Training Log Archive: Linear Ice

Event: MNOC - Battle Creek Regional Park
 

After having been over my head at Camp Ripley and Kettle Moraine State Forest, new approach was to try to work on easier course until I have some clue as to what I'm doing. Battle Creek Orange certainly fit the description of "easier", and was great exercise run (or walk) at a comfortable pace and to try to put together some of the beginner skills I've been working on. At BCP, everything is on or near a trail, which gave me opportunity to run and think ahead.... which is definitely a new skill for me.

Just a way to practice picking up the pace a little, and still running with map, keeping my head together.

Intent was to practice on finding the controls, jogging, picking up pace only when I was very confident. Had a couple of times where I was mostly in the right spot, didn't quite see the control, learned some things. But because this was at Battle Creek --it is hard to get too off track without some glaring features or trails to set me back so I recovered without too many minutes lost.
(Probably also helped that this was my third course.. I was getting familiar with the Park and some of the Controls!)

Thanks, Darrel and David- I appreciated your courses... challenging to create in this small park I am sure, but still APs to be found, choices to be made. Much fun.

Warm up/down and control retrieval.

Green - Splits

Orange - Splits

On terrain/paths

Trying to find features in ASP.
Beautiful day and numerous people out, including some groups (Boy Scouts, CrossX skiers apparently getting ready for snow, couples, gaggles of geese on the river). Also saw a squirrel with a bright white fluffy tipped tail- (used to be a number of albino squirrels in Afton, but they must be easy prey 'cause I haven't seen any lately)
I must be avoiding talking about my terraining, because although mostly I could find the features I was looking for on my 2K course, in the order I wanted..... and even though I was going slow... this is still just not always easy for me. So, I had a major loop around a feature that took me a very long time to be sure I found. (I wasn't quite lost, didn't need to use my whistle, but was not where I thoughtI was.) Have I made all the possible mistakes yet? Probably a few more to go. Ah well. Still entertaining.

Short exercise to get a little stress on thighs and heart.
Cycled HR up 170 and back down to 140 six times.

Speed up jog
2 Miles at 6:31
1 Mile at 7:30
Jog down

Not sure why, but calves starting tightening up after about 1/2 mile. Luckily, didn't cause problems.

Nightime run in woods behind my house. I had a very hard time finding the deer trails, let Alice (dog) lead the way. She mostly did a pretty nice job and I was grateful to let her do the thinking while I just picked my way across the fallen trees, branches, creek crossings, etc.
Although this run is 100% in the woods with no homes, there's one part of the run that crosses a driveway, I ducked down and turned off my light when a car crossed over (I was only 15 feet away-and was probably on their property although who knows?), and then just as I had my light back on, ready to go... saw more lights.... a fire engine, EMT vehicle, another car... all coming back from the same driveway. Since there were no flashing lights or fast speed, I don't think anyone was hurt.... luckily. I ducked down again, hid my dog's eyes so they wouldn't give us away. Felt a little like a fugitive... running through the woods, hiding in the ditch.
Other than that, just raccoon, birds, rodent or two..sharing the woods. Fun run. Total distance was 2.5 miles, but it probably took me 6 miles, running zig zag along the route the whole time.

iPod was out of batteries, so I just got to watch Dr. Phil without sound, and read some lame magazine.
At least I had shorts!!
It's a little slow getting this winter routine going.....

I was hoping to work out at work today, got to the gym and realized I had no shorts. Oops. So, had to wait until I got home and just did my standard route with big steep evil-ish uphill and 1 mile downhill and some flats and wavies in-between. I did try to pick up the pace a bit.
Nice cool night and very dark. I was running fast down the hill, marveling at all the stars, until I almost tripped over my dog at full speed. Ruined the moment.
Afton Alps had its BIG ski lift all lit up at the top... winter is almost here. Or at least the (fake) snow.