Training Log Archive: PG

An update from a cousin of mine who really really seems to have her head screwed on straight. Can't help but smile.

C • Wow 2

Stopped by to visit Phil at the hospital. Stayed about an hour but then the doctor/surgeon was due so I headed off. The prognosis is on his page, some good (he'll live), some less good (at some point down the road he will probably have to say good-bye to some of his intestines).

His daughter Nora was there too. She is really cool. I was there for about an hour and the conversation was so easy about all sorts of things. But sorry, guys, but she already has a fellow.

Also measured his training loop, 132 yards as it turned out, pretty close to as advertised.

And also, just between my own two ears, worried. Because when you have a good friend, and they are suffering, it's just what you do.

First corn ride of the season. There are much closer farm stands but they just aren't as good. Very nice tailwind for all but the first mile.

And the trip back, not such a nice headwind for all but the last mile.

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Found out just before I left that Phil is laid up in the hospital. It occurred to me on the ride home that what I was doing was in fact a training outing in honor of him.

Now realize that there are certain requirements to do a proper "Phil training," the principal ones being (1) that there must be pain involved either from the effort, or from various injured body parts, or both, and (2) that there must be some element of stupidity.

Without knowing I was in the process of doing a perfect Phil training. See, there was this slight matter of falling off my bike in the farm stand parking lot...

To the discussion about the merits and demerits of the ED position, I would offer the following:

1. One analysis ought to be about the job -- what is/can/should be in the job description, and what the priorities ought to be. This is an area where there seems to be widely varying opinions and little consensus. That doesn't surprise me. If there were easy answers, we'd probably already be doing those things.

I think you need an ED. At what level (full time or 3/4 time or 1/2 time) and with what duties and priorities, those are tough questions.

2. Another analysis ought to be about the current occupant of the position and his performance in the job. Almost nothing has been said about this, though I think it is of prime importance; of course it can be difficult to discuss because it is by default personal.

My own experience with, and observations of, the current occupant is that he is not the person we need in the job, however the job is defined. Not even close.

3. Nothing (well, almost nothing) ever gets done by talking about it on AP.

I have made my efforts with the powers that be to push for change, with no success. Under the current leadership nothing is going to change.

4. And finally, to all of the wonderful folks who read this log and 15 months ago responded to my suggestion and made significant donations to support the Junior Team, I am distressed to offer you this report card --

-- I became aware in March, 11 months after the roughly 22K of donations were made, that virtually none of it had been spent. Proposals by the Junior Coach had been essentially vetoed by the President and the ED. I'm not aware of any involvement of the Junior Team ESC. Needless to say, I expressed my dismay, and also my view that the money was not donated in order to spend the rest of its days in the bank.

-- In checking this month, now 15 months later, it seems there is still almost no progress. The following was in the minutes of the recent Board meeting in Laramie:

"$22,000 raised by Peter Gagarin will be used to promote junior development over 3 years. The main focus is to use the funds to expand the sport to all and not be reserved for the elites. Funds are available for all disciplines (foot, mtbo, ski, trail). Erin Schirm will travel to facilitate or totally organize training. Glen and Greg Lennon will work on the marketing of this to the clubs. Erin will coordinate with the clubs on what will happen at the training sessions. This initiative is still in the planning stages so clubs should contact Glen Schorr."

-- So, 15 months later (1) things are still in the planning stage (under the leadership of our ED), (2) the original contributions were $21,928 for the Junior Team, by which I and I believe others meant the Junior Foot-O Team, plus $514 for the Junior Ski-O Team, plus $674 for the Senior Foot-O Team, plus $241 undesignated, and (3) funds are being offered for use to all disciplines and it seems for whatever purpose anyone can dream up, which doesn't seem to track with the stated purpose of the donations.

And they can't even get that done.

To all of you I offer my apologies. I thought the marathon fundraiser was a really good thing. But it has come to this...

C • Wow (#4) 26

C • Perhaps needless to say, bu... 1

To Greenfield to pick up a prescription, relaxed pace. A bit of a breeze out of the south.

Northfield - Warwick - Wendell. Nice day, warm but not hot, light breeze from the north. A longer effort with two longer climbs. Not too bad, but was getting weary towards the end, plus (or maybe because of) getting parched. Glad I wasn't going any farther.

Gentle ride with Charlie in his neck of the woods. Exceedingly pleasant.

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