Training Log Archive: iansmith

Commute.

My left ankle is still a bit uncomfortable. I gingerly ran on it for the Blue Hills Traverse, in that I was able to run at full speed, but I tensed my muscles more bracing for bizarre impacts each time I landed. The ankle is still somewhat swollen relative to my right ankle, but I plan to resume running. I must build up my base before winter.

I would very much like to have a motivational countdown, but I am not sure to what. The Team Trials is tempting, but even if I had a spectacular winter, my probability of making the team is very small. The first A-meet of the year (either the North Carolina meet in February or the Georgia Navigator cup) is similarly tempting, but both of those events will be in the middle of my winter training seasons.

While I won't make the team this year, I do hope that my future training goals include peaking at Team Trials and for WOC.

T-179 days

Late night run; Davis - Harvard - Inman loop. I subscribed to audible.com to give me something to do while I train (and so decrease the energy barrier); I'm currently listening to the twelfth Wheel of Time book. Hopefully this will encourage me to train more frequently.

My ankle felt fairly good throughout the run, though I was ginger. Breathing was 2/3 for the last 2/3 of the run. Conditions were clear and 2 C; I ran in running tights, a t-shirt, gloves, and a windbreaker. I took off the windbreaker halfway through.

Question for my readers:
What books do you recommend for listening while training? Specifically, I'm looking for books that don't require tremendous concentration (no Rudin Principles of Mathematical Analysis or Quantum Field theory books) but that you enjoy.

C • Authors 19

Commute.

Event: Blue Hills Traverse
 

To the Zipcar from my apartment, and the return trip after the Traverse. Conditions were cold and wet.

The Blue Hills Traverse has a remote start, and I didn't want to need a ride to get back to my car after my run (since I had a fairly tight time schedule), so I elected to park my car at the finish and "warmup" on the way to the start. Naturally, this was a much longer run than I would have liked as a warmup, but I was very cold initially. I painfully rolled my left ankle again on the warmup, but the pain subsided after a few minutes and did not trouble me during the race (though I was careful when planting my foot).

Ross had e-mailed me the pdf of the map the night before. While I diligently avoided inspecting the controls, I noted the course went close to the road out of Houghton's Pond, so I placed a liter of water at the road triangle near 8 to make an improvised water station. I was worried I might not finish in time to make it to my concert comfortably, so I skipped running all the way to the start and ran to control 1 instead, where I started my race.

I ran the Blue Hills Traverse early (starting at 8:30 AM at control 1) with flags and e-punches out so I could make my wind ensemble concert with a 12:15 PM call. I was racing, though I think I could have pushed a bit harder.

I initially struggled to get into the map; I began my time at control 1, made a three minute error at control 2, and hesitated for about two minutes at control 3. At this point, I channeled my frustration into concentration and started to do better. It helped that I was much more familiar with Blue Hills West (from ARDF training); control 4 was the first on the west map.

I'm especially pleased about two things:
- Despite my ankle injury from last week and my resulting lack of running training this week, I had the strength and energy to push aggressively through the entire race, totaling about 2:30 of running. I took a GU twenty minutes before I started and at my "water stop" by control 8 fifty minutes into the race.
- Despite that I ran alone, I was able to run aggressively, and while I made regrettable mistakes, my run was of tolerable quality.
- My compass work was better than it has been on previous races.

A few observations:
- It took me some time to get into the map; I avoided looking at it during my warmup to simulate race conditions. I was very unsure of myself at the beginning.
- I made quite a few bobbles and chose poor attackpoints (controls 10, 14, 16, 18).

I have not yet analyzed the results, and while 10 min/km does not impress me, I am not displeased with my run. I think that given the advantages of a mass start, I could have been very competitive. My warmup run was about as grueling as the 2.2 km leg from the start to control 1, and the route I would have chosen (the road, around the left) was safe and quick.

I am not yet fast or skilled enough to legitimately win a BHT, but I have high hopes for next year (especially if Ross is course setter again). Many thanks to Ross for letting me run early.

C • Nice job! 3

Traverse - Splits

Commute.

Commute.