Training Log Archive: Bash

BulletDog and I went for an easy pre-dinner run around Palgrave East. Lots of doggie start/stops and three swims. This is one of the rare weeks when I'm actually going to do the training specified in the program I'm theoretically following for the Death Race. I've become really good at making substitutions, e.g. Storm The Trent = a Long Run.

Sulphur Springs 50K is on Saturday. 'Bent and the Dontgetlost Fast Boyz are aiming for the 100-mile relay record!

Mrs. Gally, it's not just cougars and bears you need to watch out for in our area...
http://www.caledonenterprise.com/news/two-months-a...

Most serious mountaineers have lost interest in Everest and this recent photo shows why. Wow.



Here's the sad story of the fatalities in the past few days, attributed mainly to traffic jams and slow travel on the route.

Riviere La Peche, P17 Gatineau Park. More Ottawa O Fest - a fun, *hot* day in the woods - high 32C. I navigated much better today than in yesterday`s middle distance and really enjoyed myself scrambling up and down hills while following the excellent new map. It was so hot and the ground was so rugged that I did a lot of speed hiking off-trail; after turning my ankle yesterday, I didn`t want to do any more damage before next weekend`s 50K. I made a 4-minute error at #5 but other bobbles were relatively minor.

There was certainly room to be faster and more precise but I often make a big error somewhere on an orienteering long course, so I was happy to have kept my focus all the way through. I won F35 for this race and for the weekend overall - not a huge accomplishment in such a small category but Val Duca is worthy competition!

The amazing news is that `Bent (who ran the same Middle and Long courses that I did) won his age category against a tough field today! This is only his 2nd Canada Cup orienteering event (A event); he seems to benefit from the individual start since he is not distracted by other runners. Congrats!!

Kudos also go to my Eco-Endurance Challenge teammate Pamtastic who won the Female Elite category for the weekend overall. Well done! Trudy D. also won her age category and several other GHO members were on the podium. The Ottawa club organizes excellent events - glad we came.

(Turned GPS on and off a little late. Course straight line distance = 5.9 km.)

Event: Ottawa O-Fest 2012
 

March Highlands - Kanata Lakes. It's been almost two years since my last Canada Cup orienteering race (aka A event) and I sure felt rusty! It didn't bother me since I just wanted some tough nav practice. I'd entered a lower age group with the plan of doing longer courses and avoiding the feeling of being in a competition. It worked. I had a ton of fun in spite of a few bobbles and a slow, cautious approach to this difficult terrain. Congrats to `Bent on beating me!

(Turned GPS on/off quite late. Course straight line distance = 4.0 km.)

Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa. Fun sprint through a campus of government buildings. There were a number of tricky spots - uncrossable concrete walls, passageways, staircases, etc. Mostly it went well but I lost time on a few controls. When I compared notes with others afterward, I realized that I wasn't alone! Loads of fun - I love running on the edge, trying to stay in contact with the map while pushing the pace in easy terrain.

The Ottawa club did a terrific job on everything today. Great arenas for both events. The sprint was spectator friendly; James announced us all as we came up the chute. It was great to see so many friends including Pamtastic, my Eco-Endurance Challenge teammate!

(GPS started early, turned off late. Course straight line distance = 2.5 km.)

F35+ - Splits

Sprint F35+ - Splits

Interesting and nervewracking story for event organizers... A racer in a mud run used a friend's bib, thus never signing a waiver nor establishing any other official relationship with event organizers (not that waivers carry much weight in the U.S.) He "jammed" his hands and arms in a mud pit that he was supposed to crawl through and ended up paralyzed. He's suing for $30M + legal costs. Wow. http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2012/may/17/tdm...

Rode around Palgrave West single track on my old Gary Fisher Sugar 2. It is such a nimble bike - wish they still made that model. I felt like Spiderwoman climbing hills!

Good article on the current status of Lyme Disease in Ontario. Stoopid ticks!!
http://www.thewhig.com/2012/05/16/ticked-off

You can do the Storm The Trent Trek Elite course in 1:40 through the magic of time lapse photography - cool!

Has anyone ever used a "cooling headband" in hot conditions? Is it a gimmick? Is there a down side? If it works, can you recommend one?