Training Log Archive: AliC

Event: BAOC Sierra Ski-O Week
 

Now enroute to Pasadena, CA- more conferencing, less snow. =(

C • being home 6

Finally, a *real* ski! Went up to Northfield. Didn't have tons of time, but ran into Kelsey Allen, and old NH ski friend heading out just as I got there. We warned up together, caught up. She's now living in Colrain, working on a farm in Greenfield, so times are pretty quiet in the winter. She is doing Craftsbury Marathon tomorrow, so she didn't want to join me for my intervals. But I told her about the whole orienteering thing, and she seems keen to come out and give it a try sometime this spring, woo!

Did 3 x 5 minutes uphill. Northfield is good for uphill intervals, doesn't run out at all =)

C • Northfield 2

To work on the broken skis. Unfortunately, I'm living on West Coast time, which means I was way late for prime ski-into-work conditions, most of the snow was already taken off the paths by the time I got there. Still, some good skiing along University Drive, then some sketchy skiing on campus before I gave up.

Jog home from work with computer on back and skis + poles in hands, only slightly awkward. Dropped all that off after 13 min and went up and down Amity Hill twice.

Crazy ski with Alex. Decided 5.30 was a great time to go ski, ski area closed by then, so we went off to some snowmobile track in the woods Alex heard about. We drove around the recommended parking lot a bit trying to track it down, then started off some field and found it, whoop!

Skiing mostly worked, and was probably real good training for ski-o. We were classicing, but without super kick, so lotsa arms and lotsa awkward narrow-trail herring bone. We did the first of what were supposed to be at least three 10 min threshold intervals, but attempting to go threshold was a bit ridiculous in the dark on that trail.... so gave up after one and had a nice ski for a bit.

Then, downhill. Eep! Dark and steep enough to get speed and narrow and uneven trail. Perfect recipe. I had a great fall after trying to lose some speed grabbing onto a tree, headlamp flew dramatically off into the woods. Alex had a good one later on, will both have bruises for sure. Turns out, the tobaggoning-on-your-bum method of narrow trail decent is not at all bad. Don't loose too much speed, more or less in control, have to work on getting up quick at the other end!

To Peter and Gail's after for dinner, a good half hour late due to adventure, but amazing to come in the door into warmth and fantastic-smelling foods!

C • nice 8

Woo! Bit of new snow, meant I could ski on the sidewalks with the sub-rock skis (the ones I broke during the Walker-Jospé 24h ski last spring). Went down Amity Hill (wee!) then along University Drive to the bike path- snowmobile groomed on one side, then shoveled for walking/biking on the other, perfect!!! Super pleased I could just ski out my front door!

The broken ski is a bit shaky (it's snapped in two, but not apart, the base is holding it together I think), does fine for just double-poling. DP itself felt fine, bit of an elbow complaint towards the end, but not bad.

Was warm and in a good mood when I came back, so unburried my car from the past 2 weeks- interesting strata of snow and ice.

Jog into work, was otherwise going to be late for astro-ph coffee!

Slept in until 9.20! Jeez jetlag.... less daylight, knew it would be really busy at work, so decided to ski commute into work as my only exercise op. Not the most effective in the end because broke through the snow continuously along University Drive, but then along a soccer field which had iced over more was better fun! Just in time to get there for morning coffee...