Training Log Archive: bl

Am DP same as yesterday but a lot of ice under the PL. So much that, being a wise-guy, I got car stuck enough to have to jog home, get Beth, sand etc to free up. Warm & windy.

PM DP, pesky pests. Down to beaver slough, got blown there but when turned around, wind had taken off somewhere else. Had yak traks for for first time this winter. A group sledding & 2 walking on the slough but gone from sight when we got there.

Warm up for race.

Kingman Farm Night SS race, Madbury. Good hard effort, first time on racing SS this winter (Dion rental). A lot of narrow paths (looked that way in dark). Got in a place and stayed there for duration of race. One fellow passed in the large field. Several were breathing on my tail for the last third but never did catch/pass. Rolling in woods, long field section with serpentine path (narrow, maybe 10" high sides, hard footing) and windy; and a hill at end that we ran onto, along/down & back & then down. A bunch of switchbacks both sides, fairly steep and when I thought it was the final up, there were quite a few more! Could not find Petzl, had old headlamp which was ok but when I got hot, removed head band, it did not fit tight, so carried in one hand, then the other. Was a bit difficult to see path when no one right in front. Was third in 60+, not sure how many there were, not a lot. But went there with little in mind except honest effort in novel activity. Men over 60 was first award cat, 3rd was called first, so I found myself first on a podium, amused to have rec'd a six pack of Red Hook beer as well as a homemade cake. Also won another RH six pak in the raffle (maybe 40% did). All the handouts plus the good food, much home baked made for an unusual Sat. evening.

Awards, no mudslinging allowed


Diane was responsible for my showing up, thanks to her, a lot of fun. Start at 6p but never saw a moon. When we looked later, it was overcast. Went to an Italian restaurant, Dante's, with D & Brian in Barrington after.

AM DP loop on packed snow. Smokey sky in the east, mild. Dogs all smiles for quality & distance.

Noon Luti loop, high 50s, T shirt. Passed two runners in T and shorts. Idea was to just go the distance. Entered a SS race for tomorrow eve so some energy conservation was in order.

Testosterone Inn as goodbye to the work week.

At Sunapee from 2p on. Mostly sunny, mid-40s, packed surface, no ice, very nice. Downhill is about the same training contribution as walking, golfing, rogaine practice - does add some isometrics, agility/balance as well - even humility should one fall too often or too hard. Using the FR 305 for some data would have been fun but forgot it.

Last week -

The Garden Shed under a blanket of silence

SloGo at noon, very mild. Rest day from much of anything. Would have tried skiing but stuff in car at garage.

PM DP, packed is on slippery side, yak-trak like.

AM DP, cold, clear, still windy. So windy last night, I needed to take a peek. Wind roaring in tree tops, house creaking and wind chime clanking, all bathed in moonlight. Got up at 0400, stirred dogs who initially thought I was off my rocker & went out. Walked along SB but should have gone into woods. Much mellower by sunrise, the sky blown clear blue.

Home from Garry's, hi teens, any wind at back for most part - no unpalatable wind chill. Decent energy and effort, haven't done a "day's work" in a while. Nice to do some of the old route, sign of early spring.

Came home for DP (inside all day). Open door, think 2 dogs go out - certainly had expressed the usual interest. Z, however, more interested in scrounging for bird seed. Can't for life of me find M - look inside & out. Can it w/ Z who doesn't care. Find M inside jealously guarding a leather bone.

Went out at 1:40, after MSO - not to be deprived of midday fresh air. Ironworks-Luti loop, March mellowness! Finished in a tee shirt, getting overheated. Not much energy, no clear reason, just Monday, Monday, not to be trusted. Need some pavement pounding this week. Entered a snowshoe race at UNH Sat eve, prodded by Diane. 48F at 5pm, interesting clouds much of day, CF on the way.

Faraway series, photos from elsewhere #53
On the way to Orizaba, February, 1980 (Mexico)


from a trip to climb several Mexican volcanoes.

AM DP to PL - road in had been softened by a groomer since yesterday pm's visit. Met a man & young daughter & their pissed off dog (probably because leashed). Z&M all hackles. They were rare visitors going sledding. Passed by not 6' away w/ dogs moaning & hissing & the little girl pleasantly smiling.

PM DP round the SS tracks w/ Z. Mocha went off with Beth to return Janelle to school. Marvelled at the 5pm light. Z. got way ahead, I could see her in the yard, undoubtedly hurrying along to scrounge up any uneaten birdseed on the ground. I'll miss this packed-hard path thru the woods & snow at winter's end. Had only it been longer & more creative.

Watched 3 movies with granddaughter Janelle, here 3 nights, 4 days (long wkend off fm nearby school). Soccer & hockey jock, wanted to take her out to try skate ski but didn't happen. She enjoyed grandparents' conversation at dinner....

J. at Christmas.

Skate, surface looked soft from this am's walk. More I do it, more this place is hard to make do but better for having done sa/ome. Removed skis twice for climb - herringbone wasn't worth it tho' it would get the HR up - track perhaps less than 5' width. White farm is looking so much better being flat to sl. rolling and is pretty well-groomed for Nordic.