Training Archive: Swampfox

Orienteering 1:25:00 [3]

biking 1:46:00 [2]

Legs felt a bit under while I was riding.

At nearly exactly 5 o-clock, the wind shifted direction sharply, picked up, and the temps dropped about 10 degrees. Almost as good as AC!

C • nice colors, kinda peacock ... 3

Orienteering 1:05:00 [2]

Was only forced to dispatch one foolish mosquito. Didn't notice any hordes of dragonflies flitting about yet, though there were Hermit Thrushes singing sweetly off in the deeper parts of the forest.

unsecret mtn bike training 1:04:00 [3]

Rode some of the trails east from home, sticking as much as possible to the trails heading up the fall line, since bikes are for climbing. Classic summer weather--an almost cloudless sky, a hint of summer haze down in the valley nearer to the ground (as I was looking down on the valley from the height of the ride), warm, and a nice breeze to keep the feel set on Fresh. Naturally, no humidity to speak of.

Orienteering 1:32:00 [4]

Mercy! I was running hard, but it was not until well after I was done and feeling considerably wasted did I realize that maybe I had gone a little harder than I had thought at the time. But I survived, while one horsefly did not.

biking 2:08:00 [3]

Rode south of town on 287; really surprised to see how busy the highway was--I'd guess that big truck traffic might be double or more of what it was just a few years ago. And, somehow, I don't think it has much to do with Laramie Daze. Excellent weather for riding. Hard to beat summer here, once it finally arrives!

Orienteering 1:12:00 [2]

Streamering up at Happy Jack, where the mosquitos were waiting and ready to do some chewing. But everytime I stopped to tie up a streamer and they dived in, I slapped a few of them down and told them they better enjoy it while it lasts, because the dragonflies are coming soon. Once the dragonflies make the scene, mosquitos are dead meat. Many more bike tracks marked the trails than runner's shoes.

biking 1:09:00 [3]

A true Tour de Force de Laramie Power Effort, including fording the Laramie River where it still overswims the Greenbelt. But the river levels are dropping rapidly, and soon the graffiti artists can ply their chalked chicken pom drawings upon the asphalt pathway!

They can hardly wait.

C • breaking news 3

run intervals 1:42:00 [4]

Smashing fine weather in the early evening up in the hills, and seemingly I had it all to myself. Lots of birds were singing and cattle doing their moo thing, and that was about it. Really gorgeous out, and the pink loco weed this year is the finest I've ever seen it. The trails were powdery and fluffy, and put me in mind of some of the fine trails around the Bay Area I got to sample once upon a time. I ran mostly at Huddart, Edgewood County Park, Stanford Hills, and Rancho San Antonio in the time I was there, and it was outstanding trail running in just about every way possible. After thinking about the South Bay area while I was running, It was funny to come home and see a mention here (at AP) about Bay Area maps, etc.!

Recovery was hastened by re-fueling with most excellent pasta pesto of unusual provenance and secret recipe. But I can reveal no pine nuts were involved, nor any lime zest.

Note

I have put up some map notes for the 2008 US Classic Championships at:
http://swampfoxridesagain.blogspot.com/

unsecret mtn bike training 26:00 [3]

Note

I seem to have received an emergency javelina alert. I'm not sure what to do!

C • suggestion 10

Orienteering 1:43:00 [2]

Out at Forrest Meadows, to hang Daze streamers. A brief thunderstorm cooled things off and crisped things up just before I set out, without leaving the grasses wet and heavy, so it couldn't have been more pleasant out. And I don't think I saw even a single mosquito either. I didn't hear a single ATV or any other vehicle the whole time I was out, so it was just birds and grasshoppers and crickets. The area now mapped as Forrest Meadows was one of the first places I ran when I moved to Laramie, and it's still one of my favorite places to step off the trails.

biking 55:00 [2]

Note

Last night we went out to eat at one of the finer dining establishments in Laramie. I was curious to see what Tom and Lisa would select and, perhaps not too surprisingly, Lisa chose the Braised Boeuf Strips aux Badger and Loco Weed salad, while Tom had the Mosquito Compote' with finely ground Sulphur Yellow Butterfly Wings. Lisa had also ordered a locally brewed hefeweisen with overtones of cinnamon and banana, and Tom was sipping some ever popular Bosler mineral waters. Things were going great until Lisa pulled out two Lone Star State flags and tried to claim the table for the great State of Texas, and then things weren't going so great anymore. The irony was that I had cautioned them *specifically* to not try to stake any territorial claims while in Wyoming, and to save any such activities for Colorado, where they are more accepted.

Defusing the situation required considerable diplomatic skill and tact, not a little restraint, and a round of drinks for the house. By then, the food was cold, but it was still very, well, you know, yum!

C • Geez, man... 5

Orienteering 1:44:00 [4]

Might have gone at this not quite topped off, because it didn't take more than a few minutes after cooling down to realize I was about 3 quarts low and quite spent. Thankfully it was partly cloudy while I was doing the work!

Note

Out of curiousity, I just checked the temp for Dallas, and it was 83F--which doesn't sound so bad. Except that is 83F AT MIDNIGHT! No wonder Texans dream of territorial expansions northwards. Be on guard, Oklahoma!