Training Log Archive: CleverSky

Beaver Brook North, in Waltham, MA. A couple of little bits on hunting around for controls, and one embarrassingly large screwup (~5 minutes). Halfway around, I was thinking that I'd say that the only good thing I could think of to say about this new map is that it's (presumably) located conveniently to Jim Crawford's house. But then it turned out that there's a pretty nice section of about 0.25 sq km, reasonably open and detailed, and a third of the course crisscrossed back and forth through it. Good to get a chance to run around with a map looking for things before I head off to West Point next week.

Flagging controls for the Billygoat. Adjusted a few locations, and I'm pretty happy with all of the placements now. Have to think about the length, though. As it stands it's 14 km on the button, with 25 controls, and I haven't counted the climb yet. I could end up shortening it. I'll try to walk it to see if I can do that in 3.5 hours, and also run it. But that will have to wait until the snow melts out, that slowed me down considerably today (as did the streamering, head-scratching, etc.).

I've never seen the Mulpus at flood stage, so I pulled on a ratty pair of mismatched O shoes and went into the woods. I expected a slushy, icy, sloppy mess, and I wasn't disappointed. The brook wasn't as high as it could have been (probably crested earlier in the day), but it was still higher than I've ever seen it. The wettest place was where the Lane trail goes through the marsh, it was ankle-deep. I managed to get across the Mulpus on logs. At the end, I ventured up on the hillside to see if I could guess where the skinny bit of town-owned land is on the back end (no luck this time, too high up).

Yesterday was nice, but I was being productive doing non-exercise stuff, and today was wet, but not actually raining when I went out (high 30s, O-pants, long-sleeve top, gloves but no hat). Stayed on pavement because this weather has turned every intermittent stream into a torrent, and the woods are sure to be really sloppy. The yard is about half melted out now, with a lot of what's left being ice, and I think I can turn the car around in the driveway now so I don't have to back out into the street.

As I got home, I saw the only animal I'm afraid of stroll across my yard and disappear under the shed. Wonderful.