Training Log Archive: PG

Trails near Eaglebrook, including a section of single-track I hadn't been on before. Gentle effort.

C • Eaglebrook 3

Event: WCOC - Ansonia Nature Center
 

Is there any CSU interest in the relay champs? Time to stir the pot a little? I hadn't considered going, but life is short and now that I'm training....

Of course, I may break down any day now.

WCOC local meet at Ansonia. This one gets top marks across the board:

-- The woods are wonderful, lovely for running, interesting topography.

-- Excellent course by Niels Lyng-Olsen. Not just the design, but also the selection of control sites and the precise spots the controls were placed. Just perfect.

-- And I had a good run, no mistakes of any significance (i.e. more than 15 seconds), put out a good effort, and the legs had some energy. Not that I still didn't walk a lot, but I also ran more and better than expected. A result of two weeks of training? What if I keep it up for another couple of weeks?

Standing around at the finish, Joe came over, declaring rather confidently that I had beaten him on at most one split, and maybe none. No doubt in his mind. Except when we looked at the actual numbers, I had taken four splits, and tied another. Sure sounds like a victory to me, though his total time, insignificant as that may be, was 7 or 8 minutes faster. I believe he still runs up hills.

So really nice day. And no doubt that Ansonia is better than even the best parts of Harriman, and way better than the Harriman average.

Blue - Splits

Looking for vernal pools southeast of Lithia Springs. Found a couple, but not the right one.

Actually it was quite good fun. Took a copy of the old map showing bike trails and kept track of where I was going. Checked out one unmapped woods road, plus a bit more off trail. Woods were very nice in places. Will have to do some more exploring.

Up Mt. Toby from the gate (17:17 up the phone line), back via the jeep road. Decent effort going up, ran a little here and there. Rain on and off and very humid.

Woods roads on the Montague plain. Absolutely flat other than a few mud holes and some roots, which suited me just fine, given that I'd already had my morning walk.

One of these days I need to start my vernal pond search.

Old woods roads on the west side of Quabbin. Haven't been there for a few years. A nice place to run, used to come here during hunting season especially. The woods look scruffier than ever, a lot less appealing than I remember them 20 or 30 years ago, when I might just head off through the terrain. Combination of gypsy moth damage to the oaks and the culling of the deer herd?

Anyway, a pleasant enough run while doing it, and very fine when I was done. Felt good to be back doing some running again.