Training Log Archive: iansmithIn the 7 days ending Oct 18, 2015:
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Sunday Oct 18, 2015 #
Event: Hudson Highlander XVIII
Orienteering 4:16:23 [3] 30.0 km (8:33 / km)
shoes: 201510 X-Talon 212
Hudson Highlander, my second. Yesterday, I took care of some work and did life maintenance - laundry, various logistics tasks, with the plan to drive to the Highlander in the morning. With an 11 AM start time and a 3:30 drive, I could depart at 6:30 and comfortably arrive prepared. I woke up before dawn, checked all my packing, then decided to look at the meet notes again and confirm whether Tiorati or Kanawauki circle was the start location. And then I noticed the start was at 9. I reacted with surprise.
While this was unfortunate, the Highlander is still great fun, and Surebridge is among my favorite places to orienteer in the US. Since the first map exchange didn't close until 2p, I would have plenty of time to complete the course. I ate breakfast and some coffee, drove to Harriman, arrived at parking, explained my predicament, and ultimately started my race from parking at 11:07. I ran to the start as if it were part of my race, but partly because I was running alone, I was able to keep my pace within my ability rather than burning out in a blaze of glory in the beginning scramble.
I thoroughly enjoyed the course; I wore short sleeves and no gloves despite the ~6-8 C chill (and brief snow/hail flurry on Surebridge), but warmed up easily. I first saw people who were on the trail run when I was en route to 2, and I ran into Alan Young reporting bibs just past the start of the trail run. I started passing people just after the map exchange at control 11. I have done a fair bit of training on all three maps, so most of it was familiar. I made a 3-4 minute route choice mistake to 16, got tangled in mountain laurel (2 minutes) at 14, was tired on the uphill into 25, and apparently made a route choice error (2 mins) going right into 31 instead of trailing around on the left.
I would say that I survived this race rather than I raced it. Unlike two years ago, I was able to keep a largely steady effort, with perhaps five minutes of walking on uphills near the end. That said, I wasn't pushing at all, I was pitifully slow, and my fitness was far too weak to manage this. From the start, I estimate I ran the course in about 4:10 (allowing a 10 minute split to the first control) entirely solo (forgot my Garmin), which isn't far from the pack but isn't what someone racing should be doing. My body held up just fine, with only hints of cramping in the last thirty minutes and no blisters.
Clearly, I need to rethink my life; a logistical failure of this magnitude is absurd. My google calendar clearly says "9a Highlander", but I ignored it. Everyone was a good sport - apparently I made Kenny laugh with my early morning failtext, and I really appreciate the efforts of all the organizers. As Balter remarked at the map exchange, I made a 2:15:00 error to the first control.
While this was unfortunate, the Highlander is still great fun, and Surebridge is among my favorite places to orienteer in the US. Since the first map exchange didn't close until 2p, I would have plenty of time to complete the course. I ate breakfast and some coffee, drove to Harriman, arrived at parking, explained my predicament, and ultimately started my race from parking at 11:07. I ran to the start as if it were part of my race, but partly because I was running alone, I was able to keep my pace within my ability rather than burning out in a blaze of glory in the beginning scramble.
I thoroughly enjoyed the course; I wore short sleeves and no gloves despite the ~6-8 C chill (and brief snow/hail flurry on Surebridge), but warmed up easily. I first saw people who were on the trail run when I was en route to 2, and I ran into Alan Young reporting bibs just past the start of the trail run. I started passing people just after the map exchange at control 11. I have done a fair bit of training on all three maps, so most of it was familiar. I made a 3-4 minute route choice mistake to 16, got tangled in mountain laurel (2 minutes) at 14, was tired on the uphill into 25, and apparently made a route choice error (2 mins) going right into 31 instead of trailing around on the left.
I would say that I survived this race rather than I raced it. Unlike two years ago, I was able to keep a largely steady effort, with perhaps five minutes of walking on uphills near the end. That said, I wasn't pushing at all, I was pitifully slow, and my fitness was far too weak to manage this. From the start, I estimate I ran the course in about 4:10 (allowing a 10 minute split to the first control) entirely solo (forgot my Garmin), which isn't far from the pack but isn't what someone racing should be doing. My body held up just fine, with only hints of cramping in the last thirty minutes and no blisters.
Clearly, I need to rethink my life; a logistical failure of this magnitude is absurd. My google calendar clearly says "9a Highlander", but I ignored it. Everyone was a good sport - apparently I made Kenny laugh with my early morning failtext, and I really appreciate the efforts of all the organizers. As Balter remarked at the map exchange, I made a 2:15:00 error to the first control.
Saturday Oct 17, 2015 #
9 PM
Running 36:00 [1] 7.11 km (5:04 / km) +42m 4:55 / km
shoes: 201506 Asics Fuji Attack 4
Easy cruise. It's been an awful pair of weeks - I have been feeling unmotivated and overwhelmed by life. Nevertheless, it's time to get back on the wagon.