Training Log Archive: iansmith

A report from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (through 2002) has some surprising data. Do you know what the average weight and height of the American population over 20 is? (See pages 8 - 17).

I was a bit shocked to discover that the average weight of American men over 20 is 189.8 pounds as of 2002. I can only imagine that circumstances have gotten worse.

Also, the Supreme Court recently declined to reconsider the 2010 Citizens United ruling.

C • Fascinating set of data 3

Fifteen minute strength session; 5 of core, 5 of legs, 5 of core:
Tuckups, kayakers, plank, leg lifts, bicycles;
calf raises, squats, lunges, calf raises, deadlifts;
oblique crunches, 2x side plank, superman, oblique crunches

Event: NEOC: New England Canoe-O Championships
 

NE Canoe-O champs, set by Aims Coney, with Ali in a C2; we won the race!

I was very pleased that this was not the only NEOC Canoe-O event of the year - Keith's race at Cochituate last weekend was a great precursor. The attendance was respectable this year, especially given the remote location at Lake Tully, about 90 minutes from Boston. I raced at Tully Lake in 2008 with Jeff Schapiro, so I had some idea what to expect.

Aims graciously loaned Ali and I his fast Wenonah C2; after a short calibration paddle, we started the long course. Partnering with Ali was quite easy because we are well matched in terms of power and canoe experience. She had never really used racing canoe technique, and my grasp of it isn't sufficient to offer much instruction. I told her about the basic premise of short strokes and a fast cadence, and apart from occasional corrections to her cadence, she readily took to the technique.

We were slightly confused to 1 without a compass, but found it ok. At 2, I did a poor job anticipating the torque of Ali's mighty cross draw, and we capsized a few meters from the shore and control. We made a quick portage to 3, then a long paddle to 4. We decided to take 5 by running with the boat for a bit over a km along a trail (my Garmin died before we reached 5); according to my track, we were able to trot along at around 6-7 min/km - comparable to our cruising speed in the boat. We missed the optimal trail, though Ali pointed it out when we crossed the stream. After we reached 5, I learned that my partner was bolder than any previous canoe partner (with the possible exception of Jeff Schapiro) when we plowed through a section of marshy reeds to get to the river. It was very effective, and we lost very little time for our vegetation traverse. Controls 6-11 were typical canoe controls along the river, with a smattering on land; Ali was our runner, and I did get to paddle alone for a few hundred meters.

We elected to again portage the canoe along a trail to 12. While we had planned to portage a short peninsula to get to 13, I changed my mind (to our cost) at the last minute when it looked like the peninsula was shorter than expected - probably losing about a minute. We traversed the lake on leg 16, and the cross wind had picked up and made it difficult for me to keep the boat straight. I had to rudder once to correct, but only just managed to keep our bow on the control site. 16 was listed as a wet control, but it really was dry - on a peninsula; we lost at least two minutes checking both sides before Ali saw the flag. We finished nine minutes over our reach goal of 2 hours after a short hop over a peninsula to 17 and some quick paddling to 18 and 19.

We managed to edge out formidable nemesis boat of Schapiro and Keith by about fifteen minutes to win the long course and the New England championship. Had Andy Hall showed up, I'm sure he would have crushed us by at least 30 minutes, but the field was sparse enough for us to prevail. I estimate 25 or 30 boats were in attendance, most of whom raced the medium course. Ali and I fared reasonably well; we had the stamina to persevere through the race and were balanced. I could use some technique practice, and while my steering was adequate, I'm sure it could be cleaned up. Our line across the lake to 4 is pleasing.

C • canoe-o 5

Orienteering exercise at Baldwin Hill with Ali. I suppose you could characterize the exercise as a triangle exercise - for each triplet of controls {1, 2, 3}, the two orienteers take them in order {1, 2, 3} and {2, 1, 3} respectively. At the first control, they leave a streamer, and they each retrieve a control at their second. The third is the finish.

Given all the activity this weekend, we did not have much stamina. The temperature was cool, but the numerous mosquitos and other insects made the session trying. While the Baldwin Hill map is very good, the undergrowth and deadfall are often frustrating, and I really don't like the use of dot knolls. My Garmin didn't acquire satellites until after I had started the exercise, and the last half hour was a battle of will against waning strength and focus.

That noted, it was decent training, and it is helpful to have these tests of concentration. I contend that training is not always about instantaneous pleasure, but is instead about pursuit of some larger goal. Still, I was quite happy when we finished. We did cut the exercise short by skipping 3 control triplets.

Esplanade sprint with Ali, Barb and Dave. I got up at stupid o'clock and biked to the Hatch Shell for the first in a busy day of sprints. The first leg was a long trail run to the opposite end of the Esplanade. I started about a minute after Ali and could see her in the distance, but my efforts to reel her in were futile. The course was simple - particularly for me, as I know the Esplanade well. However, I think the map would be ideally suited for beginners - it would be a great introduction to ISSOM for school children, e.g.

I was hesitant at the beginning - I hadn't checked whether a wall from 2-3 was uncrossable far enough ahead. I think I made the correct route choices apart from going around the wrong side of a building to 16. Controls 19 and 22 were rendered somewhat inaccessible because of construction. Finished about 1:30 back of Ali.

C • Map 1

Commute to and from the Esplanade; I didn't do a running warmup.

Ali and I continued the Tour de Park-O by running the 2012 Mystic River Park-O. We biked with haste because we were short on time and needed to meet the gang at Tufts. I started after Ali. It had occurred to me that a bout of sprints after a week of inactivity might be challenging, but it felt good to run. It should be unsurprising that I felt tired. I had acceptable flow and executed the sprint reasonably well, but I lacked the stamina and speed to really push hard. Mystic River, like the Esplanade, is a neat little reasonably contained park (as long as you don't cross the street), and would make an excellent sprint training area for beginners.

I had some problems getting into the circle at 2, where the pit that had the circle was completely overgrown with bushes. The locations for controls 6 and 8 weren't obvious, but I think I was at the correct locations in both cases. I had a few sloppy hesitations that must be trained away if I hope to be good at sprints. Finished about 2 minutes back of Ali.

We met Giacomo, Eric, and Ben about ten minutes later than we planned at Tufts for a pair of sprints. Brendan designed a "qualifier" and a "final," each of which was a little less than 2 km. We were warned that he had designed the control locations to be particularly tricky and had changed some of the walls on the map from passable to impassable. I started a minute back of Ben and a minute ahead of Giacomo.

I approached the course as a race, and ran as hard as I typically would; however, since I was very diligent and cautious, I started hemorrhaging time. I double checked the wall crossability at 2, then confused myself with the control description at 3 (though I made the correct decision). I saw Ben and Eric at 5. At 7, the control description of south side of a thicket confused me, and during my approach from the right, I hesitated on a lower section. I caught sight of Giacomo as I was leaving 8 and turned up my intensity to try to stay ahead, though he cruised past me on the way to 12. I made what would have been a bad route to 13 by running right and ignoring what was mapped as an impassable wall in my route decision, but it turned out the wall did not exist in the real world, and everyone crossed it on their exit from 13.

I caught that control 14 was placed under the bridge, but only after I was already on the leg and so missed the optimal route. The rest of my pack went to the top in their haste. The remaining controls were straightforward.

Between the activity earlier in the day and my general weakness, I am not too displeased with my performance, but I lack speed and smoothness, and my map-reading and decision-making processes are both inadequate for sprint competition. I must practice more, partly because that's what Philippe Adamski would do.

C • ...what Philippe Adamski would do 1

Final sprint at Tufts. We started at 20s intervals in reverse chase order - I was behind Ben and ahead of Ali. I began by not reading the route to 2 well, and made a bad route choice to 3. A 20s start interval was a bit too tight - the pack had completely bunched at around 6. I initially worked hard to chase down Ben and Eric, then fought to stay with Giacomo and Ali for the rest of the course. Giacomo bobbled 8 by about 5s, and I briefly took the lead. Controls 9-12 were straightforward; Giacomo and Ali had built up a fifteen second lead as I left 12.

I plodded on alone to 15, and had planned my route around the north side to 16. En route to 16, I noticed that 17 appeared to be outside of the stadium (the CD was a little ambiguous), and the finish was on the inside. Giacomo and Ali cruised past me out of the dogleg at 16, but apparently in their rush to compete thought the finish was accessible from the outside. After punching 17, I found myself a few meters ahead of Ali and, like any sensible competitor who finds himself in this situation, put on the afterburners. I think she was tired from smoking me earlier in the course and chasing down Giacomo, and I managed to hold her off for the victory (i.e. the loss by < 20s).

The Tour de Park-O was great fun, and running sprints with company was exhilarating and undoubtedly drove me harder than I would have been able to do alone. I skipped Danehy to get home and visit an apartment.

Biking to Mystic River, Tufts, and home.

Sprint - Splits

Advanced - Splits

Interesting article about the selection criteria for the US Track and Field Olympic team.

C • and the analogy with... 2

My Lyme-imposed week of respite continues largely uneventfully. I have been diligent about taking my antibiotics, and the pounding headache and fever which plagued me last week have blissfully abated. The bullseye rash has also disappeared, though the bite is still somewhat irritated. Apart from weakness - whether due to the weekend, the doxy, or my resident population of bacteria - the only anomalous symptom has been back pain. A muscle - I think my lower right trapezius - was irritated on Monday and Tuesday, and breathing and ranges of motion of my right shoulder caused great discomfort. I'm fairly sure the pain was localized to an area to the right of and far behind mind sternum. I suppose it's possible that kayaking on Monday coupled with my depleted condition were the cause. A dose of ibuprofen and sleep on Wednesday night have alleviated most of the pain.

I lacked motivation and energy on Tuesday and Wednesday, but today, my competitive drive is returning to me. My yearning to go running is increasing with time, and soon I shall be restored to full health. This case of Lyme, just like the plantar fascia tear, is a setback. Perhaps they both could have been prevented through greater diligence and discipline, but I cannot change what has happened - all that remains is to deal with their consequences and adjust my life and training strategies to be better prepared to deal with these difficulties. I am very excited about Fall 2012, and I hope to acquit myself well. The next 10.5 months are full of promise and possibility, and I am undeterred.

Catching Features and German training both await my attention, and I must do a better job integrating both into my daily routines. I am closing on 50k hits on my AP log, and I am in undeclared competition with AliC (who has 90k) for the higher rate of hit accumulation. It doesn't help that she keeps setting PRs, is more popular, and generally a more exciting person. I will rise to the occasion!

Currently listening to: The Four Seasons

Adamski's speed astonishes me - French long race trials for 2012 EOCs. Note that red is 6 min/km.

I found a tick nymph on my left ankle on Monday night, probably > 24 hours after attachment. The little buggers are numerous, and let's face it: ticks suck. Hopefully my course of doxycycline will prevent further problems, though I don't know what else to do unless symptoms reappear.

I do want to get well as quickly and completely as possible, so I will refrain from much activity of any kind this week and increase my fluids and sleep. Even the mighty Hood needs a refit from time to time.

C • Probably fine! 8