Training Log Archive: PGIn the 30 days ending Jun 30, 2016:
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Tuesday Jun 28, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 1:05:00 17.75 mi (3:40 / mi) +425ft 3:35 / mi
ahr:128 max:150 weight:140.5lbs
South Deerfield, Whately and a little bit further south. Nice breeze at my back at the end.
Monday Jun 27, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 9:46 [2] 2.22 mi (4:24 / mi) +38ft 4:20 / mi
A short trip down to the bike store to see about getting a lower gear. :-)
Sunday Jun 26, 2016 #
8 AM
biking - red bike 3:07:01 44.78 mi (4:11 / mi) +3091ft 3:55 / mi
ahr:137 max:157
Went down to Stafford Springs, CT, for a very low-key, and very pleasant, charity bike ride. I don't have any attachment to the cause, but it seemed a good one, and also seemed like any funds raised would be put to the use advertised. Mainly it offered an easy way to ride in a part of New England that I hadn't been in much, other than the occasional trail race over the years. I certainly hadn't biked there at all.
The 45-mile loop seemed like plenty at this stage of my life and my training, and it turned out to be a good choice. My legs were tired from the get-go, whether still feeling the effects of Friday's long hike or probably just one of those days. Knew it within the first couple of miles.
So I just keep shifting into lower gears (and going slower). And not worrying about it. :-) Rode almost entirely by myself. And that's fine too.
The topography is quite different from what we have around home. No flat places of any substance, lots and lots of hills, but much smaller ones than here. So the climbs kept coming, and there could be steep sections, but they were never real long, never just endless up for 4 or 6 or 8 miles. But did I say that they kept coming?
One quick stop to fill my bottle and grab a couple of cookies, otherwise just moseying along. Really enjoyed the countryside, a beautiful mix of homes and farms and woods and small lakes. Nice day too, sunny and getting warm, but never felt hot until after I was done. And though I always felt tired, there were no real problems, the back and butt and arms and hands and neck weren't complaining at all. That's not so bad.
The 45-mile loop seemed like plenty at this stage of my life and my training, and it turned out to be a good choice. My legs were tired from the get-go, whether still feeling the effects of Friday's long hike or probably just one of those days. Knew it within the first couple of miles.
So I just keep shifting into lower gears (and going slower). And not worrying about it. :-) Rode almost entirely by myself. And that's fine too.
The topography is quite different from what we have around home. No flat places of any substance, lots and lots of hills, but much smaller ones than here. So the climbs kept coming, and there could be steep sections, but they were never real long, never just endless up for 4 or 6 or 8 miles. But did I say that they kept coming?
One quick stop to fill my bottle and grab a couple of cookies, otherwise just moseying along. Really enjoyed the countryside, a beautiful mix of homes and farms and woods and small lakes. Nice day too, sunny and getting warm, but never felt hot until after I was done. And though I always felt tired, there were no real problems, the back and butt and arms and hands and neck weren't complaining at all. That's not so bad.
Friday Jun 24, 2016 #
8 AM
hike 6:57:56 16.07 mi (26:00 / mi) +3214ft 21:52 / mi
ahr:116 max:143 weight:139lbs shoes: pegasus 6
Owl's Head, 48th and last of New Hampshire's 4,000-footers, seems to have taken me about 48 years to do them all. :-)
Not a summit that gets high ratings -- a long approach (and equally long exit), stream crossings that can be dangerous in high water (or an alternative to the two worst ones, a non-trivial bushwhacking section), much of the climb/descent on an old and unstable slide, and no marked trail to the top so you have to pay attention. But perhaps because of the fair amount of apprehension about the various difficulties, it was a fine adventure.
That's not to say it was all handled with grace and skill by yours truly, though at some point I was thinking how easily I was coping with things. This was just after the first bushwhack, about a mile through a not so awful White Mountain forest, where I'd come out just about where I'd planned to with the error being on the correct side. I was back on a respectable trail. It had not rained a lot recently, so the mud was much less than it could be. My feet were still dry, my mood was fine. I can do this stuff.
And then I came to my first stream crossing, looked doable without getting wet, except on one jump to a wet rock I slipped and the next moment both feet were underwater, both hands (and gloves), in fact a good bit of me even though the water was only a foot deep. Yup, you sure can do this.
Got across the next two crossing OK, then headed up the slide. Not a lot of fun, but eventually it and the rest of the climb got done. Slipped once and banged an ankle, but not enough to do any harm. Slipped another time and banged a knee, this one hurt more, but it soon disappeared. In each case I was reminded of how vulnerable one is, a long long ways from any help, and if on a bushwhack, maybe a long, long time before anyone comes by. And I really was trying to be careful.
Finally up on top of the ridge, almost no views, looking for the little bump that is the summit. Found it, a guy was sitting there eating, we chatted for a moment (he'd started his hike an hour and a half before mine, so that was good for morale). And then headed back.
Didn't take long before I f'ed up again, somehow got off the "trail", ended up floundering through about 100 yards of dense spruce with lots of blowdowns, not so bad in retrospect but not that much fun while you're doing it. Crawling under one blowdown I got a branch in the eye. Great, thinking back to the times orienteering when I'd done something similar and hadn't been able to drive home. But fortunately this one disappeared after a few minutes of tearing.
Then down the slide, I mean I'm good at steep crappy downhills -- I passed a couple that looked like they were going to be there all afternoon. But this one was nasty. Took a couple of spills, but both the good kind (feet slip on the loose rock and you land on your butt) and not the bad kind (you catch a toe and go down face first), so no harm down.
Eventually down, eventually passed the three crossings on the way back, now just the bushwhack uncertainty to deal with. There were signs of a "herd path" which I followed as well as I could but lost after maybe half a mile. And then just careful on my bearing to a much smaller target and this time just nailed it, perfect. Three and a half miles left of very good trail and it was done. Very happy to be done, also very happy to have done it.
And almost certainly not to be repeated. :-)
(Bird list for anyone who might be interested, all just heard except for the waxwing and the phoebe in the parking lot when I arrived -- hairy woodpecker, wood-pewee, least flycatcher, phoebe, great crested flycatcher, red-eyed vireo, raven, black-capped chickadee, winter wren, swainson's thrush, cedar waxwing, ovenbird, yellowthroat, redstart, yellow warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, blackpoll warbler, black-throated blue warbler, black-throated green warbler, junco. Often hard to hear when along streams, so best during the bushwhack and on the slide. But excellent entertainment the whole time.)
Black Pond, best view of the whole hike, also start of the bushwhack --
Summit cairn showing typical view --
And a little look at the Franconia ridge, specifically the slides on the east slopes of Mt. Lincoln --
Not a summit that gets high ratings -- a long approach (and equally long exit), stream crossings that can be dangerous in high water (or an alternative to the two worst ones, a non-trivial bushwhacking section), much of the climb/descent on an old and unstable slide, and no marked trail to the top so you have to pay attention. But perhaps because of the fair amount of apprehension about the various difficulties, it was a fine adventure.
That's not to say it was all handled with grace and skill by yours truly, though at some point I was thinking how easily I was coping with things. This was just after the first bushwhack, about a mile through a not so awful White Mountain forest, where I'd come out just about where I'd planned to with the error being on the correct side. I was back on a respectable trail. It had not rained a lot recently, so the mud was much less than it could be. My feet were still dry, my mood was fine. I can do this stuff.
And then I came to my first stream crossing, looked doable without getting wet, except on one jump to a wet rock I slipped and the next moment both feet were underwater, both hands (and gloves), in fact a good bit of me even though the water was only a foot deep. Yup, you sure can do this.
Got across the next two crossing OK, then headed up the slide. Not a lot of fun, but eventually it and the rest of the climb got done. Slipped once and banged an ankle, but not enough to do any harm. Slipped another time and banged a knee, this one hurt more, but it soon disappeared. In each case I was reminded of how vulnerable one is, a long long ways from any help, and if on a bushwhack, maybe a long, long time before anyone comes by. And I really was trying to be careful.
Finally up on top of the ridge, almost no views, looking for the little bump that is the summit. Found it, a guy was sitting there eating, we chatted for a moment (he'd started his hike an hour and a half before mine, so that was good for morale). And then headed back.
Didn't take long before I f'ed up again, somehow got off the "trail", ended up floundering through about 100 yards of dense spruce with lots of blowdowns, not so bad in retrospect but not that much fun while you're doing it. Crawling under one blowdown I got a branch in the eye. Great, thinking back to the times orienteering when I'd done something similar and hadn't been able to drive home. But fortunately this one disappeared after a few minutes of tearing.
Then down the slide, I mean I'm good at steep crappy downhills -- I passed a couple that looked like they were going to be there all afternoon. But this one was nasty. Took a couple of spills, but both the good kind (feet slip on the loose rock and you land on your butt) and not the bad kind (you catch a toe and go down face first), so no harm down.
Eventually down, eventually passed the three crossings on the way back, now just the bushwhack uncertainty to deal with. There were signs of a "herd path" which I followed as well as I could but lost after maybe half a mile. And then just careful on my bearing to a much smaller target and this time just nailed it, perfect. Three and a half miles left of very good trail and it was done. Very happy to be done, also very happy to have done it.
And almost certainly not to be repeated. :-)
(Bird list for anyone who might be interested, all just heard except for the waxwing and the phoebe in the parking lot when I arrived -- hairy woodpecker, wood-pewee, least flycatcher, phoebe, great crested flycatcher, red-eyed vireo, raven, black-capped chickadee, winter wren, swainson's thrush, cedar waxwing, ovenbird, yellowthroat, redstart, yellow warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, blackpoll warbler, black-throated blue warbler, black-throated green warbler, junco. Often hard to hear when along streams, so best during the bushwhack and on the slide. But excellent entertainment the whole time.)
Black Pond, best view of the whole hike, also start of the bushwhack --
Summit cairn showing typical view --
And a little look at the Franconia ridge, specifically the slides on the east slopes of Mt. Lincoln --
Thursday Jun 23, 2016 #
10 AM
biking - red bike 54:49 11.79 mi (4:39 / mi) +708ft 4:24 / mi
ahr:117 max:163 weight:139.5lbs
Very easy ride on tired legs, all but 10 minutes that is, as I felt compelled to do something worthwhile and so went up South Sugarloaf. Barely made it. I think I need to investigate getting a lower gear. But the time up was OK (9:57). Just that I was about out of gas when the top finally showed up.
And a slight detour to Mike's on the way home to check on the corn. It's growing.
And a slight detour to Mike's on the way home to check on the corn. It's growing.
Wednesday Jun 22, 2016 #
10 AM
biking - red bike 2:04:57 32.81 mi (3:48 / mi) +736ft 3:44 / mi
ahr:127 max:153 weight:139.5lbs
Flat down the east side of the river, then a few small hills on the west side coming back.
Wind sure changed, modestly out of the south (when I was heading south), then changing over to out of the west, and then when I reached Whately (and still had a ways further north to go) strong and gusty from the NW. Not the best planning, though a couple of miles towards the end were very nice.
Wind sure changed, modestly out of the south (when I was heading south), then changing over to out of the west, and then when I reached Whately (and still had a ways further north to go) strong and gusty from the NW. Not the best planning, though a couple of miles towards the end were very nice.
4 PM
run/hike 45:37 3.01 mi (15:10 / mi) +756ft 12:15 / mi
ahr:120 max:140 shoes: pegasus 6
Outer loop at North Sugarloaf, hiked up the north side, jogged down the south. Legs not so bad. Nice afternoon, low humidity.
Tuesday Jun 21, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 1:45:07 25.98 mi (4:03 / mi) +1549ft 3:50 / mi
ahr:129 max:156 weight:140lbs
Shutesbury - Lake Wyola. Quite enjoyable. For once I stuck to my plan of taking it easy, especially up to Shutesbury. It's not that going uphill can be easy, but it's a lot nicer to arrive at the top tired rather than dead tired.
So it was a matter of, whenever there was any doubt, just put it in the lower gear.
This looks like an interesting thing to do on Sunday. There is chatter on AP about how the climb is figured and how it sometimes seems off the mark. For this ride, or at least the 62-mile version that I looked at a little more carefully, the link goes to MapMyRide, which gives 65.5 miles and 2,382' climb. Whereas Ride with GPS gives 62.5 and 5,938' climb. That's a fair bit different. A glance at the topo of the route convinces me that the latter number is more in the ballpark.
So it was a matter of, whenever there was any doubt, just put it in the lower gear.
This looks like an interesting thing to do on Sunday. There is chatter on AP about how the climb is figured and how it sometimes seems off the mark. For this ride, or at least the 62-mile version that I looked at a little more carefully, the link goes to MapMyRide, which gives 65.5 miles and 2,382' climb. Whereas Ride with GPS gives 62.5 and 5,938' climb. That's a fair bit different. A glance at the topo of the route convinces me that the latter number is more in the ballpark.
C • Sunday 10
Monday Jun 20, 2016 #
4 PM
run/hike 1:08:35 4.28 mi (16:01 / mi) +940ft 13:16 / mi
ahr:107 max:132 weight:140lbs shoes: pegasus 6
Mt. Toby, hiked up the jeep road, jogged down the phone line, then not feeling overly enthusiastic so just walked back to the gate. Warm, starting to get some bugs.
Sunday Jun 19, 2016 #
5 PM
biking - red bike 46:10 12.42 mi (3:43 / mi) +147ft 3:41 / mi
ahr:125 max:141
Flats south of town, good breeze out of the south. Started feeling very lethargic, but slowly got into it. Was definitely looking forward to the tailwind on the last few miles.
Saturday Jun 18, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 1:50:38 29.46 mi (3:45 / mi) +1575ft 3:34 / mi
ahr:138 max:160 weight:141.5lbs
Ride with Phil up to Wendell. Nice day, light breezes, maybe a little warm. And lots of good pavement. :-)
I ride by myself most of the time, very used to setting my own pace, so riding with someone else always adds a certain stress. My legs seem to still be feeling tired, so there were a few, or more than a few, times when the pace up a hill was definitely out of my comfort zone. Whereas Phil seemed to be on cruise control (other than his complaining butt).
Still, enjoyed it a lot, and more than I would have done on my own.
I ride by myself most of the time, very used to setting my own pace, so riding with someone else always adds a certain stress. My legs seem to still be feeling tired, so there were a few, or more than a few, times when the pace up a hill was definitely out of my comfort zone. Whereas Phil seemed to be on cruise control (other than his complaining butt).
Still, enjoyed it a lot, and more than I would have done on my own.
Friday Jun 17, 2016 #
12 PM
biking - red bike 1:16:35 20.33 mi (3:46 / mi) +647ft 3:39 / mi
ahr:129 max:151 weight:141lbs
River Road - Old Deerfield. Legs very very tired to start, but seemed at least a little less tired as time went on. Real nice day. Only annoyance was North Main in Deerfield is being repaved, right now they've stripped off the old stuff and it's pretty rough. Will be nice when it's done.
Thursday Jun 16, 2016 #
5 PM
biking - red bike 29:37 7.83 mi (3:47 / mi) +31ft 3:46 / mi
ahr:116 max:143
Short outing before dinner, totally flat except for coming back up our driveway. Some days it's really nice to have a flat option.
Pretty tired from yesterday, but not very much soreness. Not sure how I will manage Owl's Head (18 miles). Do they have sherpas up there?
Pretty tired from yesterday, but not very much soreness. Not sure how I will manage Owl's Head (18 miles). Do they have sherpas up there?
Wednesday Jun 15, 2016 #
10 AM
run/hike 3:54:03 9.87 mi (23:43 / mi) +3604ft 17:37 / mi
ahr:126 max:147 weight:141lbs shoes: pegasus 6
Trip to the White Mountains to knock off the next-to-last 4,000-footer (no big deal, of course, to do a 4,000-footer in Laramie would be much harder, you would have to find a very deep mine shaft).
Nice outing. Weather was perfect, breeze kept the bugs away, had the trails mostly to myself, and no falls! Kept my eyes on the trail the whole time, and didn't really miss anything because there were no views except for from the very top of The Horn, and with the foliage out I wasn't going to see the birds anyway.
And the body seems to have survived. And to show that I am only 5 years behind the times (or maybe 10?), I texted a selfie of me at the top of Mt. Cabot! And she actually got it!
And then drove over to Marshfield (VT) in the late afternoon, very enjoyable visit with Mike and Vivian, lots of catching up to do.
Nice outing. Weather was perfect, breeze kept the bugs away, had the trails mostly to myself, and no falls! Kept my eyes on the trail the whole time, and didn't really miss anything because there were no views except for from the very top of The Horn, and with the foliage out I wasn't going to see the birds anyway.
And the body seems to have survived. And to show that I am only 5 years behind the times (or maybe 10?), I texted a selfie of me at the top of Mt. Cabot! And she actually got it!
And then drove over to Marshfield (VT) in the late afternoon, very enjoyable visit with Mike and Vivian, lots of catching up to do.
Monday Jun 13, 2016 #
5 PM
run/hike 1:00:57 4.24 mi (14:23 / mi) +970ft 11:50 / mi
ahr:115 max:140 weight:140.5lbs shoes: pegasus 6
Hiked from the gate up to the top of Mt. Toby, jogged back down the jeep roads.
Sunday Jun 12, 2016 #
12 PM
run/hike 42:31 2.41 mi (17:38 / mi) +1069ft 12:25 / mi
ahr:123 max:141 weight:141.5lbs shoes: pegasus 6
From Rt. 2 up to the Shelburne fire tower, hiked up, jogged down. Mountain laurel, not normally my favorite, is in bloom. Overcast and very windy again.
Short but steady climb. Lower half is a relatively new trail (replacing the access road to the water tower) and is very nice, hardly any rocks. Rest of the way is the normal rocky trail.
I gave some thought to a second lap, but wasn't sure if it would do more good than harm, so passed.
I think the legs re getting a little stronger. One of these days I'll head off to the Whites to see if that is indeed the case. Two more to do up there, Cabot and Owl's Head, and if I am ever going to do them, I best not wait much longer. Cabot will be first, both a good bit easier, plus Owl's Head has zero redeeming value (long hike in, climb/descend a steep slide, no views), so somehow it seems appropriate for it to be last.
Short but steady climb. Lower half is a relatively new trail (replacing the access road to the water tower) and is very nice, hardly any rocks. Rest of the way is the normal rocky trail.
I gave some thought to a second lap, but wasn't sure if it would do more good than harm, so passed.
I think the legs re getting a little stronger. One of these days I'll head off to the Whites to see if that is indeed the case. Two more to do up there, Cabot and Owl's Head, and if I am ever going to do them, I best not wait much longer. Cabot will be first, both a good bit easier, plus Owl's Head has zero redeeming value (long hike in, climb/descend a steep slide, no views), so somehow it seems appropriate for it to be last.
Saturday Jun 11, 2016 #
9 AM
biking - red bike 1:32:20 23.65 mi (3:54 / mi) +1250ft 3:43 / mi
ahr:140 max:159 weight:141.5lbs
Conway - Whately loop. Got out just in time to beat the rain by about 5 minutes. :-)
4 PM
hike 58:35 [2] 2.77 mi (21:09 / mi) +482ft 18:10 / mi
Checking out the trails in the relatively new Cave Hill Conservation Area in Leverett with a few stops to ruminate on what I was hearing. Very fine. Lots of interesting terrain and, for someone else, the trails would be nicely runnable.
Still almost no bugs. Not complaining since I assume the FDFs will be showing up soon.
Still almost no bugs. Not complaining since I assume the FDFs will be showing up soon.
Friday Jun 10, 2016 #
9 AM
run/hike 2:45:11 9.38 mi (17:37 / mi) +2623ft 13:55 / mi
ahr:111 max:136 weight:141lbs
At Mt. Tom, starting at the north end, right by 91, took the M&M trail all the way to the south end. Beautiful day but still windy, especially since a lot of the south section of the trail is right along the top of the cliffs --
Down at the south end it has become quite an electronic jungle --
But a good outlook, could see Hartford to the south, Greylock and Mt. Snow to the NW, and Monadnock to the NE.
Decided I didn't need to do the cliffs again. Jogged down the access road (a common training route for hill repeats, though I seem to have not even managed it once), then past the defunct ski area and quarry and eventually back to the M&M and once more over Goat Peak.
Legs were better than expected at the end, had some zip on the last couple of smallish climbs. And jogged (carefully) several of the downhills. But still walking much more than jogging.
A good assortment of birds keeping me entertained, almost all by ear, but one making a very close and very visual visit atop the cliffs was a black vulture. Just curious, or eying a potential meal? Uncommon around here so it was a nice surprise.
Down at the south end it has become quite an electronic jungle --
But a good outlook, could see Hartford to the south, Greylock and Mt. Snow to the NW, and Monadnock to the NE.
Decided I didn't need to do the cliffs again. Jogged down the access road (a common training route for hill repeats, though I seem to have not even managed it once), then past the defunct ski area and quarry and eventually back to the M&M and once more over Goat Peak.
Legs were better than expected at the end, had some zip on the last couple of smallish climbs. And jogged (carefully) several of the downhills. But still walking much more than jogging.
A good assortment of birds keeping me entertained, almost all by ear, but one making a very close and very visual visit atop the cliffs was a black vulture. Just curious, or eying a potential meal? Uncommon around here so it was a nice surprise.
3 PM
Note
Views from the top of Bald Mountain yesterday: Stratton was to the NW, glad I wasn't up there as the top was in the clouds --
Monadnock was in the open, but I'd guess the wind was really ripping on its open summit --
Meanwhile maybe 100 yards from the top of Bald was an old deciduous tree, clearly having grown up with no other trees around. I'd guess 150 years ago Bald Mountain was pretty bald.
Monadnock was in the open, but I'd guess the wind was really ripping on its open summit --
Meanwhile maybe 100 yards from the top of Bald was an old deciduous tree, clearly having grown up with no other trees around. I'd guess 150 years ago Bald Mountain was pretty bald.
5 PM
biking - red bike 28:39 7.69 mi (3:44 / mi) +63ft 3:42 / mi
ahr:119 max:145
A short and easy outing on the flats just before dinner as the winds were calming down.
Thursday Jun 9, 2016 #
10 AM
run/hike 1:05:10 3.58 mi (18:12 / mi) +1327ft 13:28 / mi
ahr:117 max:137 weight:140lbs shoes: pegasus 6
Took a hike up Bald Mountain in Townshend, VT. Some years ago, on an outing up Mt. Wantastiquet in Brattleboro, I'd met a guy also running up. I'd asked him how often he did it. Roughly once a week, he said. And a couple of times a week he ran up a place called Bald Mountain, much closer to where he lived.
I always meant to check it out, but never did until today. And with today being on the cool side, and very very windy, it seemed quite sensible to head out in the elements for a bit.
Worked my way up, just walking, thinking from time to time how impossible it would be to run it. Of course I was younger once, presumably stronger, but it still would have been a challenge. Today the challenge was trying to hear the birds over the roar of the wind and, at least for the first part, the beautiful tumbling stream the trail was following.
Got within sight of the top, 100 yards at most, when the phone rang. Gail. Hmm, wondered what was up. Answered.
"Happy Anniversary!"
Well, she got me this year. :-)
Neither one of us is too good on the memory front, so it's become a game, when June 9 rolls around, to see who remembers first. There are bragging rights for who remembers first, and also bragging rights for knowing but waiting, as long as you are the first to say, because the longer you wait, the more obvious it is that the other person doesn't have a clue.
So today she waited to about 11 am, and she could have waited all day, because it was clear I didn't have a clue.
Back to the hike, decent views from the top, also continuing strong winds, might try to claim it was good character building, except for that to be true the temperature really would have needed to be about 40 degrees colder. As it was, actually rather pleasant.
And then carefully jogged back down almost all the way, Charlie's advice playing over and over in my mind -- look where you are putting your feet. I did. No falls, not even any stumbles. :-)
===========
I brought along all my bike stuff, thinking I might take a modest ride, the appeal of new terrain offsetting the lack of appeal of the winds. It was only when I passed Brattleboro that I realized I had forgotten the bike....
I always meant to check it out, but never did until today. And with today being on the cool side, and very very windy, it seemed quite sensible to head out in the elements for a bit.
Worked my way up, just walking, thinking from time to time how impossible it would be to run it. Of course I was younger once, presumably stronger, but it still would have been a challenge. Today the challenge was trying to hear the birds over the roar of the wind and, at least for the first part, the beautiful tumbling stream the trail was following.
Got within sight of the top, 100 yards at most, when the phone rang. Gail. Hmm, wondered what was up. Answered.
"Happy Anniversary!"
Well, she got me this year. :-)
Neither one of us is too good on the memory front, so it's become a game, when June 9 rolls around, to see who remembers first. There are bragging rights for who remembers first, and also bragging rights for knowing but waiting, as long as you are the first to say, because the longer you wait, the more obvious it is that the other person doesn't have a clue.
So today she waited to about 11 am, and she could have waited all day, because it was clear I didn't have a clue.
Back to the hike, decent views from the top, also continuing strong winds, might try to claim it was good character building, except for that to be true the temperature really would have needed to be about 40 degrees colder. As it was, actually rather pleasant.
And then carefully jogged back down almost all the way, Charlie's advice playing over and over in my mind -- look where you are putting your feet. I did. No falls, not even any stumbles. :-)
===========
I brought along all my bike stuff, thinking I might take a modest ride, the appeal of new terrain offsetting the lack of appeal of the winds. It was only when I passed Brattleboro that I realized I had forgotten the bike....
Wednesday Jun 8, 2016 #
Note
Went down to Mike's to see if there would be a suitable maze this year, but he wasn't around. It does seem like the terrain is shaping up nicely.
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9 AM
biking - red bike 44:53 11.96 mi (3:45 / mi) +300ft 3:40 / mi
ahr:129 max:155 weight:140lbs
Short ride up to Montague. And then spent a little while documenting potholes on our street, in the hope of getting the town to do something about them.
4 PM
run/hike 41:06 2.36 mi (17:26 / mi) +978ft 12:31 / mi
ahr:118 max:132 shoes: pegasus 6
At South Sugarloaf. First time hike up the steep trail, jog slowly down the road, second time hike up the road, jog very slowly and carefully down the trail. Strong NW winds, but the storms were elsewhere.
Tuesday Jun 7, 2016 #
9 AM
biking - red bike 1:48:26 29.29 mi (3:42 / mi) +792ft 3:37 / mi
ahr:131 max:152 weight:140lbs
South down to the Holyoke Range. I'd intended to go around the east part and back through the Notch, would have been another 10 miles, but the legs seemed a little more sluggish than I expected so I only went as far as Bay Road. Just as good, my butt muscles were complaining quite a bit the last 30 minutes.
Nice morning. Supposed to get thunderstorms as the day progresses, hence the relatively early ride.
Nice morning. Supposed to get thunderstorms as the day progresses, hence the relatively early ride.
3 PM
hike 25:51 [2] 0.94 mi (27:30 / mi) +554ft 17:39 / mi
shoes: pegasus 6
No storms to speak of, so visiting another local place I had't been for quite a while -- Bare Mountain, on the west side of the Notch (and the top is just off the south edge of the Earl's Trails map). Just a hike up, admire the view, and go back down. Trail is quite steep and very rocky.
As has been evident for some time, and only becomes more so, I no longer have the zip to get up with any sense of urgency, nor the nerve to come down with a similar sense. 14:10 up, 11:41 down. I think I used to get up in the vicinity of 8 minutes, and once at the end of the Seven Sisters race I got down in not much more than 4. That part of life is long gone. But at least for a little while longer I can still make it.
Legs tired from the bike ride earlier, but that was sort of the point.
As has been evident for some time, and only becomes more so, I no longer have the zip to get up with any sense of urgency, nor the nerve to come down with a similar sense. 14:10 up, 11:41 down. I think I used to get up in the vicinity of 8 minutes, and once at the end of the Seven Sisters race I got down in not much more than 4. That part of life is long gone. But at least for a little while longer I can still make it.
Legs tired from the bike ride earlier, but that was sort of the point.
Monday Jun 6, 2016 #
3 PM
biking - red bike 1:12:49 20.28 mi (3:35 / mi) +543ft 3:30 / mi
ahr:139 max:164 weight:140.5lbs
Old Deerfield - River Road loop. Better than I expected when I started out, though I think the wind was a little more with me than against me. Maybe also helped that i pumped up the tires?
And a nice walk this morning with the Monday ladies. Something between 3 and 4 hours, and the back not really complaining. :-)
And a nice walk this morning with the Monday ladies. Something between 3 and 4 hours, and the back not really complaining. :-)
Sunday Jun 5, 2016 #
hard core 2:00 [3] 0.1 mi (20:00 / mi)
No exercise today, though carrying the tent from the start back up to my car just about croaked me.
For control pick-up, managed to recruit enough others (Ross, Alex, Jon Marsden, Steve Tarry) to get them all so I could leave early and go back to Litchfield and see how Gail was doing -- she'd been sick all night, and all morning as it turned out. Eventually had to deal with the drive home, had to stop several times but by then there wasn't really much more to come up. Miserable doesn't start to describe how she was feeling. :-(
For control pick-up, managed to recruit enough others (Ross, Alex, Jon Marsden, Steve Tarry) to get them all so I could leave early and go back to Litchfield and see how Gail was doing -- she'd been sick all night, and all morning as it turned out. Eventually had to deal with the drive home, had to stop several times but by then there wasn't really much more to come up. Miserable doesn't start to describe how she was feeling. :-(
Note
Brilliant job by Ed and Becky to make the Trials happen, and happen with such style.
Ed keeps coming up with all these new ways to make things even cooler. What's amazing is that they all seem to work. And he seemed to have a smile on his face the whole time.
Becky got everything right in the forest. The Pond Mountain courses were excellent. The sprint was as good as could be done with a campus that offered rather limited possibilities, severe restrictions from the college (of course, we were lucky to be able to use it at all), and summer construction projects that were just getting started and quite literally were changing the map every day. She also managed to recruit her very cool mum and dad for placing and checking controls, putting out water, and doing whatever else needed to be done.
I hope folks that were there appreciated what these two did.
Ed keeps coming up with all these new ways to make things even cooler. What's amazing is that they all seem to work. And he seemed to have a smile on his face the whole time.
Becky got everything right in the forest. The Pond Mountain courses were excellent. The sprint was as good as could be done with a campus that offered rather limited possibilities, severe restrictions from the college (of course, we were lucky to be able to use it at all), and summer construction projects that were just getting started and quite literally were changing the map every day. She also managed to recruit her very cool mum and dad for placing and checking controls, putting out water, and doing whatever else needed to be done.
I hope folks that were there appreciated what these two did.
Saturday Jun 4, 2016 #
Note
It was a long time ago, but Ali really was something. His passing another reminder of those turbulent times.
C • Ali 3
3 PM
orienteering 1:44:19 3.9 mi (26:45 / mi) +630ft 23:12 / mi
ahr:115 max:136
Picking up controls 2-11 (same on blue and red) at Pond Mountain.
Told Gail to meet me at the south end where the AT crosses the road, I'd be about 1:45. Got there in 1:50, not so good, forgot I had to clean up a couple of water stops. Fortunately Becky had left a trash bag at each one, so no need for someone to go back.
Woods are still gorgeous.
Told Gail to meet me at the south end where the AT crosses the road, I'd be about 1:45. Got there in 1:50, not so good, forgot I had to clean up a couple of water stops. Fortunately Becky had left a trash bag at each one, so no need for someone to go back.
Woods are still gorgeous.
Friday Jun 3, 2016 #
Event: Senior Team USA Trials
11 AM
biking - red bike 57:53 15.26 mi (3:48 / mi) +643ft 3:39 / mi
ahr:136 max:153 weight:141lbs
Leverett loop, counter-clockwise, at least took it easy on the ups in the first half. Overcast and humid, but the roads were dry.
And, while I know Phil and Alex will consider this impossible, and thus an outright lie, I have once again cleaned and lubed my chain after riding. Things, even the moving parts, still look pretty shiny. :-)
And, while I know Phil and Alex will consider this impossible, and thus an outright lie, I have once again cleaned and lubed my chain after riding. Things, even the moving parts, still look pretty shiny. :-)
Thursday Jun 2, 2016 #
9 AM
biking - red bike 1:17:15 21.55 mi (3:35 / mi) +198ft 3:33 / mi
ahr:131 max:148 weight:141lbs
No hills today, just steady pedaling down to Hatfield and back. At some point maybe the legs will start to feel a little better? I suppose it would help to get rid of the spare tire around my middle.
3 PM
hike 1:05:34 3.95 mi (16:36 / mi) +594ft 14:32 / mi
ahr:111 max:137 shoes: pegasus 6
Twice around the Mount Warner loop trail, clockwise the first time, counter-c the second. Pretty nice, and a good effort.
Mid-afternoon and now in June, the forest is getting quieter and denser. Count was just 13, of which only 1 was actually seen.
Mid-afternoon and now in June, the forest is getting quieter and denser. Count was just 13, of which only 1 was actually seen.
Wednesday Jun 1, 2016 #
10 AM
biking - red bike 1:39:07 21.79 mi (4:33 / mi) +2165ft 4:09 / mi
ahr:138 max:160 weight:141lbs
Up in the hills. I wanted to visit Hawley Bog, so I did that, and then got out the bike for a loop that was challenging? Stupid? Maybe both?
I'm certainly not used to finishing with a 1,250' climb, and while I never had to get off the bike, the pace was mighty slow. Haven't been doing many hills, and it showed.
Legs felt tired to start, more so at the end. But the back is holding up well. :-)
I'm certainly not used to finishing with a 1,250' climb, and while I never had to get off the bike, the pace was mighty slow. Haven't been doing many hills, and it showed.
Legs felt tired to start, more so at the end. But the back is holding up well. :-)