Training Log Archive: Lori

Hanging controls at Pawtuckaway for the CSU training. I felt pretty good and in general found all the controls without a problem. One of them was supposed to be on a depression, but it wasn't super obvious. I checked from a bunch of directions to make sure I was correct.

Control picking exercise designed by Brendan. Controls 1 and 2 went well (possibly because I set them...). I got to the control location at 3 and didn't see the streamer, wasn't super confident about my location and started hunting around. I eventually came back to 3 and found the streamer. I was annoyed with myself and wasn't paying a whole lot of attention going to 4 and was too far north. Then on 7, I got in the control circle and then had a bit of trouble finding the depression. I was doing basically ok, but didn't really feel like I was with it and running smoothly again until 11. I decided to cut from 15 to 23 and felt like I sped up after I cut (possibly because the end was in sight). I probably should have done more cutting in general this weekend but psychologically had trouble convincing myself of it. My splits got hopelessly confused during the course somewhere over in the shoelace section. I was unable to sort them out, so I have no splits for this course.

Route choice course designed by Ross. Before going out, Brendan and I talked through our route choices for every leg in a good amount of detail. In general our route choices were similar, with a few minor deviations except for number 3 where we decided to go on opposite sides of the lake.

I started out feeling pretty good. I was a bit tired from the morning, but still moving. Talking over the route choices was great for me. I was staying much more in touch with the map than in the morning and really checking everything off along the way. I executed 1 and 2 well. Going to 3, I completely screwed up (perhaps Brendan's plan was better after all...) I'm not entirely sure what happened, but I think there was a bit more green than was mapped and in my effort to keep out of it, I got off course. I also started getting really dehydrated and tired going to 3. I got back into things going to 4 and 4, 5, and 6 were all good navagationally, but I had completely lost steam and was dragging pretty badly. Also, the gross, algae encrusted streams were starting to look REALLY good. I had to remind myself how bad food poisoning makes you feel to keep from drinking the water. I got a little out of touch with the map on 6, but actually stayed on track the whole time, but the uncertainty just slowed me down even more. I also found an MIT hat hanging on a tree with a pretty old Pawtuckaway orienteering map, which was rather creepy. Going to 7, I completely lost it. I'm not really sure what happened other than getting too tired and dehydrated to think any more, but somehow I found myself a couple hundred meters south of the controls, relocated and found it. The rest of the way in, I recognized that I was too out of it to navigate through the woods anymore, so I changed my original plans (sorry!) and took easier trail runs the rest of the way. When I got back I drank 32oz of Gatorade in less than 5 minutes.

Route Planning - Splits

This was going to be a rest day but since the NH state parks apparently hate dogs, I felt like I needed to take Presto for a run today since he would be at home the rest of the weekend instead of running around in the woods. I was really tired and moving slowly, but Presto enjoyed it, which was the important thing.

C • pets 1

Joint lab meeting kept me from going to the CSU training at Hammond Pond, but since Ross was planning dinner to go along with training, I decided to run part way over to meet everyone for dinner (which was awesome!). I ran from my place to the Longwood D Green Line stop, with a brief detour through a really nice neighborhood where I got lost. I then took the T from Longwood to Chestnut Hill and ran from Chestnut Hill to Ross's. I did not have my watch running for 0.3mi, so I just calculated my pace for the other 4.1mi and figured it was probably about the same for that 0.3mi to get my total time.

It was supposed to thunderstorm and there was a hiking advisory, but we basically had nothing to do besides hike, so we decided to go up the smallish, Mount Hedgehog (2532ft high). This was definitely an easier hike than yesterday at first. The trail was more trail-like and less like a collection of rocks. We were pretty quickly up in the clouds, which was kind of fun. Unfortunately I think the exciting part of this mountain is its amazing views and our views were confined to the inside of our cloud. It got progressively rainier and rainier. I had had inklings that my rain jacket was losing its waterproofness, which were confirmed on this hike. The trail turned into a collection of rocks/bare rock just about the time it started really raining, making things interesting. By the time we got out of the rocks, it was really pouring and the trail was basically a mud puddle. We definitely had a good time anyway but were REALLY cold and wet by the end, especially Kiwi. I let her sleep inside my shirt with her head coming out the neck hole with mine on the way back :-). Once again, Kiwi spent the entire hike attacking Presto, who once again put up with it the entire time.

Hiked up Mount Chocorua (3475ft high) with my mom, dad, Presto, and Kiwi. The last time I climbed this mountain was in February and with the snow and ice cover (which caused its own problems) I didn't realize how incredibly rocky this mountain is. The footing was very difficult in places and it was also incredibly wet. In many places the trail resembled more of a stream. It was a "classic" summit with a lot of rock climbing and an AMAZING view at the top. There was also a really nice waterfall partway up that we stopped to play in. Presto and Kiwi had a great time. Kiwi spent almost the entire time attached to Presto's neck via her teeth. Presto really is a good dog to put up with that!