Training Log Archive: HGaston

Local BOK meet at Umstead.

My run had its ups and downs.

The main time loss is from control 2...I saw a big black snake and lost focus.

I was running in somewhat scrabbly forest with downed logs, and I must have startled the snake, which I hadn't noticed. I don't know very much about the snakes in this area, and there are only harmless garter snakes at home (I used to catch them!).

So...unfortunately I decided it would be a good idea to walk to control 2 while staring at the leaves [in case there were more snakes ;-)].

And I also decided not to follow after the snake, which had disappeared in my intended direction.

So I plodded off in a somewhat similar direction, missed the control, had to relocate, and was generally slow and unfocused.

I also missed the fourth control at first. I was close to it, but it was in a pit and I didn't see it.

Wildlife:

1 black snake
2 deer
5 tics

2009 tic total: 5

C • Lovely 4

C • On the bright side... 3

Distance is made up.

I went for a run with Mallory in the afternoon, down South Road to Greenwood and then back through the trails.

It was really hot. I'm not sure I can handle running in the middle of the day around here...it's supposed to be in the 90s this weekend.

There was a sprinkler on the South Road hill :-). It was amazing.

C • faster than you thought 3

In the union with Jana, Josh, and Josh's friend Peter. Lots of games, mostly doubles. Mostly Josh and I vs. Jana and Peter.

I was "diving" some as usual, but mostly missing the far-out shots today.

A loop and a half around the eastern dorms...then through Battle Park to the Bolin Creek trail...along the trail to the road...back through Battle Park...down South Road to Greenwood...to the end of Greenwood...back up the hill to South road...and along the edge of the woods for a little while.

I saw a little snake in the woods. It surprised me, and I don't know what kind it was. I'm also a little unsure of the snakes/poison ivy/other things here that aren't in the Northwest.

My feet felt heavy after the run. But it was nice, and I was in a bad mood and stressed out beforehand so it was good to get outside.

C • NICE!!! 106

C • Great long run! 2

C • tomorrow! 3

C • Garmin 5

Outside on the quad while waiting for the garmin to locate satellites. I guess it wasn't very long...

Warm-up 400 around the track, reading a sprint course from Anza-Borrego a couple years ago.

C • hey 8

Tried to remember/visualize the controls I'd read during the slower lap.

On the gravel path along the edge of the woods. I read some more controls on the California map.

Ran the same strip, faster.

I was planning to run 2x 1200 and 2x 800 fast on the track, with slower running in between. Sam suggested map-reading intervals where you read the map during the slow running and then try to visualize what you read during the fast intervals.

I ran the 1200s and then an LFIT class needed the track to run their end-of-year timed mile...so I ran approximate 800s along the gravel path by the woods instead.

C • US JWOC 2009 4

Long at WP.

Lots of small time losses...I climbed too high on this massive hillside and then saw my control a few contours down, which was pretty frustrating at the time. I hovered around for a few seconds before giving in, admitting that it was my control, and going down the hill.

The rocks/leaves are easy to trip in! Fell at least four times, once head-first just as I was passing a lost-looking little kid.

Apparently there were people hiding at controls, but I didn't see them ;-).

I had two more-major mistakes:

to 12 (I think): I ran straight down the wrong hillside, and it was covered in green. Then I saw an uncrossable swamp and realized I was in the wrong place.

Also stopped too soon on the way to 3 and poked around on the hillside before it for awhile, finding a training control with no punch on it (to my dismay!).

Fun course :-).

C • I make a good tree... 13

Classic: Red - Splits