Training Log Archive: PG

Day 4 of hill-climb week.

Was looking at maps for a place to ride and decided that the SW corner of New Hampshire offered some nice possibilities, with Streeter Hill offering a sufficient climb. Made up what seemed like a good loop and off I went.

Turned out to be excellent. Maybe 11 miles dirt, not quite half, including the initial climb up Gulf Road and the climb and descent on Poocham Road. But the Streeter climb was paved and I put out a good effort on it, 12:46, very pleased. I don't think I've gotten any weaker this month.

C • Hill climb week 3

Day 3 of hill-climb week.

Legs pretty trashed, so I almost went with plan B, but after an 18-mile warm-up at a Phil pace (ie. heart rate, not speed), I summoned up my resolve and soft-pedaled up South Sugarloaf. 9:59. And then a couple of miles cool-down and I was all done, plan B saved for another day when I am desperate.

Sugarloaf, for those who may not realize it, has an illustrious history of hosting championship orienteering events, highlighted by the 2011 RollerSki O' Sprint Champs.

I'm not picking these hill climbs just because they have an orienteering connection. It just seems that most hills do. Monday's hill, Mt. Holyoke by the way, also has an orienteering connection, it being the site of the FKT from the top of the ridge to a cornfield on the far side of route 47, roughly 47 seconds, the record held by a certain JJ Cote, launching in almost calm conditions. It is a record not likely to be broken.

C • Hey! 1

Day 2 of hill-climb week.

Up in the hills to the west, starting just past Charlemont. The hill for the day was Whitcomb Hill Road, 1,450 feet in a little less than 3 miles. Was feeling my legs from yesterday so took this one a little easier, though of course it still hurt. But got up it faster than expected, 34:45, so rather pleased.

After the top, Whitcomb summit on Rt. 2, I went maybe 50 yards extra, then up a side road to pay a quick visit to The Rose and Goat, site of one of the higher O' maps in Massachusetts (maybe the highest?), coincidentally also the spot where Ross and Sam got married. Good memories!

The rest of the ride -- well, the car was easy to get to, just down route 2, almost all downhill. But that's not so interesting. So I headed off more or less to the NE, the high road to Monroe Bridge and Readsboro (VT), most of which I'd never been on.

Just fine, until it wasn't. From miles 11 to 14 it just sucked. The first part, uphill, had been recently graded, some mixture of sand and gravel, very loose, terrible traction. Almost lost it a couple of times (meaning my speed was approaching zero despite hard work, the back wheel slipping and sliding and spinning).

Finished with most of the uphill about as I passed the last house. The road got narrow (one lane) and rough, lots of rocks. At some point it turned down, now even rockier. I was close to the point of getting off and walking down, but not quite, just unclipped and went about 5 mph, bouncing from rock to rock, just trying to keep both wheels under me.

Eventually that too ended. But still 20 miles to go. Could have cut out about 3 or 4 miles by going down Kingsley Hill Road, but that wasn't all that appealing either, wasn't sure how steep a hill needs to be before you just go over your handlebars.

The rest was actually all fine. A bit in Vermont, then past the remains of the Yankee Atomic nuclear plant, then past the start of the Monroe Trail Race where I did my Cyclops imitation a few years ago, and then the east entrance to the Hoosac tunnel, and then eventually route 2 and my car.

Pretty beat. But a mostly good and certainly interesting outing.

C • maybe so 3

Day 1 of hill-climb week.

Up to the summit house on Mt. Holyoke, plus a lap around the western part of the range. Pretty much a max effort on the climb (18:38). Did it once last year, 19:17, heart rate was similar so one assumes a similar effort. Not so bad. And would end up, as expected, in about the second percentile of all the folks who have done NCC's climb there over the years. And second percentile is better than first. :-)

C • second 1

Very pleasant and very mellow ride with Walter in the valley, trying to find a few places he hadn't been. Just perfect. Even finished up with watching a bear swim across the Deerfield River.

Ride with Phil up in the hills to the west, start/finish at The Creamery in Cummington, chosen (obviously) for the various possibilities it offered for immediate post-ride refueling.

Very pleasant, also hard work of course, have to try to keep up. But a beautiful day, good company, not much traffic, and some roads I hadn't been on in quite a while.

Hamstring was tender, but didn't notice it much because the biking is so different from running. Don't think I did it any good, but maybe didn't do it much harm.

And afterwards -- chocolate milk and a slice of ham quiche, get those calories in the system. Quads are feeling pretty tired.

Just thought I would try to jog a few steps down the driveway. Felt not too bad. Except a while later my left hamstring (which has been behaving itself during my biking) was complaining.

Had thought I might try the corn maze, but it makes no sense.