Training Log Archive: jtorranc

Little Bennett's Revenge Cross Country 5K or Backyard Burn Trail Race and/or orienteering at Chopawamsic Creek?

QOC Chopawamsic Creek Blue - small difficulty on 3 and larger one on four, a somewhat bingoish pit in the middle of a large patch of mountain laurel. Both of these were on the side of a ridge whose representation on the map was mysteriously missing at least and probably only one contour line, i.e. the map depicted a shelf partway up the sides all the way around but the slope was actually pretty constant all the way up. Also affected 5 but it didn't matter much to the attack on that one. Really hosed 10 (3 or 4 minutes?), apparently by convincing myself I'd overrun my intended point of reentry to the woods from the road when I hadn't. Not helped by the first of the rather indistinct but mapped trails I ran across. Eventually relocated on the trail junction about 200m west of the control having run there from within perhaps 30 meters of the control thinking it was time to bail out to the road and try again. Think it might have been faster to go more or less directly from 14 to 15 instead of around on the trail to the north. However, also think it might have been better to dogleg out of 15 back to the trail and run to the finish all on trails rather than try to stay as close to the direct line as I did.

Greenbelt Metro to Bowie.

Hanging the controls for my training session. actual time in woods of about 95 minutes discounted to allow for standing still while hanging at control locations. Startled some deer and a flock of ducks who all took off from the surface of a marsh as I approached. Terrain not flooded but normal places of standing water all full and some not usually wet at all created. Managed to keep feet dry until the last bit to the finish.

Picking up 13 of the 20 controls in the course - George Ford was kind enough to get the first seven. Training was seemingly well received - will hope for a few more people next time I do something of the sort.

Back to Greenbelt in dusk then dark. Saw some bare trees quite dramatically silhouetted against the western sky.

Work commute.

Work commute in in no rain worth mentioning yet. Here's hoping the total for the day isn't enough to have Bowie underwater on Saturday. Home also on essentially dry roads.

Work commute, both ways including swing by TPSS and aquatic center.

The usual then finished with five or so minutes of deep water running that doesn't seem worth logging separately. Plan to mix in some DWR throughout the winter on the theory that my body probably couldn't take all weight bearing running all the time in the volume I hope to do in the coming base training phase.

Run to work through leafy Rock Creek Park. It's been a long time since I last did this. This is supposed to be the kickoff to my winter base training now that I've stayed away from running training for a month. I intend to try and do at least two round trips between work and home on foot per week, with the trip home allowing for less direct routing so around 6 hours of LSD per week exclusive of anything I do on weekends. Weekends should be largely occupied with orienteering races, planning and setting up training sessions I plan on offering for QOC and mapping.

Unfortunately, I may have to drop the notion of running to and from work tomorrow since I need to do some grocery shopping that would be very hard to fit into the evening without cycling.

Running back through Rock Creek Park to Cleveland Park then visiting two grocery stores and the library while walking home (didn't log the walking, of course).

Not really raining. I think the forecast rain isn't enough to flood the Bowie terrain - hope I'm right about that. Home by way of the aquatic center.

Nice dip - felt like it loosened up my legs somewhat.