Training Log Archive: GlenT

US Ultra Long Champs - Green. At Fountainhead Regional Park near Clifton, VA. 11.8km straight line distance with 445m climb. Very nice course by Nadim Ahmed with several long route choice legs, including one across a very complex mountain bike trail network. Temperatures in the upper 30's and overcast so OK for running but cold for the volunteers. Mass start at 0915 (originally scheduled for 0900 but there was a glitch with the buses to the remote start).

I had a good run with only a few relatively small mistakes. With the mass start, I was with others much of the time, which of course helps with both the navigation and motivation. With Spike and PG for most of the first loop (through #7, the first food stop) with occasional sightings of Stefan, Angelica and Izzy - turns out that this was the "lead pack". Later caught (and passed) by Pavlina and TomO after the second food stop.

With the crowd through #4 then Spike headed left up the ridge and PG opted for the low route. I took the ridge to the high point and then headed fairly straight to 5 across two reentrants. I think Spike took the trails around the top of the reentrants. He and PG had identical splits, I was 9 sec slower.

After the food stop I lost the crowd because I headed directly into the woods which were a bit slow with deadfall and then some mountain laurel near the streambed. Eventually took the trail around to approach the control but probably lost about 2:30 on this leg. On my own for 9 - 11 (except for a cadet who zoomed by on the way to 9 and then was standing two reentrants beyond where 9 was as I headed to 10).

On the long leg to 12 across the mountain bike trail network TomO appeared (having made a substantial error early in the course) and by the time we got to 12 Pavlina and Izzy were around. I made about a 1 minute error early on the way to 12 heading up a reentrant 90 degrees off the way I should have been going. I found the arms of the lake very useful on this leg as a check of exactly where I was.

With the second pack to 14 but then I started to fade and slowed substantially. There didn't seem to be anyone close behind (other than a couple of cadets who were fast but not very accurate) so figured just plodding in the rest of the course would be a good strategy. As I approached control 15 I caught a glimpse of PG on the way to 16 (I think with the TomO, Pavlina and Izzy pack - or in their wake). There was nothing left in the legs to do any chasing, so I didn't try. Bobbled a few minutes on 16 when I left the trail at an earlier stream crossing than I should have.

Ended up 2nd in M60 and 11th overall on Green (although two cadets DSQ'd themselves for using the OOB road near the end of the course). A very enjoyable course but physically taxing. Good way to finish up the Fall O season.

UltraLong Championships - Green - Splits

Walk to the start with an occasional jog. Plus some running back and forth on the trail to warm up a bit more.

Middle distance course at Hemlock Overlook Park near Clifton, VA. Green X course. Good course by Tom Nolan, finding some technical legs in an area without a lot of technical stuff.

Two significant errors. Made a 90 degree error approaching control 3 from the ditch junction west of the control. Corrected when things didn't look right but over a minute lost. Had a concentration lapse on the way to 9 and stopped one reentrant short. Eventually relocated on control 7. Over 4 minutes lost on this one. Nearly six minutes of error on a 33 minute course. Ugh. Still managed 4th in M60.

Middle - Green X - Splits

Event: QOC Long Day's Night
 

Up the ski slope to the start.

US Night-O Champs on Oregon Ridge map (near Cockeysville, MD). Very open woods in spur and reentrant terrain. Very nice course by Jan Merka with the right level of difficulty and good use of the terrain. Had a very good run with probably less than 3 minutes total errors. Missed 4 high and had to come back to it. Hesitated on the way to 7 and took a slightly less optimum route choice to 8 (crossed the pipeline and randown the spur rather than taking the pipeline further). 1st in M60, about 5th overall on Green X. Cold (low 30's) and dark, of course. SL 5.7km. (Note: Didn't start the FR until control 1 so added ~650m to the distance and used my official total time.)

Night Championships - Green X - Splits

Running around the neighborhood. Hints of the Polar Vortex approaching, but still about 50 degrees warmer than Laramie.

Added details for Sat and Sun Troll Cup runs.

Another run in shorts in November. Looks like this'll be it however.