Training Log Archive: PG

On Pocumtuck Ridge, up and down the jeep road up to the cell towers. Walk/jog up, jog down. Only moderately unpleasant (I think that's a positive statement).

Good NW breeze. Three ravens looked like they were having fun.

In Middlebury, VT, for the Kelly Brush ride, third year I've done it. Did 50 miles two years ago, 100 last year, had been thinking/planning for 100 again this year. But then Gail got interested in coming to do the 25, and it just made a lot more sense to do the 50.

And just as glad I did. Last year the weather was perfect, coolish, low humidity, virtually no wind. This year it wasn't real hot, but the humidity was high, and the wind was definitely not my friend. Well, maybe it was for the first 20-25 miles, essentially dead calm again. But then it slowly picked up, as expected, out of the S or SE.

We probably had a touch of a tailwind from 25-29, heading north, but then the course turned SE and then S for the rest of the way. And over the last 20 miles it picked up from just a little, to a little more, to quite a bit more, and then some. So the last part was not easy.

But you just keep your head down and keep working. Just a bit harder than either expected or hoped for.

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Nice trip though. Went up Friday afternoon, had dinner with the various cousins at Kelly's parents home, just really pleasant. Getting to know some fine relatives that I was mostly unaware until quite recently, has been a nice surprise.

And the ride will raise something in excess of 400K to be used to fund special equipment for people with spinal cord injuries so they can keep on doing sports.

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Photo of Gail and Kelly and Kelly's daughter, born in May I think. Yup, a kid, I hadn't though it was possible. And Kelly is getting back in shape, rode her hand-cycle over a hilly 20-mile route, no complaints. She's got some strong arms.

Corn ride. As usual, working harder on the ups, and as usual, pretty feeble on the ups.

A short ride, but it included up and down Mt. Holyoke. Been both wanting to try the climb for a while and also dreading it, not totally sure I could make it up, so just putting it off. But today I was nearby and had the bike in the car so why not.

Made it up with a little to spare, but definitely hard work.

Whately - South Deerfield, breeze from the NE (unusual direction, due to storm off the coast, I think). Just a few more miles.

Time for a longer ride up in the hills to the west -- Conway, Ashfield, Goshen, Williamsburg, Whately. Rather windy, mostly from the NE but variable. Had a little help on the long climb to Ashfield and then a fine tailwind going south on 112, but the last dozen miles home from Haydenville were pretty much right into it.

Kept as mellow a pace as possible most of the way, but working harder than I wanted at the end. Still, was nice climbing without feeling in any hurry.

And could occupy the mind with thoughts about the corn maze. :-)