Training Log Archive: levitin

Event: Blue Hills Traverse
 

Blue Hills Traverse. I have orienteered a grand total of once prior to tday after returning from PNWOF this summer. I had hoped to get into a good crowd and use stamina to stay with them longer. That plan flew out the window at the starting "Go."

Followed Charlie DeWeese to #1, not in contact for about the first 90% of the leg, face planted twice, getting a couple of nice scrapes. Navigated by myself near but generally not with others for the rest of the day, occasionally seeing Dima, Jessica Rykken, Hans, and Gary Gallagher.

After clearing my Epunch at the start/finish, I left it in the car, so I had the pleasure of pin-punching my map at each control.

Of all the 10 or so times I've run the traverse, I think today's conditions -- the weather and the woods -- were the nicest I can recall. The temps were pleasant, suitable for a single layer. The trails were quite pleasant to run on, with little trickles of water or streams running alongside or amidst the trail. Nice, splashy dirt, not quite to the shoe-sucking mud stage.

Gary Gallagher and I reached 16 at the same time, but he went to 17 around to the right while I went left. Upon reaching 17 and seeing Scott Turner, I asked him if that guy ahead of me was Gary. Yes. Gary got into the rocky stretch of 18, but I went higher in the clear and got in and out before him.

A great day to be in the woods, and many thanks to all who helped staff, put out water and goodies, set the course, print the maps, and so on.

Traverse - Splits

Salisbury out-and-back, late afternoon.

Hill workout on the treadmill. 30m @ 6.6mph @ difficulty level 10 (1-20 scale), corresponding to steps in grade of 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, and 7.8% for 1m each.

I noticed about a 15-20 second lag between the beginning of a steeper interval and the rise of my HR (part of which is the time it take the deck to change its inclination). Similarly, a 15-20s lag between the beginning of the rest interval and the peaking of my HR.

Horse loop. Saw 5 wild turkeys near the horse farm and very close to the Elizabeth Brook, a feeder into the Assabet. Never had seen wild turkeys anywhere in Hudson or Marlboro before.

Brisk run, HR felt like it was in the 160s, but HRM lost the signal.