Training Log Archive: the_latvian

Boulder Dash day 2. A much better run than on day 1. The energy was not there but I was still able to keep moving. Made an error to #7, where I went to the control at a rootstock to the left of the line first. Perhaps 45 seconds lost. To #10 got pushed to teh right of the line and relocated from a control next to a boulder to the east of my control. another 45 seconds lost. To #16 I contrmplated taking the road all around to attack from SE of the control but my running shape was not great at that moment so went straight from the road junction. found the hunters' seat marked by black X and then tried to attack using precise bearing from there. Could not make sense of the map in the circle, so circled around south of the control for some time. 2.5 minutes lost.

Blue Day 2 - Splits

Event: Boulder Dash 2007
 

Warm-up for both days of Boulder Dash

1st day of Boulder Dash. Had some problems orienteering to th event site, so arrived at the start just as they were calling me up. That, however, caused no problems. The woods were really thick and one had to keep track of where they were pushing you. Had no errors exceeding 2 minutes, but could only record 8 real spikes. To #1 I was pushed to the left of my intended line but recovered quickly, not losing more than 30 seconds. To #3 I was running parallel to a kid who could not have been more than 16. Was going on the right line to the control but decided that the kid new better and went way too low. About 1.30 lost. To #4, I noticed the trail route only in the middle of the leg. The woods were crappy, so I assume that I lost at least 1.30. To #6 went to the left of the rootstock before the control and had to come back to get the control - perhaps 15 seconds. To #7 I only saw the left trail route, which seemed too much out of the way with unnecessary climb. Took pretty much a straight line but lost my direction in the bland area in the middle and ended up east of the control. Clearly, the right trail would have been better. 2 minutes lost. To #9 I was going too high on the hillside, recognized that but still had to come back to get the control. 30 seconds lost. To #10 did not understand why some cliffs before the control were not mapped, got pretty confused there. 1.30 lost. To #11 got pulled to the left of the line by an English guy. Spent some time thrashing through the green. 45 seconds lost. To #14 hit the trail, but thought I was further south on it, so kept running north until it was too late and had to add some unneeded climb. 1.30 lost. All in all 10 minutes lost, but I was feeling well physically (for my standards) and only lost 15 minutes to the winner, which is a pretty good achievement for me.

Blue Day 1 - Splits

Went for a short jog, meant to go really slow but I was feeling so good that the pace was pretty high as far as jogs go. Would have gone much longer, but have to save those legs for the weekend!

First leg of HVO second 4-pt. team. Did not have any energy, but managed to get up the first climb more or less together with the others. Then I lost them, but we were together again at the second control, which they boomed worse than I did (just a minor hesitation). Majority went up the hill to third but I followed Jon Torrance (he was way ahead, so not really followed him), JJ and David Onkst, using the lower route, which was clearly faster, since we caught up with the leaders again. Only saw David Onkst after the climb out of #4 (he was asking me something near #5, but I did not hear what it was) and after 5 I was all by myself. Made the biggest mistake right after the first spectator control - started going towards 15, realized I should be going to 11, but did not correct myself enough - ended up losing something like 2 minutes there. A very nice map and a course - perhaps a bit too much climbing for my liking.

Warm up before the relay.

4pt Leg 1 Green - Splits

Event: Sprint Series Final & US Relay Champs
 

Warming up for the first two sprints.

First sprint - took a while to get used to the scale on the way to 1st control. Caught Nadim at 6, was together with him until 12, where I decided to run an S-shaped route, using the powerline, which allowed him to get away by going straight. Ran out of energy for the last - uphill - controls.

The second sprint. Fell near the first control and banged my left knee on some rocks. Took some time to shake off the pain and was caught by Spike on the way to 4. From then on it was a train of 6-7 people, who all managed to make a major error to control 8. That's what you get for relying on people running ahead of you. I had a lot less energy for this sprint compared to the first one. Plus, my heart rate monitor died somewhere in the middle, so no idea about my ahr.

The third sprint - the finals course with mass start. Ran right behind JJ for the first loop, behind Spike for the second loop, on my own for the third loop and started the final loop together with Dylan and saw Brendan, Spike and JJ during the last loop - managed to beat Dylan, but ran out of energy for the last few controls and the others beat me.

Sprint A Course 3 (R/B) - Splits

Sprint B Course 3 (R/B) - Splits

Sprint C - Splits

Went for a run to prove to myself that I could actually run without any pain and discomfort. Started at a very easy pace and felt great all the way to the end.

I hadn't felt this bad in a long while. In the beginning I had some leg pains, which went away leaving my left feet almost completely numb, which i could more or less live with. The worst thing was that I almost died on the way back and however slowly i tried to go, i couldn't get the heart rate under 180. i hope it's the heat and the fact that moules marinieres last night did not give me all the calories i needed and not some terrible disease...

C • Interval Training 4

Took my new shoes out for a spin. Running felt really hard - in the beginning because of the headwind but from around 25 minutes until the end i had all kinds of pains in my legs (which did not go away after stretching) - hopefully it is only until i wear the new shoes in.

C • What model of Asics? 2

Finally found a (luckily, a slightly slower) running companion. That makes a lot of difference.

Felt very easy, must be because of relatively cooler temperatures and lower humidity.

HVO meet at the Westmoreland sanctuary. A very hot day. The quality of the printing of the map was very poor, so I had major difficulties differentiating between stone walls, trails and cliffs throughout the race. Made a major (5-8 minute) mistake to control 6 and lost all motivation/energy thereafter. The course ended with a couple of "straight up a gigantic hill" legs, so after finish i was able to squeeze about a glass of sweat out of my shirt.

Red - Splits

Didn't feel too hot while running but once I stopped, I sweated at least a gallon.

C • Unofficial team? 2

Event: WCOC Trout Brook Valley
 

WCOC meet. A very nice map - a very pleasant surprise and a well thought-out score course plus a small sprint in the middle. I was running fast enough to sweep the course comfortably but two 5 minute mistakes made things interesting. Still finished with all controls and three minutes to spare, although blisters were announcing their presence.