Training Log Archive: ParkSchool

Two shorter loops with dogs at Sunapee. Feeling worn out today and annoyed by the fact that the puppy seems incapable of peeing on a leash, but still more than comfortable relieving herself indoors. The good news is that she rarely has problems at home, but I have to be hypervigilant whenever I take her to visit my family.

At house in Sunapee for "work weekend." Took dogs out of necessity, then had to do something with the puppy before she exploded. Did same loop twice, first with both dogs, then without Fonzie, who decided he didn't like the big hill at the start twice in one day. Actually, he wasn't that thrilled about the hill the first time around, and I very definitely felt like I was being yanked in two with Piper pulling hard in front and Fonzie dragging in the back. By the second run, I was much less enthusiastic after several hours of clearing brush and cleaning drainpipes etc., and I more or less played the role of Fonzie to Piper's Jeff. At least we all slept well afterwards.

Visiting parents in Weston, so went out with dogs in town forest. Flatter than Needham loop, but still of comparable length. Solid effort in a light drizzle. Right heel still an issue, but has not worsened since tweaking it at the Club Champs. Have not yet decided if it is bad enough to warrant the time/expense of obtaining custom orthotics which were ultimate solution when I first dealt with the problem about 8 years ago. I would love to simply revive the old ones, but Fonzie ate them both when he was a puppy.

Between overnights, and with 7 hour turnaround before subsequent shift, so thought it best I get the dogs out now. Only time for the short woods loop, so thought I would run it fairly hard. A bit sluggish up the first hill (maybe I should have stretched, but the puppy gets into trouble if I don't get started right away), but then loosened up pretty well and had solid run. Was hoping to get under 18:00, which I just missed. This used to be my standard for any reasonable run, so I was glad to see that it was still readily attainable. I'm not so sure however about making another run at my PR of 16:30.

Event: CSU Cat Rock Park-O
 

Weather was delightful, and I was feeling significantly more rested after taking a nap once the kids got off to school. Ran at a nice easy pace, hoping to keep something in the tank for the Cat Rock event later in the day, not to mention the three successive shifts I am scheduled to work starting tonight. Had to wait a total of 1:20 for Fonzie to catch up. He is still not so great on the second day of back-to-back runs.

Not quite as ugly a performance as I had thought when I believed the scale error for the advertised 2.0 km course to be 3:2 rather than 2:1, but still far from an ideal performance. Started off in a typically hurried fashion as I had again misjudged the rush hour traffic, and got about 50 m into the race when I realized I had left my compass at the registration table. It turned out to be a fortuitous delay as control 9 actually arrived in Ross's hands as I was running to the designated spot. First few controls were OK, but I really felt like I was fighting the map. I could not differentiate the trails from the walls, nor could I make out the green on yellow interfaces. I also was quickly getting the sense that I was having to run further than I was expecting. I had some problems at 5 where I stopped short because the mapped reentrant actually encompassed two smaller reentrants, the closer of which ended S of the flag. Navigated through 9 without major mishaps, although I was frustrated by guessing poorly about which nook or cranny of the vegetation was hiding the flag. Then had first meltdown on approach to 10. Was absolutely convinced I was looking for a pit at the end of a stone wall, but there was no wall to be found. Relocated on the open ground, then ran N to next trail junction again without seeing a wall. I assumed I was at the mapped trail N of my destination, so I ran back and forth again before finally deciding that the mossy boulder right next to the trail must be the dot knoll on the map, which could only mean that the stone wall was actually a trail. Ugh. After that mess, was not unhappy with navigation until I reached 14, where I inexplicably could not orient myself for at least 2 min despite being inside the circle next to the mapped blue container. I still don't understand what was making me so confused, but I certainly felt like a rank amateur. Managed to navigate respectably for last few controls, but was now already 20 min behind schedule to get to work. It was certainly not the fulfilling experience I was looking for as I faced another depressingly overcrowded waiting room on my arrival.

C • I'd like to see a scan of the map...? 3

Advanced - Splits

I think I saw Ian S. quoting some expert regarding the need to assign every run a purpose. Today's run certainly had one. "OH MY GOD, is there no other way to get this overly demanding, overly aggressive, overly intrusive beast of a puppy off of me so I can get some sleep." I had feared that the overnight shift would be dreadful, and I was not disappointed, so I was not the least bit enthused about going out, but it seemed like the least of evils. My plantar fasciitis was worse following a misstep yesterday where I distinctly felt a tearing sensation, but it was not so bad as to make me think that I was going to have to shut it down for a while. Managed to plod around the full course without injuring anything more significantly, and considered it a major accomplishment.

Event: Club Champs Return to Mt Tom
 

Had been concerned that trying to find my controls was not going to be much of a challenge, and I was right. However, there were also 3 controls from Phil's courses, and most discouragingly, I wasn't able to find any of them in a timely fashion. Had some hopes of using my unfair advantage to grab title of M21 champion, and knew Ian F. had put up a time of 75 min to shoot for. Had fine effort and execution through 7, succeeding in navigating cleanly and catching Ian S. at 2 and eventually running away from him (well, maybe walking away from him is more accurate) on climb up hill to 5,6 and 7. Made first mistake after crossing marsh to hit trail on way to 8. Thought I had gone over small hill to hit trail, but when I turned L to look for the reentrant I planned to climb up, I wound up seeing the trail junction further on. Tried to take a straight line approach from there, but did not know where I was when I hit the reentrant (bumping into Ian again), and overestimated the amount I had climbed. Eventually I hit the winding trail beyond the control which allowed me to relocate. However, I now knew that Ian S. was ahead of me, and I took off like an idiot in hot pursuit without having any plan as to how to get to 9. If I had even taken a second to think, I would have remembered that I had vetted the control and that it was in a very technical and secluded spot. However, I simply ran off and hoped I would recognize something when I got there. I didn't. I am pretty sure that I was on the indistinct trail in the middle of the direct route, but I just wandered blindly from there, stumbling well past the control before bailing out completely in order to find the trail running parallel to the stream. Rest of the performance was solid but not spectacular. I took more direct line to 11 along the ridge, but hit the lower of the 2 cliffs, and then didn't see upper cliff immediately, so wandered aimlessly for another minute before coming back to the circle and seeing my control as Ian approached from the back side. Was happy I still had enough to pull away from Ian again, surely helped by the knowledge that the last controls were all my selections. On arriving home, I realized that I had failed to adequately activate start control, so first split is a guess. I will be interested to see splits from Ian F. and Andrew Childs. I suspect that my times will be competitive for the 13 controls I spiked, but that is hardly a consolation for being so inept on the controls I had not chosen myself.

Somewhat disappointed to learn that the 2008 Club Champs were going to be a remix of my control sites from the Heart and Troll. It has the feel of a can't-win proposition. Even if I do well, I'm only meeting expectations, and if I manage to screw up, then I'll really be embarrassed. Was hoping to have the opportunity to go to WCOC-Ansonia today, but was unable to find someone else to take Kyra to riding. Well, at least the dogs got a good run today. Decided to really push it today to see if I could get anywhere close to my PR. Managed to get within 1 min counting only the time I was running (28:13 vs 27:22), but did stop for 3:15 at midpoint to wait for Fonzie. Still, I felt as if I could have kept up the pace for the full run even without the break, so that was encouraging. Maybe I will try Blue course tomorrow to keep pushing my training.

Too hot today to consider a serious run, which was convenient as it allowed me to conserve my secondary rationalizations of being too tired or too sore for another day. Started off again at 9:00 min/mi clip as on Tuesday, but this time didn't try to pick up the pace. In fact, wound up having to jog in place for 2:30 total waiting for Fonzie to catch up. I think he may need a good brushing to help him shed more of his winter coat.

Just looking to get the dogs out for an easy run before my back-to-back overnight shifts, so had plans to run about 9:00 min/mile. However, legs felt somewhat better than expected, and temperature in woods was pleasantly cooler than anticipated as well, so picked up the pace a bit. Fonzie lagged quite a bit, taking over 4:00 to emerge after I had finished. Perhaps his middle-aged joints have an even slower recovery time than my middle-aged joints. On the good side, he does not appear focally lame, so maybe we will both enjoy a rest day tomorrow.

I still haven't gotten enough sleep, but the muscle fatique has largely abated, and I was able to think about a more aggressive run with the dogs. The weather was also more pleasant, dry and just a touch cool. Went out with plan to try for 8:00 min/mile, trusting Fonzie to find his way home after he fell behind. Did not quite reach my goal, but felt pretty comfortable about my ability to maintain this pace for another circuit had circumstances warranted it. Fonzie appeared only 1:20 after I finished my run, so he may be building up his endurance as well.

I really did not want to go out today. It was raining, I hadn't slept enough, I ran/paddled aggressively in two races yesterday, and most importantly, I'M 50!!! (OK, technically I'm only 49, but this is my M50 year, and my body certainly wasn't feeling like quibbling). But the dogs hadn't gotten out for a run yesterday, and by 8:00 AM Piper was making it clear that she wasn't going to put up with my excuses today. So off we went, with me trying to do my best imitation of an end of the rogaine shuffle. Not my shuffle, mind you, which is no more than a wide based walk trying to protect chafing thighs and battered toenails. Perhaps more like Joe Brautigam's, which I witnessed several times as he passed Phil and me while winning my first rogaine in Quebec in 2007. My hope was to try to maintain a 10:00 min/mi pace, but even that was a pipe dream. But at least I was able to make it around the loop in some semblance of a jog, and now maybe I can shower and try to take a nap.

Score-O with 5 points for each control and 3 pts/min penalty for overtime. Got to copy map off clock, so opportunity available to plan route in advance of run. Made excellent early decision not to dream about trying for all controls and to plan instead for a route that was compatible with my speed and relative talents, which in this case meant excluding the four most remote controls and opting for a crossing of open water which might not appeal to everyone, but drastically decreased the length of the course. Control placements were not especially difficult, but this was still Pawtuckaway, so I ran a very controlled race making sure to keep in contact with map at (almost) all times. Collected controls in order 2, 1, 4, 19 (straight line approach), 20, 17, 18, 16, 15, 13, 10 (via direct swim vs navigation across beaver dam), 8, 7, 6, 3 (attempting straight line route), 5. Swim turned out to be more of a float while pulling myself along the bottom with my hands, avoiding the possibility of losing a sneaker in the muck. Only bobbles were winding up a little W of flag on 10 and then drifting too far right on attempted straight line run from 6 to 3, failing to avail myself of roadway run and briefly raising concerns that I would needlessly wind up overtime after a very promising run. Fortunately, recovered in time to collect last 2 controls and make it home with less than a minute to spare. I think I wound up in 3rd behind Ernst Linder (17 controls and somewhat generously assessed only 3 pts of penalties for finishing 1+ min overtime) and Tim Parson (16 controls in only 57 min). Ian Smith wound up with 79 pts but probably should have won, having failed to copy control 1 onto his map, thus depriving himself of a rather trivial 5 extra points which would have allowed him to skip a more complicated control and avoid an overtime finish. Dancho Hristov was coming in as I left, but I think he may also have been overtime.

C • Swimming 2

Went to Pawtuckaway with plans to do only Foot-O, but was interested in C-2 Canoe-O should the opportunity present itself. As luck would have it, Ian had come with two friends and a racing canoe. Ian had plans to race with Keith, the canoe owner, and obviously a canoe racer of some commitment based on the quality of his paddles. Fortunately, Sean Morton, the third member of the party, turned out also to have some experience with canoes and was more than happy to partner me. Keith was gracious enough to entrust us with the canoe, and he and Ian gave us a target to shoot for after picking up all 14 controls in 55 min. Once again, we had access to the map before going on the clock (in contradiction it appeared to the rules of the event, although perhaps this restriction was only meant to refer to those hearty souls who participated cumulatively in all three available disciplines). In any case, the opportunity certainly seemed available to avoid canoeing into one cove by picking up the first four controls on foot before rendezvousing with Sean. This route required a mandatory swim to a small island control, but I was hardly daunted after my earlier swim (not to mention some of my previous canoe-O endeavors which were far more unpleasant than anything Pawtuckaway could offer--interested parties are referred to Aims Coney for details of some of my less savory adventures). Plan worked exceptionally, with Sean arriving simultaneously at rendezvous spot (although he would have been earlier had he not gone for inadvertant swim launching canoe by himself) and with no navigational mistakes. Controls collected in order 1, 13, 7, 14, 4, 3, 6, 2, 12, 10, 8, 11, 5, 9. The only bobble was on control 11, where I planned to run across neck of a kidney shaped island to save distance. We got to planned departure point, but everything looked wrong, with an extra island staring us in the face. I disembarked, then concluded that the neck must actually be underwater about the same time that Sean yelled that he thought he could see the control along the shoreline. I wound up wading to control, although it certainly would have been smarter to get back in the canoe first, then hopped back in to make the final push for the last two controls. Arms were dead, but I knew we were ahead of Keith and Ian's pace, and adrenaline helped to keep me stroking at constant if sloppy pace. Arrived with about 3 minutes to spare to edge Keith and Ian for first, thus concluding a very gratifying day of O-events. Special thanks to the Olafsen clan for organizing a most enjoyable experience.

OK, it's now too hot. Probably I'm just a wimp, since it only just touched 80 here in Needham, but I definitely did not enjoy myself today. Fonzie appears to agree with me, as I had to wait for 3 minutes for him to catch up after only 1.5 miles. Subsequently backed off from 8:00 min/mi to 9:00 min/mi (and was glad for the excuse).

Kyra has cancelled her riding for tomorrow, so I am free to head up to Pawtuckaway. I am very glad to have the opportunity as the camping weekend invariably falls on the weekend of Max's birthday festivities, so I rarely can attend. I'm looking forward to inhaling some mosquitos. I remember them being exceptionally plentiful the one other time I visited in the Spring.

Same old same old. Was interested in more aggressive run given ideal conditions (for me) of light mist, and pushed relatively hard around course. Time includes 1:30 wait for Fonzie, so not a bad effort overall. Am contemplating getting GPS unit soon. It will be interesting to see how close my distance estimates are to the actual measurements.

Out with dogs again. Missed yesterday when I ran out of time after assisting Max with homework, so had to drag my ass out between my overnight shifts to keep the puppy from exploding from unused energy. Just trying to make it around usual loop without taxing myself, which I did.

Event: CSU Franklin Park Park-O
 

It was another miserable overnight, made worse by some additional exhaustion related to the BIllygoat, and I was in little mood to go for a run after only 3 hours of sleep, but the dogs had other ideas after having been deprived of a run yesterday. So, off I trudged in the Needham Town Forest trying to maintain a 10 min/mi pace. In a reversal of our usual roles, Fonzie ran ahead and stopped several times to see if I could keep up. Eventually I woke up enough to speed up to his preferred speed of about 9 min/mi.

Event: Billygoat
 

Billygoat - Splits

Steady warm up run for Billygoat, performed at 11 AM to sync-up my body as well as possible. Fonzie much more comfortable with this pace, and willing to maintain it with Piper and me always in sight.

As long as Kyra has divulged one of my long-held O-fantasies (see Thursday), I might as well acknowledge my other unrealized goals (and their potential for realization).

1. Place in an A-Meet on Red -- Clearly feasible were I still in M35 or M40, but now unlikely given the depth of the field at M45. Still, I may have a chance if competing events (such as the two Middle events for "elites" at Pine Hill) draw off the competition.

2. Rank sufficiently high to qualify for women's national team -- Initially, I was measuring myself against the B-team, but then around 2005-6 it looked as if even the A-team level might be feasible, again related to a lack of depth. Now, however, the standard is well beyond my grasp.

3. Place ahead of PG -- Back during my introduction to orienteering in 1984 (by Dave Barrington, for those of you who have been around long enough to remember him), I was aware of PG (and Bob Lux) by name and reputation as accomplished local orienteers. When I subsequently returned to the sport in 2000, I recognized the names and hoped that maybe I could advance to the level where I could beat these "old men". I have had the pleasure of besting Bob on 1 or 2 occasions, but never PG (and no, I don't count the 2007 Billygoat where PG walked the course due to injury). I think this remains an outside possibility, as anyone can have a bad day once in a while, but I'm not holding my breath.

C • Beating PG 3

Out with dogs again, trying to maintain 8:00 min/mi pace I would like to re-establish. Unfortunately, Fonzie unable to keep up this pace for beyond 1 mile, so wound up taking several 1-1.5 min jog in place breaks to allow him to catch up. Piper on the other hand looks like she could do the whole run at a 5:00 min/mi pace, if only I could find someone to keep up with her. Maybe some Kenyan marathoners would care to volunteer. In any case... I had a good run and still managed to get in under 30 minute. I didn't feel like I was fighting my stride. I maybe I'm not just getting old and my training will get me back in shape so I can get my name on a control at the Billy Goat.

Ha, ha. My daughter sent me on an errand so she could add her own spin to my log following the "..." Surprisingly, it is fairly close to what I was thinking, although too self conscious to put it in print. I guess she was listening to my long-winded monologues after all.

Feeling tired after 3 straight difficult overnight shifts, but dogs were quite insistent after not going out for run for previous 2 days, so mobilized myself just before dinner. Opted for short Needham Town Forest loop due to time constraints, and was very pleasantly surprised to find I was running much more comfortably than I had been at any time this year. There was a real flow to my stride which had been utterly missing, and which I feared might have been a permanent casualty of age, but for one day at least, it was back. Did not push myself at all, but was able to complete loop at roughly 8:00 min/mi pace, giving me some hope for an acceptable performance at upcoming Billygoat.

C • '3 straight difficult overnight shifts...' 3

Event: CSU Peter's Hill Park-O
 

Fun sprint around Arnold Arboretum. I petitioned the organizers to give me the opportunity to start early in order to get to work on time, then failed to orienteer correctly to start and arrived 15 min later than advertised. I probably shouldn't have even continued with plans to run, but went off anyways with about 20 seconds of warm-up. A bit hesitant to #1, but then performance reasonable except for #10, where I got flustered by the predictable but nevertheless annoying experience of being caught by Sam and veered too far to the L. I dropped another couple of seconds at the GO control, whose code was not in the expected sequence, even though I saw Ross punch it in front of me. Perhaps I thought he was doing the beginner course. Got to work 2-3 minutes before my shift, but for all intents and purposes was 10 minutes late before I showered and changed. Thanks to Pia for setting an entertaining course.

Advanced - Splits