Training Log Archive: Gswede

Pretzel City Sports' Chilly Cheeks race. Slightly longer course than last year, so I ended up running around the same pace as last year. That's a really good sign since I slept about 2.5hrs last night and still feel a little under the weather.

Cool story: second place finished a bit less than 2mins behind me. He was hanging on to me for a lot of the race, particularly the uphills. His name's Gabriel Rodriguez. He's run 14min for 5k, but is also really experienced on trails. Here's an abridged version of the conversation we had after the race

GR: Damn you're fast on the downhills. What is your main sport?

Me: Orienteering.

GR: That's what I thought. You're dressed like an orienteer. You guys are fast as hell through technical stuff. But you're talented. Do you have a sponsor?

Me: Kind of, but not really, no.

GR: I work for Under Armour. I've got to get changed, but let's trade contact info later.


I thought it was interesting that he was able to recognize orienteering attire. More people know about us than I thought.

Really hoping we can at least get a bit more publicity for the sport through something with Under Armour. Because I have a feeling that their stuff wouldn't hold up too well in terrain. But I sure would be happy to test it.

Post-race maze course on Mount Penn. I made a maze because I knew this wouldn't be a very fast run. I was also very mentally out of it because I was so tired. Complete space cadet on 6 and 8.

But that's why it's good to do courses when I'm in this state: to continue training my mind to orienteer accurately when in a fatigued state.

Map isn't uploading now, but I'll work that out for later.

Control Count: 652.

Uh oh. I might be coming down with something.

Confirmed: sick with something. Not great timing, but that's life. Lots of water and rest today. We'll see about tomorrow.

The goal of 800 controls is still there, but it's getting close. I'll have to do a solid training camp this coming week to make it. Stay tuned!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ri3GKEoXR8ZyPL2w9

Really fun interval session on Richard Lake designed by Ricardo García of Wolf-O.

10 pistol squats on each leg before starting, then 10 on each leg after each interval. That worked really well to tire out my legs like "tougher" terrain would. Good idea, Sixten.

Control Count: 632

I've been torn about whether I should count the finish as a control. What I'm thinking is that if there is a chute, it shouldn't be counted. But if it's like today, where I need to employ navigational skills to find it, then it should be counted. Plus I need to punch controls whereever I can :)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sVfJGvqGeTha9k579

Super busy day today with loads of translation work. A big project with a deadline tomorrow. That anxiety combined with the cold, rainy conditions really made me not want to go out at all.

But then I remembered my goals, the community's support, and the fundraiser. So I decided to go to a closer map and make a maze to increase the technical difficulty. The high visibility and runnability this time of year mean that the terrain is generally too easy. A maze did the trick to increase the technical difficulty.

Ran out of daylight before I was able to finish. It would be nice to be "professional" in this sport and have enough time to focus on doing everything perfectly. But some days, just getting out there to train is a victory.

Control Count: 610

Traded out normal BBA for a morning hike with Kswede for his birthday. Followed by my Achilles exercises, 3-minute mountain legs, and breakfast at the Trolleycar diner.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uSZQqWpRGTVRyj7R6

Control pick today, but it was extra slow going with the snow. Not very deep snow, only up to my ankle. But there was a layer of ice on top that continually scratched the hell out of my ankles. Lots of expletives today, especially on the downhills.

I stopped at #42 because I had run long enough, and because there were too many fallen trees in the ravine to get across safely, particularly with how much ice was on all of the trees.

At any rate, a really good session that worked quite a bit on mental fortitude.

Control count: 598

Travel day. I was hoping for a chance to run today, but the powers that be had other plans. A delay in Atlanta kept me from having time to train today. I'll just have to train more later ;)

Red Top Mountain! I've been hoping to explore this venue for a while and I was really grateful that Charlie helped us get some maps.

Map: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hgERoN8jpMTr6RYP8

Made a short course for me and Ali before she went to catch her flight.

Beautifully open forest, lots of climb though!

Body feels great. Did I run this weekend? I wasn't too fast this weekend but I can tell my body is ready to handle LOTS of kms through terrain.

Can't upload the map because of a technical problem, but there were 19 fun controls :)

Control Count: 578

800 here I come!

Really glad that body weight workouts exist.