Training Log Archive: iansmith

Day 2 - Blue - Splits

Event: UNO Boulder Dash
 

Boulderdash Day 1 Blue at Bear Brook State Park. Course length: 8.5 km, 210m. Despite a few horrendous mistakes, my performance was adequate against the field. Everyone had a bad day; the winner, Eddie, was 12 minutes (19%) behind Superman.

I didn't get as much sleep this week as I had hoped, and I went into the race feeling underprepared. My race day actions were nearly ideal - I woke up 3.5 hours before my start, had breakfast, drove with Andrew to the event site 75 minutes before my start, warmed up, and was ready a few minutes before my call up. I didn't feel my best physically, but that wasn't as limiting today as I had anticipated.

I started comfortably - a 15s bobble at 1, but otherwise clean and safe through 7. As with last year, I struggle discerning the boundaries of marshes in this terrain, and that cost me about 90s at 8. (Note: use contours, not marsh boundaries.) Despite a 15s hesitation at 10 (and a Gu at 9), I was in second place, three minutes behind an explosive Giacomo.

I nailed the long leg at 11, and tricky legs at 12 and 13, losing 16 seconds to Superman over 1.8 km, but I proceeded to celebrate by bombing 6 minutes at 14. It turns out I was exactly where I had guessed - just south of the marsh near 14 - before I decided to bail out to the trail and relocate. I was cautious on 15-17 from shell shock, but lost contact in a vague area near 18 for a loss of 2 minutes. It turns out I was on the verge of the circle before I bailed out, but my plan was inadequate. I finished by cautiously spiking 19 and 20, which had great potential to be disasters.

I'm not the fastest runner in the forest, but this terrain favors me because I am comparatively strong bashing through vegetation. Despite my weaker physical condition coming into the race, I was largely able to keep up with the competition (though I didn't win any splits, aw). The technical difficulty was just too much for me and basically everyone else. I was overconfident at 14 and not confident enough at 18. In both cases, a more secure plan and patience would have mitigated my problems. I was very happy with my execution of the long leg.

Quickroute
Map scan in case anyone wants to quickroute; it includes my drawn route. Oops.

Cool down with Kenny and Charlie Whitaker.

Day 1 - Blue - Splits

I began the workout with the plan to make a 50 minute easy run, but I changed my mind about fifteen minutes into the run to a tempo workout of two 10-12 minute cruise intervals. I didn't look at my GPS (and I wasn't wearing my HR monitor) for pacing, but ran based on feel. My pace was very near the target 4:00/km.

C • running based on feel 6