Training Log Archive: hkleafIn the 1 days ending Sep 22, 2007:
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Saturday Sep 22, 2007 #
Running warm up/down (Grass) 38:00 [1] 4.47 mi (8:30 / mi)
slept:7.0 shoes: VJ Integrator
Warm up runs for each of the 3 sprints. ~15' for the first 2, but after spectating the exciting Finals, I only had time for a brief warm up before the last sprint.
*pace is estimated.
*pace is estimated.
Orienteering race (A-Meet Sprint) 15:27 [5] *** 2.22 km (6:58 / km) +51m 6:15 / km
spiked:14/15c shoes: VJ Integrator
WCOC Sprint A-Meet and Finals - Cranbury Park, Norwalk, CT.
Sprint A (Course 3): 2.22k, 51m, 15c. (1:4000, 1.5m)
Course Setter: Joe Brautigam
High 70s, overcast, and humid.
Overall a fairly clean run for me, just not very fast nor confident the whole time. Hesitated slightly at the trail junction N of #1, and just like that Brendan (who started 30s behind) had caught up to me by the time I punched. We were mostly together from #2 thru #11, alternating leads. I think somewhere around 5-6, we were briefly joined by Samantha. But I took a bad route (way wide right) to #6, whereas she went left? On the way to #11, Mike S. zoomed past me like he was floating through the rocky terrain! He also quickly darted out of sight, so there was no chance of sticking with him. I ran well the rest of the way, and to my surprise saw Mike S. heading to #15. He must've slowed down a bit or made an error. I tried my hardest to sprint in, but he?s just too fast. My finish time wasn't great, but it was at least good enough to keep me in 6th place, hanging on by a thread.
Sprint A (Course 3): 2.22k, 51m, 15c. (1:4000, 1.5m)
Course Setter: Joe Brautigam
High 70s, overcast, and humid.
Overall a fairly clean run for me, just not very fast nor confident the whole time. Hesitated slightly at the trail junction N of #1, and just like that Brendan (who started 30s behind) had caught up to me by the time I punched. We were mostly together from #2 thru #11, alternating leads. I think somewhere around 5-6, we were briefly joined by Samantha. But I took a bad route (way wide right) to #6, whereas she went left? On the way to #11, Mike S. zoomed past me like he was floating through the rocky terrain! He also quickly darted out of sight, so there was no chance of sticking with him. I ran well the rest of the way, and to my surprise saw Mike S. heading to #15. He must've slowed down a bit or made an error. I tried my hardest to sprint in, but he?s just too fast. My finish time wasn't great, but it was at least good enough to keep me in 6th place, hanging on by a thread.
Orienteering race (A-Meet Sprint) 15:56 [5] *** 2.33 km (6:50 / km) +52m 6:09 / km
spiked:10/13c shoes: VJ Integrator
WCOC Sprint A-Meet and Finals - Cranbury Park, Norwalk, CT.
Sprint B (Course 3): 2.33k, 52m, 13c. (1:4000, 1.5m)
Course Setter: Joe Brautigam
High 70s, light rain, and humid.
I ate some snacks, drank plenty of fluids, and made sure my legs stayed loose in-between sprints. Knowing that I was still in 6th place made me extra nervous. I stuck with my pre-race routines and tried to calm myself as best I can. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to help me run a good race. I started running down the trail instead of straight thru the woods. I corrected myself and got to #1 just fine, but probably lost some precious seconds there. I saw Mike S., who started 30s ahead, coming from further right. I assumed he's made a similar mistake as me. We were kind of together to #2, but then I made a mistake at #3 hitting the bare rock S of the control. I was on my own until #8, where I stopped one reentrant too early searching for the control. This is when Samantha caught up to me. We then traded leads, took slightly different lines, but ended up running together till the finish. Going to #13, I saw Mike S. once again. He drifted right as if he's heading to the finish. This allowed me to catch up and punch #13 first. With both Mike and Samantha hot on my tail, I mustered all my strength and sprinted as fast as I could to barely hold off the two of them. At least my disappointing run ended on a positive note. :) It took a while to compile the results and final standings. Mikkel and Alexei both had great runs, so I know right away that I wouldn't hold onto the 6th spot. I believe I ended up 9th overall. A bit disheartening, but I've already made some improvements from last year. Plus, there's always next year!
Sprint B (Course 3): 2.33k, 52m, 13c. (1:4000, 1.5m)
Course Setter: Joe Brautigam
High 70s, light rain, and humid.
I ate some snacks, drank plenty of fluids, and made sure my legs stayed loose in-between sprints. Knowing that I was still in 6th place made me extra nervous. I stuck with my pre-race routines and tried to calm myself as best I can. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to help me run a good race. I started running down the trail instead of straight thru the woods. I corrected myself and got to #1 just fine, but probably lost some precious seconds there. I saw Mike S., who started 30s ahead, coming from further right. I assumed he's made a similar mistake as me. We were kind of together to #2, but then I made a mistake at #3 hitting the bare rock S of the control. I was on my own until #8, where I stopped one reentrant too early searching for the control. This is when Samantha caught up to me. We then traded leads, took slightly different lines, but ended up running together till the finish. Going to #13, I saw Mike S. once again. He drifted right as if he's heading to the finish. This allowed me to catch up and punch #13 first. With both Mike and Samantha hot on my tail, I mustered all my strength and sprinted as fast as I could to barely hold off the two of them. At least my disappointing run ended on a positive note. :) It took a while to compile the results and final standings. Mikkel and Alexei both had great runs, so I know right away that I wouldn't hold onto the 6th spot. I believe I ended up 9th overall. A bit disheartening, but I've already made some improvements from last year. Plus, there's always next year!
Orienteering race (Sprint) 15:25 [5] *** 3.15 km (4:54 / km) +33m 4:39 / km
spiked:21/21c shoes: VJ Integrator
WCOC Sprint A-Meet and Finals - Cranbury Park, Norwalk, CT.
Sprint C (Variation 6): 3.15k, 33m, 21c. with map exchange after 16 (1:4000, 1.5m)
Course Setter: Joe Brautigam
High 70s, overcast, and humid.
I ate and drank some more, still trying to stay loose. The rain had stopped by now. Watching the Finals races got me excited again. Joe designed a nice course with great spectating throughout. PG's commentating was icing on the cake. I got in a brief warmup just before the fundraiser sprint. It's an exhilarating sensation to be standing at the mass start line waiting for the signal! I decided to go easy out of the chute to take a good look at the map, so that I'd know which way to turn immediately after punching #1. I had the southern loop first. There was a small pack of 5-6 running together, including Greg Balter, Nate Lyons, and myself. (It's interesting that we'd end up all finishing in the top 5-6 later!) I think we were first to come back to the spectator control. The eastern loop was next. This was the easiest of the 3, so I was able to run it in a fast pace. Nate and I were together up front the whole time, until he tripped and fell just before #10. He was fine and got up quickly. I never once looked back, so I didn?t know how many, if any, were with us at this point. The third loop was to the north. I continued at a high speed with Nate in hot pursuit. We punched #14 together. Then he went right around the building while I took the left route. I got there maybe a second faster, but nothing more. We were still 1st and 2nd at the map exchange. The last loop had two long legs, offering more route choices and also chances to screw up. Nate took the lead out of #17. We both went around to the right for the trail, but we split up as soon as we got on the trail. He went left at the junction by #4. I went right and followed S all the way around to #18. Before I got there though, I saw a pack of runners (Greg, Maricel, and Alexei) darting across the trail in front of me. Nate was just slightly behind at this point. They must've taken a much better route from #17. I caught up to them and we all got to #18 together. Luckily, I punched first and got out of there quickly. I started heading up the trail N. The others ran on the trail briefly, then cut into the woods for a more direct route. It was then that I made up my mind to take the trail N all the way to the parking lot, then turn E on the trail to #19. This was the simplest route, with minimal navigation required. I decided I was too tired to think on the run, so I'd just run the trail as hard as I could, hoping for the best. Long and behold, I got to the area S of #19, looked to my right, and there were the guys still making their way thru the woods! I hesitated a bit as the control was obscured by the vegetation. But once I found it, I blasted up the field to the last 2 controls. I heard John F. and others cheering, yelling something. I know someone?s right on my heels, just don't know whom. As I punched #21, I finally saw my pursuer (Maricel), and noted that I had a few seconds of precious breathing room. The run down to the finish was probably the most intense I've felt in an O-race. It was bittersweet to claim a small victory after missing out on the Finals. A great way to end the day!
Sprint C (Variation 6): 3.15k, 33m, 21c. with map exchange after 16 (1:4000, 1.5m)
Course Setter: Joe Brautigam
High 70s, overcast, and humid.
I ate and drank some more, still trying to stay loose. The rain had stopped by now. Watching the Finals races got me excited again. Joe designed a nice course with great spectating throughout. PG's commentating was icing on the cake. I got in a brief warmup just before the fundraiser sprint. It's an exhilarating sensation to be standing at the mass start line waiting for the signal! I decided to go easy out of the chute to take a good look at the map, so that I'd know which way to turn immediately after punching #1. I had the southern loop first. There was a small pack of 5-6 running together, including Greg Balter, Nate Lyons, and myself. (It's interesting that we'd end up all finishing in the top 5-6 later!) I think we were first to come back to the spectator control. The eastern loop was next. This was the easiest of the 3, so I was able to run it in a fast pace. Nate and I were together up front the whole time, until he tripped and fell just before #10. He was fine and got up quickly. I never once looked back, so I didn?t know how many, if any, were with us at this point. The third loop was to the north. I continued at a high speed with Nate in hot pursuit. We punched #14 together. Then he went right around the building while I took the left route. I got there maybe a second faster, but nothing more. We were still 1st and 2nd at the map exchange. The last loop had two long legs, offering more route choices and also chances to screw up. Nate took the lead out of #17. We both went around to the right for the trail, but we split up as soon as we got on the trail. He went left at the junction by #4. I went right and followed S all the way around to #18. Before I got there though, I saw a pack of runners (Greg, Maricel, and Alexei) darting across the trail in front of me. Nate was just slightly behind at this point. They must've taken a much better route from #17. I caught up to them and we all got to #18 together. Luckily, I punched first and got out of there quickly. I started heading up the trail N. The others ran on the trail briefly, then cut into the woods for a more direct route. It was then that I made up my mind to take the trail N all the way to the parking lot, then turn E on the trail to #19. This was the simplest route, with minimal navigation required. I decided I was too tired to think on the run, so I'd just run the trail as hard as I could, hoping for the best. Long and behold, I got to the area S of #19, looked to my right, and there were the guys still making their way thru the woods! I hesitated a bit as the control was obscured by the vegetation. But once I found it, I blasted up the field to the last 2 controls. I heard John F. and others cheering, yelling something. I know someone?s right on my heels, just don't know whom. As I punched #21, I finally saw my pursuer (Maricel), and noted that I had a few seconds of precious breathing room. The run down to the finish was probably the most intense I've felt in an O-race. It was bittersweet to claim a small victory after missing out on the Finals. A great way to end the day!
Stretching warm up/down 10:00 [1]