Training Log Archive: jfindlay

Steady run at H's Woods on 1 hour loop. Time=58:49, climb=665'.

Strength / flexibility. Still fried from yesterday's and Sunday's exertions plus all the catchup gardening I've been doing but felt good to stretch for awhile and do some gentle weight lifting.

MTB on E'town trails. Total climb= 1359'.

2 x old Flatlander Ext. loop at van Hoevenberg, 1.5 m. per loop
1 = 14:50, av HR = 145
2 - 15:06, av HR = 152
First time doing this loop for a workout (on foot) for many years. Time is 1-2 minutes slower than it used to be but HR was within threshold zone which I'd aimed for and relatively comfortable running until last 1/2 of #2, also what I'd aimed for. Need more intensive work for a longer duration to get ready for the hills (on skis) this winter!

MTB on mostly single tracks at van Hoevenberg. Very wet from yesterday's downpours but good practice to avoid skidding out on the roots and rocks.

Easy run in H's Woods

Flexibility / strength

MTB at Hardy Road trails. Regular route took a little longer today - first time on these hills for over 6 weeks and I had to walk up one of the steeper climbs for the first time ever. I blame it on the more exposed roots/rocks but it's more likely due to some loss of fitness!

Strength / flexibility

60 minute steady run on my regular one hour course at H's Woods - wanted to see how far I could get before hip began to hurt. Felt a little niggle around 20 minutes and by the end there was a slightly more pronounced niggle but nothing to slow down or walk for so I was really happy. First sustained run for many weeks.

Flexibility / strength.

MTB on Elizabethtown trails. Total climb = 1124'. Started at north-eastern edge of Cobble Hill network where a couple of new community buildings are being constructed at the far end of the golf course. Took the new, well-constructed single track trail up to the older part of the network, rode those trails and then crossed the highway to the Blueberry Hills network. Seemed a little bumpier than the last time I rode there in the spring, especially on Blue Pot at the top. It probably is bumpier (and not all in my imagination) due to greater use / erosion but I also probably notice it more from not having ridden single track trails for the past 6 weeks. Felt pretty stiff and banged up but it was fun and a great workout - great to have new trails to ride too!

Easy skate on upper Bear Cub, back and forth for an hour. 80% no poles - was pretty tentative because pole strap crosses wrist right over surgery site but ended up not fastening the strap so it moved higher up on my hand with no pressure on the repair site and that worked fine. Very happy to see that glide phase was longer and much stronger than when last on r skis after working on wobble board for past 6 weeks - able to commit full weight onto each ski with minimal edging so will keep up with WB to strengthen ankles and increase flexibility.

MTB at Craigwood - so great to be back mt biking on single track trails. They've done some trail work since I last rode there 6 wks ago - some inconvenient rocks are gone and some bad root sections have been filled - a real bonus!

Strength / flexibiity

Run in H's Woods. Time to start testing my hip with more distance / intensity so tried a 1.2 mile climb - time 12:28. Normally would do 2 reps but didn't want to push it, so took a jaunt around Rocky Knob to make up 1 hour. Felt fine on the climb - same time as in May so at least I haven't lost any fitness over the past few weeks with hand/ hip issues. And great news from the surgeon - my tendons are healed well enough to remove the tape and resume normal activities including mt biking and roller skiing! So that takes the pressure off of having to get all my cardio fitness through running and should let my hip heal even faster. Hand mobility is greatly restricted after the surgery and being taped up for 6 weeks. I can't even hold a map at this point but have lots of exercises from the physio to get working on and hopefully will start gaining flexibility soon.

Strength / flexibility

Easy MTB ride on River Rd and up Bear Cub via JB Farm trail. Easy effort but all the hills raise the intensity to a 3 ...

Easy trip from H;s Woods over to HH and back. Hip is getting much better and I was able to jog / bound up climbs most of the way.

Strength / flexibility

MTB on van Ho ski trails. Hermit thrushes all gone and trees turning colour ...

Nice walk on JB Farm trails.

MTB on roads; 2 x 2 long (10 min) climbs

5 x Switchback trail at H's Woods. Hip definitely on the mend but still needs babying.

Strength / flexibility

On MTB, River Road/ Bear Cub Road route, 36 km.

Nice hike/jog from H's Woods over to Heaven Hill and back. Hip good - didn't feel anything until around 45 minutes - big improvement!

Strength / flexibility

Easy MTBing on ski trails at van Hoevenberg. Good skills practice as I rode 80% of time with one hand on handlebars to avoid injury to recently repaired tendons on the other. A little tricky on downhills so walked the steeper/longer ones. Slow going but too dangerous on the roads around here on a summer weekend and it was great to be back in the woods on a bike. On one downhill enjoyed a lovely chorus of hermit thrushes, probably seeking travel mates, as they'll be gone in a day or two until next June ...

Nice hike starting at John Brown Farm - first time back on those trails for many years. Big improvements - trail network on the JB property greatly expanded, trails smooth and wide with a thick layer of woodchips. Wandered off the network up to the Cornell experimental potato fields, no longer being cultivated but still providing great views. Logging operations have really thinned out portions of the forest. Brought back so many great memories of when I'd run with David / friends / family for miles / hours and would bushwhack all through that area before the JB, Heaven Hill and H's Woods trails were built, when we had to park somewhere along Bear Cub Road and would try to make it through the potato fields without being chased off. How times have changed - as have our bodies!

Flexibility/ strength - improvising exercises to keep upper body active while hand is immobile.

Road biking on mountain bike. 2 x 3 long climbs - Rte 73, John Brown Road, Bear Cub Road. Total climb 1532'; 35 km.

Jog/hike Henry's Woods. Hip not bad but will continue to take it easy in an effort to heal it completely. Forgot to note yesterday that signs of autumn noticed on upper Bear Cub with several trees already turning colour!

Strength / flexibility exercises

Finally back to outside biking - on my mt bike and dodging vehicles on Rte 73 but still great to be out on a beautiful morning. Rode into town, along River Road and back and then up Bear Cub and back, about 35 km. The 2 km hill back up to our place was a real slog with the wide tires but a great resistance workout and I'm not complaining!