Training Log Archive: Ari-o

So this was an interesting rollerski. Took the train out to the Fox River Trail, 40 miles of pavement along a river, mostly, the Internet told me. First 12 miles were great. 5:30 miles, good pavement, figuring I'd make the express in Aurora 37 miles (by Google, actually more like 39) with time to spare.

Then I got in towards Elgin. Getting a bit warmer but places to get water along the trail, so okay. Had some cookies, too. Elgin was super annoying with a mile of pavers instead of blacktop or even concrete but I persevered, and it was back to actual skiing. Then it said "trail closed." So I had to check a map, and find the detour, which was unmarked. Then it said trail closed again, so I asked a passerby. Unmarked.

I refilled water, still time to get to Aurora. I hit a short section of crushed limestone—seriously, 100m in one section and 500m in another, short, and super annoying, just pave it already!—but it was mostly skiable, packed out well. I paralleled the old CA&E running a heritage line, and then hit a long bridge across the Fox River.

Most of the bridges to this point had been okay: hit the bridge, carry some speed across the wooden slats, pole when necessary. This one was in terrible shape. Some 1-3" gaps between the planking. I immediately began to lose control, put a pole down, and got stuck. I went down and thank goodness for the crappy construction of the pole it yanked the grip right out of the pole.

Oh, and broke the grip. I found the little jam thingie and reassembled the pole to see if I could put it back together but the plastic was broken. No use. I checked the train schedule. 8 miles to Geneva, where there was a train—later, local—but it would get me home. I wound up walking across the bridge, which was in terrible shape: cyclists would hit it and it sounded like a thunderstorm as the loose planks rattled and then had to mostly no-pole the rest of the way. Oh, and walk down a hill.

So the Fox River Trail is nice, but needs some help. I'll stick to the north end next time, if I go again. It's too bad, because with a few upgrades it would be a great 37 mile ride between the train lines (would make a fine bike ride, anyway). Had a while to wait for the so got a beer and pizza in one of those horribly bougie suburbs that is basically Stuff White People Like. Beer was good. Pizza was cooked on one of those conveyor belts and extremely mediocre. Seriously, if you're going to have a millennial pizza place at least get real pizza ovens. And run them over 585˚.

Up wicked early, but it's okay, trails! Decent ones, too. Dry, not technical, no big hills, but some nice sections in the woods. I'll takes what I can gets! Really nice day running with Jeremy (guy from NP, also gave a ride out) drinking a liter of water, and not having to step off for too many mtbers.

Four times a year in Chicago, apparently, they do a workout which is all core. 600 reps broken down as 100 no-hands push ups (i.e. lift your hands off the ground between each), 100 rowers, 50 burpees, 50 hoisties, 100 split lunge jumps, 50 bench dips, 25 Bojans (these take forever), 125 jumping jacks.

I missed the warm up because they inexplicably held my train five minutes (it seemed like the Towerman was asleep or something) so a Red Line could pass on to the single track, so I was greeted by this.

Apparently no one has ever finished the version with Bojans. I did except for 40 push ups, the hoisties and 85 jumping jacks. I found people to do the hoisties in Panera and did the jumping jacks and push ups later.

It was also very sweaty out.

Then we did some sprints!

Hot even in the morning. Short, sweaty run.

Up for a 4 miler in Wilmette. Warm up after bike ride up. Pretty warm. Stuffed ice in my shirt.

Whee racing! Started fast with a singlet full of ice, which was pretty nice. Legs felt okay and the first bit of the race was down a hill and up a hill, or at least an excuse for one. Then it was on to a flat road. Two speedsters way out in front, then another guy, then me. But I got caught by a big pack and couldn't quite keep up, trying to stay cool with water at each aid station. Not much of a kick but no one nearby, ran positive-ish splits. Last year I would have won my age class, and if I were in my 20s I would have won my age class, but I got third.

Then hung out with Chad Giese! His kid also got third in his age class. Jamie's dad got first, by so much they didn't realize he was in his 60s and didn't give him a prize at first. But he complained, and got a special announcement all on his own.

Led a small rogue NP popup workout today down by the river. There's a set of stairs there and we did a circuit: up the big steps (16", just shy of Harvard Stadium, but only 16 of them), down the ramp, up the little steps, back across, down the big steps, and then a burpie, increasing by one each circuit.

Doing 10 burpies and then running the big steps is a lot. Got through 11 rounds of stairs, 10 burpies. This would be totally doable with a larger, NP-sized group.

Then we did a "burnout" strength workout which was longer than planned thanks to communication issues:

30 seconds of bench dips
10 seconds rest/switch
30 seconds plank with elevated legs pushing against the step (wicked hard!)
10 seconds rest/switch

x5.

I thought it was x4 and did 30 bench dips during the 4th go-round, then found out we weren't done. FML. It was hard, but excellent.