Training Log Archive: CleverSky

Big Hollow Trail west of Briery Branch, VA, with Nancy. Coolest thing was an AOWN moment shortly after we started, when I spotted an unusual looking dead tree a little way off the trail. I went over to investigate, and it turned out to be what I originally guessed: there was a black snake about four feet long working his way up the trunk. He was gone by the time we came back down.

Willard Brook W, ahead of the Dim. Managed to do exactly the loop that I had planned out in my head this time, and it avoided nearly all of the puddles -- it was generally wet because the day had been rainy earlier. A pretty good effort, though not particularly impressive in terms of speed. Since last summer, the park has made some great accommodations to the mountain bike crowd in the way of putting up trail signs, with the difficulties noted. On this loop, the Halfway Point sign (split #2) is well past halfway.

Willard Brook SW. One of these days I'll get the trails straightened out in my head enough to actually do the loop that I have planned. This must be O training, because the temp was in the high 70s and I was wearing long pants. No snow left in my yard, and almost none in the woods, either; only a few footfalls were in white stuff. I did have to detour around some seasonal ponds that were blocking the trail. I cut the corner in the NW, thinking that I could save some climb by going though a laurel-filled saddle, but I really didn't. I seemed to notice a lot of things that I hadn't before, maybe I just haven't run here much in daylight with the leaves off?

My right shoulder has been bothering me for a few weeks, so I ran holding onto my shirt with my right hand, which served kind of like a sling in that it partially immobilized that shoulder, and that seemed to be a favorable idea.

About 45 minutes into this, it occurred to me that I hadn't twisted my ankle (today, or lately), and I thought of the expression that some people use, "knock on wood", or if they're British, "touch wood". And because I was running along with no map to occupy my mind, I got to thinking. First, does bark count? How about varnished or painted wood? Is the luck effect reduced? What about particle board? Excelsior? Rayon? Are woodpeckers the luckiest birds?

Cleaning out the shed and the wood box.