Training Log Archive: iansmith

I went on a long, easy run from work to home via Tufts. Ghettotrack.

Event: Canceled: NEOC: High Rock
 

Middlesex Fells Skyline run with Ali, Brendan, and Andy D. I haven't run the Skyline since March 24, and it was delightful to get out on a magnificent section of trail. The day was gorgeous - slightly cool, and sunny. I will steal Ali's gpx track when she posts it. We ran clockwise and lost the route a few times. Afterward, Ali, Brendan and I picked up sandwiches at Angelina's Pizzeria in Davis.

Event: NEOC: Nobscot Night-O
 

I ran a 3k time trial with Ali to gauge fitness. We started simultaneously, and I hung with her for the first km, but gradually fell back over the next two. I felt sluggish, but it's hard to pinpoint exactly what seemed to be the limiting factor. Usually, I can break down constraints in terms of breathing, muscle weakness or lactate, and energy; today, I seemed lacking in all three. My plan has been to build up my base lately, but while I have cut back on speedwork, I haven't succeeded in maintain a regular running schedule. Running such a sluggish 3k should be good motivation for the months ahead.

Warmup before the 3k time trial - some easy laps at around 5:00/km, about eight minutes of Ali's drills (high knees, butt kicks, side skipping, karaokes, running backwards, and leaps). I felt sluggish, probably from a lack of sleep and lack of training. We then ran 800m with alternating 100m strides, 100m easy.

Cool down jog around the fields. There was a carnival happening at Danehy, with booths, a jumping castle, and various activities.

Easy warmup jog with Magnus around the parking lot at Nobscot.

Nobscot Night-O, set by Alex and Ed. I started reasonably well, but started making mistakes which quickly took their toll. My old weak 3xAAA headlamp broke recently when one of the batteries leaked, so I purchased a new 3xAAA 90-lumen headlamp. Even if I acquire a powerful lamp for Night-O, this light will be useful for camping and sating my flashlight enthusiasm. The light was adequate, but something more powerful would have helped.

Routes and execution to 1 and 2 were good.
To 3: I took the obvious trail route, but hesitated in the circle after a weak attackpoint off the trail bend. I should have paid more attention to the contours and used the three small hills to vector in.
To 4: I considered going through the start, but took the worse route choice of running along a major trail to south of the control, then bashing through a marsh. I hit the control ok, but was slow moving through the vegetation.
To 5: Straight, ok.
6: I think straight on the line would have worked acceptably, but Markku and I had chatted about the greater advantage of trails at night. I ran left to the trail-wall junction, then up the reentrant, just south of the marsh edge, to the trail and in.
7: I ran along the trail and had a terrible attackpoint (poor guess based on the bend and the hill to the left). I went into the wrong reentrant and hesitated for about 30s before correcting.
8: Down to the trail junction, up over the nose, and in. Clean.
9: Left route; clean, albeit hesitant on the attack.
10: Charged up the hill straight on the line, missing the trail to the left I was planning to hit. I hit the trail about 100m south of the control, and had to stop to figure out which trail junction I was on. 2:00 error
11: fumbled around on trail junctions before picking the way I wanted to go, then bobbled inside the circle looking at smaller cliffs before hitting the lower, bigger 3m cliff. 1:00 error
12: Hesitant, reeling from my mistakes.
13: I somehow missed the trail left of the line entirely and skirted farther to the left. Despite guessing that I had gone left and correcting right, I didn't see the control on my descent, so after hitting the trail, I ran right to the cliff and went up. 1:15 error.
14: Good on the trivial trail running, but didn't see the contour line under the circle and underestimated how high the flag was. I must have run on the north edge of the circle before seeing the steep descent past the control; I doubled back and hit it. 1:00 error.
15: Down the trail, still smarting from my mistakes. I came across what could have been a rock wall (my attackpoint), but was nothing but a pile of rocks. 1:00 error.
16: Fine; trail left of the line and up over the spur.

Overall, not my finest day, but it was a fun course. This year has two Night-Os based on the fact that lots of people seemed to enjoy the event last year. It might be better to have one night-O in each season rather than two in the fall two weeks apart; even with 65-ish people attending, Night-O is not everyone's cup of tea. Thanks to Ed and Alex for a fun time.

C • two in one season 1

Long - Splits

Easy run to work. I carried a small backpack, which left red marks where the narrow straps crossed my shoulders. I kept to 3/3 breathing.

Ghettotrack.

I ran home in the rain. I would have gone on a longer run, but it was pouring, and I was carrying a bag-o'-stuff. I was thoroughly drenched about a minute into the run, but due to packing geometry, most of the stuff in my bag stayed dry.