Training Log: PG

trail running 37:52 3.93 mi (9:38 / mi)
ahr:136 max:154 rhr:51 weight:139lbs shoes: mudclaw 270

A short run on the ridge, though a little bit harder effort than I intended. It just sort of happened. Entained by Fresh Air, an interview with Rosanne Carter, quite nice, maybe that's why I forgot what the plan was.

Conditions on the trails are getting pretty good. Not too much ice left and it's avoidable. But some snow is predicted for Wednesday, so that will spoil things. Maybe we'll get lucky and it will stay to the south again (or to the north, either one is fine with me).

Note

Had a very nice dinner last night at a new place (for us), the Gill Tavern, celebrating Valentine's Day.

Note

There were some impressive numbers from the weekend storm, but the most important (and most appreciated) data aren't even reported -- not a flake to be seen in Sunderland.

Note

I suppose it shows either incredible self-confidence, or incredible stupidity, or perhaps some of both.

There have been any number of comments in recent years, particularly from the relatively younger set, about the image of orienteering as primarily something that old guys do. And therefore not a sport attractive to younger folks.

And even if it is true that there are some old guys that do it, the emphasis should be on the younger, flashier, prettier set. And ditto for any marketing.

And old guys should be kept hidden away.

Especially old guys with beards.

Especially especially old guys with beards wearing pajamas.

So then how does one explain the cover of the January issue of the Swiss O' Magazine?

Are they making a play for subset of old guys with beards wearing pajamas, the subset that likes to run around with radio antennas? Is that an untapped demographic?

Should we be including this in USOF's strategic plan?

Or, maybe, have the Swiss just gone bananas?

C • ? 7

road running 1:55:02 13.02 mi (8:50 / mi) +550m 7:49 / mi
ahr:141 max:156 rhr:47 weight:139.5lbs shoes: roclite 305

Time for a longer run, since Sunday is the only day it's possible, and fortunately the weather was cooperating, sunny, upper 20s, and windy, but not so windy that it was unpleasant. Did a loop that was an old favorite of mine, Stillwater - Bardswell Ferry, so named after the two bridges across the Deerfield River. Endless hills. Just a good run to work on HTFU. Used to be able to do it in about 1:40, and was pleased today to be under 2 hours.

All back roads, maybe a third to a half dirt, but even the paved ones had enough winter sand on them that there was no sense of just pounding the asphalt. And the section around 11 miles that isn't plowed for about a mile was just fine.

Just an occasional car, plus a couple of hardy cyclists. And no discernible activity at the Cosby estate (pretty much all the land on both sides of the road between miles 8 and 9), though as usual it looked immaculately well taken care of.

Legs felt a little tired up the first long hill -- you start will just about a 20-minute climb -- then pretty good for about the next hour, and then tired again on the last couple hills.

Feels excellent to have done it, and not so bad during the doing. Nice entertainment as usual, mostly a TAL on guns, and then a Wait Wait Don't Tell Me for when I was getting tired, didn't demand much thinking.

C • 3

treadmill 34:58 [2] 4.0 mi (8:45 / mi)
rhr:48 weight:141lbs shoes: roclite 305

An early run on the treadmill because I wasn't sure if I'd have time later, just 4 easy miles. 9:36, 8:28, 8:27, 8:27.

I forgot to note yesterday a short podcast I listened to at the end of the run, an item from "The Moth" (often very amusing short stories, available for free via iTunes), this one by Malcolm Gladwell. I've read a little of his stuff (I think Spike is a big fan), usually interesting and quite serious. This was, well, different, and very funny.

C • Gladwell 7

trail running 1:00:45 5.97 mi (10:11 / mi)
ahr:135 max:155 rhr:47 weight:142lbs shoes: mudclaw 270

"13 hills" loop, plus a little detour to pick up a glove I had dropped while changing channels. Glad I realized it when I did, didn't have to go back very far.

Petty good conditions, all snow covered but not much ice. Legs seemed OK, hamstring is calming down.

So I listened to this guy on Connecticut Public Radio (see yesterday's comments), and he was pretty good. The show was on buriels. It seems like people are doing a variety of strange things -- getting their ashes mixed with ashes they have saved from departed pets, lots of people doing that, one guy wanted to buy a bunch a pepper shakers and put his ashes in them and give them to all his friends (the host took exception to that, one of the guests suggested that the holes in the pepper shakers would too small and maybe one of those things that hold grated cheese would be better), people want to get their ashes scattered at sea,

So many good things to learn!

And then there was his babe assistant who started off the show by declaring she wanted to have her body swallowed by a giant squid, then hoisted in the air by balloons and then blown up, so parts of her and the squid would come raining down. And the same babe closed the show by saying she didn't give a damn what happened to her body because, after all, she'd be dead.

An entertaining show. As long as I didn't think too seriously about the subject matter.

treadmill 43:45 [3] 5.0 mi (8:45 / mi)
rhr:49 weight:141lbs shoes: roclite 305

Right hamstring just a little off so I sadly passed on the track workout and ran on the treadmill, 5 easy miles, 9:45 and then 4 @8:30. Don't think I made things any worse.

Fresh Air again, I guess they used Xmas week to replay some of their favorite interviews of the year. Yesterday I listen to her interview Quinten Tarrentino. Wonderful, just wonderful. And ditto today, half the show with Woody Allen, the other half with Tracy Morgan. Made the time go by a whole lot faster.

At work I continue to get compliments for my new good looks. So far over the past six months the only "undecided" has been Gail, though I think maybe she is getting just a little positive, and the only "opposed", or at least the only one willing to say so, has been Barb, who simply said that she prefers hairy men. :-)

C • Pod casts 4

Note

So I've decided at work to let clients know about how much they saved on their taxes from the stimulus package last year, since that has been demonized and seems to be associated with the bank bailout. The numbers aren't trivial, especially given the generally low incomes around here. First client this morning, total family income about 50K, stimulus benefit about $1,200. That's real money for these folks.

C • Good for you 5

speed golf 47:47 4.82 mi (9:55 / mi)
ahr:127 max:142 rhr:48 weight:140.5lbs shoes: mudclaw 270

Once around the Greenfield course. An inch of snow overnight, which made little difference most of the time but in a few places covered up sheets of ice. Never went down, never really close, but was certainly following a law of inertia a few times (a body in motion tends to keep moving in the same direction unless some force is applied to it, and the ice wasn't allowing me to apply much force).

Right hamstring was a little sore this morning. Don't know why, it didn't hurt yesterday. Didn't feel a thing running (was ready to quit if it acted up at all), but it's still a little off afterwards. We will see.

Legs felt heavy again today. Yesterday was a decent effort but not hard, and I got a full night's sleep. Just one of those days.