Training Log: Charlie

Out and about early, the town deserted. We were on a hunt for coffee but it wasn’t looking promising. Did a general tour of the whole town, established the location of the event center, basically seeing no one. Around 6:30 we ran into a couple of guys, asked them where a bar was that opened early, followed their directions, but it didn’t open until 8. Finally almost home we spotted Bar L’azzurro, open at 6:30. Excellent, cappuccino and for want of anything more pleasing, a cornetto.

On the model map. We went to the event center where we saw Giovanni’s friend Andrea. I met Andrea in 2014 when he was helping out with the Mediterranean Open championships in Montecatini Terme. Anyway, he advised that we drive up to Malga Montagnoli to see the model, and so we did. Thought we might do some of the upper controls, but we ended up just doing the six lower ones. We got scared off the steeper part below 6 by the difficult footing and steepness.

New experience. I’ve been in passport control line in Milano for an hour, still can’t see the front. Is this because of the new interior minister?

Update. 1:45 to clear passport control. Now we are at rental cars where we talked with a lady who has already been ther 3 hours. Not looking good.

Arrived in Madonna Di Campiglio after a 4 hour drive and had to pick up the apartment key at the Hotel Dahu. They invited us to have dinner for 25€ a piece. Well we were hungry as well as tired, but had no idea it would be so nice! Salad and vegetable bar was delightful, sautéed peppers, sliced potatoes, cauliflower, etc, lettuce, carrots, arugula, tomatoes. Then a choice of four firsts and four seconds. For a first we got barley and broth with zucchini flowers and prosciutto for one of us and gnocchi with duck and pumpkin. Normally I don’t much care for gnocchi, but these were perfect, tender and flavorful.

Then for a second we both chose branzino, which was baked covered with a layer of thinly sliced baby zucchini and a dusting of bread crumbs and onion. We eat branzino a lot in Italy, usually get it grilled and really like it. This was better.

Finally a tiny chocolate cake, soft, warm with a bit of rum sauce and some powdered sugar. Quite a nice surprise.

A nice visit with my friend Tullio, just arrived last night and, unfortunately heading back to Italy on July w, right after we return. He stopped up for a coffee and (for him) a brief walk down to the Big Down Marsh to visit the herons. He appears transformed after his Santiago Di Campostela hike of a few months ago. Much leaner, with quite a bounce in his step. He is thinking about a few options for a long walk in the fall, maybe we will join him if it works out. He seems impervious to jet lag. Me not so much, and not so much his wife Giulia either who was nursing a bit of a headache, but rebounding a bit in the afternoon.

Around Course B before taking off for the airport.

In the gym with Eric. A little tight, legs a little sore from the other day, so not much. Stretching and rolling, a few deadlifts, some goblet squats.

Two nice bears in the yard outside my office window, one medium to small, one quite large. The smaller one investigated the compost, they wandered through the flower garden, got into the garage, and then went on their way.

With Rhonda from PV. Same as Sunday, except this time just the two of us.

I had some different ideas about what I would try to fit in, as not much time between phone calls and other obligations today. Started out with the idea that I would do two dog loops, but about halfway around the first one I either swallowed a bug or encountered some particularly irritating pollen and I was coughing and gagging the rest of the way, so one was plenty. Plus some DOMS from yesterday's squats, so lucky to do anything.

In the gym with Eric, stretching and rolling, deadlifts, back squats. Cut the back squats short because I could feel them in the quads, wanted to stave off too much DOMS. Then 4 pullups on the way back through the yard. I've been laying off these for quite a while because of issues in my neck and L trap, but they went more or less ok, so maybe I can start them up again.

In Simsbury, with Rhonda. Fresh legs. Hills are a bit easier these days after all those long ones in Croatia.