Training Log Archive: bl

SPS after work. Forgot running shoes but was set for roller skiing in any event. Did laps on the parking area environs for the new soccer field. Had scoped it out a few weeks ago. SPS has the smoothest pavement in the Concord area. Nice to do in daylight for a change. A bit small but offset by peace & quiet - not another car or person the whole time. Did an out-back w/o poles at the end & managed a fall...first authentic fall, on level hard top. Mild face plant, no scrapes other than chin, though (work gloves, forgot knee pads). Was a mild 40F, everything brown and gray and wet and nice.

Passed Dave Audette on way back. Said he's running 80 mi this week, 4pm is his morning. 26 years at the PO, not sure how many of that is night shift but that is what he has done since I've known him (about 1996).

Event: Mt. Tom
 

SPS wander with Z&M - get away early. Overcast, 32F (baseline winter warm)
then off to town for errands.

Tony Mangan is a short distance from the Myanmar-India border, approaching a town named Moreh. Nothing written since 11/20. Wonder how far one could travel (even there) w/o encountering a smart phone...bet not far at all.

Y at the end of day. A drippy Sunday it became & this was a good place to go. Fancy new weight & cardio machines - what a workout getting them to the third floor in an old building!

In the name of Walk, did yard work instead of gym work & thus improved the appearance of the yard while likely maintaining personal status quo. Cold day but got to liking it.

Blither: Remember November

The last day. We (Beth & I) came up with an idea to read a poem each night after dinner. It started with our reading “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” before Thanksgiving. Being of marathon length, we exchanged stanzas. We’ve gotten back on stride after the holiday. Last night I read “Daffodils” by Wordsworth, a last minute (aka desperate) search for my turn (written in calligraphy 45 years ago). Tonight, she read Poe’s longing “Annabel Lee”. After, I reread Frost’s lovely “November Guest” as his “My Sorrow” exits this eve. Poetry is one of many beautiful things that speak to the heart.

BHS around 5p for 30' roller skiing. 25F, dogs along (who eventually found the running around on hardtop not so interesting). One kid on a cycle, a cold looking activity but he seemed pretty serious. Well lit in spite of fact there was no school on top of Black Friday. No falls tho macadam cracks & one instance of grassy ground contrived to do so.

Visited Stowe, Vt in returning today. Last time I was there was maybe 10 years ago when I bought my first pair of skate skis (used rental). Went to Trapp Family Lodge outdoor center for a look-see; there were 5k of groomed trails open. What a lovely setup - great views all around. Noted a poster for the March 2014 US Ski O champs!

C • Poster 2

Lake front, south first, wind behind, down to Main Street ferry dock. Back on the bike path, biting wind some of the time, wild on the lake, fun! Burn to earn calories.

Drive to Burlington. Rained all day, 42F at start around 4:30. T steadily dropped to 32F & stayed there for the last 50mi. Moderate snowfall at times (passed by the high point on 89, looking for it but didn't see), white ground at the end, branches laced with snow, making a wintry scene.

Logged for various reasons...leaf blowing of Sheridan & Steer Brook trails in Nottingcook. Got the BOS leaf blower (weighs close to 30#) from Bob D & away we went. Had never used a LB - this is a backpack carry type and it blew a storm, making all the roots & rocks visible almost instantly. Did not think much of leaf blowing trails initially but it makes them visible, exposes trip-y stuff and adds a whiff of quality to the forest trail network. Some Nottingcook trails (all are generally light use) are so leaf-covered, it's easy to lose track but for blazes.

Before
After

C • Leaf blowing 5

A start - got skis today, went to BHS just at dark but plenty of light available. One other person there, a woman, who agreed we had the dark track to ourselves. 35F balmy. Bought "slow" skis at the recommendation of the seller (good for 70% of skiers was the advice). I found them hard to work with on the all-weather surface. Had poles with small baskets & was informal enough to not bother with straps for the most part - which allowed the baskets to face forward a few times which was not efficient. Got on the hardtop which was considerably better. BHS is a good place for this - gentle ups & downs, light & little in the way of traffic. Steadier than on ice skates, 7' pace is out ahead, already at the turn....

C • Poles on track 2

C • Skate or classic? 4