Training Log Archive: Ari-o

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.]

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.

Warm up and cool down and some rests.

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 should probably run to November Project more given that it takes 10 minutes (or less!) and there's no bike overhead (lights, lock, stairs).

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.

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).

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.

Pouring rain, Worlds canceled. [Looks at log.] Yup, I think I can take a day off.

Intervals: ~5 min up the big hill, then 90-150-150-150-90 on a loop with transitions.

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!

C • Yes, I was impressed 2