Training Log Archive: Fanatic

I started from the October Mountain State Forest Campground, where there is a plowed parking lot, and headed up to the Boulder Trail. That's a good long climb with lots of, yes, boulders and ice as well. Then it was a right-hand turn onto the Tannery Trail, not quite as rough as the Boulder Trail, but with a lot of ice to make up for that. Finally, it was back on the Boulder Trail before dropping down to the Campground.

I wore microspikes which offered great traction, but with the ground completely frozen the spikes led to a lot of ankle twisting, nothing serious, yet still an issue to worry about while I was out there.

C • Boulder trail 3

Counterclockwise loop out to Woods Pond, Crystal Street and Golden Hill Road and then back to the condo.

No warm-up, so I felt terrible for the first two miles. Not pushing the pace at all since I just wanted to get beyond five miles in my new running mode. Mission accomplished.

Cool-down walk on the condo grounds. Doesn't take too long to cool off when it's 15°F out.

Early afternoon walk near Simon's Rock in Great Barrington. I started out with the wind at my back, not by choice, just didn't notice it, but, boy did I notice it on the way back! Wicked cold. Colette is coming back soon!

Back to Simon's Rock, but this time, I opted for the nice warm gym. Did 30 minutes on the track and 20 minutes on the treadmill. And few a exercises in the weight room, too.

After a day of heavy rains and warm temps, I finally realized that it wasn't that bad out there, so I donned some Gore-Tex gear and got out the door. Before too long, it stopped raining and I thought the skies were opening up also, but that didn't last long.

As I was heading downhill on the condo grounds, it seemed rather noisy, as though there were a lot of trucks on East Street, but it was only the sounds coming from Codding Brook as the run-off was rapidly heading to the Housatonic River.

The streets were perfectly clear of snow and ice, so the walking was easier than earlier in the week.

I did the same counter-clockwise loop that I did yesterday, heading north to Woods Pond then south to get back to the condo.

The "excitement" of the day was a transformer exploding with a loud bang and a bright yellow flash; at first I thought it was a gunshot, but thankfully, no. The pace may have picked up a notch though.

Morning walk around the condo grounds--better than sitting down for hours on end.

A bit longer walk in the afternoon since it was so nice weather wise--up to 47°F!

Out to Woods Pond, over to Lenox WTF, then south of Crystal and over to Golden Hill Road before getting back to the condo. Roads were wet, but not slippery, much better footing than recent excursions.

Warm-up walk before running. Headed up Golden Hill.

Continued along Golden Hill, now running, out to Crystal Street, then right over toward Woods Pond and headed back home via Woodland Road. I did a bit better in the not overdressing department, but I was still pretty wet at the end.

Cool-down walk on the condo grounds.

Warm-up before doing some running. Headed out toward Woods Pond. Fairly warm, 31°F and not much wind; I was overdressed, for sure.

Continued on to the end of Woods Pond and over the bridge onto Crystal Street, but running now. The footing was a bit sloppy near the pond, not enough traffic to melt all the snow.

Then over to Golden Hill Road and back to the condo; I had to walk one steep hill, definitely not in running shape.

Cool-down walk on the condo grounds.