Training Log Archive: blIn the 30 days ending Apr 30, 2014:
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Wednesday Apr 30, 2014 #
3 PM
Road/trail 50:04 4.0 mi (12:31 / mi) +25m 12:17 / mi
SPS wander in a chilly April rain. Had 4 mi in mind & ran 25m past car to see it on my watch tho it did not reflect that first time around - technofusion at work. SPS crew on the water was the only notable thing. Cold rain=happy pachysandra etc. Bring on May!
Tuesday Apr 29, 2014 #
Orienteering 25:00 [1] 1.5 mi (16:40 / mi)
Walked a W?Y course from some years ago - not sure of date. Reusing is resorting to time-saving tactics. Hands-cold-for-sure gray morning.
Yesterday was nine hours from piling in to tumbling out of car in drive - to Portsmouth & Portland for boat errands & a nice visit with Suzanne & Tony at their new place in Falmouth.
Yesterday was nine hours from piling in to tumbling out of car in drive - to Portsmouth & Portland for boat errands & a nice visit with Suzanne & Tony at their new place in Falmouth.
2 PM
Road/trail 54:20 [2] 4.69 mi (11:35 / mi) +130m 10:40 / mi
SloGo, log some miles. Still chilly but fine. Saw a lady walking her dog.
After passing, wished I'd stopped & asked her about her use of the forest.
Meeting people in Nottingcook is the exception.
After passing, wished I'd stopped & asked her about her use of the forest.
Meeting people in Nottingcook is the exception.
6 PM
Note
Yesterday rec'd an email from a high school classmate not communicated with for a few months short of 50 years. I certainly went my separate way from my hs classmates but did look up two in the past 13 years & went to college with one. Joe Rassulo would have most likely been a lifelong friend. I recall scrimmaging with the varsity football team from time to time when we were freshmen. Joe was a defensive linebacker and had no fear of the bigger/heavier, older varsity players. We'll share some beers & reflections this October.
Sunday Apr 27, 2014 #
1 PM
Orienteering 1:10:30 [3] 7.43 km (9:29 / km) +60m 9:07 / km
Ernst's College Woods score O, 22 points. Chilly but nice temp. Still no sun but no rain either. Did not help elapsed time that I punched manually at every flag. Ran back maybe 25" to first one since I left w/o punching. #47 went to knoll to east, no excuse. Decided someone must have removed it but then saw the flag on the adjacent western knoll, probably a minute there. Left #48 thinking I was at my next planned point - & so ran toward river prematurely til I caught it. Crossed river on crossing point (fairly big fallen tree, a bit slippery) not indicated by Ernst - sort of scary as water was quite deep either side. Nice little map, fun woods, decent contours. B/B+ run, maybe 3' mistakes. Helped Ernst w/ flag pickup after.
Brought home a lot of meet equipment, including a laptop, now part of the A meet e-kit, I guess.
Left calf has not bothered past few stressful episodes, so I'm considering it cured (not waiting for the telltale am).
Brought home a lot of meet equipment, including a laptop, now part of the A meet e-kit, I guess.
Left calf has not bothered past few stressful episodes, so I'm considering it cured (not waiting for the telltale am).
Saturday Apr 26, 2014 #
5 PM
Road running 31:51 3.23 mi (9:51 / mi) +75m 9:12 / mi
To Joe's Saab toward end of day. Was a chilly, rainy day. Not much enthusiasm for outdoor action but picking up car was a mission which helped motivation. As I got warm, it was very fine: an occasional robin, some daffodis & greening grass...raw spring, and a fine enough thing that is.
Friday Apr 25, 2014 #
10 AM
Walking 50:00 [1] 2.2 km (22:44 / km)
BOS trail maintenance walk, DP as well. Beth & I used the leaf blower to freshen "our" trail. Nice walk back when the blower was silenced. Resorted to ocad for some practice as 'facility' time is coming.
Walk
Bog Meadow today.
Walk
Bog Meadow today.
3 PM
Road/trail 48:22 4.13 mi (11:43 / mi) +102m 10:53 / mi
Knox Road TF - looking for a place for pm run & this fell in place coming back from Joe's Saab. Wanted a tour of trails but didn't really succeed. One bit between Knox & Meadow La that looked promising at start but houses came together & yappy dog announced my passage. Very nice forest & decent terrain relief. Maybe a map someday.
Thursday Apr 24, 2014 #
6 AM
Trail/woods running 21:53 [3] 1.82 mi (12:03 / mi) +53m 11:03 / mi
Early out - windy, cold, bright blue. Ran almost the entire way w/o a ray of sunshine so green are the woods...only two places for slanted yellow.
5 PM
Road/trail 59:32 5.76 mi (10:20 / mi) +157m 9:32 / mi
Bog Meadow loop CW. Started downwind direction, even got warm enough to get to a T shirt. Remained windy all day - maybe to 35mph. Still early spring. Hard to believe West Point meet is long gone. Felt good downhill & downwind, otherwise more like plodding along.
Wednesday Apr 23, 2014 #
4 PM
Trail/woods running 32:40 [2] 2.01 mi (16:15 / mi) +65m 14:46 / mi
To Hollow Rd - went looking for a diesel dump yesterday, did not find, did not go far enough. Found today with more time & inclination. Then onto hardtop, along Arrowhead Dr & back thru woods to BLT & back to car w/ Z. Raw, windy, gray day. Timid daffodils making first appearance.
Tuesday Apr 22, 2014 #
9 AM
Note
Back to the Guimond property (now part of Nottingcook) for some photos of destructive logging. I regard the land as being owned by different stewards over the generations who should have an obligation to care for it, and leave it better than they “found” it. There are those who do an excellent job, others who do a deplorable job. I looked under code of ethics for loggers and found these items:
3. (Maine)The professional logger protects our natural environment and enhances our natural resources by operating in accordance with sound forest management and environmental principles.
and (Delaware):
1. Designing and scheduling timber harvests to minimize erosion and other site damage.
2. Harvesting and transporting timber to minimize residual forest damage.
3. Striving to use all trees that are cut.
4. Closing out the sale to minimize erosion damage after the harvest is complete.
and 1 and 2.
I propose these be named "100 year ruts": if the forest were left to grow a canopy, and drop leaves to prevent erosion & runoff, these would be evident 100 years from now, perhaps. Makes for controversy at least.
3. (Maine)The professional logger protects our natural environment and enhances our natural resources by operating in accordance with sound forest management and environmental principles.
and (Delaware):
1. Designing and scheduling timber harvests to minimize erosion and other site damage.
2. Harvesting and transporting timber to minimize residual forest damage.
3. Striving to use all trees that are cut.
4. Closing out the sale to minimize erosion damage after the harvest is complete.
and 1 and 2.
I propose these be named "100 year ruts": if the forest were left to grow a canopy, and drop leaves to prevent erosion & runoff, these would be evident 100 years from now, perhaps. Makes for controversy at least.
2 PM
Road/trail 1:32:22 [2] 7.0 mi (13:12 / mi) +218m 12:02 / mi
UP Allen, along S. Bow to Ordway & back via Nottingcook. Warm. Stopped to speak with Ken D for 5'. Did not have a compass but did have the map. Looked at it along S. Bow bringing back mapping memories & passing the time. Down Ordway by the ghosts of Doc Howard & Jet Jennings. To the "T" at the end in the woods, once a quiet junction under whispering pines...now something souless with "the waste land" (once a "merry wood") off to port. Fun to get in the woods, view old boulder friends, sort out the mountain laurel, then get on paths, bigger & bigger til free & clear. Slow but tiring.
Monday Apr 21, 2014 #
3 PM
Trail/woods running 1:07:10 3.54 mi (18:58 / mi) +214m 15:58 / mi
Went to Swope conservation land with idea of being in motion for an hour. Warm, in the 70s. Such open woods, almost all hardwood, not a leaf bud in sight. Wandered around & over Jerry Hill, around the sparkling water of the beaver pond & then fancied a ridge top to the west & got there about the time a hypoglycemic low arrived - sat down for a few quiet moments. Then back along a familiar path until it was taking me too far south. Eventually ran after my shadow, figuring that was a pretty good course at this time of day. Finally 21 Long Pond suddenly appeared & my route choice proved good. 21 LP is a house in the woods that Beth & I looked at with the idea of purchasing some 6-7 years ago but did not for a number of reasons...but a choice locale.
After went back to Peasley & confirmed yesterday’s oblong knoll. Realizing I might know it changed perception tremendously - quickly more positive. Interesting how suspicion made so much difference. The terrain is really non-specific near it though.
After went back to Peasley & confirmed yesterday’s oblong knoll. Realizing I might know it changed perception tremendously - quickly more positive. Interesting how suspicion made so much difference. The terrain is really non-specific near it though.
Sunday Apr 20, 2014 #
4 PM
Orienteering (map walk) 30:41 [1] 0.85 mi (36:06 / mi) +31m 32:25 / mi
Had Peter & Mel & grandchildren for the pm & then time to strike out somewhere. There was the meet I went to that didn't exist as well.
Wanted to flesh in the current status of Peasley. Walked from the old end into the continued development (3 houses of a planned 12). Halfway thru the circle, I wondered how the gps track would do for accuracy without a westmost point or several to help fix it. Entered the woods, went down some, saw what could have been considered recognizable features but never found one on the map! Moderately hilly, little rock, reasonably thick, some wet areas but nothing turned a bulb on....very interesting because all of it was on the map.... In leaving, did a back-bearing on the last mapped house, figuring out about where I was - had to be flat as well because the new road was perfectly level. The Nottingcook environs shrink but I find some peace of mind knowing that this section is as developed as it can get...and I got "lost'.
GPX on USGS provided a clue (did not recognize oblong knoll which would be a surprise indeed as I once put a flag on it), so probably did go as shown - would need another visit.
Wanted to flesh in the current status of Peasley. Walked from the old end into the continued development (3 houses of a planned 12). Halfway thru the circle, I wondered how the gps track would do for accuracy without a westmost point or several to help fix it. Entered the woods, went down some, saw what could have been considered recognizable features but never found one on the map! Moderately hilly, little rock, reasonably thick, some wet areas but nothing turned a bulb on....very interesting because all of it was on the map.... In leaving, did a back-bearing on the last mapped house, figuring out about where I was - had to be flat as well because the new road was perfectly level. The Nottingcook environs shrink but I find some peace of mind knowing that this section is as developed as it can get...and I got "lost'.
GPX on USGS provided a clue (did not recognize oblong knoll which would be a surprise indeed as I once put a flag on it), so probably did go as shown - would need another visit.
Saturday Apr 19, 2014 #
10 AM
Orienteering (streamering) 1:15:00 [1] 2.12 mi (35:23 / mi) +109m 30:30 / mi
Finished off the streamer sites in SW part of map. Steep rocky terrain looking quite attractive on an early spring day. Stopped & then forgot to restart the 305 & when finished, forgot to turn it off. Distance is probably ok tho it reflects driving rather than walking. Distracted day.
3 PM
Orienteering (map work) 42:13 [1] 1.3 mi (32:29 / mi) +65m 28:07 / mi
Went to Guimond lot that was logged last fall. Walked borders for map changes. Could have just as well drawn hatch marks in ink & have been done with it & be still be 85% accurate. Instead chose to walk most of the perimeter. There was no money in this 9.6 ac lot on a hillside. It was squeezing blood out of a turnip so as to leave a mess for a very long time. Sigh.
7 PM
Note
NPR had a story on Boston womens’ marathon winners this morning. K. Switzer won the first official one in 1967 (as a “bonafide” entrant, and making Jock Semple apoplectic). This lists all winners (not mentioning Switzer). Bobbi Gibb was first finisher in ’66, ’67, ’68 and Sara Mara Berman won in ’69, ’70, ’71 (3:05:07 in 1970). Women were limited to no more than a mile and a half by AAU rules. Longer runs were “physiologically harmful” - they could cause infertility etc. We’ve advanced many proverbial miles since.
Friday Apr 18, 2014 #
10 AM
Orienteering (streamering) 3:30:00 [1] 4.73 mi (44:24 / mi) +202m 39:12 / mi
Nottingcook streamering for May 4 meet. Haven't done a meet since fall, 2012 so its been awhile. Some new root stocks added & marking of peripheral logged areas need doing. Had Z&M along for company who obviously enjoyed themselves tho I think they would have preferred heading back toward the car earlier. Someone was "home" on the active lot in the center of the forest - saw a car but no person.
Mooching lunch
Rest stop
Mooching lunch
Rest stop
4 PM
Orienteering (streamering) 1:40:20 [1] 2.74 mi (36:37 / mi) +94m 33:05 / mi
More of the same. Got 31/35 points visited so less feeling of digging out from under a rock.
Wednesday Apr 16, 2014 #
2 PM
Road running 52:10 4.43 mi (11:47 / mi) +159m 10:36 / mi
Patch-Rollins loop, CW. Bright, windy, chilly. Snowed a bit last night & snow remained in shade all day. SLoGo try-it-out approach. Knot is still there after a few miles, not really working, not encouraging. Interesting that 2 days of orienteering on rough terrain were ok. Uncertainty is the message for now.
Stopped for 15' at the Fenallosa's place.
Stopped for 15' at the Fenallosa's place.
Tuesday Apr 15, 2014 #
Note
Another day off, getting back from MA. Picked up the trail cam - not worthy of exercise & no photos to speak of although I saw an impressive amount of fresh moose droppings on the way if not in front of the camera.
Sunday Apr 13, 2014 #
8 AM
Orienteering race 50:03 [3] 4.46 km (11:13 / km) +172m 9:24 / km
Sunday, Black & White Cap Mt. map. Better than yesterday, say B+. Early start, 8:10, nice temperature. Map a lot more detailed than yesterday.
Mind wandered on way to #4 at end & retraced my route maybe 20m...get with it, Bob! Lost map contact 3/4ths way to #5, kept moving in right direction & things fell back in place. Saw Walk just ahead at the cp. Pretty much followed him to #6 as well as #7 tho we arrived there at the same time. To #8 went L to the marsh & picked my way along small streams. On way to #9 again some uncertainty but kept going & things fell in place. 10 to 11 took me back over the same streams as 7 to 8. Concentration was good in the complex areas. George went a different way from 7 & I did not see him again. Felt reasonably energetic & calf is ok, so maybe out of the woods in that sense.
Course & route
Took yesterday’s map to the start area & revisited 2,4,5, & 6 after today's run. That map is missing quite a bit of detail. I did not care for the placement of 6. It was quite a surprise to see Walk come round the line of RFs at 6! I thought I was the only soul in the area. George was visiting points w/o map - both done, we jogged back together.
Driving away from Lake Frederick was a bit sad. A really nice weekend. The first, Black Rock Forest, was 36 years ago....
Mind wandered on way to #4 at end & retraced my route maybe 20m...get with it, Bob! Lost map contact 3/4ths way to #5, kept moving in right direction & things fell back in place. Saw Walk just ahead at the cp. Pretty much followed him to #6 as well as #7 tho we arrived there at the same time. To #8 went L to the marsh & picked my way along small streams. On way to #9 again some uncertainty but kept going & things fell in place. 10 to 11 took me back over the same streams as 7 to 8. Concentration was good in the complex areas. George went a different way from 7 & I did not see him again. Felt reasonably energetic & calf is ok, so maybe out of the woods in that sense.
Course & route
Took yesterday’s map to the start area & revisited 2,4,5, & 6 after today's run. That map is missing quite a bit of detail. I did not care for the placement of 6. It was quite a surprise to see Walk come round the line of RFs at 6! I thought I was the only soul in the area. George was visiting points w/o map - both done, we jogged back together.
Driving away from Lake Frederick was a bit sad. A really nice weekend. The first, Black Rock Forest, was 36 years ago....
4 PM
Note
Stopped by Three Ponds, once a vibrant place. Used to hunt frogs, snakes & turtles there in the 50s. Carved initials in a tree on the end of the peninsula, April, 1960. In the late 50s, I 95 was constructed, passing 200-300m from these photos, beginning the decline.
Overgrown a
b
The tree? from the 60s with the initials. Have been there over the years, so some reasonable reason to believe so.
Overgrown a
b
The tree? from the 60s with the initials. Have been there over the years, so some reasonable reason to believe so.
Saturday Apr 12, 2014 #
Event: West Point A-meet
Orienteering 57:30 [3] 4.4 km (13:04 / km)
Lake Frederick, Saturday - excellent weather after rainy night. This gets a B-: missed two, no excuse & went up & down once when I should have contoured and left then right when I should have gone straight. Leg did not bother me at all - felt a twinge on run-in but all in all encouraging. Out of shape for sure. Left 305 cradle at home. Distance is course length.
Map & route
#2 stopped too early, was not in map contact & gave 1/75 scale too much thought, worrying I’d overrun when I had not arrived (guess 2’ lost). #5 climbed unnecessarily high, to avoid thick briars & alsobecause I allowed loss of attention. #6 - missed by maybe 2’...simple...to the spur, turn L, proceed along base except point was not at "my" RF. Wondered about the map there. #10 went down to shore of Bull Pond when I should have stayed up - as it was, had to climb back up. #16 went to road, seemed a bit of a ways back in vs just going straight, staying in woods. Think I gave up maybe 6'.
Dave Pruden, walking by with his daughter Maggie, stopped to say hello. Dave & I go back to the beginning of time in O, so to speak. It's always nice to visit with O friends and old ones moreso.
Drove through Bennington on the way over. I've been passing this large, spooky place at the edge of town (in the "high rent" district) for as long as I can remember. I don't know its story. It has always looked like this
Map & route
#2 stopped too early, was not in map contact & gave 1/75 scale too much thought, worrying I’d overrun when I had not arrived (guess 2’ lost). #5 climbed unnecessarily high, to avoid thick briars & alsobecause I allowed loss of attention. #6 - missed by maybe 2’...simple...to the spur, turn L, proceed along base except point was not at "my" RF. Wondered about the map there. #10 went down to shore of Bull Pond when I should have stayed up - as it was, had to climb back up. #16 went to road, seemed a bit of a ways back in vs just going straight, staying in woods. Think I gave up maybe 6'.
Dave Pruden, walking by with his daughter Maggie, stopped to say hello. Dave & I go back to the beginning of time in O, so to speak. It's always nice to visit with O friends and old ones moreso.
Drove through Bennington on the way over. I've been passing this large, spooky place at the edge of town (in the "high rent" district) for as long as I can remember. I don't know its story. It has always looked like this
Thursday Apr 10, 2014 #
Note
Looked at '13 & '12 WP meet logs last night. What escapes my mind returns with words &/or pictures. Saturday night, Mike Hendricks sums his past 10 years in O at WP. Dig deeper, the story goes far back. I was reminded PG made the original Bull Pond map (not to mention placing the first Black Rock forest, '77?). Bull Pond must have been for the meet spring '79. Might have that map or might have lost it in the septic flood of late summer '91. Who on AP might have been there? PG, Gail, Jim Arsenault, Mikell Platt, Hans B., Tony Federer, Sharon C, myself...others? Recalled my DNF & DNS one WP weekend early 80s: Saturday got disgusted with the mindless physicality of the course & Sunday woke to freezing rain hitting the roof & windows of Gypsy. Sat nite by a campfire was largely spent deciding what was wrong with the world with Olaf (Beth & Mette sensibly in the vocal shadows)...undoubtedly, etoh-fostered opinions. WP times are a-changin' continuously.
3 PM
Trail/woods running 46:04 2.68 mi (17:11 / mi) +50m 16:15 / mi
Planned on 30' in town but did not have shoes so resorted to Nottingcook which was very nice despite all the ice/snow on the roads - not all so slippery as it was over 60F. Had a map in hand & "woke up" to the surroundings in that manner.
The beaverless bog today
The beaverless bog today
Wednesday Apr 9, 2014 #
3 PM
Road running 31:37 [2] 3.01 mi (10:31 / mi) +72m 9:47 / mi
BHS & BES, 3mi. Blustery March-like day. Kids playing a tennis match, lacrosse and running track. Maps for company.
Tuesday Apr 8, 2014 #
5 PM
Road running 22:54 2.0 mi (11:27 / mi) +39m 10:48 / mi
Plan was 2mi on Stoney Brook (w/ O maps for company) to see how that went. Just a slight soreness. Will try 3 tomorrow. A nice mild day, cloudy initially. T & shorts.
Monday Apr 7, 2014 #
Road/trail 25:00 1.5 mi (16:40 / mi)
At BHS around 6:30 - on grass and a bit of hardtop, no problem with it. A bit more each day. What goes this weekend is most uncertain. Virtually no proper preparation. At least, hopefully, I can huff & puff over hills to completion of the course.
Put a trail cam out, hopping to catch something, preferably a moose.
Put a trail cam out, hopping to catch something, preferably a moose.
Sunday Apr 6, 2014 #
Walking 35:00 [1] 1.0 mi (35:00 / mi)
Went to BBR end of WH with intention of visiting some points for the early May meet. But the amount of snow made the woods inaccessible w/o SS.
Encountered two trucks coming out but no trash etc as I sort of expected.
Lovely day. Passed up the Mine Falls meet.
"White out"
Encountered two trucks coming out but no trash etc as I sort of expected.
Lovely day. Passed up the Mine Falls meet.
"White out"
Note
Stopped at BHS on way home from NHH & slithered along for awhile. Now that's over.
Saturday Apr 5, 2014 #
Skate skiing 25:00 [2] 2.0 mi (12:30 / mi)
BHS oval about 300m, some of which was effortless glide kind of stuff. 40F, around 10a. DP, too. Still good-to-go snow in shade.
Weightexercise workout 30:00 [1]
Weightexercise workout (cardio) 10:00 [3]
No running, very little before WP
Thursday Apr 3, 2014 #
Walking 30:00 [1] 1.5 mi (20:00 / mi)
Fields by White farm & Iron Works trying out things. Not up to running.
Wednesday Apr 2, 2014 #
9 AM
Skate skiing 1:09:17 7.55 mi (9:11 / mi) +1m 9:10 / mi
White farm followup. Yesterday was worth trying again today. Less snow, for sure. Yesterday pm climbed to 57F. Got there today about 9a. Tracks present from another skier from yesterday pm when it was slushy. They were quite angled from the direction traveled. Led to conclusion: greater the angle between the skis, greater the difficulty going forward. Pure ice=zero angle. Went over some of that briefly (pure ice). Tried western field & was surprised to get around the perimeter as easily as I did - leaving established track in a few places. Don't know whether the RWBs were cheering or jeering. Certainly spring was present. Not sunny tho as forecast. Took the skis out of the car for good.
Was also a DP, no issue with their mucking up trails. Put them back in car after 2.7 mi. Z insisted on generally keeping up, M lagged behind. Some of my circles got smaller for that reason. Had running shoes for a look-see jog but did not resort to. Calf made no noise.
Corn rows
End of this "road"
Was also a DP, no issue with their mucking up trails. Put them back in car after 2.7 mi. Z insisted on generally keeping up, M lagged behind. Some of my circles got smaller for that reason. Had running shoes for a look-see jog but did not resort to. Calf made no noise.
Corn rows
End of this "road"
Tuesday Apr 1, 2014 #
Skate skiing 10:00 [2] 0.7 mi (14:17 / mi)
BHS about 9:25. Was under 30F last night but not enuf usable crust. Pole occ. would go thru 4-6" and even a ski down 2-3" now & then.
Skate skiing 40:00 [3] 4.0 mi (10:00 / mi)
Then tried White Park which was very good in a few places: 1/2" soft/slush on old packed. Some skiing between rows of corn stalks, some over ice and itty bitty melt streams and once stepping across a band of grass. Interesting how some fields are mostly 100% bare ground, others mostly snow-covered. Needed to be earlier. Seems crazy with the bare ground and mud in parking - but venture a little and rewards could be considerable.
The yard and Nottingcook/Bow woods have up to 12" of snow in places - very little bare ground - unlike Concord. In the drive; Toward the stream
The yard and Nottingcook/Bow woods have up to 12" of snow in places - very little bare ground - unlike Concord. In the drive; Toward the stream
Weightexercise workout (cardio) 30:00 [3]
Stationary bike - 30' map reading. Turkey Hill at 1/15 to my eyes was practically unintelligible. One leg
here, magnified for sake of sanity...
here, magnified for sake of sanity...
Note
A road race around cherry blossom time has to be the Capitol run - 20K or so is additional spectacle. Would that I be so inspired!:).