Training Log Archive: bl

Long run, no name loop. Drove 3 mi from house, taking me into Dunbarton & onto roads seldom used, very refreshing. Started quite irritated: maybe 8 crashes of Firefox while trying to print out a g-maps route, not sure why. Finally noted what I wanted was queued up in printer, FF quitting or not. Meanwhile, dogs pestering for nearly 2 hours, Beth was supposed to take them off before I left but she was listening to Car Talk. The door bell rang & there was a father daughter proselytizing team, Bible in hand, Jesus pamphlet on top (daughter was a spectator); being already irritated, I told them, a bit crossly, that I was a devout aetheist & there wasn't much to say. I find missionary approach/proselytizing incredibly obnoxious.

Was gray/chilly, wind fm SE, took a camera, saw a few things of note but did not bother. Nice to be engaged with the scenery, not true on lunch runs which are a rather stale diet. Saw a fellow jogging & picking up roadside cans & bottles as he went. Caught up, loud "Hi, I'm Alex" - on a "nice 9 mi loop fm South Bow road" & he went on about roadside trash. Turns out we'd met before at the '07 Nottingcook meet - he lives just off map, is an MIT prof of some kind, commutes. Came back to car where a 6 oz coke was waiting which hit the spot. Need something like that 3 times a month. Started at high point, alot of ups & downs.

Route

Water Tower cw with Diane. Gray, cool, nice enough.

Pretty much a power walk to Gibson's & back, b-day card for Beth. Had planned on running home after work, so noon was open.

Went out around 5:30, surprised dogs with the schedule change; they passed up dinner for fun first. Low 40s, mist-near-ground, drizzle-just-died kind of stuff. Maybe 1/3rd bare, largely soft, ground, rest dirty ice & soft snow.

Run home got rained out w/ additional complication of getting a birthday present home in a timely manner. Didn't do so well on Valentine's day, away at the ski-O days, good excuse......

Bought a ticket for the A meet in April, Flying Pig, more than half the "battle" in a decision to go - now to remember to enter on time.

C • Pig A meet 5

Nippy DP, frost cystals in the shade for sure. Bird sounds near the marsh, stay in sun. Was going to jog but thought better of it.

SPS XC look-see with Diane. Carpeted with debris from the high winds, fair # of trees across paths, will be awhile before clear enough to run freely. Also still ice & snow in some shaded areas. Ran 2 metric miles on SPS track as well, Peter R there, a regular on year round running circuit. . So prefer red surface to black. Did 3 laps at 8' pace which was the only half-effort evident today.

From the south-facing office window: these guys cling bravely on cold mornings



Diane illustrating later-life hurdling technique



What a mess wind can make

C • A welcome sight 3

Spent nearly an hour sawing, lifting, throwing/dragging cut wood/brashings, blow down from recent wind. Have not been to gym since learning POS was not covered & have not made a new routine at NHH.

DP around/under power line. avoiding snowy trails.

Luti 5 CCW, blue dome, lack luster on the energy side of things. awoke around 0230 & barely went back to sleep, plus maybe yesterday's bit of honesty contributed. Pavement pounding is the default activity much of the time.

AM DP with Beetle as guest, learning the rules. Noted just today some more cutting of trees, removing contours (leaving debris, rootstocks behind), presumably from last November - testimony to my not being there much this past winter. Only good thing I can say about such activity is that it eventually makes fields (but, lamentably, ticks thrive in fields).

BHS after work, bit raw, high 40s, west wind. Lacrosse finishing up, young, pony-tailed gal with filly-long, muscular legs practicing hurdle technique w/ mom in attendance.

First such workout. Always good discipline but not a gumption-day but glad to do. Demonstrates the long road ahead & begs the question, better upcoming track splits/5k races than last year? Hard to know, no significant summer O plans for long term drive. 8:14, 7:38, 7:33, 7:25.

Faraway series, photos from elsewhere, #6:
Inca gold in the sunset behind Isla San Lorenzo, Callao, Peru, '86:

WH loop CCW thru Nottingcook, out around 2pm, perfect day, 2 in a row. WH dirt road mainly ice/snow so quite slow but no falls. Had Scottish 6 day map fm '05, spiked every one, today anyway. South hillsides bare & "beautiful."

Sat & Sunday on Orr's Island for Peter S's memorial service. April weather, no snow on the coast. Thought I'd do more running but it was hard to find open space. Nowhere on that island is one more than a half mile from water. Lovely place, no two houses alike, friendly people, everyone knows each other etc. Spent night at Max & Lynnie's place.

Got up early to take care of dogs (slept in car) & off to a watering hole.

Morning moon reflected on pond surface



Early sun from Orr's-Bailey's bridge

AM DP with Beetle as well, learning the rules. Noticed more earth/sand removal - must have been in Nov. Just seeing now suggests how little I was there this past winter. Cuttng trees, removing contours - best thing I can say is that such activity makes fields eventually.