Training Log Archive: PG

From Dave's (NW of the Norwottuck map, down at the bottom of the ridge), up to the notch via the old missile site, then a loop on the O' map, out on the north side and back on the south. Tired, didn't sleep well last night, but hung in there.

Still a lot of snow, though there are some bare spots on the south side. Need some warm rain in the next 3 weeks. Don't know if we've ever had snow for the Billygoat....

C • Dave's 2

Warm-up.

St. Patrick's 10K race in Holyoke, field of about 2,000. Good hard effort. Goal was to do 42 or better. Legs felt decent, not great, hadn't taken a day off beore the race like I normally do, since O' season is coming and there will be lots of days where the legs are not fresh and you still need to race. Overall very pleased, the winter's training has made a difference.

Split's: 6:33 (flat), 7:07 (up), 7:00 (up), 7:07 (up), 5:56 (seriously down), 6:32 (down, up, down), 1:14 (flat). Best on the course in the past was 38:00 at age 50 (when I won $125 for first in the 50+), have only run it 2 or 3 times. Pretty sure there were at least couple 60+ ahead of me this time.

Cool-down.

Trails on Greenfield ridge, more ice and bare ground, back to how things were a month ago before winter part 2 appeared. Mid 40s, won't be long (maybe in Cincinnati?) before it is too hot.

A strange run. Thought I would explore Satan's Kingdom north of Martinadale Rd in Bernardston since I'd heard there were a bunch of snowmobile trails there. Parked down by Rt. 10, took about 15 minutes to get up to the end of the road, part of it very muddy, then the trail going from there was pretty crappy, and after about 20 minutes I decided I just wasn't into it and I might as well head back. Stop for a bit. Decided I should explore a barely used snowmobile trail. It soon headed up a steep hill, didn't feel like doing that. Backtracked a bit, went off in another direction on another barely used trail. It soon looked to be heading seriously uphill. Didn't feel like doing that. Talked myself into at least going the 100 meters up to where the hill got steep, and lo and behold, there's a main snowmobile trail cutting across.

No idea where it goes, but have to check it out, heading west since it seems more likely I can conjure up a loop that way. It snakes through some dark hemlock forest and the footing is firm and perfect and my mood is just fine. Down across a stream, up a hillside, out into a sloping field and now I'm sinking in 6 inches on every step and my mood is deteriorating. Reach Huckle Hill Road, take a left, cruise down the dirt road for a while, take a left just before the golf course, look to my right and there's another main trail running parallel to the road. Hop on it, very cool again, very good footing, until it comes out in the valley bottom, fully exposed to the sun, and I'm back to sinking in 6 inches. So I get back to the road as soon as I can and finish the run there, almost doing the hour I set out to do.

Some days you just don't have it, but I'm glad I perservered.

C • 1

Usual foot trails on Greenfield ridge, included an extra couple of short (100' climb, more or less), steep hills that left me gasping. Another nice day, low 40s, a steady breeze coming back along the top of the ridge that almost felt refreshing (rather than cold).

Foot trails on Greenfield ridge. Nice day, sunny and warm (40), footing varied from pretty good to sloppy/slushy/slippery. No complaints. If the warm weather keeps up I'll be looking for patches of bare ground in a few days, though it may be quite a while before the snow is gone on the north slopes.

Snowmobile trails in north of Rt. 2 in Gill. Good to real good conditions, a little soft/slushy because of the mild weather (sunny, 40 degress). Out and back to Main Road plus regular loop. Felt tired at the start but better after a few minutes and worked most of the hills. A few more days like today will put a dent in the snow, at least on the south slopes.