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Attackpoint AR - performance and training tools for adventure athletes

Training Log Archive: Mr Wonderful

In the 30 days ending Sep 30, 2018:

activity # timemileskm+mload
  Adventure Race1 24:50:00 77.67(19:11) 125.0(11:55)4470.0
  Biking5 16:43:22 195.74(11.7/h) 315.01(18.8/h) 10971024.8
  Walking8 7:26:08 18.99(23:30) 30.56(14:36) 30926c676.2
  Canoeing3 5:03:53 19.92(15:15) 32.06(9:29) 19349.0
  Elliptical2 52:03 2.39(21:47) 3.85(13:32)97.0
  Running1 51:21 3.69(13:55) 5.94(8:39) 5570.1
  Orienteering1 47:18 4.23(11:11) 6.81(6:57) 6027c121.4
  Weights3 45:00135.0
  Total23 57:19:05 322.63 519.22 154053c6943.5
  [1-5]22 50:46:57
averages - sleep:6.7 weight:210.3lbs

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Saturday Sep 29, 2018 #

8 AM

Adventure Race 24:50:00 [3] 125.0 km (11:55 / km)

2018 Wilderness Traverse: Full course or bust!

tl;dr: bust

slight longer:

Great event, great course, great teammates, but combination of our logistics + my fitness costs us the full course by 1 hr 50 minutes for the 7 am paddle to trek cut off (I think Mark would have gotten us through the trek skillfully and efficiently). So close....so far....

overly long:

Back in June, after three years of grad school and three months of infant parenting, and the corresponding series of poor diet and exercise choices leading up to that moment, I had the worst race of my AR career. I withdrew early from Caberfae, unable to supply any bike power and feeling so lifeless and flat. And fat.

After Barbara's team was able to celebrate their success at that race, I said I was out - no Yankee Springs, no WT. I didn't want to race like that again.

But in my misery, I decided to start food logging and getting in shape. I had good success early, and began to wonder. I love WT so much...could I get there?

Eventually, I thought I might be able to get there. So I asked BNM if she knew any teams seeking a fourth. She didn't have a solid lock on a USARA setup, but had talked to Mark Voit about doing something that weekend. WT was approaching sell out and the final price increase. Mark foolishly was unopposed to the concept. So we scrambled a bit to find a fourth. Maria and I recalled Greg's relentless, unwavering performances in my first two WTs. He checked his schedule and joined up.

The race details came out and we had what appeared to be a path to the full course:



Pace estimates....seemed....achievable. TA times were supposed to be modest. Let's do it!

Trek

We selected a swim less route. I wasn't excited about swimming, and neither was Mark. BNM was of course down. I think it worked okay - we met many teams at #1, who were confused by our bone dry arrival by crossing dry foot just a little west. We took the trail route around to #2, which seemed reasonable but we'll have to check splits against the many dots I see that went straight. I was able to do an okay pace here. Leaving #2 I started to get a little tired and couldn't run as much on trail. We took the east trail around - it wheeled 2k shorter than the west option, plus it let us look at the bike leg. Mark crushed the navigation. I think I cost us 15-30 minutes in pace here.

TA1

Full 15 minutes used for a relatively trivial change. Perhaps not a good sign for the upcoming bike to paddle TA....

Bike

Classic WT! One CP on the leg, and only because that's where the boat ferry shuttled across the closed bridge.

I estimated our pace expecting a decent ridable road lead out and lead in to whatever misery Bob had in store. Not the case! Almost immediately, a wet rolling trail. Then a brief reprieve of some road, then more unridable mud holes. Lots of on and off the bike. I wish I could count how many times we pushed bikes.

The boat ferry was fun. They even sprayed our chains! We had to wait a few minutes as other teams shuttled. Not a big deal, just slightly cooling. Then back to it. We eventually got to the hydrocut, which I had feared, but was generally much better than the previous trails, as you could ride most of the water holes. As not a navigator, not a mule, not the caretaker, not the captain, I finally contributed in a mild way by trying to ride everything when I was fresh enough to be out front, as I didn't care if they could or couldn't be ridden, and if they could, that would give the team a place to ride without getting off.

We had a few bike issues. Proudly, the Frank'n'crank, my original Dragon left side crank arm and eggbeater with my $300 bike drive side crank arm with brand new eggbeater held fine. I had no shifting or chain (would've swapped it but couldn't find my chain link squeezer tool) or braking or tire troubles (which was good because I don't think there's much sealant in the rear!)

Mark's Small Block 8s were terrible mud tires. He had no traction. He could pedal up no muddy grades, and he was fishtail city in any muddy sections. He fell a lot. He also bent his derailleur, which he slightly bent back and then banned him from granny gears, which meant more hill walking.

BNM had some quality chain suck, but nothing that couldn't be kicked out.

Greg caught a pedal on some random wire sticking out of the ground on the hydrocut at one point, causing a fall.

I didn't pay attention to some puddle draining, didn't read the potential for a low spot, and had my best fall of a nearly over the bars belly flop into a cold hydrocut puddle. Brr!

Pace slowed in the last bit of hydrocut as darkness came in. Also, we kept expecting to find the road, but our wheeled distance was well under actual! Hahahaha I think our overall wheeled total was 20% short of actual.

TA 2

We figured we had to leave the paddle TA for full course by 9:30. We arrived at 9:35. Ouch. We left....at 10:20. Double ouch! Maybe we can still make it! Full course or bust! Just need to be...20 minutes faster than the SLOW estimate of 9 hours. We can do it!

Paddle

We could not do it. We moved okay at first. Unfortunately, portage logistics killed us (and later my paddle power). With 12 portages or whatever it was, we needed to be hyper efficient - instead, I'm pretty sure we lost a couple minutes on each end to not being relentlessly quick to get out and loaded and relaunched. Say, 5 * 12 = 60 of the 110 minutes. Also, some of the portages were so rough we didn't necessarily believe them and scouted them a bit (notably the first rapids one that seemed to start in a rock field).

I struggled to get comfy in the boat. The sensation was, the seat was too low, but I don't recall that from years prior. I think I was just tired. I waited way too long to break out the caffeinated gels I stashed based on our estimates of an all dark paddle. I could not stop sleep blinking, and hallucinated frequently. Mostly I saw walls of muddy hydrocut biking, with the tracks of bike tires. Once I saw Barbara and Greg flip their boat end over end, except it didn't happen. I desperately wanted a nap. I felt really bad for Mark. I slapped myself, didn't help. One of the later portages finally perked me up...by then it was 7, so it was light, plus the portages were slightly rejuvenating, versus the rocking lull of the boat. Easily >20-30 minutes lost to my sluggish paddle, based on estimated lazy paddling or pauses by the lead boat to let us catch up.

BNM and I had gotten in so many quality paddles. I was surprised and disappointed I was so useless.

TA3

So we arrived too late. I hadn't even thought about this being boxed in for a DNF with no practical logistical short course option. At first I was a bit sad over that, but after a day, I realized that anything other than a full course was equally disappointing.

After the previous three WTs, I couldn't wait to immediately come back. Immediately after this one, I didn't see a reason, except to camp at a CP and offer snacks. Maybe I personally can't get to a full course. I've failed four times, even with this year's stacked super team.

But after a day, I had thought 2018 should be, get lean, with 2019 being generically get mean. Could get mean be defined as full on full course or bust, with training focused? Would another 8-12 months (instead of...14 weeks...) make the difference? Starting a proper racing weight sometime in the first quarter of the year, with longer bikes, longer paddles (with portaging pratice!), longer loaded hikes, AR swims, TA practice, and everything possible to get a decent shot at it? Maybe it's worth one more try. Fifth time's the charm!

Alternatively, collect a pool of area racers, see who steps up the most, and make an A and B team to try to take a crack at it. Iron sharpening iron sort of thing. Would keep incentive up to stay sharp and be A team capable?

Gear wins:

* arm warmers - I was able to regulate temperate without micro TAing, just beat someone up a hill and adjust while they climb
* Ditto buff
* Bike - A fitting end to its planned AR career. But I think a full suspension might keep me fresher longer on those bouncy trails.
* Bladder of ensure on paddle. I did stay well fed (2100 calories or so during paddle!)
* I wasn't thrilled with my Zebra light on a jog a long time ago, but had it on for the paddle and it stayed lit on many long portages. Still prefer harsher spot than its overly floody style, but can't fault its duration on click on, next click brightness.
* Endurolytes - 2 extremes per hour kept me cramp-free, impressive given my lack of fitness

Gear losses:

* Can't keep rain pants up (useful for staying warm on paddles). Maybe suspenders?
* Big paddle bag to transport packs w/ mandatory gear. Too heavy. Need a more minimal, transport friendly solution. Either leave individual packs wet, or use small dry bags etc.
* My cheap Harbor Freight mechanic gloves work fine on the bike until it gets cold, at which point they provide no insulation when wet. I took them off by the end to keep my hands warmer.
* Not wearing a watch. I missed a few hour call outs for food.

Thursday Sep 27, 2018 #

Note
weight:207.6lbs

I heard another request for SMOC to switch to stands. I have mixed feelings - stands are nice for a premium feel at some events, however, for our frequent rogaine type events(SMOC or otherwise....), I'm not sure I have interest in lugging 2-3 dozen at a pop as I have been hanging it. I can barely fit that many flags in a big camping pack anyway, this would mandate much more frequent loops to car.

Sunday Sep 23, 2018 #

7 AM

Biking 2:00:17 intensity: (19:25 @0) + (1:05:24 @1) + (32:32 @2) + (2:56 @3) 22.52 mi (11.2 mph) +153m
ahr:121 max:158 weight:208.8lbs shoes: Jamis Dragon Sport 29er

I felt like I had a lot more pep than on previous rides. Near PR for Green, including brief stops for my riding partner's soft sandy low side (no harm done) and some gear shuffling.

If I get some more speed back, that makes triple green and double Poto potentially staples of 2019 training (since the time would be 3 ish hours), which would be massive compared to old days. Then maybe do alternating weekends of long single track with really long gravel or pavement.

Saturday Sep 22, 2018 #

Weights 20:00 [3]
slept:6.0 weight:207.4lbs shoes: Barefoot

20 pushups
15x per side lunges with 2x 10 lb dumbbells
30 situps
9 per side 30 lb dumbbell curls
12x 10 lb dumbbell lateral raise

20 pushups (I should've maintained this better!)
20x 30lb per side dumbbell squats
30 situps
10 per side 30 lb dumbbell curls
12x sloppy 10lb dumbbell lateral raise

slowest session ever...complete an exercise, browse for next indie pop song.... but no one's up and I have not much else to do right now, hopefully can get homework while daughter is at practice.


20 pushups
and H man is awake


Thursday Sep 20, 2018 #

11 AM

Walking 45:32 intensity: (13:49 @0) + (8:46 @1) + (2:32 @2) + (19:39 @3) + (46 @4) 2.27 mi (20:04 / mi) +4m 19:58 / mi
ahr:124 max:167

Wednesday Sep 19, 2018 #

9 PM

Elliptical 21:15 intensity: (1:21 @0) + (16:40 @1) + (8 @2) + (2:01 @3) + (1:05 @4) 1.12 mi (18:59 / mi)
ahr:122 max:166

Hoping to eventually do a lot more of this until I get a bit closer to race weight.

Tuesday Sep 18, 2018 #

Note
weight:207.8lbs

Something I should watch for in my own course design. I imagine it was easy to not realize that people would accidentally run under the clue sheet, where it's really hard to navigate (but would not have been if unmasked - the buildings would have been clearer, rather than feeling like just the westerly buildings from the correct cluster). That and other edge of map type conditions where a little more info might be handy.

https://www.livelox.com/Viewer/SMOC-UM-North-Campu...

3 PM

Biking 1:30:03 intensity: (35:52 @0) + (43:39 @1) + (10:32 @2) 17.86 mi (11.9 mph) +132m
ahr:106 max:151 shoes: Long Haul Trucker

truckerfixing installed WTB Riddlers at: 1796.6 for evaluation/gravel. They are really nice for riding around town (cushy) although a touch slower than the 35 mm touring tires I normally I have on.

Also, ~~~woah oh, I'm halfway there, woah oh eatin' with lots of care~~~

Biking 1:28:35 intensity: (14:43 @0) + (1:06:38 @1) + (7:14 @2) 18.49 mi (12.5 mph) +85m
ahr:118 max:144 shoes: Long Haul Trucker

No pack, but two heavy panniers (French for "air brakes")

Monday Sep 17, 2018 #

Note
weight:208.8lbs

I now realize I forgot to email the old club about the campus sprints. Whoops.

I'll schedule emails for the rest of the season, although I'm super light on teaser info/pics/etc.

Sunday Sep 16, 2018 #

11 AM

Orienteering 47:18 intensity: (37 @0) + (14:47 @1) + (12:14 @2) + (5:18 @3) + (5:37 @4) + (8:45 @5) 4.23 mi (11:11 / mi) +60m 10:43 / mi
ahr:150 max:204 27c weight:209.2lbs shoes: Brooks Ghost Swagger

Fun, enjoyable tour of North Campus, other than when I ran under the clues....to #2....which cost me a spot to Angel. Ran okay for the first half, but really lost steam uphill to #16. I want my speed back!

Saturday Sep 15, 2018 #

7 AM

Biking 3:10:40 intensity: (2:02 @0) + (1:47:20 @1) + (1:21:18 @2) 28.33 mi (8.9 mph) +446m
ahr:134 max:151 weight:209.2lbs shoes: Jamis Dragon Sport 29er

BNM's graciousness knows no bounds, as she tolerated my miserable pace and very abbreviated route to accommodate daughter pick up.

Got most of the unique-to-TTC before bailing to gravel and booking back. Well-timed, as arrived within a minute of the end of practice.

I want my speed force back!

Friday Sep 14, 2018 #

Weights 15:00 [3]
slept:7.0 weight:209.2lbs shoes: Barefoot

25 pushups
25 30lb*2 squats

1 round of the 1*15 straight and 1*15 bent leg heels-on-stairs raise toes exercise that's supposed to prevent shin splints

10 per side 30 lb dumbbell curls

One round is better than no rounds (busy work day ahead)

Note
weight:209.2lbs

2018 WT Layout:

Distance Time Estimate
Leg #1 – Trek 16km 3 - 6 hours
Leg #2 – Mountain Bike 60km 4.5 – 8 hours
Leg #3 – Paddle & Portage 37km 5.5 – 9 hours
Leg #4 – Trek 13km 3.5 - 8 hours
Leg #5 – Mountain Bike 12km 0.5 – 1 hour

Total time adds up to 32 hours, so we have to find 2 hours plus TA times to make it.

BNM and I have moved a boat @ 4 mph for >3 hrs (total time, not moving time), and Greg and Mark are only faster...maybe that can be a key contributor.

Try to survive the bike, and then count on Mark to bring us home in both treks, esp. with water in one (which could aid his navigation I think).

Won't make it up in the final bike!

7 PM

Walking 48:29 intensity: (46:38 @0) + (1:51 @1) 2.03 mi (23:50 / mi) +7m 23:35 / mi
ahr:75 max:98

Wednesday Sep 12, 2018 #

3 PM

Canoeing 1:41:15 intensity: (14:43 @0) + (1:25:28 @1) + (1:04 @2) 6.65 mi (15:14 / mi) +4m 15:12 / mi
ahr:102 max:142 weight:210lbs shoes: Pirate Canoe

Nice paddle from the dixboro dam. I realized I could defer the jogs until after WT. less enjoyed banging the new paddle on rocks in the shallow part, but that’s out of the way now.

Feel good about the WT paddle
Hope the WT hike will be survivable (esp if offload to a mule)
Worried about the bike, wish there was more time

Monday Sep 10, 2018 #

Note
weight:210.8lbs

More or less on track, although August was not as good in general as I did not walk as much, plus I had some big training days, which are hard to work with because on the big days if I don't eat, I feel awful, but if I do eat, I really really really want to snack on the next day when I don't do much, and I found myself doing that more rather than holding it tight. I know the JayXC solution would be: all days big days hahahahaha

May soften up a little a couple days before WT to ensure well-fed and muscles full of glycogen etc.

Post WT, I think it will be more difficult for a few months. I have to do really well in my last class, so studying and Harvey wrangling will cut into either sleep or exercise time available. But if I can stay tight on food, that matters more anyway for my immediate 2018 goal of: get lean (2019: get mean) and maybe I can weather it.

12 PM

Walking 27:35 intensity: (2:07 @0) + (4:09 @1) + (3:40 @2) + (3:03 @3) + (9:12 @4) + (5:24 @5) 1.56 mi (17:38 / mi) +20m 16:57 / mi
ahr:154 max:183

3 PM

Walking 26:29 intensity: (14:53 @0) + (11:36 @1) 1.49 mi (17:46 / mi) +18m 17:08 / mi
ahr:92 max:122

9 PM

Elliptical 30:48 intensity: (6:55 @0) + (35 @1) + (6:12 @2) + (11:42 @3) + (5:24 @4) 1.27 mi (24:15 / mi)
ahr:136 max:176 shoes: Barefoot

Saturday Sep 8, 2018 #

2 PM

Canoeing 2:15:07 intensity: (24:18 @0) + (1:27:17 @1) + (11:50 @2) + (7:41 @3) + (4:01 @4) 9.05 mi (14:56 / mi) +13m 14:52 / mi
ahr:119 max:174 shoes: Pirate Canoe

Great paddle with BNM up and back on the Huron from Bandemer. We learned a lot about center of pressure and center of mass with the quartering? winds that pushed us all over, especially outbound. It was like balancing an upside broom.

Friday Sep 7, 2018 #

10 PM

Biking 2:52:16 intensity: (1:08:29 @0) + (1:30:02 @1) + (12:50 @2) + (55 @3) 33.42 mi (11.6 mph) +197m
ahr:100 max:154 weight:211.8lbs shoes: Long Haul Trucker

The new $5.6M pedestrian bridge over M5 looks done, but is closed and I respected the sign.

Thursday Sep 6, 2018 #

Weights 10:00 [3]
slept:7.0 weight:211.6lbs

30 pushups
30 2*30 lb dumbbell squats
30 situps

break

13x per side 30 lb dumbbell curls
10x 10 lb dumbbell per side arms at side to horizontal at side

Wednesday Sep 5, 2018 #

3 PM

Running 51:21 intensity: (9 @0) + (32:54 @1) + (17:43 @2) + (35 @3) 3.69 mi (13:55 / mi) +55m 13:18 / mi
ahr:135 max:157 slept:7.0 weight:215.2lbs shoes: Brooks Ghost Swagger

Anyone in the A2 region who wants to shuffle around east side trails M & W @ 3:15 give a holler.

This week at Cherry Hill, since I figured it had wide parts that would be ivy-free. The full outer was not for me, as it narrowed up in the NW with too many leaves of three.

Walking warm up/down 19:57 intensity: (19:50 @1) + (7 @2) 0.99 mi (20:09 / mi) +17m 19:09 / mi
ahr:106 max:143 shoes: Brooks Ghost Swagger

Monday Sep 3, 2018 #

8 AM

Canoeing 1:07:31 intensity: (9:08 @0) + (16:30 @1) + (30:49 @2) + (11:04 @3) 4.22 mi (16:00 / mi) +2m 15:59 / mi
ahr:128 max:164 slept:7.0 weight:213lbs shoes: Pirate Canoe

4 * 1609 m time trials for WT canoe apportioning on the Grand River in Lansing.

Mark is the monster - he could push me and my wide 16'er as fast as BNM and Greg in the Wenonah Escape.

Hopefully we maintain any approximation of these outputs across some portion of the paddle - it will go well if we do.

Then chatted gear and tactics a bit, just a bit too long for BNM & I and to jump back in for bonus miles I hoped to do...I imagine we can squeeze in another paddle or two prior to give us some more paddle power.
9 PM

Walking 22:00 [0] 1.17 mi (18:48 / mi) +4m 18:35 / mi
ahr:68 max:121

Sunday Sep 2, 2018 #

8 AM

Walking 1:17:48 intensity: (1:20 @0) + (9:04 @1) + (31:31 @2) + (15:09 @3) + (20:44 @4) 4.03 mi (19:18 / mi) +42m 18:42 / mi
ahr:150 max:176 slept:7.0 weight:212lbs shoes: Roclite 315

A very muggy tour of most but not all of the paved trails at Maybury, me with Harvey and Eric with his dog.

I didn't bring my pack so I wouldn't sweat, however, I did so I should have brought it!

A rollerkier was pulling a partial tire behind him at great speed, mostly double poling.
1 PM

Walking 18:12 intensity: (5:41 @0) + (4 @1) + (6:33 @2) + (3:40 @3) + (2:14 @4) 0.85 mi (21:25 / mi) +37m 18:50 / mi
ahr:128 max:168 shoes: Roclite 315

Warmup before Audra arrived. Oof, muggy and buggy. Bug spray applied on return.

Walking 2:40:06 intensity: (8:14 @0) + (1:05:49 @1) + (1:15:19 @2) + (10:33 @3) + (11 @4) 4.59 mi (34:53 / mi) +160m 31:29 / mi
ahr:133 max:166 26c

26c tour of Peach Mountain to show how features work.

And so I could break in my shoes a bit more before WT. time on feet was on target for the day but distance wasn’t, so maybe I’ll try to squeeze in a couple more long walks. Hopefully we are walking at WT.

Saturday Sep 1, 2018 #

5 AM

Biking 5:41:31 intensity: (1:19:44 @0) + (3:27:31 @1) + (30:29 @2) + (13:29 @3) + (9:06 @4) + (1:12 @5) 75.12 mi (13.2 mph) +83m
ahr:117 max:181 slept:6.0 weight:213lbs shoes: Long Haul Trucker

Very happy with this route - leaving at an early hour, Outer and Jefferson were nicely light on traffic. I meant to leave at 4:30, but hit snooze for...an hour...and rolled out around 5:35.

Twice now, I've had rides where I didn't feel great or peppy, then as if by magic, around 75-90 minutes, I perked up. Some glucose -> fat transition?









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