Training Log Archive: BorisGr

Event: US Team Trials for WOC '11
 

Warm-up/cool-down

US Team Trials Sprint - SUNY Purchase

The map and the course were great. Neil did a great job getting everything and everyone together to make sure this sprint could happen. I have no idea what we would have done without his efforts. If only he wasn't sick too... Becky, too, is a star for taking over all the vetting duties at the last moment and doing a great job.

My race preparation started off pretty strangely. As I bit into a granola bar in the shady quarantine zone, I heard a crunching sound and saw a crown from one of my teeth fall out and land in the grass. Hmm, strange.

Otherwise, things went ok and I was ready for the race, though perhaps not for the heat. I started pretty well, though took the slower (south) route to 2, losing 5 seconds or so. The next few were going well, and I was planning routes in advance. On the long leg to 7, though, I got confused when I reached the long east-west overhang and could not understand the shapes of buildings there. I stopped, took a few steps in the wrong direction, got a bit frazzled by the yelling spectators (I was told I looked like a wounded animal), and then finally figured out where to go. Perhaps 15 seconds lost there, maybe 20. Ok for the next couple, but then got confused by the trucks at 12, as they were obscuring the building my control was on. Hesitated and stopped short - another 15 seconds left. Not a disaster, but the difference between a possible 3rd place in the Trials and 8th. Not good, though not all as lost, as many of the usual suspects had times withing the 14:45-15:05 range.

C • Good job! 2

Blue - Splits

Easy run around East Rock with Kat (at the beginning) and Will. Then a few strides with Will.

Alex called in the morning and convinced me to go to Harriman. We got there after some sitting in traffic and questionable route choices. First, I ran a memory exercise with Mike Sandstrom on Polebrook. This went well, and I felt like I was moving well through terrain.

Then, after a break, we did another pairs exercise on Surebridge. I ran with Jeff. I guess the point of the training was to run fast when you are chasing the other person, but that didn't really happen, as the terrain was tough, and we were tired. Still, a good training, and running at Harriman is always a pleasure. Thanks Becky!

890/2000

C • Broken link 4

Around this time of year, there is a lot of buzz around selections for WOC and JWOC teams in various countries. Once again this year, I am thankful for the objective system we have in the US, so that we don't have the endless complaints, like in Sweden or Russia

C • amazing 8

Training at Ansonia. First, hanging (never-used) streamers for Becky's boulder exercise, then shadowing Alex around the slope course. Felt better as the day went on.

Event: Saxon Woods
 

HVO local event at Saxon Woods, set by Jeremy. I really like Saxon Woods and think it's a nice area. Today's courses had a lot of trail running and did not make much use of the fairly complex rock and contour detail in the north part of the map, but it was good to force myself to run fast on the trails and be smooth into and out of controls. Pretty clean race, except for some parts of being tentative through dense vegetation. Sergei had about 52 minutes without going to the last control, and was running significantly faster than me.

Sprint as Saxon Woods after finishing the red course. This was a really half-assed effort as I didn't feel like being out there and revisiting a number of controls from the red course. It was a very nice stand-alone sprint, but my mind just wasn't in it.

852/2000

Event: Informal Training Week pre Team Trials
 

Lunch in Indiana - Dinner in DC - Breakfast in Hartford - Lunch/Dinner in Boston.
Flew into Hartford, stayed at George and Lyn's (thanks Georg and Lyn!), and drove to Lynn Woods to meet Giovanni, Ed, Katia, Ross, and a surprise visitor in the shape of Eric Weyman to look at the area for the middle distance US Champs. Then Ross and I did a long control picking course, checking out the new part of the map, which is definitely nicer than the first part we had gotten. Running with Ross was a lot of fun, and the sunshine contributed to the enjoyment. A nice afternoon. Then drove back to New Haven. Tomorrow - Saxon Woods.

Threshold intervals on the hotel treadmill in the morning. Worked hard, but didn't go particularly fast. Not a great sign.

C • easy boy 1