Training Log Archive: Ari-oIn the 31 days ending Jan 31, 2017:
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Tuesday Jan 31, 2017 #
Note
So the latent sinus infection I've had went to my ear in Minneapolis. I'm gobbling antibiotics and they seem to be helping, but my head is still all stuffed up. Well, rest before Alley Loop, I guess.
Monday Jan 30, 2017 #
Note
Successful weekend. Instead of the Noque, I made a Friday reservation to fly Saturday to MSP after the half in Chicago. This was only moderately insane. Ran the half, had a couple of beers, then took the bus to the train out to O’Hare.
This was right during the start of the airport protests. I noticed a few signs on the bus, but wasn’t ready for the train to ORD to be packed with protestors. I was one of maybe five travelers on the train. Everyone else was off to the International terminal. After I checked my skis I was off there too. Big crowd, good message, and more arriving on every airport tram (which was overrun, anyway).
Then off to MSP, rent a car ($20!) and to a NP friend’s house (which, being a small world, he’s housesitting for someone who is Collin’s friend from high school). Early start Sunday up to Spirit to ski (which was great, although my calves did not allow much kick up the hills). Then a DP with Jakob and back to the cities to catch up with my a friend from high school.
This is when the real win of the day occurred. Taking a shower before heading out, my ear felt like it had water in it from going swimming. But I hadn’t gone swimming. By the time I’d returned the car and taken the train up to meet him, I couldn’t hear out of my right ear. Was this an … ear infection? It certainly seemed like it. And the friend I was meeting? An MD. “Hey Max, I can’t hear out my right ear and have sinus pressure, can you call in a prescription for me?” We had to Google his NPI, but he called in a prescription for me from the Nook over burgers, Surly and cheese curds. Then off to Walgreens to pick up the prescription, and back to Mpls.
Thanks to the miracle of modern medicine, I can hear out of both sides of my head this morning. And given that I’m on an airplane, I’m very glad for that.
After 160 minutes of L3 this weekend, it’s likely to be a pretty mellow week heading in to the Alley Loop this weekend. And hopefully a healthy one!
This was right during the start of the airport protests. I noticed a few signs on the bus, but wasn’t ready for the train to ORD to be packed with protestors. I was one of maybe five travelers on the train. Everyone else was off to the International terminal. After I checked my skis I was off there too. Big crowd, good message, and more arriving on every airport tram (which was overrun, anyway).
Then off to MSP, rent a car ($20!) and to a NP friend’s house (which, being a small world, he’s housesitting for someone who is Collin’s friend from high school). Early start Sunday up to Spirit to ski (which was great, although my calves did not allow much kick up the hills). Then a DP with Jakob and back to the cities to catch up with my a friend from high school.
This is when the real win of the day occurred. Taking a shower before heading out, my ear felt like it had water in it from going swimming. But I hadn’t gone swimming. By the time I’d returned the car and taken the train up to meet him, I couldn’t hear out of my right ear. Was this an … ear infection? It certainly seemed like it. And the friend I was meeting? An MD. “Hey Max, I can’t hear out my right ear and have sinus pressure, can you call in a prescription for me?” We had to Google his NPI, but he called in a prescription for me from the Nook over burgers, Surly and cheese curds. Then off to Walgreens to pick up the prescription, and back to Mpls.
Thanks to the miracle of modern medicine, I can hear out of both sides of my head this morning. And given that I’m on an airplane, I’m very glad for that.
After 160 minutes of L3 this weekend, it’s likely to be a pretty mellow week heading in to the Alley Loop this weekend. And hopefully a healthy one!
Sunday Jan 29, 2017 #
10 AM
Ski warm up/down 12:25 [1] 1.9 mi (6:32 / mi) +24m 6:17 / mi
Up early to get to Duluth for the race. 26k on the Magney-Spirit trails which are gorgeous. Quick warm up with Collin. Forgot HRM strap in the Cities.
Ski race 1:18:03 [3] 16.5 mi (4:44 / mi) +350m 4:26 / mi
Skiing! This race was wicked fun, although hurt after the half (note: if doing two races in a weekend, ski-then-run is better). Went out in the third row so I wound up much further back than I should have been and the trail is narrow, so I burned a ton of matches passing people. Some big, fast hills a few k in and I was behind a group that I never quite made contact with. Traded with a few folks but mostly skied alone through Magney (more big hills!) and my calves hurt, a lot. Half the day before a ski race is not so bueno when you have to kick. Was able to hold my own on V2 sections but on hills it was harder. But good to get a good ski workout in! Then a beer with Collin.
1 PM
Ski 54:20 [1] 8.0 mi (6:47 / mi) +167m 6:23 / mi
Met Jakob to double pole around a park in Duluth. So many trails. Fun classic tracks that we DPed (except for one very steep hill) which was good because my legs were cooked. Passed the same people about six times as we took longer bits and they … didn't.
If people ski-oed in Duluth, there would be lots of good places to set Ski-o.
If people ski-oed in Duluth, there would be lots of good places to set Ski-o.
Saturday Jan 28, 2017 #
10 AM
Run 12:31 [1] 1.5 mi (8:21 / mi)
Warm up
Run race 1:23:59 [3] 13.1 mi (6:25 / mi) +20m 6:23 / mi
So I ran a half marathon. Let's review the last few weeks running mileage: 15, 30, 14, 11, 4. This was very smart. But with mediocre snow up north (and the Noque being impossible with meetings) I decided to go for it.
Of course, then Jakob said the conditions in Duluth were pretty good, so I bought a ticket to go ski up there tomorrow.
Anyway, the race starts right outside Soldier Field, so you get to hang out in the heated club there until right before the race. I started back behind the 1:30 pace group but quickly decided I was running faster than that. Loop around Soldier Field for the first mile (6:09) then steady 6:20-6:30 the rest of the way. I decided to run 155 for the first half and then dial it up after the turn.
I was 28th overall at the turn (which is 7 miles in) and started pushing it up towards 158-160. It was a bit more of a headwind on the way back, though, so my times didn't improve much at all. Traded leads with another fellow as we passed the pack. Once a PR was out of reach (but only by about half a minute) I pushed not as hard to the finish. My motor feels good but—shocker—my legs weren't exactly in running shape. (They've been sore since last weekend. Funny thing: when you run further in a weekend than any week in the previous month, yeah, your legs might be sore.)
Good training run on a weekend I'm not doing a ski marathon. Of course next weekend I'm headed out to the Alley Loop, so we'll see how 42km at 9000 feet works. (Also I may be getting a cold.) The end!
Of course, then Jakob said the conditions in Duluth were pretty good, so I bought a ticket to go ski up there tomorrow.
Anyway, the race starts right outside Soldier Field, so you get to hang out in the heated club there until right before the race. I started back behind the 1:30 pace group but quickly decided I was running faster than that. Loop around Soldier Field for the first mile (6:09) then steady 6:20-6:30 the rest of the way. I decided to run 155 for the first half and then dial it up after the turn.
I was 28th overall at the turn (which is 7 miles in) and started pushing it up towards 158-160. It was a bit more of a headwind on the way back, though, so my times didn't improve much at all. Traded leads with another fellow as we passed the pack. Once a PR was out of reach (but only by about half a minute) I pushed not as hard to the finish. My motor feels good but—shocker—my legs weren't exactly in running shape. (They've been sore since last weekend. Funny thing: when you run further in a weekend than any week in the previous month, yeah, your legs might be sore.)
Good training run on a weekend I'm not doing a ski marathon. Of course next weekend I'm headed out to the Alley Loop, so we'll see how 42km at 9000 feet works. (Also I may be getting a cold.) The end!
Friday Jan 27, 2017 #
6 AM
November Project 35:00 [1] 1.2 mi (29:10 / mi)
Mostly exercise which was good, except my right thigh was going a bit twang so I had to dial some things back. With a half tomorrow, no need to go hard.
Run 13:22 [1] 1.3 mi (10:17 / mi)
Mile run through the Loop to work, via the bank to get all the money.
Wednesday Jan 25, 2017 #
6 PM
Run 45:37 [1] 5.7 mi (8:00 / mi)
Felt like I was coming down with a cold so I decided to skip NP and go for sleep. But I brought running stuff to work in case I was feeling better later.
Some time between work and work dinner, so it was off for a run around the Loop. Along the river, along the lake, back through the South Loop, making sure not to run on to the Congress. 45 minutes even and then in to the shower.
Some time between work and work dinner, so it was off for a run around the Loop. Along the river, along the lake, back through the South Loop, making sure not to run on to the Congress. 45 minutes even and then in to the shower.
Tuesday Jan 24, 2017 #
Run 43:24 [1] 5.2 mi (8:21 / mi)
Met Danny at work to take a run home. Shower room works well! Left computer at work so the pack wasn't bad, and we ran to his house, then out and got dinner. Nice run on the 606!
Monday Jan 23, 2017 #
Note
Busy work week. Noque probably not working out. Snow in Duluth looks … iffy. So I signed up for a half. And still might fly to Duluth.
Sunday Jan 22, 2017 #
4 PM
Run warm up/down 47:24 [1] 5.0 mi (9:29 / mi)
Warm up, warm down, and in-betweens.
Run intervals 12:00 [3] 2.3 mi (5:13 / mi)
Went out for a run to the lake with "well, I'm going to do something speedy-ish" but no real plan. Decided to do some 2 minute pick-ups, and do 6 of them, with 1 minute recovery. Then I got to the track and finished the fourth on the track, and decided to run an 800 to cap it off. That went well (2:47) so I then ran a 400 (1:20) and then ran home. Speed feeling good. But not skiing. Boo.
Saturday Jan 21, 2017 #
3 PM
Run long 1:51:10 [1] 13.7 mi (8:07 / mi)
After the march today I went on a long run (there's no snow nearby, and I was too late figuring out the cheap ticket to Denver trick, which would have worked, actually, but alas). Found a friend from NP, and pulled about 13 finishing at Whole Foods. It was 55˚ which was unhappy, but the lake still had ice in it. I didn't swim.
Terrible stomach cramps around mile 11 had me walk for a couple of minutes. Weird. Probably related to not having run more than six miles in a month and a half. And I haven't run that far on pavement since … April. Hmm, what happened in April?
Terrible stomach cramps around mile 11 had me walk for a couple of minutes. Weird. Probably related to not having run more than six miles in a month and a half. And I haven't run that far on pavement since … April. Hmm, what happened in April?
Friday Jan 20, 2017 #
Note
Chicago is not selling itself well as a winter city. In the two weeks I've been here it has been cool but not cold (30s), icy at times, cold rain, and I have not seen the sun once. If the forecast holds, it may make an appearance on Sunday. Not going anywhere this weekend because Minneapolis is cold and rainy, too, and I found the cheap fares to Denver too late to swing that (also, even that's a bit much, although I could get to Eldora to ski sans car). So I'll find a trail to run on. And figure out how to get to the Noque next weekend.
6 AM
November Project 32:00 [1] 2.0 mi (16:00 / mi) +60m 14:38 / mi
Core and running together. Even some stairs involved.
Run 28:56 [1] 3.0 mi (9:39 / mi)
Slightly longer than necessary run to the office. Backpack (lunch, computer, clothes) was heavy; not sure how it'd do on a 7 mile run to work.
Wednesday Jan 18, 2017 #
6 AM
Run warm up/down 12:51 [1] 1.6 mi (8:02 / mi)
Run over to November Project
November Project 35:00 [1] 1.8 mi (19:27 / mi)
November Project, with assorted silliness (slides) but some decent core. Pull ups!
Monday Jan 16, 2017 #
12 PM
Ski long 2:00:13 [1] 18.0 mi (6:41 / mi) +350m 6:18 / mi
Long ski on the Birkie Trail. Did five mile-long (5-6 min) intervals, logged separately (mostly on uphill miles). Also recorded a bunch of "Trail Moments" for my blog, because I'm that much of a nerd. New start are looks great, trail is pretty benign up from there but then there are hills. I forget how goddamn nice the Birkie Trail is. Not too busy, packed and groomed, getting a bit faster as the day went on. Out to Boedecker, and then back with a couple of repeated hills, and some no poles work.
Also didn't die when someone ran a red in Duluth and nearly T-boned me. So, success?
Also didn't die when someone ran a red in Duluth and nearly T-boned me. So, success?
Ski 28:00 [3] 5.0 mi (5:36 / mi) +125m 5:12 / mi
And the interval-y part of the session. Tried to push hard, arbitrary 5x5 (or so) when my watch buzzed. Most happened to be overall uphill. No long hills here.
3 PM
Ski 53:50 [1] 8.0 mi (6:44 / mi) +193m 6:16 / mi
Went down to Hayward to see the Birkie folks and buy some beer and cheese curds, then went for an easy ski for an hour out of Fish Hatchery. See you in a few weeks, Hayward!
Sunday Jan 15, 2017 #
10 AM
Ski 1:07:01 [1] 9.1 mi (7:22 / mi) +133m 7:03 / mi
Back to Hidden Valley. Not as early as I would have liked, it turns out that when you drink a couple glasses of 13.5% beer, it does not make for an early morning. Also, it was -15 overnight. In the teens by 10, though, so I did an hour of classic on some beautiful fun old school narrow classic tracks. Kick was something blue (but not borrowed, the one stick of wax I'd packed).
2 PM
Ski 1:28:53 [1] 13.0 mi (6:50 / mi) +311m 6:22 / mi
Then down to Duluth to ski with Jakob. We skied the Magney-Snively trails near the area I ran (most of) the 50 miler last year. Most of the trails in the Midwest are pretty tame, but these have some real hills. The kind where you can actually learn to ski down a hill well. Beautiful, beautiful woods, 20k of trails you could ski forever. Perfect snow (oh, well, two rocks). If you like trails of all sorts, Duluth is not a bad place.
Saturday Jan 14, 2017 #
2 PM
Ski long 2:59:32 [1] 27.0 mi (6:39 / mi) +531m 6:16 / mi
Left the house at 7 a.m., caught the 77 to the Blue Line to O'Hare; plenty of time there to wander before seat 1A for the flight to Duluth, right over the Birkie Trail.
Rental car at the too-cute Duluth Airport, (15 minutes gate to car, including bags) and then a drive to Ely to visit Collin, who is doing a year of med school here. Chilly (but not -15 like yesterday) but gorgeous blue sky; haven't seen that all week in Chicago. We both wanted to do a three hour skate. And we did, successfully.
Best ski of the year. Perfect packed powder conditions, fun trails, beautiful woods, spectacular pink-red-orange sky along the horizon as we finished. I had left my drink belt at home so we had to duck in to the chalet a couple times to guzzle water, but that was fine. Finished right around 0, my jacket frozen on the outside, with just a thin wool underneath. Just a perfect ski.
Rental car at the too-cute Duluth Airport, (15 minutes gate to car, including bags) and then a drive to Ely to visit Collin, who is doing a year of med school here. Chilly (but not -15 like yesterday) but gorgeous blue sky; haven't seen that all week in Chicago. We both wanted to do a three hour skate. And we did, successfully.
Best ski of the year. Perfect packed powder conditions, fun trails, beautiful woods, spectacular pink-red-orange sky along the horizon as we finished. I had left my drink belt at home so we had to duck in to the chalet a couple times to guzzle water, but that was fine. Finished right around 0, my jacket frozen on the outside, with just a thin wool underneath. Just a perfect ski.
Friday Jan 13, 2017 #
Note
Forgot to mention …
At breakfast I realized I'd brought everything I needed for clothing except … underpants. I had several options, the least bad of which was to wash out my wind briefs in the shower, wring them out, dry them as best I could, and, uh, put them back on. (Patting dry with paper towels worked particularly well, sorry rainforest. Unfortunately there's no hand dryer in the men's shower room.) This actually worked okay, better than sitting at work in gross wind briefs all day or killing half an hour going up and back to get underpants. Also, lesson was learned.
At breakfast I realized I'd brought everything I needed for clothing except … underpants. I had several options, the least bad of which was to wash out my wind briefs in the shower, wring them out, dry them as best I could, and, uh, put them back on. (Patting dry with paper towels worked particularly well, sorry rainforest. Unfortunately there's no hand dryer in the men's shower room.) This actually worked okay, better than sitting at work in gross wind briefs all day or killing half an hour going up and back to get underpants. Also, lesson was learned.
6 AM
November Project 32:00 [1] 1.4 mi (22:51 / mi)
All sorts of NP leg stuff. Included speed skaters (which become skate lunges) and then sprints around the bean with some squats in between, which I did totally OCD: started on the outside row of concrete and worked my way in towards the end. Made 8 loops and by the 8th loop I could touch the bean! A couple people caught on.
8 AM
Run 16:12 [1] 1.6 mi (10:07 / mi)
Ran from NP breakfast to work. Discovered a few key things:
1. The showers here are quite nice and barely used.
2. I really should bring underpants to work, but in a pinch wind briefs and be washed out and wringed out and patted dry with paper towels and be dry-enough to wear.
3. The run to/from work would be 1 mile on a road, 5 miles along the lake, and 1 mile along the river. Basically other than the first mile, no stop lights. This is going to happen, maybe a couple of three days per week. A little flat, but that's okay.
1. The showers here are quite nice and barely used.
2. I really should bring underpants to work, but in a pinch wind briefs and be washed out and wringed out and patted dry with paper towels and be dry-enough to wear.
3. The run to/from work would be 1 mile on a road, 5 miles along the lake, and 1 mile along the river. Basically other than the first mile, no stop lights. This is going to happen, maybe a couple of three days per week. A little flat, but that's okay.
Thursday Jan 12, 2017 #
Note
It sleeted/snowed in the morning and the sidewalks turned to ice. After work I was going to run (apparently the lake shore path is well-maintained, HEAR THAT DCR?!) but then I forgot the groceries I'd left at work so my workout wound up being running across town back to the office and lot of stairs up to the L. Oh, well.
Wednesday Jan 11, 2017 #
6 AM
Run 13:50 [1] 1.8 mi (7:41 / mi)
Run to #NP_Chi! A little easier than hauling my bike down three flights of stairs and biking seven-and-a-half miles.
November Project 30:00 [1] 1.8 mi (16:40 / mi)
Ah, what do you do without hills and stairs, because Chicago? Bench dips, push ups, mountain climbers and box jumps. Good way to make things hurt. We did sets of 10 of each, with the push ups and dips combined, which is actually good core training as you transition PU-BD-PU-BD …
Run 1:24 [1] 0.2 mi (7:00 / mi)
And then some sprints.
Run 14:56 [1] 1.6 mi (9:20 / mi)
And then I ran home.
Maybe would have run in the evening but it was 35, pouring, and big puddles. And everything is going to freeze, hooray!
Maybe would have run in the evening but it was 35, pouring, and big puddles. And everything is going to freeze, hooray!
Tuesday Jan 10, 2017 #
6 PM
Run 49:21 [1] 6.0 mi (8:14 / mi)
First run in Chicago. 50˚ during the day, so it should be shorts weather in the evening, right? Nope, 30˚ and windy. A little chilly, but nice to run along the lake even in this weather. A few 60 sec pickups, and a stiff headwind on the way back. HRM was all over the place …
Sunday Jan 8, 2017 #
9 AM
Ski 2:12:40 [1] 19.0 mi (6:59 / mi) +568m 6:23 / mi
The OH was lovely with Lincoln and Jess. We got a fire going and cracked 60 by bedtime (about 5 outside overnight), fed overnight we stayed quite warm and slept about 10 hours! The morning was a bit lazy, some indecisiveness on their part (Washington looked spectacular, but -15 on top with 40 mph winds less so) and we finally were skiing a bit before 10. OD out Ellis and up over Hall; a few rocks on the sketchy bit but still one of my favorite trails around. A few stops, mostly to take off and put on layers (necessary) and then down the new Keeney Trail which is fantastic. I went down it in a storm a few weeks ago but today was hard and somewhat fast: the corners are all manageable but fun. Really fun to rip down. Then in to the village and home and packing for Chicago!
Saturday Jan 7, 2017 #
10 AM
Ski warm up/down 5:04 [1] 0.5 mi (10:08 / mi) +24m 8:49 / mi
Up to Gunstock for the 12k race there. Left a bit late from home and missed the exit for 106 (not really any longer) so rolled in with time to spare. Especially since it was seeded by NENSA membership and last name, so I was #65 out of about 75. Saw Larry warming up—82 years old and still skiing 12k races, I hope I am doing that in 50 years—and took a quick ski to find somewhere secluded to feed the trees.
Ski race 37:07 [3] 8.3 mi (4:28 / mi) +175m 4:12 / mi
12k race. Interval start (first of those in years, I think) with a bunch of college kids. Watched Sam EB storm out and tried to emulate him. Pushed hard out of the gate and right up a big hill (I didn't know the course) and passed several recent starters and some people on their second time through. A bit of a confidence boost. Generally felt pretty good going up the hills, skis were fast enough with whatever blue stuff I put on the bottom. Quite fun course, big-enough hills, then a big downhill in to a turn (this is apparently new) with a tree with a pad on it. Made this turn every time. (Sam was presented with the best crash of the day, he overskied it, fell off the side and in to a stream, and thus lost to Justin Freeman.)
Second lap I was catching up to #14 on his third lap, and did, and passed, and he then stayed with me the rest of the race, although I found a little space. Goal was to not positive split so much I lost to him. Pavel passed us near the end of the lap (from 45 seconds back); I burned matches to catch him on the climb but lost him on the ensuing downhill. Finished having pushed pretty hard, right at the back of the pack of college kids (and a minute behind Matt Moreau, the junior I just barely outsprinted at MSA), which is respectable for an old, slow dude. Behind John by two places, though.
Second lap I was catching up to #14 on his third lap, and did, and passed, and he then stayed with me the rest of the race, although I found a little space. Goal was to not positive split so much I lost to him. Pavel passed us near the end of the lap (from 45 seconds back); I burned matches to catch him on the climb but lost him on the ensuing downhill. Finished having pushed pretty hard, right at the back of the pack of college kids (and a minute behind Matt Moreau, the junior I just barely outsprinted at MSA), which is respectable for an old, slow dude. Behind John by two places, though.
Ski warm up/down 1:14:30 [1] 9.5 mi (7:51 / mi) +233m 7:17 / mi
Spectated some of the women's race as a cool down, then skied around a bit with Sam and Aubrey doing what he calls "Golden Retriever" where he (and I ski ahead and then back). Fun to tool around after a race. Then up to Jackson in part because driving back to Boston looked like three dreadful hours.
Friday Jan 6, 2017 #
Note
Snow! Yay snow! Bummed that I'll miss the World Championships next week, which might wind up being a powdery long loop of goodness. Oh, well. [Looks up airfares; decides it's not worth $200 to fly back for Worlds the day after he flies to Chicago.]
Run hills 36:23 [1] 4.0 mi (9:06 / mi) +266m 7:32 / mi
Woke up, went back to bed, woke up again, running late, left, where's my red light? Went back because #safetythird. Snowing. Parked at bottom. Ran up hill.
Rock Paper Scissors to decide which side of the hill. Ran four fronts and two backs with 10 second pickups (2 on long hills, 1 on short). I often think I'm not doing any specific training and it's all junk. Then I look at my log and realize I've done intervals three times this week (short ones, though).
Kept snowing. So bummed (see note) about missing Worlds this week.
Rock Paper Scissors to decide which side of the hill. Ran four fronts and two backs with 10 second pickups (2 on long hills, 1 on short). I often think I'm not doing any specific training and it's all junk. Then I look at my log and realize I've done intervals three times this week (short ones, though).
Kept snowing. So bummed (see note) about missing Worlds this week.
Thursday Jan 5, 2017 #
7 PM
Ski warm up/down 26:08 [1] 3.5 mi (7:28 / mi) +50m 7:09 / mi
Warm up and cool down and some rests.
Ski intervals 15:00 [3] 3.5 mi (4:17 / mi) +50m 4:06 / mi
Headed out to Weston to do Weston things. Had a chicken in the oven so 45 minutes max. I didn't buy a season pass this year (because Chicago) and today was the first time there was someone there to sell me a pass (good job, DCR). She said it was $13, I pointed out that it was evening and it was $12, and she said "you know what, it's late, I'll just charge you $6." Okay then. DCR is good at leaving money on the table as I well know.
I left my watch at home so intervals became less time and more "start somewhere and end somewhere else. I started by the river and skied one and a half loops, ending in the teaching area, so I didn't speed through the sketchy narrow icy section too many times. Almost hit a guy practicing step turns or something on a hill without looking over his shoulder. Weston conditions all around. But I got there after the kiddos.
40 minutes, then off to go home and eat dinner, make brownies, and burn my arm taking them out of the oven. So now instead of sleep I'm cooling the burn. Hooray.
I left my watch at home so intervals became less time and more "start somewhere and end somewhere else. I started by the river and skied one and a half loops, ending in the teaching area, so I didn't speed through the sketchy narrow icy section too many times. Almost hit a guy practicing step turns or something on a hill without looking over his shoulder. Weston conditions all around. But I got there after the kiddos.
40 minutes, then off to go home and eat dinner, make brownies, and burn my arm taking them out of the oven. So now instead of sleep I'm cooling the burn. Hooray.
Wednesday Jan 4, 2017 #
6 AM
Run warm up/down 9:45 [1] 1.4 mi (6:58 / mi)
I should probably run to November Project more given that it takes 10 minutes (or less!) and there's no bike overhead (lights, lock, stairs).
Run intervals 35:19 [1] 1.6 mi (22:04 / mi) +445m 11:50 / mi
NP was "Red Line" day today, which was 90 seconds of all out effort four times. a.k.a. L4 intervals. I tried to keep my HR around 140 for the non-interval portions. Still wound up doing 52 sections.
Run 6:00 [4] 0.6 mi (10:00 / mi) +134m 5:54 / mi
And here were the hard sections, which I did all out hard up and down. Felt good despite not running in 9 days (skied a little bit, though).
Run warm up/down 31:24 [1] 3.2 mi (9:49 / mi) +10m 9:43 / mi
Then off to pick up my car at the shop. Got to see an Alex coming off the bike path (where they rebuilt the curb cut so while not perfect it's at least a little less dangerous). Not feeling super fast, but picked up the pace a bit as I went on.
Tuesday Jan 3, 2017 #
Note
Pouring rain, Worlds canceled. [Looks at log.] Yup, I think I can take a day off.
Monday Jan 2, 2017 #
2 PM
Ski 15:00 [4] 2.4 mi (6:15 / mi) +152m 5:13 / mi
Intervals: ~5 min up the big hill, then 90-150-150-150-90 on a loop with transitions.
Ski 1:35:17 [1] 11.5 mi (8:17 / mi) +375m 7:31 / mi
Spent a lot of time in the car, but there's good skiing to be had and a day off. Windblown was yesterday. Gunstock had good conditions reported and is 20-30 minutes closer than Waterville. Beat Google Maps time there (and took 106 back, which is a fast road, although then got stuck in ski resort traffic in Concord; should have gone via 95, but more tolls …)
Anyway, first decided to ski up the big mountain which was sort of groomed. Cloudy in Boston, but sunny up here, terrific view of Mount Washington! The trail down to the alpine base was groomed but looked super sketchy and maybe icy facing south-ish, so I went down from whence I came, lots of parallel turns (I think I impressed one guy going up). Then back across the road to tool around the more normal trails. Where freshly groomed they were excellent, mid-winter powder with a firm skate deck. Some other trails were more rock ski conditions. Found a loop with a hill at the end and did a few intervals, not super long.
Next weekend in Jackson or Maine (which should retain snow fine) and then off to the midwest. Making plans!
Anyway, first decided to ski up the big mountain which was sort of groomed. Cloudy in Boston, but sunny up here, terrific view of Mount Washington! The trail down to the alpine base was groomed but looked super sketchy and maybe icy facing south-ish, so I went down from whence I came, lots of parallel turns (I think I impressed one guy going up). Then back across the road to tool around the more normal trails. Where freshly groomed they were excellent, mid-winter powder with a firm skate deck. Some other trails were more rock ski conditions. Found a loop with a hill at the end and did a few intervals, not super long.
Next weekend in Jackson or Maine (which should retain snow fine) and then off to the midwest. Making plans!
Sunday Jan 1, 2017 #
Note
Wrap on the week:
216km of skiing, 17:17. Total of 18 hours logged. Next biggest single ski week: 12 hours and 124 km. Only bigger weeks of training: Hut Traverse and pacing Leadville. MSA is great for volume! Now time to dial in some intensity. In Chicago. Which will be interesting.
216km of skiing, 17:17. Total of 18 hours logged. Next biggest single ski week: 12 hours and 124 km. Only bigger weeks of training: Hut Traverse and pacing Leadville. MSA is great for volume! Now time to dial in some intensity. In Chicago. Which will be interesting.
3 PM
Ski hills 1:33:24 [1] 11.8 mi (7:55 / mi) +453m 7:04 / mi
Convinced Tom to go out to Windblown (and to drive). A few thin spots but mostly lovely powder. We thrashed up the Open Slope and came down, me pussyfooting because I didn't want to break myself or my poles. Instead of actual hill repeats we just pushed the uphills for an hour, before deciding that it was enough and to do a cool down. Keys, as usual, for skiing at Windblown:
1) Don't try to ski between 11 and 3 if the mountain isn't open (at one point I saw four people attempting to skate up a steep hill and just turned around)
2) Never stop to look at a trail map. All the trails are fun and short.
1:30ish was enough, felt pretty good pushing some hills, and beautiful sunset over Monadnock. Pretty busy when we arrived, but we maybe saw four people after 4 p.m. and it wasn't even so dark that we needed headlamps by the time we were done close to 5.
1) Don't try to ski between 11 and 3 if the mountain isn't open (at one point I saw four people attempting to skate up a steep hill and just turned around)
2) Never stop to look at a trail map. All the trails are fun and short.
1:30ish was enough, felt pretty good pushing some hills, and beautiful sunset over Monadnock. Pretty busy when we arrived, but we maybe saw four people after 4 p.m. and it wasn't even so dark that we needed headlamps by the time we were done close to 5.