Training Log Archive: bl

Event: Pawtuckaway Camping Weekend
 

Preface

Dreary, rainy day. Couldn't get excited about going to Pawtuckaway in such weather as it's reasonably close & I can go when the sun shines. Was there in July for 2 CSU training days so not so bereft. College classmate spent last night here so that was cause for breaking any training rules & was a bit under the droopy weather anyway. Spent 90' hauling & stacking wood with Aaron Forrest, a near 16 y/o we pay $12/hr. Aaron gets that, I possibly get a sore back tomorrow. Don't usually like stacking wood (in larger context of limited amount of time for the various...) but it was fun visiting/working with him. Aaron plays soccer & runs track. Last May, he ran a 52.9 400 as a freshman.

One of the voids today was filed with New England Creamery Boston Vanilla Bean covered with Mrs. Richardson's Butterscotch Caramel...recidivistic behavior, I suppose, but at its best.

Postscript

At some point, went to AP & saw discussion about lights for the night O which got me to thinking...how could I not go? So, a nice time visiting with O friends, even Heather Williams & Pat Dunlavey, a true rare sighting from western Mass. . My goal for the O was to sample & convince myself I could do it w/o a lot of fumbling. Which I generally did. Not satisfied with light & compass (very hard to see that needle was aligned with N/S). Some 20 lined up, JJ checking to see that each of us had 2 lights. Lots went to same first control, however, "runners" fairly quickly got separated. Found myself near Charlie & Phil; Barb B & Dave had just disappeared. Had convinced myself of where we were 100 fm control & Charlie & Phil went to left knoll, I went right to correct one. Was all I could do to resist saying: "Here guys!." Alone to 2nd control (#1), got to stream & end of long pond with open marsh but for life of me could not find stone wall. Tried twice, maybe spending 15-20', then bailing out east rather disgusted. Found the rest pretty directly. Encountered Bill Pullman at #8, only person identified after the first. There was a group of 6 or so coming in tandem to 8. Finished around 10:10 or so & drove home to spend the night in my own bed. Have a house guest for 3 nights who wondered why anyone would want to do such thing! Would like to try on a dry night as bespectacled drizzle/mist makes for additional visual imagery that is or isn't there:).

ps went back to the pond & took a second look after Sunday run...wall was right where it was supposed to be, must have been standing on top of it....

Friendly Kitchen 5k at NHTI, ran same last 9/12. 23:46 today, slowest 5k since i started these spring '08. Ran this in 22:04 last year, adding some seconds by not seeing finish in rain. Sprinkles, low 60s today. Course is grass, packed dirt, some gravel, no hardtop. Expected first mi sooner - saw a sign ahead, thinking that can't be mile 1 but it was (7:19). After, there were no more markers that I saw. Nothing conspicuous anyway - surprising since it is the NHTI XC course & there were signs naming sections of it. Spent a mile or so in negative frame of mind after the first which gradually faded. Usually first mi around 6:45 in these - true, this is a softer surface. No redemption yet. There's always another day - for the time being:). Jeff Fetter was there - he is an early 40s academic-type psychiatrist/internist from work. His wife, psych RN at work, said it was the first race of any kind he'd ever participated in. He plays a wicked fiddle but apparently he's got some new directions. Asked me about sailing, too. Good for him.

Wood stove tonight, woods tomorrow. Still remains to be seen if the wicked hard night O is a go - last year's deluge sent me packing.

Basically a rest day (since there's a 5k tomorrow eve) & but went to SPS for perhaps small redemption, say 1 metric mi at 6:40 pace & depart feeling more or less back to snuff. Not to be! Warmed up, ran the first half in 3:24, quit; said OK, then 2 halves, one done; started the second but quit at 1 lap (while on pace) -seemed too much work. So then had bright idea of 1 or 2 200s around 40, recalling some 80sec 400s earlier in summer - also BP's agreed with "speed is good" slogan. But it was a 42 & not a, say, 40, so again quit on a second, went back to work. And after day was over, went to Concord Hospital for some overdue bloodwork...not if that doesn't sound hypochondriacal, what does:)? Came home & took a nap. Obama's speech to the school children quoting Michael Jordan's failing & failing over again & "that is why I succeed." A nice reminder to just plug along.

Creative DP, some muck, high weeds. Mocha encountered something...man or perhaps moose from way bark sounded & hackles went up.

SPS XC at noon, T70ish. Thought I had energy but first split
(2:40 but OOB too much) was ominous & next nailed the coffin. Not a clue why some days are so different from others, all else, eg, sleep, any imbibing etc, being the same. Just flat. First 14:58, second 14:55 w/ about 5' rest. 2 wks ago: 15:00, 14:20 w/ 1' rest. Several months earlier, 14:32, 14:27 w/o stopping. Was going to stop at track after work but will quit while ahead.

C • Not a clue why some days ar... 6

Noon run with Diane, good energy esp considering waking up 180 mi
from work, perusing dawn w/ usual poor sleep. Ran by vets where Beth was picking up dogs - had to run off as to avoid pandemonium. Wanted bit more for day (track) but will postpone.

Duck Harbor, Isle au Haut 85', 4.5 walk, slow jog, narrow trails,
roots/rocks/views all conspired to slow pace.Western Head & Cliff Trails & back via Western Head Rd. Running only possible on road & was not up to it.

Cliff Trail again...




Vignette...

South Shore/ Middle Rd loop, mid-morn, cold front last night, good temp. Spacious fields/views interspersed with forest & old homes/farmhouses.
Bit less energy, predictable.

Dam Road off Middle...




South Road sleepers...