Training Log Archive: BorisGr

I am back from the snowbound northeast, but that doesn't mean my own personal training camp has to end. I drove to Great Falls MD and reran the Blue course from last month's local meet on this beautiful fall day. I put in a good effort, but definitely ran out of gas about two-thirds of the way through. I still could not understand the area around #1, just like last time, and also made a mistake on 17. Fairly good otherwise, just tired. I improved my time from last time by 5 minutes. Fairly certain I can be faster on fresh legs.

Advanced-Long - Splits

After an evening of good games and good food, we woke up to a chilly morning. When we headed out to Silas Condict for the day's first training, the temperature was just over 20F. The exercise was O-intervals designed by Sergei. For a training like this, which is meant to be done at high speed, it's really helpful to have streamers out, and I am really grateful to Sergei for taking the time to hang them and then start ahead of us and check the locations again.

We ended up being a pretty big group, as we were joined today by Jeremy and Sagi from HVO, plus a couple of their adventure racing buddies. This was a great training. There were six intervals of about 5 controls each. We either mass-started or did a staggered start on the intervals and gathered at the start of the next one each time. I worked really hard, pushing through the snow and looking for sneaky route choices to try to get past people. I felt good in the beginning and finished first on three of the first four intervals. But in the end, it was The Misha Show. He demonstrated the effects of consisted training by smoking us on the last two intervals and dropping Ian and me on the sprint from the last control to the finish. Well done Misha!

C • Misha 3

I wasn't sure if I had another training in me, but Ian's enthusiasm was contagious, and so Misha and I came along. I am so glad that we did! The three of us ran a green course on Eagle Rock, taking turns leading legs. There was much less snow here than on the other maps, and so we were able to push the pace fairly well and we finished this session just as it was getting dark.

I had a really great time with everyone and am especially thankful to Kseniya, Nadia, and Sergei for their hospitality and lots of yummy food! What a fun time!

I drove up to Harriman for a Thanksgiving training camp hosted by Kseniya and Sergei. Leaving snow-free DC for the snowbound hills of Harriman seemed like a mistake when I arrived to this winter wonderland, but after two days of training and hanging out with good friends I am confident that this was absolutely the right choice!

The first training was a course that was meant to be a memory-O that we did in pairs. I ran with Balter, and we ended up shortening the 6km course to about 4km, and it still took 80 minutes. The snow was deep, ranging from shin-deep to thigh-deep in places. We still managed to screw up a couple of controls. This was fun, though probably not the most effective training of orienteering technique. On the other hand, the woods, lakes, and hills of Harriman were gorgeous on this sunny, snowy, wintery day.

After a break and some food, we set off for a second training. This time I ran with Misha and Kseniya on a control-picking course. There was a little less snow here, and the short legs made the orienteering more challenging, so this was a much more effective training. To our surprise, we encountered Ian about halfway through. He was hanging streamers, so we convinced him to turn around and run the rest with us, collecting the streamers along the way.

Event: Thanksgiving Training Camp
 

Warm-up. Reluctantly got myself out the door and decided that running through the zoo will make me happier. It did not disappoint! Tigers and lions were out and active, as were elephants and pandas. One panda was up high in a tree. It was pretty cool, despite the big crowd. No primates though.

Tempo intervals - time to start speedwork again, but gradually. I did 2x10 minutes with a 2 minute rest. Aimed for 4:00/km, ended up running closer to 3:52 on average. It didn't feel too bad.

Morning run to work. Hit every red light on the way, seemingly.

C • red lights 4

Running home from work in the dark. Really nice temperature out - chilly, but not too cold.

Morning elliptical