Training Log Archive: Sandy

A gentle yoga class this evening, with some good stretching and balance work. It was about right for my frame of mind. Glad I went.

Another great day at Hickory Run - still investigating new areas.

Not sure why, but just really didn't want to do anything the last few days. But today I felt pretty good and while I was just walking around so not really pushing hard it was nice to have nothing hurting. Perhaps a few days of vegging was needed.

Short hill loop. Back to square one. Although the loop is a little longer with all the work going on and there's a section that crosses a logged area with no trail and it was raining and part of the trail is a muddy mess of tractor tracks. But still, the lack or regular running is obvious.

Very inspirational to read Tori Campbell's log. I hope she knows how much her sacrifices are appreciated.

Core DVD

Yoga class. Good class; Bridget kept us moving since it was cold in the studio when we started. Need to work on balance big time.

Up at Hickory Run. Knee was really giving me problems so I cut it short today - maybe 4 hours on my feet. Visited some places I went to in September and it's much easier to see what's going on now then it was then. Part of the problem then was the bugs - I couldn't stand still for more than a few seconds without getting attacked. It's really nice right now - no bugs but still plenty warm.

C • sounds promising... 1

So went out to do my short hill loop and was greeted with a major surprise. They have been planning a reclamation project restoring the meadows to their native condition at the part of the Wissahickon park that is closest to my house. I haven't run that loop in several weeks and I am totally stunned by the amount of work that has been done since the last time I ran those trails. They have several large machines in there and they have been logging everything that is not native and there are huge swathes of what is now essentially mud and stacked trees. There are several football fields worth of cleared land. It is quite astonishing what has been done. Several of the trails are now obliterated and others are of the "you can't get there from here" type. I suspect that in a few months or so, it will be a huge improvement over the nasty vegetation that had been growing unchecked but right now it looks awful. And at the same time it's sort of nice because it is all so open and lots of nasty vegetation is gone and you can see lots of nice woods. Anyway, my run was more of an exploratory hike, just checking out what was what, and running some of the uphill and flat trail sections on the part of the loop that is further down the hill and not up in the meadows. There are now some wide open expanses of hillside that are really nice for off trail running that are much more accessible and assuming they put back some sort of trail network it will be fine. But rather a shock.

And since my running was abysmal and my leg was cramping in a really funny spot, I did do some running but also a lot of walking.

C • hmm... 3

Yoga class. Guest instructor. Did more balance stuff and less strength stuff.

TNT - hiked down to the drive, ran a half, walked a half, ran a half, walked a half, hiked back up with Sandy. Need to start somewhere.

Fabulous lasagna by Jim afterwards.

Event: QOC Oregon Ridge
 

Oregon Ridge, Mid-Atlantics, Green Course.

Decent "run". The lack of running the last few weeks was apparent but I was relatively clean with no major errors, only some hesitations and not quite as direct routes as I could have done, but lots and lots of places where I should have been running but was only managing to walk.

Green - Splits

A few hours of yard work. Worked up a good sweat raking leaves and cleaning out flower beds.

core dvd

Need to remember the knee exercises I was doing and start doing them again.

Woke up in the middle of the night with severe cramping in the backs of my calves just below the knee. Not sure if I'm dehydrated or missing some essential vitamin or mineral or if it was the result of not stretching as much as I usually do since I haven't been to yoga in a while. I did wear my knee brace to work for the first time in a while yesterday - wonder if that contributed. It was bad enough that the one calf (the non-brace leg) feels bruised today.

The plan is to go to yoga this evening though.

C • ouch! 1

And having a plan was a good thing since if I hadn't committed to picking Sandy up I most likely would have just stayed home.

TNT
Did the core dvd with Sandy while Bob and Jim ran.

C • Core DVD 1

Another day up at Hickory Run. Today was spent trying to figure out where the major streams can be crossed safely which will have a major impact on routing the courses.

The woods are so open this time of year. And there are so many different areas of the park that all have unique terrain. I'll have to resist the temptation to take courses places just because there's something neat there and not because it will make for a good course.

When I came out of the woods at the end of the day there was an official park truck in the lot where I had parked, the only other vehicle. I found it a little disturbing that the truck was there idling the whole time that I changed shoes and clothes and had a snack and packed things up. Ironic, too, because the truck had "Conservation" in big letters stenciled on it. And then as I was driving out, the driver started to get out of the door. I stopped because I was curious about what he was there for, and when I did that, the guy froze. He didn't get back in the truck but he didn't move further out either. Eventually, I decided to get out of there, but it was a tad strange.

C • Strange things happen in the woods. 1

Knee really sore today. It's okay after I move around a bit, but the first few steps after sitting are dicey. The obvious answer is to just keep moving today; unfortunately have a lot of paperwork that needs to get done.

Just met with the VP for Facilities Management at school to see what it would take to get permission to hold sprint events on campus. He was very supportive and will find out what sort of paperwork would be needed - insurance certificates, contracts, etc. Since he's a friend, I'm thinking this is going to happen. So, first steps taken, let's see what happens.

C • Sounds promising! 3

TNT - 3 miles on the drive with Bob.

Hike down to the drive, hike back up. Actually ran the pavement part of the hill home. Bob took off like a rocket but must have walked at some point, since I caught up to him right at the house having managed to keep a nice steady pace up the whole hill.

Evansburg - help
Event was cancelled; no permission.

Got to Hickory Run around 9:15 thanks to daylight saving time ending. Left a little before 3; my knees were starting to get sore. Walked around in a couple of new sections of the terrain - new to me - and just spent time overall getting a feel for what it's like this time of year. Things are a lot easier to see than in September; setting courses is going to be lots of fun.

Felt a little light-headed on my first loop. Very weird. Ate and drank a bit and felt okay on the second and third.