Training Log Archive: Fanatic

Not very motivated to get out the door, but I did. Easy run to Woods Pond and back. Surprisingly chilly--and I had on windpants and a jacket, too.

I had to take Colette to Logan Airport today, so on my way home, I wanted to do a trail run somewhere--and a little searching showed Wells State Park to be not far from the junction of Route 90 and Route 84--very convenient.

I downloaded a feeble trail map from DCR's website and it showed not a lot of trails, but at least one decent sized loop. When I got there, just as I was ready to start, a hiker returned to his car parked next to mine. So a few quick questions and he guided me to a much better map that I could take, and e gave me some suggestions and directions for loops. It was great advice and I had no problem running the trails, thanks to his help.

The trails are rocky in a few sections, but nothing really bad, and the rest of the trails were very runnable. In fact, I found myself wanting to run faster that I had planned, since they were so nice, and therefore a bit shorter than planned, too.

No problem as it was fairly late in the day, so I stopped at six, had some food and drove home.

C • Wells St. Park 3

A really bad day of orienteering--nothing physical, but surely I didn't have my head screwed on straight. And, truth be told, I haven't done much orienteering, especially in technical terrain as we had today.

First, I was late getting ready and getting on the bus. When I got off the bus, the time was 9:52 a.m., and my start was 10:16, and I had to get there ASAP, so I hustled up the hill, walking only the real steep sections. Made it on time, but I was a bit flustered by it all.

And then, rather that really concentrating on the map and walking to the first control, I tried running and was soon well beyond the control. In fact, I eventually found #2 before I got to 1. A horrible start, which kind of zapped my enthusiasm, to say the least.

But, I did manage to get around the complete course, just not in a decent time.

Middle Brown Y - Splits

Event: 2013 U.S. Individual Championships/Team Trials
 

An easy run from New Lenox Road to Woods Pond and then home. Colette dropped me off in Lenox as she had to go shopping in Pittsfield.

Nice pleasant run as it was all without much traffic and in the shade.

Had to help a semi truck driver, who was headed to Woods Pond, until I flagged him down and told him that there was nothing there to deliver to. A quick check of his GPS, which had sent him that way, showed that he wanted to be on the other side of the Housatonic River. :-)

Walk with Colette to the south of Richmond Mountain Road in Lenox--across the street from where I normally park to do the Monks Pond loop.

I had explored that area a few days ago and mentioned the cairns in the brook that visitors to Kripalu have erected in the brook that drains Monk Pond.

It turns out, as we discovered during the hike, that the land is owned by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council and consists of some old forest with towering pine trees. I had run through the area some years ago, and it is a splendid area, albeit rather small.

I'm thinking of putting on a run in the area, and I would like to include this area, if at all possible as part of the route.

C • Nice photos! When are you ... 2

After dinner walk to Woods Pond and back. The rain had ended and the air was clear and crisp, nice conditions for a walk. Taking it easy for a couple more days before the US Champs at Moreau, although I can only be there on Saturday, as I have to take Colette to Logan on Sunday.

Parked near Woods Pond and ran over to, and then up, Schermerhorn Road, which is by my standards a steep climb. Had to walk a couple of sections, but I eventually got to the overlook, with a great view of Mt. Greylock in the distance.

Ran back down and then veered over to pick up the Gorge Trail and back to my car on the dirt road near Woods Pond.