Training Log Archive: BorisGrIn the 7 days ending Jun 3, 2010:
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Thursday Jun 3, 2010 #
Event: CSU Park-O: Boston Common
6 PM
Running 30:00 [2] 5.0 km (6:00 / km)
shoes: Rob's shoes
Running around Boston Common before and after the downpour
Orienteering race 14:11 [5] *** 2.8 km (5:04 / km)
spiked:15/19c shoes: Rob's shoes
Boston Park-O at Boston Common!
My first Park-O race since 2002, I think. Very exciting to see the park-O series going strong!
We were caught in a torrential downpour, which actually made running a lot more fun. I was too excited to remember to read the map and made tons of mistakes, but it didn't matter. I had lots of fun!
Afterwards, we ate some weird Chinese food at Alex's office and made plans (mostly without my involvement) for CSU summer training. The current CSU 3.0 gang is a great bunch of people, and it is both really enjoyable to spend time with them and exciting to see the club thriving ten years after we, led by Kenny, resurrected it.
My first Park-O race since 2002, I think. Very exciting to see the park-O series going strong!
We were caught in a torrential downpour, which actually made running a lot more fun. I was too excited to remember to read the map and made tons of mistakes, but it didn't matter. I had lots of fun!
Afterwards, we ate some weird Chinese food at Alex's office and made plans (mostly without my involvement) for CSU summer training. The current CSU 3.0 gang is a great bunch of people, and it is both really enjoyable to spend time with them and exciting to see the club thriving ten years after we, led by Kenny, resurrected it.
Wednesday Jun 2, 2010 #
Note
Day 1
New Haven, CT - Boston, MA
We spent several hours at the REI in Framingham getting and installing a roof rack and rocketbox for our Honda. We finally managed, so the car is slightly less ridiculously crowded, but still pretty full.
A nice evening of Settlers of Catan at Sam and Ross' followed.
New Haven, CT - Boston, MA
We spent several hours at the REI in Framingham getting and installing a roof rack and rocketbox for our Honda. We finally managed, so the car is slightly less ridiculously crowded, but still pretty full.
A nice evening of Settlers of Catan at Sam and Ross' followed.
Tuesday Jun 1, 2010 #
Running 53:13 10.64 km (5:00 / km)
shoes: Rob's shoes
Finally dragged myself outside for intervals after a long day. Felt awful from the start, and it never got better. Just had nothing today. Struggled through four of my planned six intervals and trudged home, where I comforted myself with the thought of Swedish Royal Wedding Chocolate that awaited me, courtesy of Karen. It was delicious.
Times (plan 2:45-2:50):
2:52
2:46
2:47
2:48
Times (plan 2:45-2:50):
2:52
2:46
2:47
2:48
Note
Kat and I are hitting the road tomorrow, and won't be back for a while. I am excited. First destination: Boston.
Monday May 31, 2010 #
Note
Put on a meet at Osbornedale yesterday. Some things worked well, others did not. Here are some notes so I can remember for the future.
What worked:
1) The race format. I think the reverse chase was fun, increased competition, and increased the excitement level of a regular local event. Most people who can handle an advanced course can run two 4km courses with a break in the middle, and there are more people to compare times with than with a separate green and red.
2) Control pick-up. This went smoothly and quickly, with great volunteers (Sam, Ross, Claire).
3) Beginner courses. I have been to countless events where the beginner and intermediate courses were too hard, and I worked hard to avoid this. In the end, I got compliments from people on each of the three lower courses and a very low rate of DNFs. Very good. There is nothing worse than turning people away from the sport by setting beginner courses that are above the appropriate difficulty level and, therefore, not enjoyable.
4) Beginner instruction. I provided instruction to a group of boy scouts, and Joe helped out by showing the basics to another group. Both groups finished their courses and had fun, some of them signing up for a second course. Thanks Joe!
5) Use of the map. I feel like I ended up doing a decent job of using the parts of the map that were good and avoiding most of the sketchy areas. Also, having different parts of the map utilized for the prologue and chase worked well.
What did not work:
1) Trying to run the meet as a one-man operation. I should have asked Becky formally to help me ahead of time, and not at the last minute. She saved my butt with hanging lots of controls, putting out units, and helping with whatever else needed to be done. I also should have secured someone ahead of time to help with registration. Donna was awesome and stepped in to help right away.
2) Trying to run a meet with only 37 controls and units. This is simply not enough. I would love for WCOC to buy another 10 flags and units to complete this kit. It was stressful and not fun to have to move controls between the prologue and chase and would have been nearly impossible without Becky's help.
3) Putting out control flags the day before the meet and SI units the morning of. I thought this was a good idea that would save time the morning of the event, but people were very unhappy about the SI units just lying on the ground under the flag, a practice I was used to in club events in Sweden. I got lots of complaints about this.
4) Map printing. I was rather pleased with myself for being done with courses and map printing well ahead of time, but I stupidly did not print enough prologue maps. A disaster! People graciously agreed to pitch in and return their maps to be reused by others, but this should not have happened. I'll know better for next time. Also, if anyone reading this wants a map, let me know, and I will send you a JPG. Also, people complained about the paper I used. I happen to like the card stock paper, but I guess I am in the minority.
5) Cups. Becky and I bought lots of water to bring to the event. On this hot day, I was surprised that all of the water jugs were still full with the event in full swing. I forgot to buy cups. D'oh!! Luckily, George had some.
6) The beer-O. It was going to be too much for one day, so I had to cancel. No one seemed too upset. Next time, I'll plan and advertise it more ahead of time. I still think it could be a lot of fun.
Overall, I thought things went well, but definitely could have been made much smoother with a bit of forethought on my part, as well as more flags/units available to me. Thanks to everyone who came and especially to the awesome volunteers who helped me!
What worked:
1) The race format. I think the reverse chase was fun, increased competition, and increased the excitement level of a regular local event. Most people who can handle an advanced course can run two 4km courses with a break in the middle, and there are more people to compare times with than with a separate green and red.
2) Control pick-up. This went smoothly and quickly, with great volunteers (Sam, Ross, Claire).
3) Beginner courses. I have been to countless events where the beginner and intermediate courses were too hard, and I worked hard to avoid this. In the end, I got compliments from people on each of the three lower courses and a very low rate of DNFs. Very good. There is nothing worse than turning people away from the sport by setting beginner courses that are above the appropriate difficulty level and, therefore, not enjoyable.
4) Beginner instruction. I provided instruction to a group of boy scouts, and Joe helped out by showing the basics to another group. Both groups finished their courses and had fun, some of them signing up for a second course. Thanks Joe!
5) Use of the map. I feel like I ended up doing a decent job of using the parts of the map that were good and avoiding most of the sketchy areas. Also, having different parts of the map utilized for the prologue and chase worked well.
What did not work:
1) Trying to run the meet as a one-man operation. I should have asked Becky formally to help me ahead of time, and not at the last minute. She saved my butt with hanging lots of controls, putting out units, and helping with whatever else needed to be done. I also should have secured someone ahead of time to help with registration. Donna was awesome and stepped in to help right away.
2) Trying to run a meet with only 37 controls and units. This is simply not enough. I would love for WCOC to buy another 10 flags and units to complete this kit. It was stressful and not fun to have to move controls between the prologue and chase and would have been nearly impossible without Becky's help.
3) Putting out control flags the day before the meet and SI units the morning of. I thought this was a good idea that would save time the morning of the event, but people were very unhappy about the SI units just lying on the ground under the flag, a practice I was used to in club events in Sweden. I got lots of complaints about this.
4) Map printing. I was rather pleased with myself for being done with courses and map printing well ahead of time, but I stupidly did not print enough prologue maps. A disaster! People graciously agreed to pitch in and return their maps to be reused by others, but this should not have happened. I'll know better for next time. Also, if anyone reading this wants a map, let me know, and I will send you a JPG. Also, people complained about the paper I used. I happen to like the card stock paper, but I guess I am in the minority.
5) Cups. Becky and I bought lots of water to bring to the event. On this hot day, I was surprised that all of the water jugs were still full with the event in full swing. I forgot to buy cups. D'oh!! Luckily, George had some.
6) The beer-O. It was going to be too much for one day, so I had to cancel. No one seemed too upset. Next time, I'll plan and advertise it more ahead of time. I still think it could be a lot of fun.
Overall, I thought things went well, but definitely could have been made much smoother with a bit of forethought on my part, as well as more flags/units available to me. Thanks to everyone who came and especially to the awesome volunteers who helped me!
Orienteering 1:00:00 [3]
After a lazy morning, went out with Ross and Sam to Ansonia. I shadowed Ross for a while (which was hard work for me, trying to keep up!) and made him say out loud the features he was seeing and what he was expecting to come up. He did really well as long as there were enough features, but tended to speed up and lose contact when there was less stuff to read. We then did a few distance estimation exercises and then a whole bunch of relocation, where I would run for a while, then stop, and make Ross tell me where we were and how we got there. I think these worked well. There is a lot more stuff I would love to do, just wish we had more time together.
Sunday May 30, 2010 #
Event: WCOC Osbornedale State Park
Orienteering 1:30:00 [1]
Hanging controls, moving controls, picking up controls at Osbornedale.
Saturday May 29, 2010 #
Orienteering 45:00 [1] 3.0 km (15:00 / km)
Went out to Osbornedale with Becky to hang flags. Much nicer out today than on Thursday when I could barely move in the stifling heat.
Friday May 28, 2010 #
4 PM
Running 10:00 [2] 2.0 km (5:00 / km)
shoes: 2010 Asics
Running down to the New Haven Green for soccer
C • wtf? 3
Soccer 1:30:00 [3]
Pick-up soccer with math grad students and others.