Training Log Archive: bl

Expected to run a bit today but too many storms circling the OK Corral.
Tomorrow dawns a WSW, flying from MCH into it, in the direction of Phily. What will the day's adventures bring...? A lucky escape or just plain frustration.


Zoe early '02 playing "catch me if you can". Certainly hope to catch a timely flt out of Phily to make tomorrow's race possible.

C • Zoe 2

Bright, sunny continued. PL walk w/o any snow/ice to deal with.

Local loop, again perfect weather, one lap on CHS track near end. Saw a man in a field with a gun on his hip...the featured flower of this particular NH spring. Thousands at the State House tomorrow noon protesting the Republican finance committee budget. These Republicans recently passed a law allowing the carrying of concealed weapons & one need not even apply for a license. Cars & your dog yes but not to purchase & carry a gun. Maybe there will be some shooting of bullets into the sky as done in various Middle East countries.

Added Langley to Fisk-Little Pond loop. Bright/sunny.

Mind definitely elsewhere today.

Weights etc

AM DP, cold, some NW wind. Woods are pretty much impenetrable.

Stopped at BHS, not looking for much. Ran toward Turee Pond & running on it (a seemingly large white desert) seemed in order. Ice was thick, woods/marsh on most shores. Ran toward far end, could see sparking water 100m beyond where stream entered. Took some SM trails (half bare, half snow) to the school field & elected to return same way. A bit of an adventure made it better than just macadam.

Route

PM DP on PL bare ground. Indeed "training" in quotes.

Faraway series, photos from elsewhere, #59

A weeping willow and late afternoon reflections, spring, 1968
Westchester, NY

AM DP at BHS after NHH rounding. Had to use that snow left over from yesterday! Flat baseball field, most of it covered with a flat (very slightly ripply), slithery surface. One push with poles probably gets one to 10-12'/mi rate of motion. Best surface was minimal old soft crust over ice - moderate variation depending on sun's hitting or not. Did some back & forths, then some ovals, one 18" wide bridge between bare grass on the north side of the field. Ended when the beeper went off with cell in car. But it was time to go anyway. As Robert Frost noted "I have miles to go before I sleep".

Purgatory loop again, week later. Better than a week ago (tired from the Friday) & high time to wake up from winter's sleep. Puzzling cop-out on the climb again - this time around 7.7 mi. Hard to know whether I prefer CW or CCW, different way each time & I prefer the different way each time. Lost a head band & one glove (which I liked) - noted at 3.8 mi. Finished, drove to something like 4.5 mi point, expecting to see these items somewhere along the way - right in the middle of the road perhaps. No such luck (couldn't always recall which side of road) and then spotted head band on "opposite" side. So drove another 4 mi RT hoping to spot the glove as well but no luck! I'm of the belief (ostrich?) that if I just keep looking, I'll find what I'm looking for (even if looking in the same place numerous times:). Have played that out with the wallet numerous times over the years - tho' last October, I lost.

C • Nice run 4

Quiet Sunday PM led to a visit to Robert Frost's farm (in residence 1900-11) in Derry. Had seen his wooden writing cabin in Ripton, Vt as well as visited his grave in Bennington. Took this short field trip with the dogs. I'd been aware of this residence - closer to home than I thought & a nice opportunity to read poems in a sunny field.

Frost farm in early spring



A Patch of Old Snow (RF)

There's a patch of old snow in a corner
That I should have guessed
Was a blow-away paper the rain
Had brought to rest.

It is speckled with grime as if
Small print overspread it.
The news of the day I've forgotten --
If I ever read it.

(a day or two ago, it might have been there)

AM DP, repeat of yesterday. Better crust but more tracks, dog and hikers prints. Cloudless, cold fingers. Stood around some admiring the day. Fell yesterday, edge catching crust, now a right-sided chest pain with any pushing. Beth called from west coast of FL yesterday around dinner: warmth, hibiscus fragrance, a swim, some sun tan. I could only marvel or sigh or cry.

Watched the women's WOC long race which was fun/exciting then ran out of ability to sit still - pester factor was climbing as well. Sounds like they're saying "Flower Ceremony" at the WOC as I type. The terrain looked positively steppe-like barren, windblown snow - but in June it will be lovely.

PM DP at BHS. Their running track is mostly covered w/ snow. Walked around a soccer field with a packed snow oval for nordic - skateable with bare grass as well. 12 buses parked at school, some kind of music festival. Breezy/chilly. No run today.

AM DP, noted 5 predominant colors...blue, yellow, white, brown and green (about equally represented). Cold, crisp but could feel warmth in the yellow rays.

A waning "spring moon" resting on a rim of snow

Gray, chilly. Went south on South, west on Iron Works, started up Langley
but entering the woods to Memorial Field had appeal as well as possibility.
Ran 2 laps on a snow-free track there & then straight back.

PM DP, back to PL, had to try skiing as it was a chilly, preservative-type day. Could step onto snow from car, put skis on right there & skied 0.6 mi away before turning around. Plenty of snow - all shaded trail, nothing bare - light crust, max 2". One old set of wide ski tracks - wider than melt would explain, maybe some backcountry style. Very few pole impressions adding to confusion. Blue with plenty of cumulus. Probably calls for a return in the AM.

AM DP, just dawning after dropping Beth off at airport. Smudgy sky, 2/3rds of a moon. Someone had cut a large hardwood tree, piles of fragrant sawdust and shavings. Mocha all over the place with spring nose.

PM DP on skate skis slithering over soft wet on top of firm. Enough support &/or brown for dogs, enough white to make it fun for me but finally cold fingers in only 37F w/ knit gloves. Got a decent way up the stream but further progress closed off by a hillside. Alot of snow at base of north-facing slope covered with hemlock.

View from a window



A week from an A meet.... Last April 1st I note being at SPS track before work (unprecedented) on a 50F am (sounds perfect), running a 7:03 & 7:01 after a considerably slower warm-up. Like to think I can still do same. So much slow stuff (practically plodding) given winter & necessary cover & usual blahs of the time of the year, albeit fading.

Went to SPS in search of bare ground but not much found. Wandered around to boat house & then thru campus. Bike path was clear at the start but then a half mile slipping on snow so finished on roads except for a half lap on SPS track - inside lane was 85% clear. Saw a few robins, snow showers & bright sun as well. Tired from a night of little sleep..some of Beth's anxiety re being at airport by 0600 rubbed off - as well as being the only taxi driver around.

Noon, Fisk-Little Pond, cw, gray with chilly north wind. Goal was the completing but got a bit more interested in latter half.

White Park after 1pm. No one there but some skate & classic tracks. No bare ground for 1/2 mile track but soft, slushy surface over hard. Would have been better first thing. Was out back on lawn early which was better. Fun anyway. Gray, cloudy.

Faraway series, photos from elsewhere, #58
Spring Reflections, Harriman SP, March, 2007



not so far away or long ago,
a rest on a ledge...

Noon, snowing fairly hard. Luti CW, noisy on Clinton, quiet at SPS. Finally w/o any wind...big lazy, flakes floating down - quite pretty even if pretty much unwanted but not unwarranted. March is like that, a madness unto its own. Wet by the time I got back.

Freedom Trail walk in Boston on a chillier-than-anticipated day. Left two pairs of gloves behind in the car in the Commons garage and no ear warmers etc. Cold in the city canyons but warm pockets elsewhere. Lots of fun to see the sights as well as people. Took the dogs along so as to not leave them inside at home for 11 hours. They were somewhat limiting but fully enjoyed being included. Mocha growled and lunged at more than her share of pigeons. Particularly liked the early spring activity on the Commons, the old burying grounds (Copps Hill, Old Granary), the North End, the Old North Church and the USS CONSTITUTION museum. Did not have time to get to Bunker Hill.

After that, off to a lovely, most interesting dinner in Cambridge with Barb and Dave and their O friends, Katia and Giovanni. Poor Barb was stricken with a backache and occasionally had to stretch or lie down. But that did not affect the creativity in homemade lasagna & apple pie. Dave's crispy fried fish preparation was equally good. A big moon over Boston to the southeast, spring sprung, home after ten.

All said, a memorable day.

State House



A bronze devoted the the Great Famine in Ireland in late 1840s (pigeons everywhere, making sure they had plenty to eat & then poop)



On the Trail

C • I remember a walk on the Fr... 2

Event: Georgia Navigator Cup 2011
 

AM DP, hard to know what to call. Drove up to & under PL. Walked 250m with boots & skis to what was an almost excellent 300m up to 3 days ago. Yesterday's wind put a lot of small debris on the surface but still went thru the motions of skate, back & forth for 10' or so, occ. slowing on a leaf etc but for most part a decent crust. Spring starts tomorrow and the moon is full today or tomorrow. Harks back to first day of winter, full moon as well as eclipse, some 90 days ago.

C • End of ski... 4

Black Brook/Purgatory Brook loop, 39F at noon, bright. Alternating warm to cold & back depending on wind & shadow. This loop is tiring tho nice. On a few hills, I felt I'd passed Purgatory which was true, come to think. Lots of running water and bare slopes to south. Climb copped out, not sure why - more than 84m.... HRM not cooperating either. Need to see if battery is indeed functioning. By coincidence, did this the equivalent Saturday a year ago.

Road side curiosity



March blue, another photo from approximately the same vantage



Saturday, March 20, 2010

Firefox crashed 3 times uploading 305 data.... Not a clue why it finally will upload.

Mouse Chronicles: Mouse Freedom Day!

The Comfort Inn closed for the season after some 100 days of ace hospitality. One guest gave me a parting shot and then, when I wasn't looking, climbed 12" of vertical glass so as to continue living in the larger Comfort Inn at large. Beth, to her credit, never minds my silliness or incompetence re keeping these agile creatures under wraps. The acquiescing pal went to the drop off where life begins anew. The current freeloader will undoubtedly repeat the same mistake that led to a winter's hospitality & then will join his pal. And a babyless winter, no fun:(

A wee creature


Close to being a maus in a haus

PM jog to stay loose. Rest day from running. Temp made it to hi 60s, saw a shirtless jogger in the neighborhood. Windy, windy, sunny. Tried 'pick up stix' briefly this am but snow is too deep, at least 12" - needed SS and wasn't interested. In Concord, a short distance away, there is considerable bare ground.

At the sweatshop where the steady whirring of "wheels" led to thinking of
labor abuse/hard work, spinning machines.

Lovely day inspired a run home, new route. Must have been mid-50s even at 1630. West on Clinton was noisy & directly into sun. Then quiet Albin (have not run on it for years), then briefly Logging Hill & then beginning of hills to Woodhill. First time ever direction of approach to home on foot from work. Perfect temp, cool hollows, sun and shadow, a big moon visible through eastern haze, an occasional zephyr, a Heartbreak hill-length hill & a cold Coke at the end.

Route

Currently prone to looking at last-year-same-month AP log (used to never go bk to archives) - how many road miles for base, any 4 to 5 intensity, snow/any flowers. Should I think to think analytical, there is information for comparison/improvement - but not enough of the analytical stuff. A photo or two for imagery/helping memory works. Beth does not indulge in this mentality. Perusing the past in many ways is a pastime, much less so for her.

1:15 escape into a moderate rain. Drove to SPS so as to not contend w/ traffic. Ran down to the boat house, paused under shelter & returned. 33F and more rain than possibly could be enjoyable - also an inch of slush for wet feet quickly. But broke the day into pieces.

Had brought skis to work noting that a 500m stretch of White Farm nordic looked just fine yesterday and maybe rain would hold off til the pm but was not to be.

Copped out on gym.

PM DP, gray drear but no precipitation. Took the skis, boots, poles out of car for dogs. Got on other side of PL to discover mostly clean, packed snow (300m or more worth) that would have been fine for the skis now in the garage. Feel like winter ended like a light switching off (actually a light came on with winter's demise) & did not get to contemplate end of nordic effort. Plenty of skiing at Great Glen this past weekend.

DP, misty/foggy. Dogs could walk anywhere with supporting crust or nearly bare ground. Mocha generally hard to find at departure time....

1pm Water Tower loop, lovely blue day for a change. Tried to get the HRM to record but couldn't. Assumed battery was present & functioning. Confirmed its presence when I got back and found some spare change. Moved the monitor all over & did all suggested but nothing. Interesting trace saying 6.2 mi. I'm sure I turned it off at 4.6 (at end of run) when the pace drops off the cliff but it goes on to indicate another 1.6 mi, mostly in a bldg where it cannot receive sat signals & if it could, it was not moving about as indicated! Maybe the monitor was in unrecordable afib the whole time....

At least the 305 uploaded quickly - by "killing" history I'm guessing. Sunday's SS trace froze Firefox twice for reasons unclear. Not the first time, maybe was the third.

C • HRM 5

Run home from work, gray, 40F. Unsure about it after yesterday - goal was to do it, & maybe under an hour. Stopped at the end of each of first few splits - was overdressed. Last run home was 10/28. Only 2.5 wks to first A meet - need more miles, good or not so good, just do. Also, time for HRM.

Poor shoes upped & died long ago - need to invest in better cushioning.

Faraway series, photos from elsewhere, #57
A lone gun still (1989) looks seaward from Red Beach, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, the site of a famous WWII battle in 1942

Granite State SS champs. Not that I noticed the event but Diane planted a seed just yesterday &, I, not having reviewed Pragmatism 101, bought some idea or fantasy lock, stock & barrel. Besides all the second thoughting, I paused for at least a minute in the drive, thinking "Bob, you can run 10.3 mi in South Bow on the Purgatory Brook loop & GSD (get stuff done) as well." But, something made me push that blatant fact aside in pursuit of the manufacture of enthusiasm...that I'd get busy on as soon as I headed north, a long way north and that was part of my problem.

But Jenn's & Gil's coming separately yesterday for Beth's surprise 70th from Burlington, VT, arriving at 4p & heading back to Burlington around 8:30 gave me pause (300miRT). Also, once Gil got here, after picking up Janelle in Tilton, she said "HBD, Grandma" & he then dropped her off in Lexington for an 18 year-old's BP & returned, before returning to B'ton. And, this was the weekend I was to drive to the Snowgaine in Winona SF north of Syracuse if I could find a fellow enthusiast - that would have been 700 mi RT. So, that diminished the problem but did not really remove it.

Something about northern NH that I don't find appealing - largely, an immense amount of honkey tonk, ticky tack by the roadside. Routes 104/Meredith, 25 & 16 feature garrish billboards that seriously detract from NH's natural appeal. Driving to Burlington, Vt is entirely different. But, in some respects, this is the ticky-tack, free-market, live-free-or-die state. Sigh, a Republican state, crassly commercial. And this the time of year with dirty snow and the aforementioned, well, a bit depressing. But there would be the beauty of white snow (there was plenty), some running in the woods etc. And maybe the sun would smile upon Mt. Washington Valley.

I arrived at 10:05, an easy drive on a Sunday am, faster than Mapquest. 113 mi, 133', plenty of time. Diane & Brian were there as well as Tony Federer & some of his family: Kris & Andy & children. I stood on that start line with ambivalence about the 6 mi race soon to begin. Off we went, Brain (who I've finished ahead of twice & alongside once or twice) pulled away. Then not a lot of company...but who should come alongside at 2.4 mi (on the 305) but my buddy Diane! (check pulse, a fib?:). Diane pulls ahead & not much later I realize TF is slowly catching. We pass back thru the start (first part Gt. Glen nordic trails) and begin single track climbing (& it was indeed freshly-made, scooped-sided, post-hole potential, very single). Diane, dealing with her phobia about downs, was reeled in. TF caught up & I let him by telling him his competition was about 75 yds ahead. Maybe 2' later, I could see him on the ground under a fallen tree trunk (maybe 5.5' above snow?) with 2 runners helping him up. First thought was a weak/dizzy event but when I got there I could see considerable blood on the snow from where he beaned the tree, distracted by the women's letting him pass. He pointed put the efficacy (and inconvenience) of aspirin in rendering his clotting system less than optimal - quite a few splotches of bright red on snow white. It seemed prudent that he return safe & sound so we both turned around. Some time with firm pressure applied solved his problem. I'm still wondering what was the source of mine. It must have had to do with the power of negative thinking - was well enough rested etc.

Stopped the watch where TF hit the trunk & walked back. Had gotten down to Tee- shirt & rolled-up leggings, 40F proving hot until the slow down - but a short return.

Seems strange to have been all the way up to the Mt. Washington auto road/Glen house & back, lickety split. So many memories up there & that was one reason why going back was a mixed message. Can recall two nights sleeping in a car in the Glen House parking lot. One with Beth on the night of the (near full? )moon rise in December, in '82. We hiked up the auto road. She to tree line, me to the top. Twinkling stars gave way to moonlight on a calm evening. Maybe 8 years ago, Peter Andersen & I slept in cars in the same parking lot to get up at 0330 or so & hike up the auto road - Sat. before Easter Sunday. We were at the top by 0800. Peter called Martha - I was impressed as cells were not something I'd been acquainted with. There were 2 Mt. Washington road races, '77 & '78 as well as some winter hiking/climbing. And there these same mountains were across the road today, covered with cloud, looking down right unattainable should one be so inclined. And the snow-covered road had the sign: Closed til mid-May.

And then away, did not se Diane, spoke with Brian. Long before then TF's bloody face was cleaned up.

So be the day.As one reason to go, I maintained that if I went, I'd remember it more than "getting stuff done" at home. And that seems to be the truth. And yet, I did get some stuff done at home...and an extra hour of pm daylight helped. And the pulse, I'm wondering about that, too - since I've had PAC's which can palpate the same. Tomorrow will tell.

Ice fishing under Mt. Chocorua's watchful eye

C • Kudos 4

Event: CNYO Snowgaine #15
 

AM DP, sun! & feeling of spring tho exercise was one of balancing on ice & occ breaking thru crust surface.

Off Hooksett Tpke. north of Clinton. Not sure if I've ever been to that part of town. Not much in way of thru roads, so it was quiet, 1/3rd on dirt road. All pines, making for a visually impenetrable experience. So different further south with almost exclusive hardwood. Was on edge of Pages Corner SF.
Partly sunny. Saw a few t shirt-shorts types but lo 40s didn't seem comfortable for that outfit.

Back to TI. Raining enough at noon to make it not worth the getting wet.
5' quasi-cardio provided some TV scenes of Japan earthquake. Why is it that I dislike cardio indoors when it does serve a useful purpose.... The background hum is cardio energy exerted.

Gray, rainy, foggy, drear, sunshine hardly anywhere near. Maybe tomorrow.

Chief says "TGIF, time to break rules."


September, '01.

AM DP, dreary, dancing on ice. Z preoccupied with a piece of leather bone. Shortchanged them but they didn't seem to care. Rain in the cards.

Testosterone Institute, missed it last week. Couldn't quite recall my 5 digit # - testosterone helps memory.

Luti opposite direction fm yesterday. Gray, grimy, chilly, no
head gear. Was not interested in doing this but had no choice since I don't know differently.... A case of late winter blahs on a dirty day (roadside snow has become dirty and icy). Nothing pleasant to look at outside today (in spite of the fact that some of run was on the omnipresent Pleasant St.). But rain held off.

I went off in search of a smile on this day & found "Happiness in the Forest", early spring, '07, Harriman SP (off Seven Lakes Dr.).

Luti CCW, gray, early spring.

AM DP, blue, warm sun but cold fingers. M. brought a leather bone but proceeded to lose it, at least for today. Walked by a small stream, today rushing noisily under the road, a pleasant contrast to the frozen silence of January. Could walk most anywhere except the road which was ice.

At BMS & BHS on way home, did this before in Nov or Dec - went looking but couldn't easily enough locate (thus the utility of writing some runs in a note book). 75 on/50off second loop. Nice opportunity & refreshing - by this time of year, limitation takes its toll, creativity chomps at the bit. A bit shadowy/snowy at BMS but sun at the HS compensated. Noted one fellow running in shorts & singlet - T about 44F.

Monday, Monday type of day - windy & spitting in front so started downwind. Turning right on Iron Works led to more wind so turned around, crossed on
Rockingham to Broad & back - walked a good bit of it - head wasn't in it but
still good to be outside. Something's better than nothing. Porgy said "I got plenty of nothing". I'm probably better off than he is.

By three pm, sun was out & about completely clear by 5p - and 25F/windy.
Started to take dogs for a DP (3 days in kennel) but when Mocha ran to the drive, put them in the back of the car, helped Beth with wood, let them out & brought them back in house. Somehow, they thought they been given some sort of decent rx. PL was not in the cards.

Entered FP. Next WP, then O-ringen - reality in the making. Might subtract a few seconds/mi from the pace.

Faraway series, photo from elsewhere, #56

School children, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1990

Glimpses of Manhattan

Times Square at night, as riveting a color display as any I've seen






Uncle Sam says it's Time...Johnny get your gun



"We are poor little lambs who have lost our way..."



Pondering forever and ever



Yesterday morning was largely a dog's world and what fun (this a most sedate photo compared to other opportunities (blurs)





After an interesting, twice-in-a-lifetime yachting-related dinner ('96 &'11) in the Model Room at NYYC on Friday eve, we went to see Eric L, a Harrison HS classmate, unseen for 46 years! - not since June, 1964. E. went to Dartmouth and Harvard Law School but, in spite of longstanding proximity, our paths did not cross for reasons unknown to me or maybe even Eric (whom I suspect is more insightful). E. came on my radar screen in '00 related to a HS 36th (the first) reunion. I couldn't make it (which superceded the courage I might have needed to go) but his GPS locale was noted. Within the past year, I googled his name which popped up at a Manhattan law firm which I eventually called & the rest is yesterday's history & certainly some of tomorrow's future. I left saying "before 40 more". He and Arlene have a beautiful 7th floor apartment (bought 35 years ago) on Riverside Drive on the upper west side with 3 large windows gazing at the Hudson. He has a sister, Lynn, whom I also recall from HHS, living in Newton and a daughter in Cambridge as well as alum stuff in Lebanon and Cambridge so we should be well served to go over our HS (and elementary) years in a fashion I don't seem to recall. He told me at least one "outlandish" story about myself & I sheepishly said "did I do that"? It was off-the-wall stuff and in '64 we were not on drugs for sure & alcohol was only a recent discovery - so what was going on.... A most memorable visit to Manhattan and then off the mid-island to visit my stepmother.

C • Visiting Manhattan 11

Sans Souci CP - warm, gray, on verge of spitting. Countless trails in scrub oak & pine, like Cape Cod & the islands for the same reason. Just ran & turned again & again w/o sense of direction enabled (overcast +) & finally felt it was nearing time to know which way was out. Had been there before & a vague familiarity blossomed into a car park.

Home about 6:30, lots of fog & rain at end. And now raining hard for the first time since winter began.

305 mediocre reception shows in city canyons, fine in CP. Some of pace is determined by cross-Manhattan traffic which is likely to be unyielding/unforgiving. DId not see the benefit of being a squashed statistic.

To Central Park open space with an air of excitement. Woke up later than expected, curtain closed, concrete canyon beyond. Didn't sleep well, one minor thing noted in the night was 0430 street laughter, refuse pickup a bit later. Opened the curtain, no shafts in the canyon. Up 7th to the park full of activity...a bike race, hundreds of joggers, dogs & owners and everyone getting along just fine. Maybe 500 dogs, 97% off-leash and virtually no quarreling. Snowdrops as well as daffodil shoots. Last here 12/30 of maybe 7 years ago when CP was a Currier & Ives print of falling flakes in a storm, no traffic - unearthly silence held NY in a trance.

In NYC, from 235 W 35th to NYYC on 44th & back. Busy, busy Friday pm - the entire gamut of humanity moving briskly for the most part. Tiring day, long but straightforward drive, up too late visiting last night. Walked thru TImes Square after dark - bright, changing colors & photos/commercials everywhere. Impressive.

AM, brrr! on the PL, all blue & white. Got crabby with dogs who had minds of their own (taking their own sweet time) as fingers were freezing.




Blue and white PL morning

C • Feels cold 5

Skate at White Farm, crusty, nice. Out of wind along edge of woods.

Little Pond - Fisk CCW, 40F, one runner in t shirt + shorts. Noted a second in t shirt & shorts on way home...two two-legged crocuses. Left heel sore enough that went right to cafe for ice and 600mg ibuprofen upstairs.

Spring indeed in the morning & eve light. DST change 11d.

Am DP on PL from Abbey. First downhill, downwind then reverse. Good traction thanks to SM's. Good potential for a PL ski, maybe could come up with 3/4 mi gradually downhill.

Iron Works- Luti. Bright & pleasant, no hurry to get back inside to windowlessness. 0.5 mi of almost pure ice. Welcome March...time marches on!

PM DP, double-dip as Beth not home. 5pm bright, considered car to PL but dogs not interested in jumping in & I w/o sufficient energy.