Training Log Archive: ernst

Bear Brook Trail Marathon. My goal was to properly fuel during the race with Nuun electrolyte tablets and with Hammergel. There were 5 water/food stops roughly 5 miles spaced apart. I used 6 tablets for the total of the 6 segments drinking about 12 oz each time. I had 4 gels and ate 6 PB and Jam mini breads plus some pretzels and orange slices , all between stops 2 to 5. Another goal was to go a bit easier in the first half compared to my two previous attempts. In both I had terrible cramping during the last third of the race - same also in road marathons and in recent Billygoats and the one Hudson Highlander I did. I had sort of resigned to this dilemma attributing it to age. Well I was wrong! My very serious fueling and careful pacing this time worked!

No cramps whatsoever! No real suffering. In fact I was flying down Big Bear trail and up and over Catamount hill the second time. All this during the critical last third of the race! I managed to pass 4 guys from a group of 8 which I was part of as we all converged not finding the course - a couple of critical junctions that were not properly marked, or else the minflags had been removed by kids or other spoilers who mulled around near the campground. With prior knowledge from last year, I sort of knew where the course was going, so I spent an extra mile trying to find the XC trail beginning at the campground - it worked on the third attempt. Meanwhile the group of 8 just ran down the road, eventually locating the trail which runs parallel. Being a mile (11 + minutes) behind, I really wanted to try to catch the group. Well I got half of them, which meant I had to cruise. And I did, and it felt good!

Also worth mentioning a silly mistake at the Cascades at mile 2+: some gels fell out of my fanny, so I had to go back and fetch them. As I crossed the bridge, I rearranged my fanny and totally missed the right turn off and added a mile going left, which was all flagged because it was our return route. Grrr! A couple of runners also joined me - they also missed the turn off, which BTW was clearly marked. So after correcting the mistake I was at the end of the pack joined by a fellow Chris from Portsmouth, who missed the start by 12 minutes . He pushed ahead a bit faster than I wanted to go, so I let him. He seemed to be my age. In the end he was one of the guys that I passed flying down Catamount Hill 1 mile before the finish. So I slowly worked my way up runner by runner. That was actually fun, chatting a bit while passing people.

Apart from all the route searching, it was a very pleasant race! The weather was cool for July (57 at start, 73 at finish, a but muggy). I am only moderately sore - nothing hurts seriously. The way it should be!

C • Bravo, Ernst! 5

To and from the pumphouse, our "private" swimming hole. Today is tapering-off day before tomorrow's marathon.

Easy swim w. Nancy.

Running to work to a quick meeting at Gregg Hall, hence a tad shorter than to Kingsbury.

Running home in time for baby sitting. Most direct way via UNH Police through UNH.

Evening run around Spruce Hole. Some "orienteering":i.e. exploring additional trail possibilities for skiing. I also tried to follow the original trail to the marshy field below Spruce Wood. About 25 years ago I occasionally crossed here on and old beaver dam. This is all overgrown now.

Heard an interesting show on Maine Public Radio ("MainCalling) about deciphering the landscape inferring past times (archeology and such).
Mappers/field checkers might especially be interested in this:
https://cpa.ds.npr.org/mpbn/audio/2018/07/20180710...

Run to work. Hot (88), but only moderately humid, so not too bad.

Running home with 3 hill loops thrown in; including bottom to top of my hill at medium tempo. Hot at the beginning (after an afternoon in air conditioning) but then some cooling due to thunderstorms rumbling west of here. Good effort.

A gentle jog on S trails to Surrey, to Foggs to Spruce Hole. Hot (86) but dry, thus pleasant in the shade. Checked out and ate some blueberries on the way out.

"Mountain running" at Parker Mt. From Strafford town forest up to top, then down the N side and E to road and continued down to the "tooth pond". Ended up doing some orienteering (with enhanced USGS map) off trail trying to find certain connectors. Spent about 15 minutes fighting some junky woods, otherwise rather pleasant on the Lovejoy's trails, and by their lovely cabin. Then back up the top to Parker on the usual hiking trail, and descent to parking. Pleasantly warm (82) but dry conditions. I need to do this more often. Perhaps next year I will be more serious and perhaps attend the "local" mountain trail races.

A quick swim at Wiswall before dinner. Bridge was packed with youngsters. Water was refreshingly cold.