Training Log Archive: PG

Leverett loop clockwise. Nice conditions, not near as hot, maybe upper 70s, and hardly any wind. Ended up putting out an increasingly hard effort, not that that was intended. Some things just happen. And I suppose that some days of almost no effort might leave you with a little more zip when you eventually decide to try and use it.

That plus the sharpening workout yesterday evening... :-)

C • bike 2

At first I thought I would just ignore it for the time being, but would try to remember to set traps before going to bed. But the mouse ran across in front of me (and my bare feet) once too often as I sat watching the tube (a replay of Germany-France). Had to do something.

I was still trying to formulate a plan when it scooted out into the kitchen, where Gail was hard at work. By then I had armed myself with a magazine of moderate substance, and I was right on its tail, figuratively, pausing just a moment to alert Gail -- "Mouse!"

She hopped a bit but neither screamed nor fainted, but rather was very quick at answering my request for another weapon, in this case one of my treasured O' awards, a red yardstick from CNYO-land, just perfect for measuring snow depths.

Now doubly armed, I had the mouse cornered in the back of the kitchen, seemingly in control, except I expected at any moment it would disappear into some hole or shoot under the fridge. But it didn't.

And so I commenced my version of W's (and Rummy's) "Shock and Awe." Many swings with both weapons, mostly misses, but I think the poor thing was quite terrified and thus mostly frozen in its tracks. At some point contact was made, and then more contact, and then quickly it was over, disposal in the trash which conveniently goes out in the morning.

And as to damage to yours truly, I avoided the cardiac that Gail feared might be imminent, though my right shoulder, somewhat sore of late, seemed not to have appreciated the sudden and violent exercise, and the yardstick, the result of one errant blow that connected only with the oven, is now a mere 33".

No time to strap on the HR monitor, so no data, but the pump was ticking along pretty speedily... :-)

C • combat 7

Warm, humid, bad air, so a short ride just to sweat a little. And a couple of trips up nearby Claybrook Road. It's a nice little climb, might have to try to do it more often. I think it averages about 7%, up to something like 12-14% at the steepest.

I was thinking some about why I'm doing the biking. Partly, I don't feel like running. Partly, I really do feel better when I exercise regularly. And partly, being in better shape means there is the possibility for an occasional adventure.

But there is also no need to put out regular hard efforts. Sometimes they are fun, a test of how you are doing. More often they are just hard. I think sometimes I would be better off leaving the watch at home, just go out, at some point come back. But I doubt that will happen.

There are still a few things of a physical nature that I'd like to do this year. None of them are competitive. And none of them involve orienteering.

C • As you get older, it's actu... 2

Over to Whately on a hot afternoon, 90ish.

Tried as hard as I could but I still can't put out as little effort as Phil does. Is that why his tendons are bothering him, because he rarely does any worthwhile training? :-)

Gentle ride up the river and back. Getting warm and humid, almost no wind. Heart rate was so low you would have thought it was Phil riding.

C • thought it was Phil 2

Wanted a change of scenery so I started in Bernardston, then to Northfield, Hinsdale (NH), Brattleboro (VT) and back to Bernardston. Nice loop, good roads, not much traffic. And the only hills are climbing up out of Brattleboro, and they're not long.

Started easy, slowly put out a little more effort, testing the knees in particular. Seemed to be OK. So a very pleasant outing.

And rode for a while in my 50-11 because it was feeling unappreciated.

Very gentle ride up the river and back. Been taking a few days off because it seemed like a reasonable thing to do, give a few aches a chance to calm down.

Was in Litchfield a couple of days dealing with things there. With a little luck everything there will be wrapped up in 4 weeks, but in the meantime I still have a few trips more to do.