Training Log Archive: ernstIn the 7 days ending Feb 6, 2016:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| « | » |
| » now | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | |||||||||||
Saturday Feb 6, 2016 #
7 AM
Classic Skiing 23:00 [1] 1.0 mi (23:00 / mi)
Out on Clyde's trails with J at sunrise. 12F Snow has turned to powder at the surface. Trees are still hanging low to the ground. Beautiful, serene. But I am getting tired of shaking the trees loose. Used BC teleskis to make nice tracks. We need some wind to shake things up! I'll go later to try Spruce Hole. Also hoping that the Durham Boat folks will groom for skating later in the day. Looks like we got a solid 10 " .
10 AM
Classic Skiing 45:00 [2] 3.0 mi (15:00 / mi)
Over to Spruce Hole to make tracks on tele skis. Still a lot of trees bent down to the ground. Snow was powdery. Tracked Electr. Avenue, then tele-turns on the S Hill (snow very powdery, a "free the heel" dream!),then tracked back up the road, over to staging, halfmoon, watermain, and back. Tracked logging cut near Mistretta's hill to create an easier access point to go with the dog.
4 PM
Snow Shoveling/Moving 1:00:00 [1]
I am having a lot of fun with the MinnSNOWta Roof Razor. I am getting the hang of it. I channel the snow into the Neuton Electric Wheel Barrow, then race this to the end of porch and down my flimsy ramp, let it go, jump after it down the 4 steps, then tip it over to deposit the compacted block of snow. And another round, etc. I count it as a # 1 workout. I got all the photovoltaics panels clean. Snow was wet/heavy from the sun exposure.
5 PM
Classic Skiing 30:00 [2] 2.5 mi (12:00 / mi)
Then with Jena again over the trails at Spruce Wood/Hole. Snow is transformed in about 70% of places, mainly due to melt off the trees but still powdery in shady sections. Tele-hill still powdery. Whooohaa! Added tracking to Wildlife and Boundary. Snowshoe tracks around, the folks avoided the ski tracks. Excellent! My sign works. Wonder how long.
Yes, I started naming the trail/sections. Was even considering of starting a Facebook page "Spruce Hole XC Skiing" so I can report the track conditions to interested local folks. But one thing at a time...
Yes, I started naming the trail/sections. Was even considering of starting a Facebook page "Spruce Hole XC Skiing" so I can report the track conditions to interested local folks. But one thing at a time...
Friday Feb 5, 2016 #
4 PM
Snow Shoveling/Moving 35:00 [2]
Note: Snow storm # 4. less than 2 days after 55F weather. 1-3 inches forecast. Actual amount is > 8 inches of heavy snow. That is deja vu from the previous storm(s). Love it when the weather folks are underestimating..!
5 PM
Snowshoeing 30:00 [1] 1.0 mi (30:00 / mi)
Trying to pack down the 8 inches of heavy snow, w. Nancy following on skis. But spent most of our time freeing bent-over trees from their load by banging them with ski poles. The storm subsided and a bright shine of sunlight hit the tree crowns just before sunset. Incredible light show with the snowy crowns sparkling in a golden glow.
Thursday Feb 4, 2016 #
7 AM
Trail running 16:00 [2] 1.1 mi (14:33 / mi)
shoes: Keen
Run with J to earn her breakfast to the far cause-way and back. Did not even need icebreakers (YakTrax) today. Only some ice left on the heavily trafficked (foot) sections, but was easy to sidestep.
8 AM
Trail running 35:00 [2] 2.5 mi (14:00 / mi)
shoes: Keen
Then over to Spruce Hole on my own. Did some trail clearing - there was a bit of downfall and also was able to remove big trunks that I had to step over on my skis for the last month. Everything seemed to be rotting during this thaw. 52F when I got up, 45F when I came back from run. Snow expected tomorrow, and more to come on Tuesday.
Wednesday Feb 3, 2016 #
7 AM
Trail running 18:00 [2] 1.3 mi (13:51 / mi)
shoes: Keen
A round with the dog before breakfast. Landscape is depressingly void of snow, just ice patches. This ended up being my only run today, rain started shortly thereafter. But walked a fair bit on campus to far away parking and to a meeting across campus.
Tuesday Feb 2, 2016 #
7 AM
Trail running 30:00 [2] 2.5 mi (12:00 / mi)
shoes: Keen
Exploration run to check skiability. First 15 min with J. on Clyde's trails. Result: Not skiable. Too patchy although some nice stretches, but the walk to them would be too long.
Then by myself over at Spruce Hole. There was continuous coverage of 1 inch or ice with a numerous bare spots around trees that could easily be side-stepped. Also lots of vegetation on the logging rides.
Then by myself over at Spruce Hole. There was continuous coverage of 1 inch or ice with a numerous bare spots around trees that could easily be side-stepped. Also lots of vegetation on the logging rides.
8 AM
Classic Skiing 30:00 [2] 2.2 mi (13:38 / mi)
Then decided to ski (waxless, of course) at Spruce Hole. Crust was a bit too firm and icy. Should have waited a couple of hours. But at least skiable yet with a lot of stepping over fallen branches, etc.
12 PM
Classic Skiing 35:00 [2] 2.8 mi (12:30 / mi)
Then another try. Much better now. Softness was perfect. Best conditions (if I can call that!) on the access road to BrookDale when I made tracks away from the ice. Did some skating on the return over the bumpy surface.
Monday Feb 1, 2016 #
7 AM
Classic Skiing 17:00 [1] 1.3 mi (13:05 / mi)
Morning loop w. J. around Spruce Hole. Last day probably. Large bare patches around the edge of the area. The "plateau" had continuous coverage 1 - 2 inches, lots of dirt, leaves and ice from the early Jan storm being exposed now. 38F : Waxless atomics worked great. In places where the old tracks were not holding out, was able to just step out onto the crust which was optimal for new tracking. Skating on a wide untouched protected trail in the woods would be ideal now, but such a trail does not exist around here.
8 AM
Classic Skiing 35:00 [3] 3.8 mi (9:13 / mi)
Then out for training loops. A work out not unlike racing on near-icy race tracks. Had marginal kick on my worn-out waxless, and the glide, now that the under-ice base was showing in place, was fabulous. The walked-over trails are now almost bare ice. Reduced choices. Another morning perhaps? - 50/50 chance I am thinking. Nuisance factor will increase.
Sunday Jan 31, 2016 #
8 AM
Skate Skiing 30:00 [3] 3.5 mi (8:34 / mi) +140m 7:37 / mi
Morning ski along the race course in between two courses of breakfast. Sweet to fly over the new curdoroy. Felt me spasm come back a tiny bit afterwards.
11 AM
Classic Skiing warm up/down 25:00 [1] 1.5 mi (16:40 / mi)
shoes: Rossi Xium Classic
Leisure ski w. N. Her back prompted her to go very slowy and evenly. So chatted along while skiing on a couple loops.
12 PM
Classic Skiing 50:00 [3] 5.5 mi (9:05 / mi) +150m 8:23 / mi
shoes: Rossi Xium Classic
Then back on the race course with a layer of wax du jour on top of my remaining blue klister blobs. Temps in the high 30's so not much kick really. Felt like yesterday's last loop. But just took it easy - stepping hard off-track got me up the hills ok. Just wanted to enjoy the snow while I could (tropical heat wave in the forecast for the south).