Training Log Archive: ParkSchool

Score-O with 5 points for each control and 3 pts/min penalty for overtime. Got to copy map off clock, so opportunity available to plan route in advance of run. Made excellent early decision not to dream about trying for all controls and to plan instead for a route that was compatible with my speed and relative talents, which in this case meant excluding the four most remote controls and opting for a crossing of open water which might not appeal to everyone, but drastically decreased the length of the course. Control placements were not especially difficult, but this was still Pawtuckaway, so I ran a very controlled race making sure to keep in contact with map at (almost) all times. Collected controls in order 2, 1, 4, 19 (straight line approach), 20, 17, 18, 16, 15, 13, 10 (via direct swim vs navigation across beaver dam), 8, 7, 6, 3 (attempting straight line route), 5. Swim turned out to be more of a float while pulling myself along the bottom with my hands, avoiding the possibility of losing a sneaker in the muck. Only bobbles were winding up a little W of flag on 10 and then drifting too far right on attempted straight line run from 6 to 3, failing to avail myself of roadway run and briefly raising concerns that I would needlessly wind up overtime after a very promising run. Fortunately, recovered in time to collect last 2 controls and make it home with less than a minute to spare. I think I wound up in 3rd behind Ernst Linder (17 controls and somewhat generously assessed only 3 pts of penalties for finishing 1+ min overtime) and Tim Parson (16 controls in only 57 min). Ian Smith wound up with 79 pts but probably should have won, having failed to copy control 1 onto his map, thus depriving himself of a rather trivial 5 extra points which would have allowed him to skip a more complicated control and avoid an overtime finish. Dancho Hristov was coming in as I left, but I think he may also have been overtime.

C • Swimming 2

Went to Pawtuckaway with plans to do only Foot-O, but was interested in C-2 Canoe-O should the opportunity present itself. As luck would have it, Ian had come with two friends and a racing canoe. Ian had plans to race with Keith, the canoe owner, and obviously a canoe racer of some commitment based on the quality of his paddles. Fortunately, Sean Morton, the third member of the party, turned out also to have some experience with canoes and was more than happy to partner me. Keith was gracious enough to entrust us with the canoe, and he and Ian gave us a target to shoot for after picking up all 14 controls in 55 min. Once again, we had access to the map before going on the clock (in contradiction it appeared to the rules of the event, although perhaps this restriction was only meant to refer to those hearty souls who participated cumulatively in all three available disciplines). In any case, the opportunity certainly seemed available to avoid canoeing into one cove by picking up the first four controls on foot before rendezvousing with Sean. This route required a mandatory swim to a small island control, but I was hardly daunted after my earlier swim (not to mention some of my previous canoe-O endeavors which were far more unpleasant than anything Pawtuckaway could offer--interested parties are referred to Aims Coney for details of some of my less savory adventures). Plan worked exceptionally, with Sean arriving simultaneously at rendezvous spot (although he would have been earlier had he not gone for inadvertant swim launching canoe by himself) and with no navigational mistakes. Controls collected in order 1, 13, 7, 14, 4, 3, 6, 2, 12, 10, 8, 11, 5, 9. The only bobble was on control 11, where I planned to run across neck of a kidney shaped island to save distance. We got to planned departure point, but everything looked wrong, with an extra island staring us in the face. I disembarked, then concluded that the neck must actually be underwater about the same time that Sean yelled that he thought he could see the control along the shoreline. I wound up wading to control, although it certainly would have been smarter to get back in the canoe first, then hopped back in to make the final push for the last two controls. Arms were dead, but I knew we were ahead of Keith and Ian's pace, and adrenaline helped to keep me stroking at constant if sloppy pace. Arrived with about 3 minutes to spare to edge Keith and Ian for first, thus concluding a very gratifying day of O-events. Special thanks to the Olafsen clan for organizing a most enjoyable experience.

OK, it's now too hot. Probably I'm just a wimp, since it only just touched 80 here in Needham, but I definitely did not enjoy myself today. Fonzie appears to agree with me, as I had to wait for 3 minutes for him to catch up after only 1.5 miles. Subsequently backed off from 8:00 min/mi to 9:00 min/mi (and was glad for the excuse).

Kyra has cancelled her riding for tomorrow, so I am free to head up to Pawtuckaway. I am very glad to have the opportunity as the camping weekend invariably falls on the weekend of Max's birthday festivities, so I rarely can attend. I'm looking forward to inhaling some mosquitos. I remember them being exceptionally plentiful the one other time I visited in the Spring.

Same old same old. Was interested in more aggressive run given ideal conditions (for me) of light mist, and pushed relatively hard around course. Time includes 1:30 wait for Fonzie, so not a bad effort overall. Am contemplating getting GPS unit soon. It will be interesting to see how close my distance estimates are to the actual measurements.

Out with dogs again. Missed yesterday when I ran out of time after assisting Max with homework, so had to drag my ass out between my overnight shifts to keep the puppy from exploding from unused energy. Just trying to make it around usual loop without taxing myself, which I did.

Event: CSU Franklin Park Park-O
 

It was another miserable overnight, made worse by some additional exhaustion related to the BIllygoat, and I was in little mood to go for a run after only 3 hours of sleep, but the dogs had other ideas after having been deprived of a run yesterday. So, off I trudged in the Needham Town Forest trying to maintain a 10 min/mi pace. In a reversal of our usual roles, Fonzie ran ahead and stopped several times to see if I could keep up. Eventually I woke up enough to speed up to his preferred speed of about 9 min/mi.

Event: Billygoat
 

Billygoat - Splits