Training Log Archive: bl

While GPS was off

Dunbarton Black Brook loop - wanted "adventure" so this fit the bill. Dunbarton is largely a 'woods town'. Many nice views of fields, patches of wood, walls, water etc. Drew a blank several times - had to look carefully at the intersection and think...which way. Near end, made a left expecting to see car...not there so that was true confusion, needed that left and another right and another 0.7 mi. Hit 'stop' vs 'lap' & did not record a half mile or so. Wearing tights makes for more work lifting knees (than there already is....) - bunching the material around the knees makes for a few minutes of "free & easy." Last I did this was the first day of spring! and some 7' faster. Indeed, hunker down time has arrived. Realized I gave it a name last March: Black Brook loop.

PM DP with Zoe at BHS, Turee Pond looking very nice. Today was two days in one - the first rainy/dreary & the second bright & blue. Finished "The Lotus Eaters" in the first & picked up sticks for part of the second. Aaron & Leah came by & stacked 1.5 cords of wood, saving me exertion....

Took two O maps: APOC'02 & a DVOA (11/03/01) to pass time while doing lower extremity work - an interesting diversion. Gave a homeless man (standing by the non-stop shoppers) $2 in exiting, one of many things learned from Beth.

Thanksgiving Day
A SloGo around Bog Meadow. 31F feels cold when winter is coming. Was not in a hurry to get out of car with its good heater & heated seats - had a cold start to the day. Pest factor had risen to 0.7 or so, so little choice. Saw a woman with 4 or 5 Goldens and ice on ponds. Not much else.

Paused to recall some other T-day runs. One early '90's running up to top of Graylock & down on the road, maybe 11mi. Found one from '77 in a log that says 4.5mi around/near Weston-Ash street reservoir, one from '78 (77'/10mi) in Concord with names like Strawberry Hill, Lowell, Pope, Spencer Brook, West. Fall of '79 around same time began mapping at Upton. Found a letter Beth sent to me in Sweden at the '83 Oringen, addressed to RML, H35...was not deliverable tho' address appeared creditable but did make it back home and unread for many years until today. No 5k in Burlington this year - can't say I miss it.

Windy AM DP, blew the moon right across the sky. Went up the spur where the dogs discovered the fawn last spring. I could see Zoe remembered.
Went from darkish woods to bright sun filtering thru by the PL.

A walk before work, not bad...a favorite spur nearby

Up-spur


Down-spur

No run, windy & had an errand and it's time to be able to say "No". Had some spare time this PM, tried the Scottish O site in going down a list of saved web sites. It was not blocked to my surprise - even more so when Route Gadget opened maps from the 2010 Scottish Champs. That is not supposed to happen.

AM PM, found Mocha's vest & walked in woods by PL as a reminder to not get in ruts, mellow, seemed warm at 37F.

Gym.

Faraway series, photos from elsewhere, #42
South Island beauty, New Zealand, 1989



from the carefree days.

SPS wander, isolative and reflective, a gentle rain, wet earth. Then the rain picked up its rate of fall and I my rate of return.

AM PM, earlier than usual. Tree cutters coming to fill drive with "stuff."

They came & now no internet or phone. Comcast & Fairpoint did not show up so the cutters cut the wires....

BHT insight etc will have to wait its turn, I suppose. Interesting to see ads on AP. Got a new library card while sitting, replacing the one in the long-lost, never-heard-from wallet.

Event: Blue Hills Traverse
 

38th BHT, nice drive to & from with Jim Arsenault. Sunny but cold. Standing around waiting to get going...a deja vu. Not much in the way of mistake time but not the total time I'd like to see. Not sure why, possibly hamstring stuff that's quiet in the backroom. Saw a lot of Dave Yee, Phil Bricker & later Bob Dangel. Phil was hustling & straight at that! Must have been holding his compass with more concentration. Most everyone ran by #1. No misses on the east map. To #15, lost maybe a minute - path no longer readily visible? so retreated & went way that Phil & Alex Jospe had gone. #22 was a previous control & recalled the way by what I could see from the trail. Only real miss was #24 when Bob & Phil were too far left; control was hidden in green & hard to imagine a rock face on such a gentle slope. Went out of the way to be certain. Challenging course that went on & on. Not particularly beat up though: nothing a long, hot shower and 800 mg Motrin can't fix. Interesting and creative map print/fold. Nice shirts & day! and via Boston for contrasts.

Faces in the crowd...
Charlie with a big smile after a long day



Tim & JJ (TP keeping an eye out for an errant ? daughter



who has just finished



she gets a close-up:-)



Tough-as-nails, oldest finisher Hans surveying the finish area



And Judy, there with a smile, warm food and maybe even some concern for the still-missing-in-action

C • Trail to 15, 24 hidden 4

Traverse - Splits