I just returned from a week at Running Camp in Acadia National Park (Bar Harbor ["Ba Haba"], Maine). It was great! There were about 25-30 runners, plus a staff of about 5. The camp is led by Andy Palmer, a pretty good -- but not quite national level -- elite runner in his prime. The format of the camp was: short "lecture" followed by the day's run, then either a cross-training option or free time and an optional second run, and a second "lecture" in the evening. The lectures were pretty interesting, covering topics such as stretching, biomechanics, motivation, and cross-training. We had two guest speakers, Gordon Bakoulis (former editor of Running Times and 4-time women's marathon trials competitor) and Jack Fultz ('76 Boston Marathon winner; his description of the race was great). We also had an outdoor session on plyometrics -- we all tried them out on the field of the college -- followed by a video taping of our running which we all watched later in the week; and a max heart rate test. But, of course, the highlight was the running. The runs all took place on the carriage roads -- wide gravel roads conceived and paid for by Rockefeller. The distances ranged from 3 to 9 miles, sometimes with an option to lengthen the course.

Every other day I did some trail running. The first day I asked Andy if I could go off on a trail, he said no, and meant it. I of course figured he was kidding. After I assured him I had a map and wouldn't sue, he gave in but told me not to take anyone else with me. He did know I am an accomplished orienteer, which probably made him feel a bit better. The first trail I took cut about a mile off the carriage road route, but it climbed up a "nubble" on a fairly rocky trail. The views from the top were great! When I rejoined the carriage trail, Andy and several others were just passing by. I made a point of telling Andy that I hadn't gotten lost and was just fine; after that he seemed to relax a bit.

My second trail foray wasn't quite as uneventful. My plan was to cut off a couple miles of carriage trail by taking a trail that climbed up between two hills, The Bubbles, and then parallel the paved road on a hiking trail until I rejoined the carriage trail. I headed down the first trail, but after a hundred meters or so, it faded out. I figured I could just bushwack to the lakeshore and pick up the next trail I needed. I lost my sunglasses in the thick vegetation and spent 5 minutes in vain looking for them. The lake level was higher than the map (a Pat Dunlavey map!) showed, so when I reached the lakeshore and saw no trail, I figured that trail was gone, too. (From the summit, I could see a boardwalk well into the lake where the trail went...) Bummer, but I saw what I thought was the reentrant leading to the saddle, and I figured I'd find the trail there. I headed up -- over 500 feet of climb in about 1/5 mile -- over rocks of varying sizes. At times it was steep enough that I was grabbing trees to help pull myself up and as a security measure. I did take a few pictures, as the view was quite impressive. I never did come across the trail, until I hit the summit. Though I did get several scratches (very impressive to the others), my main concern was that the other runners would have to wait for me. So, I changed my plans slightly and took the paved road to the carriage road junction so I could go a bit faster. When I got to the junction, I ran into one of the women from the camp, who was on a bike preparing to follow her hubby (who was doing the loop twice as marathon training). While I was talking to her, Andy came running up. He had backtracked to sweep, and asked how I could have gotten in front of him when he didn't pass me. I told him I'd run over the Bubbles, and he was very impressed. No one had ever done that before, he told me, and it blew him away. It really would have been No Big Deal to me if I had found the trail, and even as it was, it just seemed like specificity training for West Point.

The cross training options were fun. We did a tandem sea kayak tour (fantastic!!) and a mountain bike tour of the park. That was 26 miles, the first 17 on the road. For days, sitting was painful. I skipped the 3-hour hike on the last day, choosing instead to enjoy a couple cold ones in town with friends. Overall, the camp was great fun and inspirational as well. It is easy to get motivated to train in such an environment; the hard part is when you're back in the real world. Part of the camp was individual sessions with Andy (who makes his living as a running coach). Although I've had running coaches before, and have had very good results with them, I think if I were to hire another coach, I'd want an orienteer -- or at least someone who really understands the demands of o'ing. Still, Andy and I worked out a schedule for the rest of the summer that I will try to follow. I have to run for 2 hours tomorrow! I hope I can do that.

Barring injury (miraculously, neither my knees nor my Achilles hurt all week!), I should be in better shape for the Long O' in 5 weeks.

[Speaking of which, what OKers will be in Colorado? I will be out for the Night O'/Long O' weekend then I'm bailing to Minnesota and then Eastern Canada.]

-- Peggy (Pdickison@aol.com), July 09, 2000

Answers

This was an interesting write-up, but what's a "nubble"?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), July 10, 2000.

Great write up, Peggy. Training at Acadia N.P. sounds like a good way to spend some hard earned vacation days. Mary and I have an Acadia visit on our list of things to do.

Overall, the camp was great fun and inspirational as well. It is easy to get motivated to train in such an environment; the hard part is when you're back in the real world

I really like training camps. A bunch of my best memories of O' are from training camps. I hope OK will have another camp to help us get ready for the next U.S. Relay Champs.

Andy and I worked out a schedule for the rest of the summer that I will try to follow. I have to run for 2 hours tomorrow!

What does the schedule you set up look like?

what OKers will be in Colorado?

I believe Mook plans to be at the entire 1000-days. I gave some thought to doing one of the weekends. But, then I had my achilles tendon problem and I've decided to just take it easy through (at least) the end of August. So, I don't plan to be in Colorado. I don't know about any other OKers' plans.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), July 12, 2000.

There are references to a Nubble Light House in Maine. Nubble could be a proper noun.

In any case, it sounds very "newenglandy". Perhaps OK can host a clambake at the Nubble some day.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), July 14, 2000.