Training Log Archive: CharlieIn the 28 days ending Feb 28, 2011:
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Monday Feb 28, 2011 #
6 AM
Rowing Machine 9:02 [3] 2.0 km (4:31 / km)
rhr:56 slept:8.5 weight:162lbs
warmup for a 2K time trial. Mostly slow and easy, with 4 intervals at about a 2:02 pace for 20 strokes each.
Rowing Machine 8:01 [5] 2.0 km (4:01 / km)
time trial. Planned on starting at 2:04 to 2:05, but first several strokes were in the 1:57 to 1:58 range and not that uncomfortable, so went with it.
Total time was 8:01.4, compared to my guess of 8:15, so pretty good. Splits were 159.1, 202.1, 201.3, 158.8.
Left hand quite sore at the end, so I will watch that. Glove wouldn't have helped, it was more muscular strain than anything else.
Total time was 8:01.4, compared to my guess of 8:15, so pretty good. Splits were 159.1, 202.1, 201.3, 158.8.
Left hand quite sore at the end, so I will watch that. Glove wouldn't have helped, it was more muscular strain than anything else.
9 AM
cycling 8:00 [3]
warming up . . .
Gym 15:00 [3]
workout today was hang power snatches, nominally 5 sets of 3. I've never done snatches before, and somewhat intimidated by the potential for hurting myself with a fairly explosive movement, but doing it from a hang was much less intimidating than going from the floor.
Ended up with 5 sets of 3 and one last one of 2.
35-40-45-50-60-75
Last set was a little insecure, so stopped at 2.
then a set of pullups and a set of dips and back in.
Ended up with 5 sets of 3 and one last one of 2.
35-40-45-50-60-75
Last set was a little insecure, so stopped at 2.
then a set of pullups and a set of dips and back in.
Sunday Feb 27, 2011 #
8 AM
Hike 2:15:00 [3] 6.5 mi (20:46 / mi)
slept:7.0 weight:162lbs shoes: gel kayanos - old
on snowmobile trails and 2" of new snow at Peoples, with Rhonda and Sassy.
Beaver Brook starting to run.
Rhonda and Sassy on the bridge over Beaver Brook
Beaver Brook starting to run.
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| From Winter 2011 |
Rhonda and Sassy on the bridge over Beaver Brook
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| From Winter 2011 |
12 PM
cycling 10:00 [3]
warmup . . .
Gym 16:30 [5]
8 exercises, 30 reps each:
20" box jumps
jump pullups
push presses, 25 lb dumbbells
walking lunges
KB swings 35lb
back ext
situps
ball throws, 6 kg medicine ball
very hard
20" box jumps
jump pullups
push presses, 25 lb dumbbells
walking lunges
KB swings 35lb
back ext
situps
ball throws, 6 kg medicine ball
very hard
Saturday Feb 26, 2011 #
9 AM
Hike (run/walk) 1:53:39 7.06 mi (16:06 / mi) +325m 14:05 / mi
ahr:109 max:150 rhr:54 slept:6.0 weight:163lbs shoes: 2010 NB MT840
with Rhonda and Sassy at Peoples SF. First hour or so mostly walking, last 45 minutes mostly jogging.
4 PM
Gym 15:00 [3]
no energy for a strenuous session, but got out to the gym for some back extensions, situps, pullups, etc.
Friday Feb 25, 2011 #
9 AM
Rowing Machine 8:35 [3] 2.0 km (4:18 / km)
weight:162.5lbs
warm up out in the gym
Gym 15:00 [5]
workout we did a week or so ago - 5 sets of 4 exercises with gradually increasing dumbbells:
weights: 122, 15s, 20s, 25s, 30s
exercises: deadlifts, hang cleans, push presses, squats.
only the squats are really hard. Hardest part about the squats is balance. Hard to keep my weight back as weight increases.
4:11, which was a bit faster than last time
then some back extensions, situps and pullups.
weights: 122, 15s, 20s, 25s, 30s
exercises: deadlifts, hang cleans, push presses, squats.
only the squats are really hard. Hardest part about the squats is balance. Hard to keep my weight back as weight increases.
4:11, which was a bit faster than last time
then some back extensions, situps and pullups.
Thursday Feb 24, 2011 #
8 AM
Running 49:07 5.05 mi (9:44 / mi) +33m 9:32 / mi
ahr:142 max:170 weight:162lbs shoes: gel kayanos - old
with Rhonda on E. River Rd. 14F, sunny and pleasant at home, but always seems colder at the river, damp and shady. Rhonda pushing the pace at the end. Hamstring acting up a bit the last mile.
11 AM
Rowing Machine 4:40 [3] 1.0 km (4:40 / km)
was going to row 5k before lunch, but phone rang, and missed my chance
1 PM
Hike 1:00:00 [3] 3.8 mi (15:47 / mi)
shoes: 2010 NB MT840
on snowmobile trails at Peoples Forest, with Rhonda, Sassy and Kahtoolas.
Wednesday Feb 23, 2011 #
4 PM
Snowshoe 30:00 [3] 1.35 mi (22:13 / mi)
weight:162lbs
dog loop with Sassy. Cooling down again, but today was a particularly warm day and the snow is softening and diminishing.
Tuesday Feb 22, 2011 #
8 AM
Snowshoe 30:00 [3]
weight:162lbs
dog loop with Rhonda and Sassy. 6F, but sunny and not windy, so pretty pleasant.
12 PM
Hike 1:28:27 [2] 5.25 mi (16:51 / mi) +232m 14:49 / mi
shoes: 2010 NB MT840
with Rhonda and Sassy at Peoples Forest, on snowmobile tracks. We wore microspikes. Not sure we needed them. Beautiful sunny day. Rhonda was pushing the pace toward the end. Hamstring a little tender. No running today and probably none tomorrow.
Monday Feb 21, 2011 #
1 PM
Snowshoe 31:00 [3] 1.35 mi (22:58 / mi)
weight:161.5lbs
2-3" of new snow. dog loop with Sassy. Pleasant, sun out.
3 PM
Running (treadmill) 25:20 [3] 3.0 mi (8:27 / mi)
a little hamstring twinge around 2 miles, should have stopped. Kind of tender now.
Hike (treadmill) 7:45 [3] 0.5 mi (15:30 / mi)
cooling down
Gym 3:00 [3]
workout was supposed to be as many rounds as possible of 5 pullups, 10 pushups, 15 squats in 20 minutes. Approached with trepidation, as any of these could go wrong right now. Turns out it was the pushups. 2nd set I felt a strain in the upper R triceps, so backed off after that. So 3 rounds of pullups, 2 of each of the others.
Sunday Feb 20, 2011 #
7 AM
Running 56:58 5.19 mi (10:58 / mi) +217m 9:43 / mi
ahr:145 max:159 weight:163lbs shoes: 2010 NB MT840
on snowmobile tracks at Peoples Forest with Rhonda and Sassy. 4F when we left the house, and substantial wind chill along the ridge. Most of the route we walked yesterday, although we skipped one of the windier parts. Microspikes.
10 AM
cycling 10:00 [3] 2.0 mi (5:00 / mi)
a little warmup . . .
Gym 14:34 [4]
workout of our own device: 3 rounds for time, 10 reps each, 6 exercises:
situps
pullups
95 lb deadlifts
50 lb overhead press
back extension
KB swings
pretty much 3 were easy (KB, OH Press, situps), 3 hard (PU, DL, BExt)
situps
pullups
95 lb deadlifts
50 lb overhead press
back extension
KB swings
pretty much 3 were easy (KB, OH Press, situps), 3 hard (PU, DL, BExt)
1 PM
Snowshoe 25:00 [3] 1.1 mi (22:44 / mi)
shoes: Dion 121 snowshoes
most of the dog loop, with Rhonda and Sassy. Snow quite firm most places, but soft in the sun.
Saturday Feb 19, 2011 #
9 AM
Hike 1:40:00 [3] 6.25 mi (16:00 / mi)
weight:162.5lbs shoes: 2010 NB MT840
with Rhonda and Sassy on snowmobile tracks in Peoples State Forest. We wore microspikes, but probably would have been fine without. Pretty cold and windy. Quite a change from yesterday.
Friday Feb 18, 2011 #
1 PM
Running (treadmill) 8:30 [3] 1.0 mi (8:30 / mi)
weight:162lbs
jogging to warm up . . .
Gym 13:14 [5]
30 reps each, 8 exercises. I used to do this back in '08 before my shoulder operation. It used to be a bit easier, but still pretty darned hard:
20" box jumps
jump pullups
walking lunges with 3Kg medicine ball
push presses, 20 lb dumbbells
KB swings, 35 lb KB
back extensions
situps
6 Kg medicine ball squat, throw and catch
20" box jumps
jump pullups
walking lunges with 3Kg medicine ball
push presses, 20 lb dumbbells
KB swings, 35 lb KB
back extensions
situps
6 Kg medicine ball squat, throw and catch
Thursday Feb 17, 2011 #
9 AM
Snowshoe 30:00 [3] 1.35 mi (22:13 / mi)
weight:161lbs
dog loop with Rhonda and Sassy. Snow a bit softer, warming up.
Surprised my weight was as low as it was, after being very well fed last night.
Surprised my weight was as low as it was, after being very well fed last night.
11 AM
Running 8:45 [3] 1.0 mi (8:45 / mi)
mile jog to warm up before . . .
Gym 15:00 [3]
workout was 5 rounds of 5 reps each of 4 exercises, all with dumbbells, each round with increasing weight. Weights I used were 12s, 15s, 20s, 25s and 30s. Exercises were deadlifts (easy), hang cleans (moderate), push presses (easy to moderate), squats (approaching very hard). The problem with the squats is when I get down my weight comes forward, so I don't have much leverage when the dumbbells get bigger. Some failure of mobility, but not sure exactly what. Anyway, that whole thing only took 4:30, and then I had another 10 minutes or so of supplementary stuff at my own pace - situps, back extensions, pullups, bench presses.
Wednesday Feb 16, 2011 #
5 AM
Gym 1:00:00 [3]
weight:160.5lbs
Rhonda's morning class. Elbows too vulnerable for some of the exercises, but otherwise ok. Low back has emerged intact from all the abuse of snow and ice management.
G continues to improve, or at least to lose less ground, considering the dwindling denominator.
G continues to improve, or at least to lose less ground, considering the dwindling denominator.
1 PM
Snowshoe 30:00 [3]
dog loop with Zack and Sassy
Tuesday Feb 15, 2011 #
Note
Hours of chipping and shoveling rewarded, as the oil truck came today. Next a period of gentle rehab for tender elbows.
12 PM
Snowshoe 30:00 [3]
weight:162.5lbs
dog loop. track is well packed
4 PM
Running 17:30 [3] 1.35 mi (12:58 / mi)
but not well enough packed for running in microspikes. About 95% was really enjoyable, but the rest involved sudden plunges into the snowpack. Kind of dangerous on the downhills particularly, so I stopped after one loop of the dog walk trail.
Monday Feb 14, 2011 #
8 AM
Snowshoe 35:00 [3]
weight:161.5lbs
dog loop with R & S.
Rhonda has a tight back this morning, enough trouble that she did not go to class. I went out to tell the troops, but I don't stay for it if Rhonda is not there.
Besides, I am conserving energy for an assault on driveway ice around mid-day.
Rhonda has a tight back this morning, enough trouble that she did not go to class. I went out to tell the troops, but I don't stay for it if Rhonda is not there.
Besides, I am conserving energy for an assault on driveway ice around mid-day.
Sunday Feb 13, 2011 #
8 AM
Running 34:00 [3] 3.4 mi (10:00 / mi)
From Pleasant Valley up E. River Rd and back, with Rhonda. Very cold and damp. 15F at the house, but colder by the river.
11 AM
Note
Ryan Keegan and his friend Brian came by to shovel the roof. Very thick and crusty stuff. I have no interest in being up there, so I was glad to have them do it. I kept pretty busy between cleaning decks, clearing the lower roof over the family room and trying to chip ice from the driveway. I put down 120 lb of calcium chloride at first light this morning, which softened the driveway up enough to drive on, but didn't really remove much ice. A little sun tomorrow would do the trick.
L elbow and low back are the main complainants from the day's activities.
L elbow and low back are the main complainants from the day's activities.
3 PM
Snowshoe 30:00 [3]
most of a dog loop, with Zack and Sassy. Feeling stiff and tired.
Saturday Feb 12, 2011 #
8 AM
Snowshoe 31:00 [2]
weight:162lbs
dog loop with Rhonda and Sassy. Trail getting more packed, moving a little faster.
Gym 17:20 [5]
30 reps each of a series of 7 exercises I did a few times in the last couple of weeks:
20" box jumps
band assisted pullups (18-12)
hang power clean 25# dumbbells (20-10)
35# KB swings
GHD situps (20-10)
run half mile (3:45)
back extensions (20-10)
Rhonda was doing it too, modified down a bit.
20" box jumps
band assisted pullups (18-12)
hang power clean 25# dumbbells (20-10)
35# KB swings
GHD situps (20-10)
run half mile (3:45)
back extensions (20-10)
Rhonda was doing it too, modified down a bit.
10 AM
Note
tramped down to where the tree was across the fence line with shovel and chain saw. Shoveled it out to make sure I knew what I was cutting. The actual cutting was trivial. Then schlepped it back up, stopping to walk another fence section just to check. Really tiring.
2 PM
Note
Then Zack came home and we went in to town to get some calcium chloride to try to coax more ice off the driveway. The driveway is barely passable in 4WD right now, and we really need to get it cleaned up. Then a lengthy session of salting and waiting and chipping and shoveling. Made a fair amount of progress on the lower section, until Rhonda called us off to go help Shannon next door, who had run her car off the side of her driveway.
And then we needed to get the plow on and go plow them out, because the driveway had ended up with a big blob of snow in it.
Need to get an earlier start tomorrow on ours. The middle section is really treacherous. Top is a little better because it gets more sun, and because I have been chipping at it for several days now.
And then we needed to get the plow on and go plow them out, because the driveway had ended up with a big blob of snow in it.
Need to get an earlier start tomorrow on ours. The middle section is really treacherous. Top is a little better because it gets more sun, and because I have been chipping at it for several days now.
Friday Feb 11, 2011 #
Note
Latest mini-crisis is that we are quite low on oil, and no prospect of getting an oil truck up here right now without some serious sanding. I am reluctant to sand, because it makes quite a mess, and it's really hard to get rid of. Hoping for a little warmer temps - today topped out about 18F. I spent an hour or two chipping ice with a 40 lb bar. Hard work, not a whole lot of progress, but at least there are some bare spots now to attract some sun. I don't think it would be good for me to do much more with the bar at this point.
11 AM
Snowshoe 37:00 [3] 1.35 mi (27:24 / mi)
weight:162lbs
with Rhonda and Sassy. Trail pretty well tramped down by now.
4 PM
Running 39:05 2.65 mi (14:45 / mi) +95m 13:16 / mi
ahr:144 max:189 shoes: Dion 121 snowshoes
2 dog loops, second with Sassy, including 15 seconds in the middle to rouse her from her slumbers and get her out the door.
Snowshoe 20:33 0.61 mi (33:41 / mi) +24m 30:01 / mi
ahr:105 max:123
with Sassy, down to check the fence. There was a lot of tension on the wires, and sure enough, found a tree down across it. A little late in the day for chainsaw work, so I'll get it in the morning.
Thursday Feb 10, 2011 #
7 AM
Snowshoe 38:00 [3] 1.3 mi (29:14 / mi)
weight:161lbs
dog loop, with Rhonda and Sassy. Much nicer in snowshoes. The colder weather last day or so has shrunk the wires in the fences and put pressure on the gate latches, making them hard to open, and once open, even harder to close. Next time out I'll bring some extra links to extend them. When it warms up I'll take them out again, assuming some relaxing in the pressure. I'll also bring some clippers. Now that we are strolling around 3 or so feet higher on the trails, a lot of branches that used to be overhead are at eye level, and kind of annoying.
G continues to do well, despite a less than optimal eating performance yesterday.
G continues to do well, despite a less than optimal eating performance yesterday.
11 AM
Running (treadmill) 10:00 [3] 1.16 mi (8:37 / mi)
warm up for. . .
Gym 10:00 [3]
workout is rounds of 15 reps for three exercises: kettlebell swings, power cleans and box jumps. Supposed to be 7. I had 5 in mind, but went for the Bricker workout stopping after 3 1/3, because I am still feeling a bit tender where I strained my upper inner thigh doing deadlifts last week. So quite while I am still in one piece. Dialed down the weights, of course. KB at 35 lb, cleans at 40 lbs. 20" box jumps, which were the most difficult of the three.
1 PM
Snowshoe 45:00 [3]
another round of the dog loop, this time bringing clippers and extra links, doing a bit of trail maintenance along the way. There is a lot of tension on the fence wires. I should probably go loosen them a bit. Wouldn't hurt to go circumambulate the fence to see if anything is laying across it, either.
Wednesday Feb 9, 2011 #
5 AM
Gym 1:00:00 [3]
weight:161.5lbs
Rhonda's morning class. For once I was ready in plenty of time. Not a very good night. Woke up for a while around 1, and then again at 3 woke up permanently.
Gym 10:00 [3]
four exercises, just to keep a hand in, and since I was already out there.
10 AM
Rowing Machine 13:11 [3] 3.0 km (4:24 / km)
3 PM
Hike 30:00 [3]
partial dog loop with Zack and Sassy. Left the snowshoes home, which agreed fine with Zack, but I would rather have had them. He and Sassy stayed on top. I sunk a bit, and didn't feel as secure.
Tuesday Feb 8, 2011 #
11 AM
Snowshoe 35:00 [3]
weight:162.5lbs
reverse dog loop with Rhonda and Sassy. Beautiful sunshine, 3" of new snow. What could be better?
5 PM
Running (Treadmill) 26:00 [3] 3.0 mi (8:40 / mi)
Inspiration: not feeling like anything too strenuous and putting off doing something until almost too late - well, remember that something easy is better than nothing at all.
Monday Feb 7, 2011 #
Snowshoe 35:00 [3]
weight:163lbs
dog loop with Sassy and Rhonda. Crusty, warmish (mid-20s), supposed to be sun today, but not in evidence yet. If it suns up there will be some ice chipping. This was Sassy's best day in a week, as she could easily walk on top and so did a lot of exploring.
2 PM
Note
not at all sunny, but warm enough to think about trying to get ice off. I spent an hour or so chipping ice off the driveway, rendering it moderately passable. Zack got up on the ladder to chop ice dams, particularly where the most water is coming in. Dams about 10" high, and about 18" back from the gutter. Slow work.
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| From Winter 2011 |
Sunday Feb 6, 2011 #
8 AM
Snowshoe 35:00 [3]
weight:162lbs
dog loop with Sassy. Icy crust. Driveway certainly looks daunting. 24F and windy, put a nice sheen on the rain that fell yesterday. Trail a little soft, sinking in a fair bit through the crunch. It will need a lot of snowshoe-grooming to be skiable.
12 PM
Running (treadmill) 11:00 [3] 1.25 mi (8:48 / mi)
1 mile warmup, then planned to do a crossfit workout that involved alternating sets of deadlifts and 400M runs. This turned out to be a Bricker set. First deadlifts went fine 21x105, first 400 went fine, about 1:50. Started the next set of deadlifts and realized on #1 that I needed to stop right away. Strained upper inside hamstrings. So just stopped right then.
Gym 10:00 [3]
a few warmup exercises, then the abortive deadlift workout. Deadlifts are really good, but I need to progress into them more gradually. Next time or the time after should be fine, as long as I don't wait too long. It had been a really long time - probably before shoulder surgery and then elbow problems. Arms dealt with it ok, but now I need my legs and back to catch up.
3 PM
Note
picked Rhonda up at the airport and then decided it was sunny enough to start chipping ice off the driveway. Going pretty well, but starting to cool off and firm up again as the sun gets lower. One more sunny day and I might get enough of the driveway clear to get an oil truck up here, which is looking like a pretty important objective right now.
Saturday Feb 5, 2011 #
10 AM
Snowshoe 1:05:00 [3]
weight:163lbs
started out on the dog loop with Sassy, in crusty but mostly tracked conditions. At the north end I spied neighbors Glen and Karen Smyth out on the woods road, and cut through the laurel for a brief hello. Then we went opposite ways, Sassy and I taking a loop around the Big Down Marsh. Strange marshy rhythms causing some areas to be mushy, and Sassy was getting water in her footprints. A little unsettling. Other parts perfectly firm. Not sure why there would be melting with it staying cold for so long, but I guess I've observed that before. On the way back I saw tracks heading out through the Little Down Marsh, so we followed them for a bit until I saw Glen and Karen again out ahead. Then we cut back through completely untracked stuff across the marsh. Sassy likes to go behind when it is untracked, but she is impatient enough that she steps on my snowshoes, sometimes arresting my progress. So after a while I found tracks again and worked my way back to conventional trails. Dog loop has all been tracked now.
Glen and Karen are trying to track things up enough that skiing will be fun, and that is a worthy idea. Maybe a day or so more and I'll take the skis out.
Glen and Karen are trying to track things up enough that skiing will be fun, and that is a worthy idea. Maybe a day or so more and I'll take the skis out.
6 PM
Running 13:00 [3] 1.5 mi (8:40 / mi)
1 mile warmup on the treadmill, then a crossfit session, one part of which was 800 M. I was going too fast and had to slow down for that, ended up at 3:40.
Gym 13:00 [3]
the rest of the crossfit session, similar to the one I did a week or so ago. box jumps, band pullups, hang dumbbell cleans, kettlebell swings, GHD situps, the run and GHD back extensions. Moved up to 30 of each. Next time I'll go up on the weight for the cleans and KBs.
Friday Feb 4, 2011 #
9 AM
Snowshoe 40:00 [3]
weight:162lbs
Most of the dog walk, again with Sassy, and the whole trail has now been snowshoed at least once, and all the gates now cleared. She's only punching through about 20%, as things continue to firm up.
3 PM
Snowshoe 25:00 [3]
another partial dog loop, this time with Zack and Sassy. Snow is much firmer now, and Sassy can walk on top, but mostly she stays in the tracks.
Thursday Feb 3, 2011 #
8 AM
Snowshoe 40:00 [3]
weight:163.5lbs
Partial dog walk, with Sassy. stops to clear three of the gates so they can open and close. Still punching through, but snow firming up a bit, so Sassy is only going through about half the time.
1 PM
Note
Chains are a wonderful thing in the plowing game, but they are no match for carelessness. I was on a quest to widen the available driveway because things had gotten so bad I couldn't get snow up over the banks. So I pushed at an angle on the bank all the way up the downhill side of the driveway, pushing most of it over the edge. Then I was cleaning up the other side, with a little back and forth, and backed up a little too vigorously and a little too far right and got stuck. Dug out all the snow and almost got out, but still stuck, and now sliding a bit further right. Two wheels definitely off the pavement and basically sitting on unsupported snow. Thought hard about whether I wanted to bring the tractor down to the rescue, but it really didn't seem like a good idea at all. I wasn't sure how the tractor would react to the snowy steep driveway, but I could picture it, and it didn't look good. So in a moment of clarity I called AAA. After a bit (because these are busy times for those guys) somebody answered and said they'd send a guy within two hours. Well two hours turned into four, and meanwhile Zack showed up and snapped this picture:
Eventually the big Jerr-Dan wrecker showed up, and by now it is around 6:40. Next potential unpleasantness is that he doesn't have 4WD, but he is persistent, and he backs up the driveway within reasonable range of the truck. We secure his truck with a big towstrap to a substantial maple tree, and he hooks a winch cable up to the rear of the truck, and after a bit of preparation and scouting the kind of unfavorable things that can happen, he starts pulling. And the truck goes backward, but doesn't make any progress toward the pavement, and in fact seems to be sliding a bit more down toward my neighbor's house. But he is a persistent and thoughtful guy, and he then runs a snatch block off a tree roughly parallel to the front of the truck and hooks another winch cable through the snatch block and to the frame in the vicinity of my front left wheel.
Now he is pulling mostly sideways on the front, keeping tension on the other cable, and the truck really doesn't want to go that way. Lots of creaking and awful noises, but eventually and gradually it pulls up out of the abyss and back on the driveway. Zack and I help him dismantle all the cables and towstraps, etc., press a bunch of money in his hand, and congratulate him warmly on his cleverness. And finally the truck is back in the barn and we retire to supper, around 7:45.
So what did the local snow wrangler do while he was waiting for all this to occur? Mega shoveling, interspersed with some roof raking. My legs, back and core muscles are liking the shoveling fine. Hands, wrists, elbows and shoulder (a bit) not so much.
 |
| From Winter 2011 |
Eventually the big Jerr-Dan wrecker showed up, and by now it is around 6:40. Next potential unpleasantness is that he doesn't have 4WD, but he is persistent, and he backs up the driveway within reasonable range of the truck. We secure his truck with a big towstrap to a substantial maple tree, and he hooks a winch cable up to the rear of the truck, and after a bit of preparation and scouting the kind of unfavorable things that can happen, he starts pulling. And the truck goes backward, but doesn't make any progress toward the pavement, and in fact seems to be sliding a bit more down toward my neighbor's house. But he is a persistent and thoughtful guy, and he then runs a snatch block off a tree roughly parallel to the front of the truck and hooks another winch cable through the snatch block and to the frame in the vicinity of my front left wheel.
Now he is pulling mostly sideways on the front, keeping tension on the other cable, and the truck really doesn't want to go that way. Lots of creaking and awful noises, but eventually and gradually it pulls up out of the abyss and back on the driveway. Zack and I help him dismantle all the cables and towstraps, etc., press a bunch of money in his hand, and congratulate him warmly on his cleverness. And finally the truck is back in the barn and we retire to supper, around 7:45.
So what did the local snow wrangler do while he was waiting for all this to occur? Mega shoveling, interspersed with some roof raking. My legs, back and core muscles are liking the shoveling fine. Hands, wrists, elbows and shoulder (a bit) not so much.
Wednesday Feb 2, 2011 #
9 AM
Snowshoe 20:00 [3]
weight:162lbs
Started on dog loop, but Sassy was punching through the new wet and crunchy stuff all the way to her belly, so cut it short. Big snow management day. A lot of effort widening the driveway and a couple of sessions trying to drag snow and ice off the roof. No need for gym workouts.
Tuesday Feb 1, 2011 #
Note
Big snow day. Pulled a lot off the roof. Plowing, but no place to put it. So I got the tractor out to try to move some piles. Zack wanted to try and was a lot more aggressive than I was. He ended up sliding down off the driveway and we had to dig it out. Way too much digging.
8 AM
Snowshoe 35:00 [3]
weight:163.5lbs
Dog loop with Sassy. About 5" of new snow and coming down vigorously.