Training Log Archive: Charlie

Middle distance course 6b map and route at NAOC, west of Ottawa. Some really good parts, and some preposterous mistakes. Overall ended up 16th, but when I was good I was pretty good. Through the overgrown field on a reasonable elephant track toward 1, from the trail, over the hills, right in. Compass, a bit of trail, over a yellow knoll with a flag in it and there's my marsh at 2. Remarkably enough, splits show I was in first at this point. Drifted a bit left on the way to 3, picked up a bit of trail, crossed the N/S trail just S of small stream, on compass, hit a clearing with a flag that seemed right but it was 137, not 127. Examination of the course 5 map reveals I was just about 20 M too far Right, but thought instead maybe I was short. A lot of wandering. 5 minutes. Then 4 was fine, right of the marshy stuff and over the hill. 5 another disaster, another 6 minutes or so lost. Went pretty much right to it, but didn't see the flag, climbed over the hill, wandered in circles for a while until I bounced off the fence SW of 4 again, and then found my way back to the same spot, where this time I found the flag. 6,7,8,9 all fine, although a brief bobble to check another flag on the way to 7. 10 I thought I should go along the power line for an easy attack, but then, no, I can do this and through the woods, except I was too far left, checked some other flags, eventually bailed to where I could see the OB field beyond, and then ok. Nice to be running freer than in a long, long time.

Middle - Course 6b - Splits

Event: NAOC2014 (North American Champs/Ottawa O-Fest)
 

From our house in Dunrobin trying to walk along the river as much as possible picked up Rhonda on the way, who was out jogging with Jeff and Judy while I was on the phone.

With Rhonda, Jeff and Judy, the usual stuff.

Walking around the sprint model with Rhonda

Walking around the middle -Long model with Rhonda. Not the most enjoyable terrain, but I suppose if it were really that great it wouldn't be wasted on a model. Certainly challenging enough terrain.

Out to the causeway again with Rhonda, colder, clear, calmer but still breezy. A little extra when we ran into Leslie and backtracked with her a bit. Had a nice visit with a lady out walking her very friendly cairn terrier.

C • I was wondering.... 6

My usual Pilates exercises, with Rhonda, George and Leslie, followed by some of George's graceful yoga positions.

With Rhonda from our house on White's Bay out along the causeway 3 miles, then got hit by a big squall on the way back for a while, so pretty damp. When we got back we ran into Leslie, so Rhonda went in to call her mom, and I went out again with Leslie for a bit. Weather better when I got back.

Usual exercises, dragging G&L through them.

Out to meet Rhonda after she called and woke me from my nap. Remarkably blustery. Rhonda said the waves were really crashing out by the causeway.

Took it easier today. L forearm is a limiting factor in this still.

with Rhonda, the usual routine. Seems to be doing some good, if very gradually. Still have the sore back, but I ran freer last weekend than I have in quite a while.

Not sure what got into me, but this was pretty hard. It will be much more challenging to try to break 8 this year.

The usual stuff

Added the maps from the weekend.

Middle distance course - this was my best run, both physically and execution. Only three mistakes, none major, and ended up I think 4th in M-65 and maybe 2nd for US eligible. Hard to beat the very capable Mr Lux. The mistakes were on 1, where I was tentative, and ultimately too far right, but saw the stream coming down the hill and turned back right into it; 7 where I was too far left and got just past it before turning back again, and 11, where I followed some folks to a depression a bit to the right, stood looking at it for a few seconds before remembering to get up on the spur. Met Marion Owen today, who was with me off and on a bit during the race.

Map and route.

C • Speed 2

Left pretty promptly for the long ride home. - 6 hrs and a bit. More than I am good at, that's for sure. I had been home somewhere in the range of 5 minutes when our erstwhile neighbor Sheryl showed up with a pretty good gash on her wrist. She had been mowing the leaves and grass near a stone wall, caught a stone in the blade and it kicked up, bounced off the wall and cut her wrist. She was wondering if it was ok to just deal with it tomorrow. I reached back into my store of extensive medical knowledge and told her, yes, she needed stitches and no, tomorrow wouldn't do. And then it seemed like the right thing to take her to the ER and get her stitched up. All went well, but then not home until 8:30 and too tired to do anything else.

C • You got home just in time! 5

Had a very pleasant conversation at the finish with my new friend Giuseppina while she waited for her son and her husband, all in Italian, maybe 20 minutes. Certainly the best I have done in Italian conversation, although she was very kind and helpful along the way. My vocabulary was adequate to the task. Very good fun.

Middle Brown Y - Splits