Training Log Archive: Ari-o

Start up to the loop, and cool down and around the field.

Decided to go out for a Lake Loop PR today. Wind was dying off with the evening, cool (60s) and dry, and so I took it easy up to the road and then went for it. Still some headwind going north and west, but downhill, running 6s for that and then along the lake on the other side, with one 7+ mile uphill thrown in. Was feeling good and on pace for a PR, but still had to push up the Dam Hill before pouring it on the Home Stretch (new Strava segment). 58:25 is nearly a 2 minute PR!

Now, 7:13/mi … can I get that under 7? That would take another couple of minutes. Wrist HRM even seemed to start working after a wonky first mile … barely qualifies as L3, but then again my legs aren't perfectly fresh.

Event: Billygoat / DIY Goat, Mountain Lakes
 

Forecast today for rain and more raining, overspreading during the morning. Didn't get as early a start as hoped (a nap is planned!) but was rolling by 8 sharp with just some clouds and a bright sky to the east. Figured I'd go out Chesterville until it started raining, then turn back.

I started lightly raining around 3 miles in, but really just nuisance rain. It got heavier around the 8 mile single lane bridge (sounds like it might be finished this week) and I took a left, I'd come this far, why not go a little further. (18 miles would put me over the top for my monthly rollerski goal.) Hit the end of good pavement, but it was older but fine pavement for half a mile to 156, and then new pavement on Knowlton Corners, with hills!

Oh and rain. By now the rain was covering the road, but with new pavement it was fine. I was thoroughly wet, but it was warm enough that I was quite comfortable at an L1 ski, and also didn't have to drink water because I wasn't sweating. Success! (It was 54˚, so Alex would have had hypothermia.) Climbed the second hill to get to 13.1, and also, hill.

Turned around (there's a bit more good pavement, but the rain was getting to me) and whee downhills and then the rest of the way was a bit of a slog but it was cool and rainy and there wasn't much traffic an the wheels were sticking to the pavement. Just out for a nice easy "ski" and it wasn't even Type 2 fun.

Elevation doing weird things (pressure falls? out and back don't match), slightly corrected per Strava lookup. I have now skied 172 miles, which is almost 2x more than I've ever skied before September 1.

Felt better today, maybe because it was beautiful and I went out for a late afternoon trail run, up to Little Bigelow, which I haven't hiked since the AT. It was about 8.5 miles on trail (actually 8; the trail mileage was long) and then 4 on a dirt road back to the car which is barely faster to drive than run). A bit longer up than hoped with some slow drivers, but I was on trail by 5, with a poor woman in the parking lot with a flat and no lug wrench.

Saw a few hikers on the trail—it's thru-hiker season—and then a lovely view from Little Bigelow of the sun behind bigger Bigelow. Nice and cool and breezy, feeling much better than yesterday. Ran about 16s down the ridge which wasn't super easy running, but felt pretty good, then hung a right onto the Safford Brook trail (I've been there) and down to the road, taking the old trail, which is a well-cleared road/sled trail, the last quarter mile at a full run.

Then four miles of the undulating dirt road. Not pushing the pace, but running the same pace as yesterday, only without feeling awful. Back to the car before dark, which is coming earlier. The woman had gotten professional help, or at least a guy with a thick Maine accent and a powered lug wrench for her car. No cell service, so she probably had to have the other people who were finishing when I started drive to cell land and make a call.

Made it back at full throttle in 1:25. I exercised supreme self control: I only ate half the bag of goldfish.

Felt pretty awful and it showed. Originally was going to run more like 11 since it's 60˚ and dry and good running weather but had indigestion, or something, pretty early and by the time I was on the other side of the lake I was counting the miles home and trying not to dry heave.

The run up the Dam Hill was a death march. I would like to take advantage of the weather tyvm!

Sailing!

pretty gusty, one of which gave me a dunk. The breeze was cool but the water and sun were warm.

Out to Chesterville for an evening roll. Lovely day for it!

Silver lining, I guess, to covid:

I won't have to choose between ski WOC and the Birkie this winter.

Proper thunderstorm this afternoon! It got dark, then it got real windy, then it started blowing wind rain inside (so I closed the windward windows), then some branches blew down, and then just as I was saying on a call "well it seems like we made it through it without the power going out" the power went out.

Once things dried out a bit I went for a run. Cool, breezy, and running to the sound of generators humming in people's garages, so it was quite a blackout. Wayne seemed to be powered, but it was still unpowered when I got home. 2x1 mile (6:58, 6:45, the first mile slightly net up) on the other side of the lake felt decent. And right when I got back, the power came on!

Waited out some post-work thunder, and went on a short-and-still-very-muggy run down to the dam.

Then ran across the dam, since the water isn't overtopping it these days, just leaking through.