Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Atlantic Coast Conquest 2008
No winter wonderland here, but lots of paddling (12 hours in a 30 hour race) - read all about it at http://eaglinar.blogspot.com/
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Winter Wonderland Part II
Well,
If winter is going to screw up my training plans, might as well make the most out of it..... so yesterday, instead of training, I went skiing in Banff. I went with Rainer, Mike and Adrian (most of which Kent knows) and we skied hard for 6 hrs straight with no lunch time. Lunch breaks are for p.....
As always, we stuck with double black diamond runs for the majority of it. You can be the judge on the following pictures. Do those look double blacks to you? Don't worry, it is easier than it looks! but my buttocks this morning do not agree.... The total day was 25,000' of skiing and chair lifting!
The spring weather appears to be back after a brutal winter week. I should be able to go back to my regular running /cycling this week. I also been doing the gym exercice that Ron suggested: rotating a bar on your shoulder while sitting on a ball. Works pretty good and should certainly help my paddling.
Below is the famous Delirium Dive at Sunshine Village (near Banff). We skied that particular face 4 times. We went down the part that is in the sun on that picture. The top 1/3 is particularly steep (about 50 degrees). All is OK as long as you don't fall. If you do, you will most likely slide all the way down (and probably catch a few rocks along the way). It adds a little bit of adventure to skiing! Picture taken from the top of the paradise chutes (see next)
Paradise Chutes. We went down in the contiuously snow-covered section almost from the top.
Dom in the Paradise Chute (2)
If winter is going to screw up my training plans, might as well make the most out of it..... so yesterday, instead of training, I went skiing in Banff. I went with Rainer, Mike and Adrian (most of which Kent knows) and we skied hard for 6 hrs straight with no lunch time. Lunch breaks are for p.....
As always, we stuck with double black diamond runs for the majority of it. You can be the judge on the following pictures. Do those look double blacks to you? Don't worry, it is easier than it looks! but my buttocks this morning do not agree.... The total day was 25,000' of skiing and chair lifting!
The spring weather appears to be back after a brutal winter week. I should be able to go back to my regular running /cycling this week. I also been doing the gym exercice that Ron suggested: rotating a bar on your shoulder while sitting on a ball. Works pretty good and should certainly help my paddling.
Below is the famous Delirium Dive at Sunshine Village (near Banff). We skied that particular face 4 times. We went down the part that is in the sun on that picture. The top 1/3 is particularly steep (about 50 degrees). All is OK as long as you don't fall. If you do, you will most likely slide all the way down (and probably catch a few rocks along the way). It adds a little bit of adventure to skiing! Picture taken from the top of the paradise chutes (see next)
Paradise Chutes. We went down in the contiuously snow-covered section almost from the top.
Dom in the Paradise Chute (2)
NORCAL AR Quicksilver Sprint
I did a "short" race yesterday - one of the NORCAL AR, a new series in the Bay Area. There was no paddling as the lakes in the area are pretty small. So just a mix of mountain biking and running. It turned out to be much longer and intense than I expected. Only myself and another team (ARNavSupplies) finished the entire course in over 6 hours. It was a bit hot, dry and sunny. Enough to slow you down a bit.
We were only given the first few CPs at the start. We started with a run of about 8 miles or so. The hills were steep but I ran them all anyway. I though I was going so fast I would have an insurmountable lead by the time I got to the bike TA. I was wrong. The top teams were only a few minutes behind me! Maybe because it was a short race, or I am not in as fast as I used to be.
At the bike TA we had to copy the rest of the CPs onto the map. The rules were a bit complicated as the next section involved biking for a few CPs, running for a while, then biking again. I screwed it up. My map was folded poorly and I forgot to grab one of the CPs that was an out-and-back of a few miles. Shit. When I got to the run TA I realized the error and decided I would take the penalty instead of going back, it would have taken me longer than an hour to fix my mistake.
Then we had a short run to grab 3 CPs in loop. After the last CP there was a definite advantage to taking a cross country route and skip about a mile of trail. Unfortunately for me it was a bushwhack through some very fresh and potent looking Poison Oak. Luckily back at the bike TA they had some Tecnu and I scrubbed as much of the Oak off as I could.
On the final bike back I decided to go get the CP I missed because it was not far out of the way. I already had the penalty but I wanted to go get it anyway so I could feel better about myself. This caused me to take a different than expected route to get to CP15, which I could not find. As it turns out, it was in the wrong place but was easy to find if you took the straight-forward route to get it. Since it was in the wrong spot I did not get a penalty for missing it. Luckily I did not spend much time looking for it.
After all of that I finished about 25 minutes ahead of ARNavSupplies. I had expected to do better against them so that was a surprise. I think it was more because of them being faster than they used to be. The race director gave me a 30 minute penalty for the missed CP instead of an hour because I did at least try to go back and get it. So I came in 2nd place.
We were only given the first few CPs at the start. We started with a run of about 8 miles or so. The hills were steep but I ran them all anyway. I though I was going so fast I would have an insurmountable lead by the time I got to the bike TA. I was wrong. The top teams were only a few minutes behind me! Maybe because it was a short race, or I am not in as fast as I used to be.
At the bike TA we had to copy the rest of the CPs onto the map. The rules were a bit complicated as the next section involved biking for a few CPs, running for a while, then biking again. I screwed it up. My map was folded poorly and I forgot to grab one of the CPs that was an out-and-back of a few miles. Shit. When I got to the run TA I realized the error and decided I would take the penalty instead of going back, it would have taken me longer than an hour to fix my mistake.
Then we had a short run to grab 3 CPs in loop. After the last CP there was a definite advantage to taking a cross country route and skip about a mile of trail. Unfortunately for me it was a bushwhack through some very fresh and potent looking Poison Oak. Luckily back at the bike TA they had some Tecnu and I scrubbed as much of the Oak off as I could.
On the final bike back I decided to go get the CP I missed because it was not far out of the way. I already had the penalty but I wanted to go get it anyway so I could feel better about myself. This caused me to take a different than expected route to get to CP15, which I could not find. As it turns out, it was in the wrong place but was easy to find if you took the straight-forward route to get it. Since it was in the wrong spot I did not get a penalty for missing it. Luckily I did not spend much time looking for it.
After all of that I finished about 25 minutes ahead of ARNavSupplies. I had expected to do better against them so that was a surprise. I think it was more because of them being faster than they used to be. The race director gave me a 30 minute penalty for the missed CP instead of an hour because I did at least try to go back and get it. So I came in 2nd place.
Week Late
I've been pretty busy and have not been posting my workouts on time. I'm a whole week late on this one.
I plowed through the 100,000 ft of climbing mark at Purisima Creek Redwoods preserve last weekend. It was a shorter run, but only because I ran more mileage on the weekdays. My total mileage for the week was longer.
My weekday and weekend runs are getting fairly intense. I'm running hard the whole time and my body seems to be adapting. A few weeks ago I was running my morning run at about 1:20 and thinking that was fast. Last Friday I did the same run in 1:13, and broke 1:20 on all my runs (MWF). I'm busting my ass at the gym as well, trying to build up paddling strength. Going to try and do more paddling on the water as well.
This is all to prepare for the Desert Winds race coming up in 2 weeks. There is no biking, only paddling, running, coasteering, canyoneering, and swimming. Although I am racing solo, I like to beat as many of the teams as I can. The competition is stiff. The fastest team there will probably be DART, which I can never seem to get ahead of. It will also be hard for me because I'll be paddling solo vs. doubles and triples.
I plowed through the 100,000 ft of climbing mark at Purisima Creek Redwoods preserve last weekend. It was a shorter run, but only because I ran more mileage on the weekdays. My total mileage for the week was longer.
My weekday and weekend runs are getting fairly intense. I'm running hard the whole time and my body seems to be adapting. A few weeks ago I was running my morning run at about 1:20 and thinking that was fast. Last Friday I did the same run in 1:13, and broke 1:20 on all my runs (MWF). I'm busting my ass at the gym as well, trying to build up paddling strength. Going to try and do more paddling on the water as well.
This is all to prepare for the Desert Winds race coming up in 2 weeks. There is no biking, only paddling, running, coasteering, canyoneering, and swimming. Although I am racing solo, I like to beat as many of the teams as I can. The competition is stiff. The fastest team there will probably be DART, which I can never seem to get ahead of. It will also be hard for me because I'll be paddling solo vs. doubles and triples.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Winter Wonderland
Well,
Simply said: I went up in the trees on the West side of the mountain and came back down on the trail facing the South side. Stats: 2:17 minutes, 2700' of elevation gain, most of it in snow shoes.
Here are some pictures to prove that I actually got out there:
Will spring ever come?
It looks like winter is here to stay. After a couple of weeks of spring-looking weather, everything reverted back to winter condition Friday. Today, I decided that weather was not going to turn me away and went to the mountains even thought the temperature was hovering in the single digits with some strong winds.
When I got to the mountains I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the weather was nicer out there with a wooping 25 *F and little winds. yippee...
Simply said: I went up in the trees on the West side of the mountain and came back down on the trail facing the South side. Stats: 2:17 minutes, 2700' of elevation gain, most of it in snow shoes.
Here are some pictures to prove that I actually got out there:
Will spring ever come?
D.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A Sense of Bravado
I had business to be in Baton Rouge, LA yesterday so I loaded my bike and made arrangements to meet some friends at the trails in the afternoon. There was a very steep 80 foot climb; or 12 foot depending on the angle, that I committed myself to knowing that there was a metal grate covering a sink hole at the narrow edge of hill top. I did not give up on the climb but my wheels did and I got to slide down that cheese grater on my knee and hip. Ouch! But, any day is a good day when 5.5 hrs are spent on otherwise sweet single track and I was able to continue riding. I forgot all about my bobo's by the time we were seated at the restaurant and served with a school of sushi. (wicked wound picture has been censored). today, I am watching the "planet earth" DVDs.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Waddell Beach Run
It wasn't on the beach at all, but I did start there :) . 20 screaming miles with over 5000ft of elevation gain. I went hard almost the while time, only stopped once to get my headlamp out of my pack. I started in late afternoon and ran through sunset and into complete darkness.
My training program is starting to pay off. I have done this run several times in the past, but never faster than 5:00, I think. This time I broke 4:30. It is probably also due to the amount of effort I put into it and the fact that I used a heart rate monitor to verify my exertion level.
I also tried a new supplement. While I was at the hardware store buying some long-range insecticide spray to take out a yellow jacket nest, I spied some "5-Hour Energy" bottles at the checkout counter. This is the stuff that Team Salomon Crested Butte said they were using. For kicks, I bought a bottle and took it on my run.
I ran extra hard for the first part of the run and so by the time I had about an hour left I was starting to feel pretty bad. There was still 6-miles and a steep 1500ft downhill remaining. I popped open the little bottle and drank it down. I think it helped a bit. I definitely had a hard time getting to sleep when I got home, even after 5 hours was up.
The next morning Cathy and I left our kid with the neighbors and went on a nice bike ride. I think I was still buzzing on the 5-hour stuff.
My training program is starting to pay off. I have done this run several times in the past, but never faster than 5:00, I think. This time I broke 4:30. It is probably also due to the amount of effort I put into it and the fact that I used a heart rate monitor to verify my exertion level.
I also tried a new supplement. While I was at the hardware store buying some long-range insecticide spray to take out a yellow jacket nest, I spied some "5-Hour Energy" bottles at the checkout counter. This is the stuff that Team Salomon Crested Butte said they were using. For kicks, I bought a bottle and took it on my run.
I ran extra hard for the first part of the run and so by the time I had about an hour left I was starting to feel pretty bad. There was still 6-miles and a steep 1500ft downhill remaining. I popped open the little bottle and drank it down. I think it helped a bit. I definitely had a hard time getting to sleep when I got home, even after 5 hours was up.
The next morning Cathy and I left our kid with the neighbors and went on a nice bike ride. I think I was still buzzing on the 5-hour stuff.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Mobile Urban Race
I raced on Team Blue Runner for the Mobile Urban Adventure Race. This was the second year a race was staged in Alabama and the turn out was huge. 60 teams of three participated in this year's race which started at the Battleship Park. We biked to downtown Mobile via a tunnel and hunted for CP's in unique locations such as a cemetary, firehouse, cathedral, fort, museums, parks. On the return trip we had a flat on a 29" tire and no tube! We stretched a 26" tube and hit it with enough CO2 to get finish the bike leg back to the battleship Park. Next we were instructed to find two CP on the Battleship Alabama. Having learned a little from last year's errors our navigator was now able to distinguish between decks and levels, port and starboard, bow and stern...they don't teach those things in orienteering school. We were quick in the canoes and then made a short run back to the Bomber and the finish line. We placed 1st in the Masters division and 8th overall.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Mellow Road Ride
Took it a bit easier this weekend and did a ~60 mile road ride in the Santa Cruz mountains. I wanted to do it all easy, but I blasted the home stretch when it looked like I could get it done in under 4hrs. I didn't, and felt a little thrashed afterwards.
My stomach has been getting upset after training lately. I think it has to do with stress from my new job, higher coffee consumption, and less sleep. The job is going well, but the excitement of it and the pressure to get productive (mostly internally from me) is pushing my limits. I need to cool off, treat my body better, and get back into a more regular training routine.
My stomach has been getting upset after training lately. I think it has to do with stress from my new job, higher coffee consumption, and less sleep. The job is going well, but the excitement of it and the pressure to get productive (mostly internally from me) is pushing my limits. I need to cool off, treat my body better, and get back into a more regular training routine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)