Training Log Archive: Ari-oIn the 28 days ending Feb 28, 2021:
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Sunday Feb 28, 2021 #
11 AM
Hiking 1:34:19 [0] 3.83 mi (24:37 / mi)
ahr:111 max:210
Trails seemed icy and muddy and not a great combo, so we walked around the Mount Hood golf course up in Melrose.
Added benefit, I put a worm in my brother-in-law's ear about "do you think the town would let you drive a sled and roller around?" Answer was "probably." He's on the City bike/ped committee and it's a small town, plus my sister runs with a Canadian friend who skis.
The only issue is the terrain would only allow for so much easy terrain, but there would be no problem putting an A climb in. Oh and, you know, snow, although several of the fairways held snow pretty well even today.
Added benefit, I put a worm in my brother-in-law's ear about "do you think the town would let you drive a sled and roller around?" Answer was "probably." He's on the City bike/ped committee and it's a small town, plus my sister runs with a Canadian friend who skis.
The only issue is the terrain would only allow for so much easy terrain, but there would be no problem putting an A climb in. Oh and, you know, snow, although several of the fairways held snow pretty well even today.
5 PM
Run 40:35 [1] 4.85 mi (8:22 / mi) +39m 8:10 / mi
ahr:178 max:195
Evening jogaroo.
Saturday Feb 27, 2021 #
8 AM
Trail Run 1:51:55 [1] 6.57 mi (17:02 / mi) +514m 13:42 / mi
ahr:148 max:217
Melanie wanted to run until her legs were tired/hurting; I wanted to run until the snow changed to rain.
Both of these took place at about the same time, and right near the end of our first loop. Nice snow running before that on microspikes. Glad we got out early. (Word from Jackson was that it was great, but a bit of a longer drive / some people can't go to NH, glad I went to Dublin yesterday.)
Both of these took place at about the same time, and right near the end of our first loop. Nice snow running before that on microspikes. Glad we got out early. (Word from Jackson was that it was great, but a bit of a longer drive / some people can't go to NH, glad I went to Dublin yesterday.)
Friday Feb 26, 2021 #
5 PM
Ski 2:52:24 [1] 27.1 mi (6:22 / mi) +1116m 5:38 / mi
ahr:87 max:138
Traffic? Some traffic on the way to Dublin. WTF.
But the skiing was superb. Hardpack, great skating, would have been fine klister weather. Was concerned about the 45˚ temperature on the way (didn't turn the car heat on until I got past Nashua, and my boots had nicely dried out) but then it dropped to 28 by the top of the hill, so no worries. Stayed on the competition side and was thinking about a Birkie-length ski. It was fast enough. The sunset was unreal (bright red sky through the trees) and then headlamp skiing, nice to forget that there's a pandemic with no one around. Four laps of everything, then a lap of just the race trails, then some loops up top, then finishing it out. World Cup conditions on the downhills: edge of control and fast.
Go lectured about Friday nights something something by someone who wishes they could leave the state of Massachusetts. Don't worry, mud season cometh.
But the skiing was superb. Hardpack, great skating, would have been fine klister weather. Was concerned about the 45˚ temperature on the way (didn't turn the car heat on until I got past Nashua, and my boots had nicely dried out) but then it dropped to 28 by the top of the hill, so no worries. Stayed on the competition side and was thinking about a Birkie-length ski. It was fast enough. The sunset was unreal (bright red sky through the trees) and then headlamp skiing, nice to forget that there's a pandemic with no one around. Four laps of everything, then a lap of just the race trails, then some loops up top, then finishing it out. World Cup conditions on the downhills: edge of control and fast.
Go lectured about Friday nights something something by someone who wishes they could leave the state of Massachusetts. Don't worry, mud season cometh.
Thursday Feb 25, 2021 #
5 PM
Run 35:11 [1] 4.09 mi (8:36 / mi) +26m 8:26 / mi
ahr:175 max:195
Shorter jogaroo. Busy week. Thought about Dublin but with the warm day it seemed like if it wasn't groomed it might be a shitshow. Confirmed with Kathy. Tomorrow.
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021 #
5 PM
Run 55:55 [1] 6.68 mi (8:22 / mi) +32m 8:15 / mi
ahr:180 max:204
Shorts jogaroo around the frozen river. Spring + winter.
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021 #
7 PM
Ski 12:47 [1] 1.85 mi (6:55 / mi) +30m 6:35 / mi
ahr:105 max:128
Well they figured out how to add more to the course; in fact, it would be possible to draw a straight line that would go through the course 10 times. It was kind of fun to be in an intestine! It would have been more fun as a mass start with some of those corners, with more broken equipment. I don't think anyone has broken a pole yet this year.
Ski 24:17 [3] 5.4 mi (4:30 / mi) +90m 4:17 / mi
ahr:121 max:129
GPS did not work, and my legs kind of worked, 120km weekend something something. Definitely got faster during the race. Wound up behind Frank, so a bit slower than usual.
Ski 20:16 [1] 3.55 mi (5:43 / mi) +60m 5:25 / mi
ahr:113 max:136
Two chatty but fast cool down loops.
Sunday Feb 21, 2021 #
10 AM
Ski 1:45 [1] 0.26 mi (6:44 / mi) +6m 6:17 / mi
ahr:63 max:67
Lincoln and Jess were running a bit later than expected, so I met them, and while they attended to nature's business, I went back and forth a bit.
Ski 4:49:29 [1] 46.15 mi (6:16 / mi) +1058m 5:51 / mi
ahr:86 max:181
Uhm … wow. The trails had been groomed overnight and the new snow was better mixed with the old snow and had a chance to cool down and get fast and it was … fast and fun. The only disappointment of the day was that we didn't get an earlier start, so it would have been a push to ski 100k, which we talked about quite a bit. The most daunting thing was the 4.5h drive for me at the end of the day.
Temps in the 20s, perfect bluebird day with not a cloud in the sky. Good suggestion from Lincoln to put on sunblock, which I have in my car. Expired sunblock still works! South along Jordan Ponds, then around the Amphitheater Loop a few times because it was so fast and so fun. Then over the mountain, down Seven Bridges (which only has six bridges) around and over the mountain again. Past 43k, past 50k, past 100k in 24h (barely). Perfect, perfect, perfect. The sun only slowed down the trails for about an hour; then they got fast without getting icy. Again, had I known they would be faster earlier I would have pushed for 100k in a day.
Then we found a lake and it was perfect lake skiing. Dust on crust. We spelled out Birkie. Then we got to the cars and I wanted to do 0.5 miles more to hit 40. But Lincoln wanted to do 2 more to hit 40 (Jess and I had a skied a bit more during the course of the day). But then I wanted to ski every trail. We got back to the car and Jess kept saying "but I only have to ski 5 more miles to hit 50" but I knew if I skied those five miles I'd be at 51, and a Double Birkie is 54, and then it's a hop, skip and a jump to 62. We decided to get pizza, but we really want to do the 100k day. Maybe soon at Jackson if conditions hold.
The drive home was fueled by a coffee-chocolate we got before pizza and the pizza itself. Felt pretty great. While not my biggest day every, almost definitely my two biggest ski days, just shy of 120k (I don't have records of before and after my 100k day in 2008 aside from the day itself, but I am pretty sure I didn't ski the day before or after).
Temps in the 20s, perfect bluebird day with not a cloud in the sky. Good suggestion from Lincoln to put on sunblock, which I have in my car. Expired sunblock still works! South along Jordan Ponds, then around the Amphitheater Loop a few times because it was so fast and so fun. Then over the mountain, down Seven Bridges (which only has six bridges) around and over the mountain again. Past 43k, past 50k, past 100k in 24h (barely). Perfect, perfect, perfect. The sun only slowed down the trails for about an hour; then they got fast without getting icy. Again, had I known they would be faster earlier I would have pushed for 100k in a day.
Then we found a lake and it was perfect lake skiing. Dust on crust. We spelled out Birkie. Then we got to the cars and I wanted to do 0.5 miles more to hit 40. But Lincoln wanted to do 2 more to hit 40 (Jess and I had a skied a bit more during the course of the day). But then I wanted to ski every trail. We got back to the car and Jess kept saying "but I only have to ski 5 more miles to hit 50" but I knew if I skied those five miles I'd be at 51, and a Double Birkie is 54, and then it's a hop, skip and a jump to 62. We decided to get pizza, but we really want to do the 100k day. Maybe soon at Jackson if conditions hold.
The drive home was fueled by a coffee-chocolate we got before pizza and the pizza itself. Felt pretty great. While not my biggest day every, almost definitely my two biggest ski days, just shy of 120k (I don't have records of before and after my 100k day in 2008 aside from the day itself, but I am pretty sure I didn't ski the day before or after).
Saturday Feb 20, 2021 #
2 PM
Ski 2:53:35 [1] 27.23 mi (6:22 / mi) +669m 5:55 / mi
ahr:108 max:165
Acadia! Have wanted to do this for a while. A long drive, but the route across Route 3 (10 minutes longer, 15 miles shorter, 55 instead of 75 = less gas) is beautiful. Got skiing around 2:30, and decided why not go for Birkie #1. The trails are gorgeous. Easy skiing—cruising—but the views are incredible. Just a ho-hum ski through a National Park. Conditions were fine, a bit of new snow over an icy base, one thin/burn out spot, and it certainly got faster as it cooled down as the afternoon went on.
Made some loops, found a kiosk with maps, oriented myself better, and wound up back at the start at 27 miles on the nose, or 43k, which is the length of the Birkie this year.
Then I ate a whole pizza. Tomorrow is a new day to ski the Birkie!
Made some loops, found a kiosk with maps, oriented myself better, and wound up back at the start at 27 miles on the nose, or 43k, which is the length of the Birkie this year.
Then I ate a whole pizza. Tomorrow is a new day to ski the Birkie!
Friday Feb 19, 2021 #
2 PM
Ski 1:47:24 [1] 11.03 mi (9:44 / mi) +138m 9:22 / mi
ahr:103 max:140
Lovely ski in the snow with Melanie. Perfect snow, too: not melting on contact, not too cold, certainly not fast but with a hard base beneath so nice skating. Saw Ann Celi and then a person who had on a late 1990s Midwest Junior National Jacket! We chatted. Confirmed that it was 1997ish, and apparently Matt Weir selected the colors (or at least, was amongst the boys who did).
Off to Birkie(s) tomorrow!
Off to Birkie(s) tomorrow!
Thursday Feb 18, 2021 #
4 PM
Run 27:32 [1] 3.18 mi (8:39 / mi) +43m 8:18 / mi
ahr:133 max:197
I was going to jogaroo to get a covid test but it was a drive up day in Cambridge, so I just jogarooed around the neighborhood. Kind of a fun loop over to Northpoint, up the stairs, over Rutherford.
Wednesday Feb 17, 2021 #
12 PM
Trail Run 1:21:38 [1] 7.34 mi (11:07 / mi) +233m 10:07 / mi
ahr:177 max:207
Mel suggested a lunch trail run at the Fells, and it was great. Icy, yes, but that's what microspikes are for. Love running straight down an icy slope.
I do wonder what it would take to get the DCR to buy a sled and a drag and roll the South Reservoir roads with enough snow …
I do wonder what it would take to get the DCR to buy a sled and a drag and roll the South Reservoir roads with enough snow …
Tuesday Feb 16, 2021 #
Note
After yesterday's fun I'm now on pace for 133km of vert this year, over 300km of skiing this month and more than 2h/day so far and not injured (yet). Not having races to taper for is … fun? I'd never do this if the Birkie was a week away. Also it's been an interesting ski season. On Xmas Eve, I was at my highest combined ski/rollerski mileage by that point ever (season starts May 1, of course). It had also been the highest for a while before mid-Nov.
And then a combination of no MSA and all the snow melting, by 1/16, it was the lowest in the past six years. But then because of snow and not tapering for races or skiing races, plus no traffic, I've skied more than 600km in the past 31 days. I'm at 889 miles for the year, so I should be over 1000 by month's end, and at my highest total ever by then (~1050 mi), too, unless the weather changes drastically.
Plans for the rest of the month …
The Birkie may be moving. Instead of Greens—or quite possibly in addition to Greens—Lincoln and Jess report excellent conditions on the Acadia Carriage Roads. And if there was ever a year to do that, this would be it. Skiing the Birkie in a National Park! So that would be Sunday, probably. And probably some skiing Saturday too. So maybe both. Then next week I have morning meetings 8 to 11 all week, so might do a half day after some of those for more skiing. And maybe also, if Weston is reasonably fast, a Weston Birkie including World Championships. Then the weekend after, maybe head up to Greens and Jackson and do it all over again.
Then at some point I'll start running, I guess. No marathon this spring. But goals for the year include things like running a 5 ITRA point 100m (or race with that many points) to get a UTMB entry, Boston, not doing the Chicago-Boston two-day challenge, and doing a lot of trail running this summer.
And then a combination of no MSA and all the snow melting, by 1/16, it was the lowest in the past six years. But then because of snow and not tapering for races or skiing races, plus no traffic, I've skied more than 600km in the past 31 days. I'm at 889 miles for the year, so I should be over 1000 by month's end, and at my highest total ever by then (~1050 mi), too, unless the weather changes drastically.
Plans for the rest of the month …
The Birkie may be moving. Instead of Greens—or quite possibly in addition to Greens—Lincoln and Jess report excellent conditions on the Acadia Carriage Roads. And if there was ever a year to do that, this would be it. Skiing the Birkie in a National Park! So that would be Sunday, probably. And probably some skiing Saturday too. So maybe both. Then next week I have morning meetings 8 to 11 all week, so might do a half day after some of those for more skiing. And maybe also, if Weston is reasonably fast, a Weston Birkie including World Championships. Then the weekend after, maybe head up to Greens and Jackson and do it all over again.
Then at some point I'll start running, I guess. No marathon this spring. But goals for the year include things like running a 5 ITRA point 100m (or race with that many points) to get a UTMB entry, Boston, not doing the Chicago-Boston two-day challenge, and doing a lot of trail running this summer.
7 PM
Ski 19:06 [1] 3.03 mi (6:18 / mi) +16m 6:12 / mi
ahr:126 max:170
Out to World's via Russo's. Russo's is very quiet in the evenings these days, at least on Tuesdays. The snow at Weston had Westonized. It was poorly groomed and somewhat rutted, but fast and skiable and icy and not really wet. Portions of the golf course elsewhere appeared wet.
Ski 19:48 [3] 4.33 mi (4:34 / mi) +42m 4:26 / mi
ahr:62 max:66
Three laps today, with 8 trips up and down the treeline-driving range-river, one climb of Mount Weston, and not too much get-up-and-go after yesterday's adventure.
Ski 10:46 [1] 1.7 mi (6:20 / mi) +15m 6:10 / mi
ahr:80 max:99
One cool down lap. I found that they probably could have stretched the lap out a bit more had they really wanted to.
Monday Feb 15, 2021 #
10 AM
Ski 4:03:06 [1] 37.86 mi (6:25 / mi) +1156m 5:52 / mi
ahr:96 max:150
Wow. This was one of the better ski days … in a long time. Green's is an easy drive (it's 5 minutes longer, but 10 miles shorter, to exit in Penacook and take Route 4, and way less stressful compared with blasting up 93) and the conditions were perfect. A bit of a grooming ridge on the connector, but the skate lane was packed, fast powder.
Up the connector and then whee down and I decided I was going to ski every trail. So I did the inner loop, then the outer loop, moving right along to do some loops around the SW sector of trails to ski every one. A few were double-tracked; I was able to DP most of it and they dropped the tracks on the steeper hills. Snowing lightly by now, but not slowing down too much.
Then two trips over Mudgett's to ski the connector trail, down and around Trout Pond, over 50k and bonking pretty good, but I discovered I had a bar and peanut M&Ms in my pocket. Put on dry gloves at the top of the connector and then skied the race loops in Dorchester, going over 60k for the day and having a blast. Definitely going to think about a 100k day over here if conditions hold up.
Roads not bad on the way home either.
Up the connector and then whee down and I decided I was going to ski every trail. So I did the inner loop, then the outer loop, moving right along to do some loops around the SW sector of trails to ski every one. A few were double-tracked; I was able to DP most of it and they dropped the tracks on the steeper hills. Snowing lightly by now, but not slowing down too much.
Then two trips over Mudgett's to ski the connector trail, down and around Trout Pond, over 50k and bonking pretty good, but I discovered I had a bar and peanut M&Ms in my pocket. Put on dry gloves at the top of the connector and then skied the race loops in Dorchester, going over 60k for the day and having a blast. Definitely going to think about a 100k day over here if conditions hold up.
Roads not bad on the way home either.
Sunday Feb 14, 2021 #
Note
Halfway through the month …
246km skied
7718m of vert
That rate may well go up the second half of the month.
246km skied
7718m of vert
That rate may well go up the second half of the month.
7 AM
Ski (AT) 3:18:29 [1] 9.36 mi (21:12 / mi) +1290m 14:51 / mi
ahr:85 max:204
Laps of Greylock. Not as soft up top, and Mel didn't really enjoy coming down that, so then we did three laps further down. I think part of the speed difference between me and the other skinners is that I see skinning as "classic skiing with heavy equipment" so I'm using my arms (even with short poles) and shifting my weight forward and getting what glide I can. And everyone else sees skinning as "walking with skis on" which is, well, walking with skis on. On steep bits the pace is closer, since there's not much glide to be had.
Anyway, I'm not too tired before tomorrow's fun.
Just grabbing the Strava time for a more reasonable time since we stopped a lot.
Anyway, I'm not too tired before tomorrow's fun.
Just grabbing the Strava time for a more reasonable time since we stopped a lot.
Saturday Feb 13, 2021 #
1 PM
Ski 1:05:37 [1] 8.56 mi (7:40 / mi) +302m 6:55 / mi
ahr:147 max:184
Mel wanted to warm up skating so I went out to stride. VR45 was kicking well on the pretty warm but untransformed powder.
Ski 55:35 [1] 4.8 mi (11:35 / mi) +128m 10:41 / mi
ahr:82 max:149
Then some skating together, and some teaching. Glide on a flat ski is still a challenge, as is body position and double poling. We worked on the double poling some, and any time she tried leaning forwards on her poles her heels would kick out and I couldn't figure out how to fix it.
Ski 1:06:06 [1] 7.71 mi (8:34 / mi) +268m 7:44 / mi
ahr:127 max:159
Then skating together, and then it was late enough I went off and skated around some of the classic trails which were pretty washed out and were getting a regroom overnight so I didn't really mind. Also way less busy!
Friday Feb 12, 2021 #
Note
There are no tapers because there are no races.
Weekend: Sat at Notchview. Sun skinning Thunderbolt. Mon long (maybe very long) day up north at Waterville or Green's. Just hours and hours of skiing. My knee had niggles today from walking a lot but felt fine biking, so I guess I shouldn't walk as much.
Weekend: Sat at Notchview. Sun skinning Thunderbolt. Mon long (maybe very long) day up north at Waterville or Green's. Just hours and hours of skiing. My knee had niggles today from walking a lot but felt fine biking, so I guess I shouldn't walk as much.
5 PM
Run 24:22 [1] 2.88 mi (8:28 / mi) +41m 8:06 / mi
Yogaroo.
About 5 minutes in, I started felt something coming out of my nose. Not just running from the cold—bloody nose!
Spent the next bit cauterizing it, trying to stop it from bleeding, and that was marginally successful. And enough that I wasn't going to be covered with blood the rest of the run.
About 5 minutes in, I started felt something coming out of my nose. Not just running from the cold—bloody nose!
Spent the next bit cauterizing it, trying to stop it from bleeding, and that was marginally successful. And enough that I wasn't going to be covered with blood the rest of the run.
Thursday Feb 11, 2021 #
6 PM
Run 41:07 [1] 4.87 mi (8:27 / mi) +31m 8:17 / mi
ahr:86 max:160
Longfellow loop is about the same as a Cambridgeport Longfellow loop.
Not too icy, not too cold. I think coming off Longfellow and going up Charles and down to North Station would work, too.
No time to ski today (I guess I could have gone and poached Weston, but, Weston = meh-ston.
Not too icy, not too cold. I think coming off Longfellow and going up Charles and down to North Station would work, too.
No time to ski today (I guess I could have gone and poached Weston, but, Weston = meh-ston.
Wednesday Feb 10, 2021 #
2 PM
Ski 2:08:31 [1] 15.97 mi (8:03 / mi) +754m 7:01 / mi
ahr:97 max:164
Can't stop won't stop didn't have any meetings took a half day at Dublin. Perfect striding. Mostly easy, but lots of hills means it was never too easy. Perimeter groomed out. Strided the whole of the Chamonix climb which felt great and hurt a lot. Got pretty bonky. Ordered a sandwich.
Tuesday Feb 9, 2021 #
7 AM
Ski 1:05:57 [1] 8.65 mi (7:37 / mi) +163m 7:12 / mi
ahr:142 max:206
How often is there blue wax skiing at Great Brook and no traffic?
Not often.
Not often.
7 PM
Ski 38:30 [3] 7.2 mi (5:21 / mi) +80m 5:10 / mi
ahr:116 max:140
Worlds said "today is 10k" so we started and hmm actually it was 12k. Newly fallen snow with new manmade mixed in (if I looked at the forecast and saw a high of 37 in the next two weeks I'd put the guns away, but I am not Weston). Plus maybe I was tired?
Felt pretty soft the whole time. Passed Frank (and a few others), but got passed by Chris, John, Martin and someone else. I was probably the only one who had morninged at Great Brook, of course. Snow.
Felt pretty awful after the race. Cold, despite being well-dressed (maybe overdressed and got wet?). Hard to keep a buff dry and breathable for 40 minutes. Short cool down.
Felt pretty soft the whole time. Passed Frank (and a few others), but got passed by Chris, John, Martin and someone else. I was probably the only one who had morninged at Great Brook, of course. Snow.
Felt pretty awful after the race. Cold, despite being well-dressed (maybe overdressed and got wet?). Hard to keep a buff dry and breathable for 40 minutes. Short cool down.
Ski 25:15 [1] 3.4 mi (7:26 / mi) +40m 7:10 / mi
Warming up in the snow, and a short cool down.
Monday Feb 8, 2021 #
6 PM
Ski 1:19:47 [1] 10.36 mi (7:42 / mi) +185m 7:18 / mi
ahr:139 max:188
Evening trip out to Great Brook because it was cold powder and I wanted to classic ski. 27 in Boston, 18 at the start, 10 at the finish. I figured they wouldn't be grooming because it was going to snow tomorrow and that would just cover the grooming and I was not right.
Different ski areas have very different policies about whether they allow skiing during off-hours grooming. They range from several places in the Midwest which are volunteer groomed where you to stop and say hello to the groomer and probably chat for 15 minutes about the weather, to MSA, where if they catch you skiing they'll probably throw you in Canadian ski jail for 10 years (which is probably like Alex's ski jail in Finland, which sounds kind of great except for the covid, but anyway). I figured this would be somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, but also figured that it would be infinity times easier not to find out.
So when I heard/saw groomers coming, I turned off my light. When I realized there were four sleds, I ducked into the woods. I probably could have snuck off to the trail they had just come up but just let them do their loops around the field and hill I was on, and then went back out and kept skiing (since I was striding, I wasn't worried about rutting the skate lane, plus, it's a pretty solid base they have; and the old tracks were pretty glazed; they must be getting a ton of traffic even on weekdays and are probably having their best year in a long time).
I looped around there a few times as the groomers had crossed the road and were finishing their run, and had a lovely, mellow ski back around. I think I'll mostly stick to mornings for off-hour skiing there, and maybe shoot Stu and Cat an email to see what their actual policies are for evenings.
Then on the way home I passed a hardy soul riding a bicycle down 225. Good on them!
Different ski areas have very different policies about whether they allow skiing during off-hours grooming. They range from several places in the Midwest which are volunteer groomed where you to stop and say hello to the groomer and probably chat for 15 minutes about the weather, to MSA, where if they catch you skiing they'll probably throw you in Canadian ski jail for 10 years (which is probably like Alex's ski jail in Finland, which sounds kind of great except for the covid, but anyway). I figured this would be somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, but also figured that it would be infinity times easier not to find out.
So when I heard/saw groomers coming, I turned off my light. When I realized there were four sleds, I ducked into the woods. I probably could have snuck off to the trail they had just come up but just let them do their loops around the field and hill I was on, and then went back out and kept skiing (since I was striding, I wasn't worried about rutting the skate lane, plus, it's a pretty solid base they have; and the old tracks were pretty glazed; they must be getting a ton of traffic even on weekdays and are probably having their best year in a long time).
I looped around there a few times as the groomers had crossed the road and were finishing their run, and had a lovely, mellow ski back around. I think I'll mostly stick to mornings for off-hour skiing there, and maybe shoot Stu and Cat an email to see what their actual policies are for evenings.
Then on the way home I passed a hardy soul riding a bicycle down 225. Good on them!
Sunday Feb 7, 2021 #
9 AM
Ski (AT) 2:31:30 [1] 6.79 mi (22:19 / mi) +794m 16:22 / mi
ahr:90 max:155
Trip up Thunderbolt. It's basically the Sherbie, but I think nicer. I need to check my expectations of skinning speed; my usual "go up the mountain fast, ski down faster" does not translate to the general public, apparently. I'm used to climbing 600m in about an hour, whether it's on the Sherbie or at MSA. Here it was taking closer to two. That's different!
This changes how to dress, and near the top I was cold and wanted to find shelter and skied ahead until there were some pine trees and my hands were warm enough to easily put on the warmer gloves. Then since no one had shown up, I skied down to where everyone was, transitioned again, and then caught the back where I'd been. A bit of golden retrievering; at least I was warm. The trail is the route of the Greylock Half, and bits and pieces come back to me but usually I'm in pretty horrific pain there, going half speed on snow is easier.
Then we went to the summit, where there were DCR guys on snowmobiles retrieving a pay tube (or something), and then down. Whee down! It was moguled, but not too icy, and just lots of fun. The top bit I'd say is as much fun as the Sherbie if not more so. The bottom is a bit tricker, since you have to do some climbing to get back to the downhills to the car, but that was fine; it's fun to have different routes. Then there's a 3k xc ski trail on a little bump to get to the car which I could skate easily bumping my boots to walk mode to go around an otherwise skin or bootpack.
This changes how to dress, and near the top I was cold and wanted to find shelter and skied ahead until there were some pine trees and my hands were warm enough to easily put on the warmer gloves. Then since no one had shown up, I skied down to where everyone was, transitioned again, and then caught the back where I'd been. A bit of golden retrievering; at least I was warm. The trail is the route of the Greylock Half, and bits and pieces come back to me but usually I'm in pretty horrific pain there, going half speed on snow is easier.
Then we went to the summit, where there were DCR guys on snowmobiles retrieving a pay tube (or something), and then down. Whee down! It was moguled, but not too icy, and just lots of fun. The top bit I'd say is as much fun as the Sherbie if not more so. The bottom is a bit tricker, since you have to do some climbing to get back to the downhills to the car, but that was fine; it's fun to have different routes. Then there's a 3k xc ski trail on a little bump to get to the car which I could skate easily bumping my boots to walk mode to go around an otherwise skin or bootpack.
Ski (AT) 1:52:14 [1] 5.22 mi (21:30 / mi) +631m 15:38 / mi
ahr:81 max:168
After a long lunch in the car (I need to teach people "when you stop you put on dry clothes" rules) we went back up. There was some questions about our destination, but we made it to the AT which is most of the way up, and had a nice ride down. Then drove home in the last reaches of the snow after a stop for yummy food in Shelburne Falls.
Saturday Feb 6, 2021 #
11 AM
Ski (AT) 3:36:47 [1] 11.58 mi (18:43 / mi) +1470m 13:26 / mi
ahr:78 max:135
Laps of Berkshire East. Very conversational pace. Lovely day for it, and nice to be out on the snow. At some point I need to learn how to ski down hills not like a nordie. I think a lot of the problem is that I am comfortable enough holding a flat ski I don't use my edges.
Ski 28:53 [3] 3.0 mi (9:38 / mi) +284m 7:26 / mi
ahr:144 max:195
The trail had been regroomed and closed at the top so I took half an hour for a skate lap. It worked quite well. Only a little skittery on the way down. Not quite Alpe Cermis but actually only about 100m shy.
Friday Feb 5, 2021 #
Note
Long-ish day at work, so today becomes a rest day.
Tomorrow, AT at Berkshire East, maybe also Notchview. Sunday, Thunderbolt laps in the snow!
Also, more snow.
Might have to take some time off next week to enjoy it.
Tomorrow, AT at Berkshire East, maybe also Notchview. Sunday, Thunderbolt laps in the snow!
Also, more snow.
Might have to take some time off next week to enjoy it.
Thursday Feb 4, 2021 #
7 AM
Ski 3:17:58 [1] 28.71 mi (6:54 / mi) +883m 6:18 / mi
ahr:77 max:113
Took a half day and went up last night to a cheap motel in Plymouth to ski Green's. Actually, they hadn't posted conditions until last night so I was thinking maybe Waterville, but they posted that they were groomed and it did not disappoint. Pretty solid skate deck for a foot of new snow, a dusting on top; class track was not skied in mostly. 28˚ and cloudy, and luckily it stayed cloudy mostly because I forgot my sunglasses in the car.
Out the connector, and it was reasonably fast, then up Trout Pond to Smarts, then around the Perimeter to Mudgett's (yeah, that's still a good climb) and back around Cummins, then up Trout Pond and around it and back. A bit bonky, but not bad. Saw maybe 10 people. A nice glide down the Connector and then the rest of the race loop. 46k, which is enough for a Birkie this year, so I think that this is going to be (at least one of my) Virtual Birkie(s) this year. And if Green's ever wanted to host a marathon, this would work nicely.
Out the connector, and it was reasonably fast, then up Trout Pond to Smarts, then around the Perimeter to Mudgett's (yeah, that's still a good climb) and back around Cummins, then up Trout Pond and around it and back. A bit bonky, but not bad. Saw maybe 10 people. A nice glide down the Connector and then the rest of the race loop. 46k, which is enough for a Birkie this year, so I think that this is going to be (at least one of my) Virtual Birkie(s) this year. And if Green's ever wanted to host a marathon, this would work nicely.
Wednesday Feb 3, 2021 #
8 AM
Ski 1:00:25 [1] 8.0 mi (7:33 / mi) +112m 7:14 / mi
ahr:116 max:151
Morning out to Great Brook. Lots of snow out there! GPS today was a mess, but the climb looks okay. Skiing was very slow with the new snow being wet still, but it was a lovely day in the woods.
Then I went to Russo's, and then got home to find out the meeting I was rushing home for was canceled. Hooray!
Then I went to Russo's, and then got home to find out the meeting I was rushing home for was canceled. Hooray!
Tuesday Feb 2, 2021 #
6 PM
Ski 37:44 [1] 6.46 mi (5:50 / mi) +84m 5:37 / mi
ahr:91 max:91
Russo's was closed because of weather, so glad I made the extra trip out. Still plenty of time to get to the ski track. They're actually selling tickets today. Two of them. In close proximity. Not wearing masks. Anyway.
Round and round and round. Course is pretty nice, 1.6 km with a real climb up the mountain. New snow is crusty off course which I found out going to take a pee on the flats (skied in track). They seem to be waiting to drain the snow to groom it, and maybe freeze it down, or something. Of course, the ground below is real frozen.
Anyway, whatever, Great Brook is apparently in terrific shape.
Round and round and round. Course is pretty nice, 1.6 km with a real climb up the mountain. New snow is crusty off course which I found out going to take a pee on the flats (skied in track). They seem to be waiting to drain the snow to groom it, and maybe freeze it down, or something. Of course, the ground below is real frozen.
Anyway, whatever, Great Brook is apparently in terrific shape.
Ski 23:05 [4] 5.08 mi (4:33 / mi) +63m 4:22 / mi
Worlds! Didn't feel great, didn't feel like I could push as hard as I have the last couple of weeks, Mount Weston/FOLJMS got a bit soft, but it was fun? Got passed by a couple of people, too.
Way more fun on the bike race nights like this when there's a pack.
Way more fun on the bike race nights like this when there's a pack.
Ski 13:23 [1] 2.1 mi (6:22 / mi) +46m 5:58 / mi
ahr:57 max:88
Cooled down, talked to Jess, stopped my watch when it went buzz on the Pike.
Monday Feb 1, 2021 #
Note
January month in review. No set goals.
It was my lowest month since May, and lower than last January. No races, and no snow for the first half, didn't help. But after a bit of "recovery" I ramped up.
75 miles of running, 190 of skiing, basically all in the second half. Caught up on vert, and am on track for 94k.
So we're on to February. Let's make February count. It looks like there will be good snow everywhere. There's no traffic so mornings at Great Brook or even Dublin are definitely in the cards. Sounds like next weekend might be the Thunderbolt! And since there are five days of Birkie, I am thinking of doing five Birkies during the virtual period, if the conditions hold. Very tentatively:
Vert Birkie (enough AT trips to equal 43k)
Green's Birkie
Weston Birkie (before/during/after Worlds)
Dublin Birkie
Hall Traill Birkie
And other such sundries. It's a short month, but maybe it could be my largest. It would only require 144 minutes of activity per day. That's a lot. How about 500km of skiing, which would be well ahead of my existing monthly record of 420. That sounds more attainable.
It was my lowest month since May, and lower than last January. No races, and no snow for the first half, didn't help. But after a bit of "recovery" I ramped up.
75 miles of running, 190 of skiing, basically all in the second half. Caught up on vert, and am on track for 94k.
So we're on to February. Let's make February count. It looks like there will be good snow everywhere. There's no traffic so mornings at Great Brook or even Dublin are definitely in the cards. Sounds like next weekend might be the Thunderbolt! And since there are five days of Birkie, I am thinking of doing five Birkies during the virtual period, if the conditions hold. Very tentatively:
Vert Birkie (enough AT trips to equal 43k)
Green's Birkie
Weston Birkie (before/during/after Worlds)
Dublin Birkie
Hall Traill Birkie
And other such sundries. It's a short month, but maybe it could be my largest. It would only require 144 minutes of activity per day. That's a lot. How about 500km of skiing, which would be well ahead of my existing monthly record of 420. That sounds more attainable.
11 AM
Run 44:47 [1] 5.76 mi (7:46 / mi) +69m 7:30 / mi
ahr:163 max:197
Pre-snow run. Was going to go four miles but then I wanted to see the river ice (frozen, nowhere near frozen enough) and the public garden ice (very frozen, will need a shovel) and then I was late for my meeting and the locks were open so I sprinted home and then the meeting was 10 minutes late because of Zoom issues.
So, basically, working from home is great.
So, basically, working from home is great.