Training Log Archive: Charlie

Event: WCOC Osbornedale State Park
 

With Rhonda

Green course at Osbornedale. Nice course by Earl, lovely day without a hint of snow before returning home to the snows of Canton. Not bad at all given my current limitations. Couldn't run much, but shuffled along pretty consistently. Lost time by doing some dodgy around routes where it looked like too much barberry, and more or less avoided getting cut up. Walked quite a bit. Like others, I had a little difficulty at #9, where there was a group of about five people clustered around, obscuring the flag hanging low by a much smaller than expected rock, but I scattered them and found it in there. Lost the most time on longer routes. No real trouble actually finding any controls. Then stuck around while Earl, George and Lyn picked up controls, so I could take them home. Not sure what I did with my map. It may turn up.

Map and route. Didn't find my map. but BillD shared his scan.

C • Do you need control stands?... 3

Green - Splits

With Matthew, chatting up, not pushing the pace any.

Very pleasant snowshoe perambulation of the dog loop with Sassy, Rhonda, Peter and Gail. Peter and Sassy opted to go without snowshoes. A more difficult navigational challenge than usual because the trail was obscured in quite a few places by saplings bent over by the weight of the snow.

Hanging out in the gym with Matthew. Three or four sets of bench presses with very little weight (45 lb), three sets of chinups, roughly 6 each set. Some general chatting up.

while Matthew was on the treadmill

usual stuff, plus planks. Matthew was participating off and on.

Nice steady stroke pace, 26 all the way. Nicely negative splits, starting around 2:13, gradually working up to 2:05 or so for the last 1000, last 500 a bit faster. Felt reasonably good. A little tightness in L hip, low back. Shoulder improved compared to yesterday. Generally pretty satisfactory.

C • Turning up the Volume 2

With Jessica! Most pleasant company.

Inspired by Chitown, went for the slow stroke pace, averaging 20-21. A little pinch in the L shoulder from the fall yesterday, but otherwise reasonably comfortable.

About 6" of fairly heavy slippery wet stuff. Luckily we got the truck back today from the shop, got things plowed. So a bunch of shoveling and a bunch of plowing. A bit hunkered down as there is only one way in here right now, with Ratlum Rd Barkhamsted closed for some major repairs, and Wright Rd blocked by a downed tree across the road and on the powerlines, so Ski Sundown is the only way in and out.

With Zack at Nassahegan, much of the usual loop, with several stops to take photos for a school project of his, photos that generally involved showcasing his considerable skill at riding over rocks and other impossible looking stuff. In the course of this I drove my wheel into some kind of hole or obstacle and took a really hard fall over the handlebars. Lucky it wasn't worse, but I strained my upper back and was much more cautious after. Not sure where the first impact was, but the worst of it was hitting my R shoulder and thereby the back discomfort. Shook off the rest of it, including L shoulder and forearm and face, which hit hard enough to scare me, but in a soft enough place to do no damage.

C • Bury the front wheel 5

A little (25 min or so) laurel wrangling with the apprentice wrangler Mr Zack, doing a little map management.

I looked back, and I think this may be the first year I have had a rowing entry in every month, although only one entry of 2K is from August.

Inventory from yesterday: my back is complaining vigorously. Sore R achilles, which grabbed a few times in a most menacing way yesterday. No particular leg soreness, presumably since I was mostly walking. Quite tired, mostly because I got woken up at 10:15 and couldn't get back to sleep for 2 hours. That is pretty much a classic pattern. If I get a phone call, if the dog starts acting up, or in this case if the grandchildren start acting up, it just upsets the whole clock and I can't get back to sleep.

usual exercises, with Rhonda.

Event: NEOC: Blue Hills Traverse and Regular Meet
 

Blue Hills Traverse. Lovely weather, fun course with the butterfly loops. Physically I am not up to this sort of thing. My back was protesting mightily the whole time, mostly walking. Unfortunately, also making several mistakes, even at the slow pace. Unless I can get this back rehabbed, I don't really think I am going to be doing long-o much longer. By the time I finished most folks were gone, never figured out who did what. Perhaps when results are posted.

Map and route: Blue Hills East, part 1

Blue Hills West, part 2

The general story. Stumbling along the path to 1, watching folks disappear up ahead. My back was already in full revolt. I don't think I was actually last, but it sure felt that way. Went past it and around in from the S, saw a lot of people punching ahead of me and coming from the E. To 2, trail headed S for a while, then cut up the hill. I was a little too far E coming up, and it was farther up than I expected, but just kept going and came to it fine. First big boom going to 3, which was pretty surprising, because I went right by the little rocky spur before the road, but somehow I was too far N and had to hunt a bit. Ian went streaming past on the way to 4. I came to the cliff SSW of the control, but confused it and thought it was one of the rocky spurs further down the hill, so some searching too far W. Passed Jim Crawford on the way to 5, which I got cleanly, saw Sam L near 6. Trading leads with Sam and Jessica R on the way to 7, came down the hill too far W, but saw the reentrant developing so went right to it. Tried to go around the big rocky spur, but got a bit confused by a reentrant and ended up climbing it with Sam from the S, so a bit of extra climbing and crossing the reentrant before it. Easy coming back into 9. Trail around to the R until after the stone wall on the way to 10. Could see the hill developing. A couple of guys I don't know near the control. Down to the road near the little parking spot and across pretty quickly. Veered off on the trail where it meets the road halfway to 11 and along the trail, mostly walking. Cut across from just after the bend, getting down near the marsh and straight in.

Walking to 12, where I had a very pleasant visit with Hilly, watching as Jessica R came in, punched and left. I was in no hurry. I was feeling depleted and ate some fig newtons, but apparently not enough. I should have put some in a pocket. Hard to believe I was so distracted not to bring as much as a Gu packet. Back down the trail toward 13, looking for the EW wall on my left as an attack point, but not finding it. Jessica was standing on the trail studying the map. Just headed up, a bit too far R, but the shape of the land straightened me out and soon I saw rocks to the L and straight into it. Walking, walking trails to the left, a little jogging on the downhill, but it was painful. At 14 with Jessica again. I think she went L around the marsh, I went right. Somehow got above the EW trail on the way to 15, and by a fair amount. That was a big surprise, but when I hit the NS one there was really no doubt, so took the trail S and then angled over more or less on compass. A little further than I thought it was going to be, but no further problem. Got down near 16, peeked in the reentrant but didn't see it, so I wandered E a ways before relocating and heading back in. Jessica was there, just in front of me. On compass to 17, and an easy leg since it was going to be at the base of the big hill. Ahead of Jessica, saw Nancy D coming in, seemingly from the N. Turns out she was on green, but she was also coming to the butterfly control, so more or less with her back. Got hung up in a little greener stuff, came to a fairly substantial ruin off to the SE a bit, and then in to 18. Trails around left to 19, saw Scott T walking and looking beat, J-J jogging. Walked almost all the way. Cut in left of the marsh, almost fell over the control, apparently, but somehow missed it and got out to the trail. Headed down looking for the rock and came to the rock right next to the trail, which is what I thought I was looking for, but realized that wasn't it, and couldn't see it on the map since it was under the line. So headed back up looking, missed it again, got up pretty high before admitting defeat, working my way back down trying to puzzle out the reentrant on the right. On compass to 20, down the shallow reentrant and on pace count, should have spiked it, but in the circle and just a little off to the right, didn't see it and ended up going down past it and then back up. Very depleted, lightheaded. More or less straight to 21, didn't see the trail as I crossed it, but hit the hill across the stream and gratified to find the control hiding behind it. Back out the way I came in. The devil you know. A little jogging on the downhill. Straight in to 22. I know it by now, and then straight to 23, picking up the stone wall to lead me in. Fortunately the control was there. Apparently it wasn't for some of the earlier finishers.

Five (5) cups of soup at the finish. And then hopped in the car pretty promptly, arriving at Bradley just in time to pick up Kathy and the grandchildren, here until Friday.

C • what people did 2

C • BHT 2

Traverse - AD - Splits

Watching The Game. Alas, a familiar result.

C • football 3

Rhonda's morning class.

A couple of hours of modest laurel wrangling. If anyone is concerned about a looming world-wide laurel shortage, it appears the danger is minimal. No signs of laurel weevils here. The aim was to do a little RHINO improvement, and the session was quite successful.

C • I wonder if... 4

Usual stuff, with Rhonda

Another loop on the RHINO course, trying out a few things. I'm pretty satisfied with it now.

Rhonda's morning class

Usual exercises, plus planks, tabata

Night O test run on the new improved course. Definitely much better. Tried a couple of route options, will see how the times compare.

Reasonably successful. No recurrence of the chest discomfort. L arm feels week, a bit overextended. Winded. Not used to going fast anymore, whether rowing or other activities.

Test driving night-O course by day, with Sassy. She was way ahead much of the time, but I kept catching her by superior navigation. Lucky for her it was a mass start, as she had not brought a map or compass. Good that I checked. I ended up throwing out a couple of legs that were unpleasantly full of laurel. Seems the stuff has been growing in areas that have not been wrangled lately.

Planning on an easy 5K, but my chest discomfort returned after 3K, so wrapped it up not long after. May start with shorter pieces for a while. This definitely seems to be something inflamed in the vicinity of the ribs, rather than anything further inside, but still uncomfortable.

Around and about at Nassahegan with Zack, Rhonda and Sassy. Some on the trail we have used for mt biking, but some on others. Just exploring.

Two more hours of leaf sucking with the very determined Zack. The place is well vacuumed now.

Watching the first quarter of the Patriots.

dog loop with R&S. Colder today, mid 20s, approx. Sunny. Maybe it will warm up.

Usual exercises, plus the planks, and a squat and pushup tabata set, with Rhonda

From Pleasant Valley with Rhonda. Colder than we are used to.

Leaf sucking, with Zack, about 2 hours worth. He runs the tractor, and he is much better at it, particularly backing the trailer. I follow along, getting sticks out of the way, clearing the hose from time to time, a little odd raking. Made me tired. Made me think of long ago when I used to run the tractor to mow and he followed along behind. A role reversal, and probably not the last one.

C • So at some point you'll be ... 10

Long day, just landing in Hartford.

Nothing, no real free time today, not much energy. Nothing doing. Tomorrow is another day. Just as well I'm not off at Quantico land trying to do night O

Pilates routine, in the hotel. Looked pretty cold outside compared to what I brought for clothes, so didn't try jogging. Yesterday's discomfort somewhat calmed down today.

Yesterday around 4:30 or so I developed a pain in my chest, right at the base of the sternum, accompanied by some indigestion. Strange, thought it would resolve. It was pretty much the same today, and I got spooked enough about it to hustle over to Charlotte Hungerford to get checked out before I got on a plane this evening. They did all the sorts of things I imagined they might do when a gentleman of a certain age shows up complaining of chest pain, vitals, EKG, blood work, x-Ray. All normal. So no real indication of what this is, but I seem to be fine, so home again and shortly after off to the airport.

Feeling very civilized, riding the blue line in from OHare to downtown. Clean, convenient, $5. Will drop me a block or two from my hotel. Nice.

Posted my maps from the weekend. A lot of wandering.

C • Chicago Weather? 2

Rhonda's morning class. Gingerly. My back is pretty inflamed. I have been using Alex's stairs technique to get up from chairs.

Usual Pilates group. They do make me feel a bit better, and I can tell improvement in how I do them.

Rowing reminds me of my friend Chitown, and that reminds me I am on my way to Chicago tomorrow evening, two day business trip, likely not any time for sightseeing. Haven't been to Chicago, I think, in about 10 years. Last time I went I took in a Cubs game with my friend Randy. Haven't seen him in a while, either.

A mixed bag. Moving well. No trouble with 1, except that I went more or less straight through the green and it took forever. Then 2 was also ok, more or less straight, guided by the stone wall coming in from my left. Bailed out right to the trail. I was surprised to see Mary Jo pop out ahead of me on the trail. How did she get there (started 24 seconds behind me)? Gradually reeled her in and caught up in the last 40 m to reach 3 more or less together. Then a quick look at the map and started to run toward 4 as if I was coming from 5, so W instead of N. Looked again, oops! So got headed back N, and now a little E to compensate, but apparently losing some focus because suddenly I was on the trail E of the line. No problem finding the control from there, but quite a circuitous route. Across the trail and aiming for the ridge line before 5, but it was long and I misread how far S I was. I checked one hill, saw Bob Dangel heading S toward 7, then checked the next one N and finally got it on the third one. A little R of the line to 6 to run down the ridge line. More or less straight to 7, coming down the spur between the stream branches. As I was approaching, I saw Bob D again, stopped to look at his map maybe 20 M past the control. Saw him off and on going toward 8 along the hillside, but it was thick and I lost him as I came right into it, climbing a line or so at the end. Crossed the stream, pushed through some thick laurel, and got up on the hill. Pretty good going along there, but I ended up one hill over to the R and confused, down to the stream beyond, studying the map and here came PG and. Bob streaming down the correct hill. Probably dropped 1:30 here. Now my energy was flagging a bit. Thought I would go S of the marsh, but somehow kept heading W, and it didn't look so bad, so straight across, picking my way between the wet spots. Trail to 10, fine, where I saw Rhonda. Then it gets a bit blurry. Headed toward 11, but losing focus. Snapped out of it saw I needed to be in the reentrant on the far side of a saddle. Found one and no bag, but that was enough info, as there was another one just S. Then just one more short leg, more or less straight S, but I just couldn't seem to hold a line. Came to the stonewall junction, meaning I was too far R, but I couldn't figure out where I was, since I was reading the N-S part of the wall as a trail (sure just looks like a wall now). Lined up my compass to go S several times, but somehow just kept going SW, wondering why I couldn't get to a trail, wondering if somehow I had crossed it. Eventually came to some action, and where the heck was I. Oh, the start! So I lost almost 5 minutes on that 100 M leg. Hustled in, saw Mary Jo up ahead on the run-in, much too far ahead to catch.

Map and route Sobering to see how badly I was wandering toward the end. Seems like I ran out of energy around #9, and when I went by it, I never did anything much right after that.

Brown - Splits

Event: NEOC: 2014 Troll Cup
 

Brown course at NEOC A meet. Mostly did well, but lost a lot of time at 2, 8 and 9. Some strange drafting at 8 and 9, and control circle at 9 was on a reentrant instead of the described spur. Not sure what the bag was on. Not on the spur I found.


Map and route Explains a lot, I think.

C • reentrant v. spur 2

Brown - Splits

Rhonda's morning class. My back is really acting up.

Family outing with Zack, Rhonda and Sassy. Sassy probably put in about 3-4 times the mileage. Taking her to a new place is a completely different experience from taking her around her usual haunts. First time here for R&S, neither of whom is likely ever to try this on a mt bike.

Rhonda's morning class, but lightly attended after last night's yoga-girl movie night.

usual exercises

First 5K of the season. Not too bad. Keeping the cadence slow - average was 23; 22 for last 1000.

With Sassy. Not much spunk.

With Rhonda and Sassy, checking out the new Eagle Scout trail on the town open space Cannon property. Very nice. I did a little maintenance on the Garmin which worked out well, washed the chest strap which improved the HR monitoring, and ditched all the old workouts, which improved the downloading.

Striving for a slow cadence, averaged 17. Don't know that I've gone that low before. Hard, different.

C • Cadence 4

Rhonda's morning class.

Event: WCOC Bethel Schools Sprint
 

Sprint A at Bethel schools. Very blustery, sometimes hard to hold the bag still enough to punch.

Sprint B. Almost caught Rhonda, who started B when I was starting A.

Sprint C.

Set a PR today of sorts, got away from the o-meet at 10:50 after running the three sprints. We had to get home early to get ready for the memorial service this afternoon for my very good friend Art Sweeton, who died a few weeks ago at 101. While he will certainly be missed, one can't complain too much about losing a friend at that age.

C • Art 2

Event: WMOC 2014
 

Lolling about, feeling nappish. Remembered that I had a flu shot yesterday. That would explain it. Maybe better tomorrow.

C • flu shot 4

with Rhonda and Sassy at Peoples SF.