Training Log Archive: ernst

Running the Sweet trail out and back from Longmarsh Road. Map says 4 miles each way , but there had been some re-routing, and it is not clear if the 1/2 mile beyond Bay Road piece is included. Based on my time and pace (did not have GPS) I guess it is 4.5 to 5 miles each way. I may have an old GPS entry to check. It is a fantastic trail, trough Boulder fields and along "paleo" looking beaver ponds. I ran comfortably on the way out, stopped 1-2 minutes at the end (for a picture of Great Bay) , then "turned it up" to a faster pace on the way back, as much as I could. Surprisingly, was able to maintain the speed without major discomfort buildup. Great! Nice and cool evening (~ 65 F), bright sunset, took shirt off after first mile.

Bike to work and back. I pushed it on the hills on the way back just to get the maximal benefit of leg strength training.

Looping around Spruce Hole and inspecting the new "landscaping" that has been in progress for a while. Pleasantly cool evening with brilliant sunset. Met two Mt bikers (Laura and Andy?) from nearby who just discovered the trails. Good to see folks out there.

Run to work. Had some extra time so added 1 mile of off trail in CW (to party rock and back to bridge), then looped around all the nearly obscured trails in the NW section of the map. Found two new trail connectors, that I will need to map. Legs felt so, so. Did not push it before work.

Run home: direct route plus 2 extra hills in CW which I tempo'ed. Generally pushed hard, just because I needed to get it out of my system, i.e. too much work on my plate...grrrr. It feels good and I am careful not to injure myself nevertheless.

Run to work. On road and by the dam, b/c had to hurry to make it to class on time. Cool bright morning.

Run home with CW hill detour. Overall tired from sitting most of the day and after having been on my feet most of the weekend.

Pawtuck Day 2. Red Course. 5.4 k advertised distance. Lots of detouring required. (Dist. traveled estimated as usual)
Run off right after breakfast (with a full stomach) due to the impending storm warning that was to set in in about an hour. Well it started (rain and wind) on my way to 5. I had a good run so far, but had moved very slowly (no warm up, full stomach, legs tired from the night before). But navigation was good. Slow route around to 3 (over the top would have saved a minute + ). As it started to downpour, my glasses immediately fogged up 100%, so could not read the map any more. Spend up to a nminute at each control, wiping the glasses and had a quick chance to get a glimpse at the route, which I then memorized and executed. Near the control approach I stopped for another wipe, to read the clue, and a bit of the map if possible. Managed to find 6, 7, 8, 9, without any problems. But searched for 10 for 2 minutes - could not judge exactly where to attack from the road, and the woods were a bit thickish.
Was thrilled that I succeeded in battling the rain for at least a few controls. Have done much worse in the past.
Of course half an hour later it clear up again. O well.
Ended up 5th , last of the 108 group with only about 15 seconds behind the third (Jeff, .... , me) , and we were behind the 58 group (Tim, Giovanni)

Control and Water Pick-up on Big Island Loop. 10 controls incl. 2 waters. Studied the map thoroughly on the way. The big difference to the newer maps (Bear Brook, Harris Center, etc) is the minimalism of the mapper. Big Island is about half covered with rocky ground (big rocks, many with overgrown moss. Few are mapped, only those that have consistently higher rocks. A good choice of the mapper to keep the map readable. However I think he skimped on the boulders: I saw several unmapped ones that had prompted me to look for them on the map. For example, one measured 0.9 from one side, 1.1 from two sides and 1.4 from one side. The boulder had vertical sides and was free standing (not surrounded by others). Very ostentatious, and deserves to be mapped. Others were similar. Also picked alternative and when possible the route that made for most difficult approach to control. Nailed all controls nevertheless.