Training Log Archive: bl

Yard work which is pretty much OOB work. Got fire wood to the front door
for the new evening chill. Great fall day.

Didn't really consider this a rest day. Software evidently decided for me tho don't see where/how.

C • Rest day 2

Back to the Y - cool, grey day led me in that direction. Picked up where I'd left off with a few 'missteps'. Saw a great blue this morning and one in our stream last week - flying in close quarters they seem almost startlingly big.

Sandskrit on the power line - reminiscent of fleur-de-lis.

Starting at Audubon - turned sunny & pleasant.

Rained pretty hard last night. Nice mist on the PL this morning. Went back to the PL in the eve with Beth & Mocha & walked to the slough. Saw GOT SNOW today - our crossings date back to 2007. Currently it's turkey hunting season.

Appt with cardiac surgeon today - more as a sounding board as Concord Hospital is not a reasonable choice for mitral repair. Looks like I'll visit Cleveland Clinic, might take a few months for an appointment. Don't see much effort at "running" given a flail leaflet. Maybe more time at the Y now that fall is here anyway. Weights and other forms of exertionless exercise should be fine.

C • Tertiary referral 2

At BHS around 4:30. Usual beehive of youthful activity. After quite a few You Tube videos, I readily visualize their efficient heart valves, papillary muscles and chordae tendonae all working efficiently, pumping hearts at work, fast and slow.

NAOC days - just had a small sample but it was very nice. I missed seeing the middle but helped with the long, setting controls with Alar in fantastic woods, waking some points Sat early & and picking up a few Saturday afternoon. Camped at Storrs Pond, setting up the tent around 5:30 Sat. There were other tents but no orienteers that I could see - but it was also nearing dinner time in town. Had dinner at DHMC and then walked Main Street in Hanover, filled with people, mostly college kids. That caused some nostalgia for being young and in college once upon a time. Went to the awards ceremony & appreciated the many club history exhibits.

Cold, cold at Storrs this morning - said 37 in the car & by the time I got to town it said 33F. Just plain Cold for the half-prepared. Saw several runners out in running shorts and long-sleeved shirt but nothing on head or hands. The sprint was really good: great announcing in particular, and courses that used both forest patches and the many buildings. Followed some runners into and across the cemetery and stopped at the edge of a green “precipice” into the woods. Without map or course, could not see what next. Also crossed over to the other side around the Observatory and again peered into the woods.

Happened upon a bronze life-sized of Robert Frost, a Dartmouth grad. Last summer, we stumbled upon the grave of William Wordsworth in Grasmere in the UK Lake district. I’d say pretty lucky stumbling. Spent the remainder of my time watching finishers and of course talking with some of the many, many O friends I’ve known over the years. Never enough time and always a bit of a social overload at large meets. Always good and inspiring to see Tom Jahn, the Charlows, the Bermans and some "intermediates", Hans B, Tony F, Roger U, vanishing breeds it could be said.

Left before the sprint, miles to go before sleep time, to paraphrase. Thought of NAOC Whitehorse in the Yukon in two years but that is so many miles it’s hard to know.

Ghost at the spectator control...

C • Frost 2

Waking controls & picking up some at the end of the day. Was pretty concerned about waking up myself, 60 miles away at 0600 and getting out the door on time. A smart phone and an iPad alarm both set for 6am added reassurance.

So nice in the woods at the end of the day with the slanting shafts of light.

Event: North American Orienteering Championships 2016
 

After work, around 1pm. Wanted something different or at least not visited in a while. Just north of Concord fit the bill. Along the Merrimack for a bit, in a field. Flat, fertile farmland.

Early enough to bed, early to rise in the morning for NAOC helper work.

Route

C • Thanks for helping 2

Walk with Mocha at the brush dump which runs along north portion of Nottingcook as does the power line. Concluded this beast was the culprit that took what must have been a joy ride on an adjacent forest road, leaving minor damage - broken tree branches (more than 10' above ground) and downed trees either side. PSNH or a contractor is working on the power line. However, I don't see how there would be a justification/explanation this road taken.

At Burnt Mt. with Alar putting put flags for the long. We set up 23, I think.

Started by going up & up to the quarry area. More than a WP climb. I needed several rest stops. A visitor drank from one of the gallon jugs at the water stop. We had not noticed but then Alar found the jug in a crevice. Then we noticed that the used cup had been put back in the wrapping with the others. The point was near a trail and at the quarry. My first impression was that it was quite isolated. Amazing terrain. Had a nice time working together. Long, creative walk back after the last flag placed.

After work from 5th District Rd. Went all over the lot Beth & I admired some 10 yrs ago. Still largely hardwood forest & field. Followed an old leafy road away & away until continuing on as the way of returning became the priority. The Google app on the smart phone added a bit of fun - even if the sun alone could have done the trick. Someone pointed out to me the other day the iPhone health app with its gps measuring function. Used that for distance. A nice part of west Concord to investigate more.

Walk on Bull I and then a short row along the harbor shore. Rained a lot today. Colors coming. Naushon & the other Elizabeths are gorgeous.

A row around Hadley Harbor nooks & crannies. Tried to do a circle but the one obvious crossing point n. of Monohansett had a small stone wall atop it. It would have taken too long to go around the island given the time.

Walk at BHS - got there 5:30, just at end of first quarter of a football game so the place was packed. Fortunately, the back soccer fields were as quiet as could be. Talked with Bruce for close to 30’. Wouldn't have thought I'd spend 55' walking around the perimeter of fields but it proved a nice enough Sat eve activity at that. Touree sunset was the usual superlative.

Sat eve of the USOC. Don’t see much running around until the heart valve is addressed, maybe by October/November. Look forward to helping in the woods next weekend in any event.

An odd day - spent from about 8:45 to 4:40 on my back at CH getting a L & R cardiac cath & TES. Unanticipated wait of about 3 hrs for some unexpected emergencies. No book or anything to read after the oral valium wore off. Just stared at the back of a curtain, the clock when I could see it & listened to not particularly interesting conversation and the snoring of the guy next to me. When the time came, IV sedative assured I was clueless about what went on, esp the TEE. Good nap when I got home. And then the day was essentially done.

C • stared at back of curtain 3

From Swope Park parking. Cool, woods changing color. OOB with any climbing.

Penacook, on a blue jewel day

Virtually no public access - a trail set quite far back from the right-hand side.

From Concord Hospital after testing. Hadn't seen the water tower in years.
Got mixed up on small, unblazed trails that disappeared under leaf cover or just plain ended in nowhere.

At BHS, started with Mocha for a short while. Another cloudless day, pretty pleasant in the shade. Nice breeze by Turee. Greens and blue and a few small patches of white were the color scheme.

Back from three busy, tiring days. First, a cardiology appointment to consider approaches to MVP/regurgitation and the right thigh weakness with exertion. Then to the boat for a launch, the latest yet, 9/8. The two anxiety-inducing activities I've done over the years are meet director for one person O meets and boat launch day - and the lead-up period for both. This year, it has been the boat’s “ticker” as well. Both engines and sails serve as tickers at various times. The yard owner said the engine was "toast" after an oil sample showed 2% water. I eventually concluded/hoped it was condensation and not something serious. Even coach gave input in diagnostic speculations/considerations The moment of reckoning came, the engine started & worked OK (except for two short bouts of knocking) and, now, fingers crossed, it seems to function normally although only a few hours use.

Have a cardiac cath Friday for consideration of future MV repair as well as a test called ankle-brachial index for consideration of/evaluation of peripheral vascular compromise in the right leg. Embarking on a journey of discovery...

SPS wander - fine crisp day but paled by melancholy hearing of a friend's death from cancer.

Took in some more terrain after lunch.

At Burnt Mt. sampling the map and terrain - both very impressive. Walked a brown and then looked at a few additional points. Technical, pay attention stuff. Definitely a reality check - and a good time. West Point, Harris Center, Pawtuckaway rolled into one.

Gray driving up, sunny blue on arrival, gray going back. Interesting having an O map across the street from "a hospital in the woods". For the past 35 years, it has been work, O and boat. And tomorrow, I go Mattapoissett to get the boat in the water before it gets “stuck” in MA - so all three again in about 30 hrs. I recall a Cuttyhunk to High Rock "trip" before ’84. By the time I got to the meet, I didn’t know where I was, so to speak. Protracted change (took close to 6 hrs to get to start) made for difficult focus. The first 13 mi took about 3 hrs.

C • West Point, Harris Center, Pawtuckaway rolled into one 1

At Merrymeeting - to Magic Rocks and return a new way. Started down on an older, shady dirt road which ended in a logged "meadow". Then I worked my way down thru semi-open woods. Last of Labor Day. Hermine never showed so continued dry & sunny. Cont'd days of impressive drought.

Visit to BBSP for an O fix. Took the first map in a folder that was clearly printed and with a start triangle near where I parked. Cool, dry, no bugs. Started with confusion - no scale so distance in bland terrain thru thick woods was too rough a guess. BB seems too familiar but also not too far. Nice to be in the forest for yet another fall.

Audubon trails after trip to NHH & town.

Yesterday at the Nottingcook Sand Box. Around '07, an orienteer expressed safety concerns about kids playing on/around these hills and "ledges". I didn't see it that way. Still don't.

Can't have too much fun

C • Helicopter parents 1

Route

At SPS after work - Silk Farm, bike path, field house, along Turkey Pond, fields and back on the road. Demolished an old house to make way for new multifam housing on Dunbarton Rd. - surprised to see it as a pile of boards after 20 years of relative stateliness. Walked just about the whole way. Cut thru the woods using the GPS/Google app and compass on the smart phone for a learning experience. Thirsty by the time I got back to the car. Spoke with the shirtless middle-aged walker Diane & I used to spot 5-6 yrs ago, still doing his same walks.

BHS around 5pm - fields full of kids now that school has begun. Found a quiet stretch of grass in the furthest field for back & forth run-walk. Take stock of/in time has become more valuable these days. I'd describe my current pursuit of fitness as 'treading water'.