Training Log Archive: maprunnerIn the 7 days ending Oct 22, 2012:
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Monday Oct 22, 2012 #
Note
Family and travel day. After the sprint, we left early to visit Mike's brother, wife and kids across the Hudson River in NY. Fun to play with the kids, who are now 4 and 6. The up early this morning to visit my parents for a few hours before going to the airport. We almost went to mom and dad's yesterday, after hearing that my dad was in the hospital overnight for heart observations. But after speaking with mom, it seemed like it was a false alarm, and we should go ahead with our original plans.
Thoughts on the weekend: great event, all around. Loved the international feel, with all the different competitors, team uniforms, and even each country's flag in the arena. Maps and courses were great. Transportation worked out well, considering all the logistics that were necessary. Only possible constructive criticisms were to have a paper backup plan for when the electronic results were not available on Friday. And to notify competitors that clothing was not being brought from the start to the finish at the sprint. But those are both minor annoyances from a huge undertaking. I was especially impressed with the number of volunteer workers.
Plus it was great fun to see so many people, old and new friends, in and out of the woods.
My own personal results were not good. I suppose I should have considered that I hadn't been in the woods since March (with the exception of Laramie last month, which is an exception in its own way) and thought about my race strategy under those conditions. My goal was to be less than 30% behind the Green Y course winner. My actual results were 90 (middle), 70 (long) and 40 (sprint). Time without mistakes (according to AP) was 42, 50 and 31. (The long had some ringers running down :) So, 30% is within reach. I just have to learn to read a map :)
Good news is that all the leaves fall off the trees here at home while we were gone, so I can run in the local woods again. And also, my physical prep for this weekend was fine. I cannot blame any of my results on physical conditions, just mental.
Thoughts on the weekend: great event, all around. Loved the international feel, with all the different competitors, team uniforms, and even each country's flag in the arena. Maps and courses were great. Transportation worked out well, considering all the logistics that were necessary. Only possible constructive criticisms were to have a paper backup plan for when the electronic results were not available on Friday. And to notify competitors that clothing was not being brought from the start to the finish at the sprint. But those are both minor annoyances from a huge undertaking. I was especially impressed with the number of volunteer workers.
Plus it was great fun to see so many people, old and new friends, in and out of the woods.
My own personal results were not good. I suppose I should have considered that I hadn't been in the woods since March (with the exception of Laramie last month, which is an exception in its own way) and thought about my race strategy under those conditions. My goal was to be less than 30% behind the Green Y course winner. My actual results were 90 (middle), 70 (long) and 40 (sprint). Time without mistakes (according to AP) was 42, 50 and 31. (The long had some ringers running down :) So, 30% is within reach. I just have to learn to read a map :)
Good news is that all the leaves fall off the trees here at home while we were gone, so I can run in the local woods again. And also, my physical prep for this weekend was fine. I cannot blame any of my results on physical conditions, just mental.
Sunday Oct 21, 2012 #
PT 1 [0]
8 AM
orienteer race 1 [0]
Goal was to run fast, but not too fast. I didn't want to skip a control or mispunch. In the end, I think I was a bit too cautious, and I could have pushed a bit. Although I did make two tiny errors, and one bigger error. No DQ or MSP :)
Small mistake leaving the spectator control 3 (misread the buildings and ran till I saw the large marsh before I stopped and turned back). Left 9 in the wrong direction, and took a few steps before I figured it out. I was surprised to see how much time I lost on 13 (according to AP). I know I took a few seconds to figure out a route, and then went around. I know I spent some time looking at the edge of the swamp instead of the parking lot. But still.
Highlight: beating Emma Johansson on the finish split :)
Fun course; I really enjoyed the mix of terrain.
Small mistake leaving the spectator control 3 (misread the buildings and ran till I saw the large marsh before I stopped and turned back). Left 9 in the wrong direction, and took a few steps before I figured it out. I was surprised to see how much time I lost on 13 (according to AP). I know I took a few seconds to figure out a route, and then went around. I know I spent some time looking at the edge of the swamp instead of the parking lot. But still.
Highlight: beating Emma Johansson on the finish split :)
Fun course; I really enjoyed the mix of terrain.
Saturday Oct 20, 2012 #
10 AM
orienteer race 1 [3] ***
Long course at NAOC. Much better than yesterday. Still not great, but I'll take it. Spent a lot of time talking out loud, describing my route: up the hill, cross the trail , through the semi-open, look for shallow reenteant. And that seemed to help focus my mind.
Mistake on 5, when I found a near-by control. I should have had confidence of where I was , but instead I climbed a hill to relocate.
Slow to 4 and 11 to make sure I knew where I was.
Big mistake to 14. I think I forgot to look att compass going down the hill. I ended up going off 90 degrees, but it took me a while to figure it out. Kept finding parallel streams, marshes and clearings.
Well, at this rate, I should be on track for a good run tomorrow :)
Mistake on 5, when I found a near-by control. I should have had confidence of where I was , but instead I climbed a hill to relocate.
Slow to 4 and 11 to make sure I knew where I was.
Big mistake to 14. I think I forgot to look att compass going down the hill. I ended up going off 90 degrees, but it took me a while to figure it out. Kept finding parallel streams, marshes and clearings.
Well, at this rate, I should be on track for a good run tomorrow :)
Friday Oct 19, 2012 #
11 AM
orienteer 1 [3] ***
Well, this was an epic fail. Forgot to bring my brain to the start. Missed C1 and it never got better. Missed almost every control today; some by just a little bit, some by quite a lot. Just terrible.
orienteer 1:04:29 3.3 km (19:32 / km) +117m 16:36 / km
ahr:162 max:178 16c
My route.. My personal favorites: finding 5 by going to 8 and 9 first (without recognizing it); and 10: being within 100 meters of the control, then convincing myself it was on another hill, and running up and down before going back to where I was to begin with. A classic horrible day.
Wednesday Oct 17, 2012 #
weights 1:00:00 [2]
Tuesday Oct 16, 2012 #
6 PM
PT 1 [0]
run/walk 25:00 2.2 km (11:23 / km) +24m 10:47 / km
a short shuffle on west campus tonight to remind my legs what it feels like to run.
I'm so excited for the NAOC this weekend. Almost 700 competitors! This is going to be awesome! Plus I get to catch up with so many friends, and club mates.
Back in January, I picked this event as my "race of the year". I've trained hard this year, and I feel ready. My goal is to be less than 30% behind the winner of Green Y, on each race. It's a perfect goal: a bit of a stretch, but still attainable.
I'm so excited for the NAOC this weekend. Almost 700 competitors! This is going to be awesome! Plus I get to catch up with so many friends, and club mates.
Back in January, I picked this event as my "race of the year". I've trained hard this year, and I feel ready. My goal is to be less than 30% behind the winner of Green Y, on each race. It's a perfect goal: a bit of a stretch, but still attainable.