Training Log Archive: TomNIn the 1 days ending May 6, 2017:
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Saturday May 6, 2017 #
Trail Running 32:14 [3] 3.5 mi (9:13 / mi)
shoes: Roclite 280-2015
Up in a balloon this morning. Piloted by a friend of my sister's, we launched just after sunrise in a field just 5 minutes from where she lives. There were probably 20 other balloons and crews all rolling out, inflating, and sailing away.
Gently lifting off the ground in a basket is a sublime experience, with a strong sense of magic about it. There is total silence at 1000 feet, except for the intermittent blasts of the heater. Coming down in a spiny desert in a 10 mph wind is neither gentle nor sublime, but it had to be done.
We landed in the exact spot where I had just run yesterday morning, and the chase truck arrived a few minutes later. With the balloon still inflated, we had dragged the gondola over to the road. The primary goal in deflating was to keep the balloon off the numerous chollas and lined up in the dirt roadbed. Getting it all stuffed back in the truck was physical work.
I knew the way back, having just been out there, and I went for a run afterwards, into the desert for a second helping.
Gently lifting off the ground in a basket is a sublime experience, with a strong sense of magic about it. There is total silence at 1000 feet, except for the intermittent blasts of the heater. Coming down in a spiny desert in a 10 mph wind is neither gentle nor sublime, but it had to be done.
We landed in the exact spot where I had just run yesterday morning, and the chase truck arrived a few minutes later. With the balloon still inflated, we had dragged the gondola over to the road. The primary goal in deflating was to keep the balloon off the numerous chollas and lined up in the dirt roadbed. Getting it all stuffed back in the truck was physical work.
I knew the way back, having just been out there, and I went for a run afterwards, into the desert for a second helping.