Training Log Archive: bl

Run from bike path to Hopkinton center. Had more ambitious plans which shrunk to something realistic. Bright January day and refreshing to be running on seldom-travelled roads, at least on foot. First 1.3 mi was lousy footing due to all the traveling. Not much energy, however - no excuse for that except, perhaps, that I'm not running enough honest runs (running consistently at noon hour years past proved better mileage and warded the likes of any present nap demons). There was an eventual head wind, too, for what it was worth.

Beth picked me up in H center & we went to a farm store in Henniker, primarily for fresh eggs. I couldn't resist buying a "mammoth" dog bone (made in KS & not China for a 'refreshing' change...), about 14" long, probably cow - couldn't resist mostly to see the faces on Z&M when I produce it. Had a Coco photo c. 1992 (alas, couldn't find) as a study in big bone possession & contentment...

Pointed out to Beth that I could not find it, so she went looking elsewhere & did.

Memorial field at end of day - surface hard like 2 days ago, good for glide but
edges don't really catch. Could dp in the classic tracks quite easily. Seems to me like it could have been groomed for a 400m loop but instead a well-packed/hard surface. Great sunset &, at one place, the classic groomed tracks were heading into the low sun, 2 sinuous golden strips.

On the subject of inspiration and energy, three people come my mind currently. Jean Socrates, a 69 y/o circumnavigator attempting (third attempt) a nonstop, solo circumnavigation at this moment; Eric Forsyth (turned 80 in Bermuda this past spring while finishing a North Atlantic circumnavigation) who has sailed around the world some three times and around North America once; and Irishman Tony Mangan, 'running round the world' as I type (my Tony M AP post of his energy/courage produced one sarcastic comment). Jean I've just started paying attention to --- & Eric (a retired scientist), who built his boat in his driveway on Long Island c. 1980, I've known & visited at his home & boatyard in Patchogue, LI. Both are Britons who do have an unflagging manner with the sea & exploits upon. Their energy & dedication (& age) are worth my keeping in mind.

On the NA circumnavigation, Eric docked in Oban about ten days after we departed that same town, host of the Scottish 6-day 2011. He (always in search of crew, wife died 15 or so yrs ago) went as far N as Iceland and as far south as St. Peter & Paul rocks & Fortaleza, Brazil before returning to Patchogue, about 10 months total.

End of day on high road by large reentrant - flat and packed by SMs. Warmed up lot over course of day. Guess on distance.

Saw CHASING ICE this eve at RR cinema - a documentary on climate change-global warming's assault on glaciers, the disappearance of which is another 'canary in the mine' to quote the film maker, James Balog. Great photography (time lapse in part) even if a bit unsettling. Ice is shown to be disappearing at a startling rate as some strident voices still deny any such thing. Snow in southern NH is next:(.

At CHS, cold, on a hard, slithery surface as sun was going down.

Visited Concord YMCA with Beth for membership consideration & liked it much better than warehouse PF: family-oriented, classes of all sorts, interesting spaces, even a pool. We were informed that it's the 6th oldest Y in the US. Harkens back to Rye YMCA memories, c.1960: swimming team meets, ping pong and pool tournaments, Fri nite b-ball with Olson, etc...youthful memories indeed.

Gallery, #8
Zoe regarding mouse, early v.CI, '06


which Z sent crashing to the floor one day (with four escaping 'for better or for worse'...)

Cold day, wasn't prepared to get outside right after work & later resorted to gym which was packed.

Spent a bunch of time at S&W sports looking at waxing stuff as well as at nordic skis, some used w/ bindings on sale - got me thinking as my skate skis must have been purchased some 10 years ago.

Nordic at Waterville Valley with George Tuthill. Cold, NW windy-type day, 18F in parking lot at end. Warm fingers thanks to chemical hand warmer. Had the ski shop clean the bottoms of classic skis which were a potpourri of soft wax from a year ago & then did not have enough grip wax for much of the time. Not so much as tired but tired of "gripless inefficiency" & overlooked extra wax in haste to get away from windy parking to woods which were fine from point of view of wind chill. Up Livermore Road to Cascade Brook loop & back. Nice to get to a genuine nordic area with good trails, proper grooming & mountain views. Looked around before departing: WV is considerably more developed than I'd thought.

C • Tuthill 3

Returning to Concord on I93, the Capitol dome was glowing in the late afternoon sun. Drove by it on local streets & took this photo from the car.

Walk on Odiorne Point trails to, among other things, "Battery Seaman, 1942" a massive 16" WWII gun mount for protection of Portsmouth Harbor & naval shipyard. Ocean was a dark blue with offshore white caps and it was indeed a cold winter morning. Too unmotivated for a run. Spent night at R&Js. Joyce had suggested XC ski but too much trouble to borrow their stuff & return it. A predictable & entirely likely resolution: be more active in the spring but in the meantime.

Year's end

Drive to Penobscot and Brooksville, ME for boat check & Ann & Aaron visit. Short on time for exercise with some work tasks & socializing. Had planned on at least running out to Cape Rosier Rd Sunday am. Surprise of surprises, got 10" of snow overnight & thus we were relatively marooned for about 2 hours past departure time then a tree and wires fell across Belle Farm Rd to add four more which included the plowman's coming in for a belated breakfast. The snow-covered pine forest resembled my image from a Robert Service poem.

A2's place is the only inhabited house (of 3) at end of 0.8 mi dirt road making it very plowman-dependent.