Training Log Archive: PG

Interesting outing.

I decided I'd go do a run up in the hills, nice trail along the top of a ridge in Colrain, I've done it three or four times. The original plan was to do the whole thing, start at the south end, up to the north end and then add just a little more to get to the Vermont state line, and then back.

But then not long after starting, and the legs were not feeling very spry (as opposed to yesterday, when all the hills felt easy), I decided I'd probably only do part of it, maybe turn around after 30 or 40 minutes. The whole thing would take about 100-110 minutes.

The other reason for scaling back was it was raining and about 40F, and over the years I've just gotten a little more cautious about heading off on these solo runs. I didn't expect to see anyone else out there, and the thought of getting hurt is more often in the back of my mind, and 40 and rain is not a good time to get hurt.

So I ran along, a bit up and a bit down, listening to Tina Fey and Terri Gross, watching out for the frost pockets, and after about 20 minutes got to the foot of Avery Hill. And there were a few signs up of the "No Tresspassing" variety, and a big tree trunk across the trail, but I knew where to go. So I hopped across the tree trunk and around a corner and then it started to climb seriously.

Except right away there was a dirt road, that was new, but it was going where I wanted to go, so up I went, and eventually I was at the top.

And a little confused, it wasn't quite clear where the trail down the north side was. I headed down what I thought might be it, and then it dead-ended, but over to my left I could see another dirt road. So I worked my way through the brush over to it, and then down it pretty steeply, and then it turned and headed down even more steeply off the ridge. Well, that wasn't where I wanted to go.

Chugged back up, got to the top. By now I'd decided that I was quite happy just heading back. The problem was, which way was back?

There was the dirt road I'd just come up, but it was clearly wrong. And I couldn't spot the one I'd come up the first time, though I couldn't remember for sure if it had been dirt road all the way up, maybe the last part had been less distinct (the whole top was logged). Started down one logging track, nope, that wasn't going anywhere, back up to the top. Looked back down where I'd just been, yup, that's where I had gone the first time down from the top, and that was heading north, so I didn't want that way.

So I headed down the opposite way, remnants of a trail though not much recent use, but it felt OK, I thought it was the old trail heading south. And after a bit it hooked up with the main snowmobile trail.

So I followed that for a little while. And it didn't take too long before I said to myself -- Peter, you have definitely not been here today.

At this point I was starting to get a little worried. I was a little chilly, but still pleasantly chilly, but quite perplexed about where I was. And with the heavy overcast there was no help from the sun as to which way I was headed. So I went just a little farther, as it turns out to just south of hill 1145, stopped, had a careful look at my map, and decided, yup, I was headed north.

A quick u-turn, came back to where I'd come off the top, there were more signs there saying the trail was closed, there was also a recently cut trail swinging around the side, and within several minutes I was back at the tree trunk I had hopped over.

And slowly figuring out that there was just one dirt road up to the top, that I had gone up it, then after a short detour gone down it, then gone back up it again. How stupid we are sometimes.

The rest of the run was fine, legs felt a little better, though the ego quite a bit worse.

C • not as much fun 7

Joe was sporting a lush set of whiskers yesterday. He says he's grooming his image for his role as head goat four weeks from now. Seems to me it makes him look about ten years older....

C • summer picnic makeover? 21

C • methane 1

Very pleasant run at Earl's trails with Phil. Relaxed pace, just shooting to do about 45 minutes. Legs felt quite good after they got warmed up.

Event: WCOC Paugussett State Park
 

Warm-up, not enough but better than nothing. Even a few minutes makes a difference.

WCOC local meet at Paugusset, red course, straight-line distance 7.3 km. The course. Note that the green course was the same, excepted it skipped controls 5 and 7.

Not a bad run. Had a little more energy than I expected, meaning I jogged up a few hills that I didn't expect to be able to.

Clean on the first 5, then screwed up the route leaving 5 (didn't look at my compass soon enough and was heading NE instead of NW). A little off at the end of 6-7, a little scratching my head approaching 8. But overall perfectly fine.

Nice day, nice to see friends, including Joe sporting a new set of mostly gray whiskers. Thanks to Rick and Susie DeWitt for making it possible.

My route.

Red - Splits

Time for the weekly Lost and Found report.

Starting weight: 144 (mid-December)
Jan. 1: 142
Jan. 8: 139
Jan. 15: 137
Jan. 22: 136
Jan. 29: 136.5
Feb 5: 136
Feb 12: 134
Feb. 19: 134
Feb. 26: 133
March 5: 133
March 12: 132.5
March 19: 133
March 26: 134
April 2: 135
April 9: 135
Today: 131.5

Mood: :-) Showed some willpower this week. Even though not so much today....

A bit of warm-up along the trail/dirt road just above the river.

And then up Mt. Wantastiquet, just across the Connecticut River from Brattleboro. 24:13 up, including walking one steeper rocky section (from 18:05 to 20:05). Legs didn't feel very zippy, but maybe it's just the nature of the course. But not totally displeased with the time. Slightly displeased with not running all the way, but I had the feeling that wasn't to be. In fact I was a little surprised I made it as far up as I did still running.

Cloudy and cool day, but nice view from the top, the ski trails at Haystack, Mt. Snow, and Stratton were clearly visible.

And then 16:40 down, nice relaxed pace, lots of rocks except for the last few minutes.

And then off to Newport NH for a round of golf with Mike Fritz and a friend of his. Seemed to have gotten colder and windier, about 40F and strong winds. First time out this year. Front nine was not encouraging, back nine was (53-40). Actually surprised I didn't do quite a bit worse.

Nice run along the power line in Gill, perpetually up and down, plus a short excursion on a side trail on the way back. Would have made it to the top of the hill if I'd know how close I was, but it just seemed to keep heading up.

Perfect day.

Usual loop in Greenfield, relaxed pace, feeling the "hot" weather (mid-60s?). Legs not sore anymore, just the usual complaints going uphill.

An enjoyable This American Life, themed "See No Evil," all three segments were interesting. Sure does help the time pass.

Day 4 of 21.

Cool and rainy outside, so on the treadmill. A mile at 6.6 mph to start and finish, and 4 miles at 6 mph and 5% in between. Worked up a good sweat. Time passed rather slowly, but I did what I planned without any thoughts of doing less.

Fresh Air interview about extraterrestial life. OK. But if I remember it correctly, the following was said in relation to the possibility of life on Mars -- There is a lot of methane in the Mars atmosphere, and 90% of the methane on earth is produced by organic sources, so therefore at some point, maybe way in the past, there was probably life on Mars. Is that not wishful thinking (and maybe grant justifying) rather than logic? Or just me being cynical?

C • methane 8

C • methane 5