush in the park (when it could have been moved just 2 feet away and avoided it).
route

edit: more comments: it was fun to see folks enjoying the nice setting after the race. I liked all the friendly volunteers, with their name tags prominently displayed. After the race, we met up with an old friend of mine and his wife for dinner in Springfield. Hadn't seen them in 7 or 8 years, so it was good to catch up (They also live in Bethesda; wonder if P&N know them? Their daughter is older, just started college, so they may not have crossed paths much)

Middle - Green Y - Splits

Event: QOC Long Day's Night
 

US Night O champs, Green Y, Oregon Ridge, QOC

Up at 4 am for an early flight; my least favorite thing to do. Had a stopover in St Louis, then into Baltimore to meet Mike (who was coming from Durham). Made our way to the event site in plenty of time, by taking back roads to avoid the Friday night traffic on the interstates.

I was excited for this event. I like night O, and I had been told that the woods were nice. And they were. In fact, they were fantastic. On my way down the hill to the first control, I was literally saying "wwhheeee" inside my head. Such fun!

But then I started to go crazy, and make mistakes that I know how to avoid. On my way to 2, I left the trail too soon (I assumed a minor curve was the big bend I was looking for). At least I kept moving, and relocated soon-ish, by hitting the trail again. This time I stayed on the trail until it really was bending, and had no more problems with the control.

I was tired going up and down the hills, but otherwise things were fine. Until I was heading towards 5, when suddenly by right calf cramped up for a second. WTF? I never get cramps. It went away quickly (I walked it out) but I was a bit nervous about it.

My plan for 6 was to go up the power line, and head into the woods to pick up the big trail heading NW. My plan was to look for the trail on my right which intersected the power line. I turned when I saw a trail on my right. And then I couldn't find the big trail. This was weird. There was reentrant on my left, but nothing else made sense. At this point I knew I was off base, but where was I? I saw a marker in the distance, and I ran to it hoping it was one of my later controls. 111. Not mine. But it was on a marsh, so I deduced that I was near my 10, and I headed back up the hill (which was correct).

But I missed the big trail again. And went down an incorrect reentrant. Ugh! Finally went back up, found the trail again, and stayed on it until I found the line of rootstocks, and into the control.

All this time, my calves (yes, both of them now) would cramp up occasionally. This was getting to be no fun. I decided to take it easier, and not run so much.

I had trouble finding the trail again on the way to 7, but I was clean through the next few controls. I remember thinking the hills weren't so big here. Only sitting in the daylight did I notice that they used form lines as contour lines (why?) on parts of the map, which were effectively showing 2.5 m contours.

Earlier, I had been really mad at myself for my big mistakes. By now I was doing better with navigation, but my calves were slowing me down, so I was beginning to laugh at the absurdity. And then the night turned ridiculous.

I was approaching 12 when my headlamp died. Usually, it starts to fade, but this time, it just went black. I had a backup (little Petzel) which I pulled out of my pocket. And found that the latch had come undone and the batteries were loose. I slowly made my way (in the dark) back to the trail, and asked someone if I could use their light for a minute to put my batteries back in. Then I tried to find 12 again. It was hard, with my puny lamp. I was saved by seeing a group of folks leaving the control.

After this I slowly limped down the trail and into the finish. I still can't figure out why my calves chose tonight to cramp up for the first time, My best guess is that it had something to do with flying and competing on the same day. I didn't have nay issues with them for the rest of the weekend.

I was glad I had a slow walk into the finish, so I could calm down and be in a decent mood by the time I got there, and laugh off my misadventures. But I was still really disappointed in myself for making rookie mistakes. I was not paying attention to distance traveled, and that's unforgivable.

But the woods were beautiful!

route

C • wwhheeee 3

Night Championships - Green Y - Splits

A little bit of running around the neighborhood, mostly to remember what to wear in the cold. Still can't figure out what to do about my hands. I wear light running gloves. But from about 10 minutes (of running) to about 15 minutes, they are so cold, that it is totally distracting and all I can think about. Thick mittens would keep them warm, but I can't hold a compass and map with them on. Any suggestions?

C • Warm up 9

Went to Burgerfi on Mass for dinner (to get one more Mass St restaurant). It was fine. But I got it mixed up with another place that I wanted to go to while Mike is away. He wanted to go tot Burgerfi, but not the other place (whatever it's called). Oh well.