Training Log Archive: Swampfox

My jacket died earlier this week. More specifically, my medium weight jacket--the one that gets the greatest use during winter--was the one that passed on to the spirit world.

I did what one usually does in such circumstances, which was to submit my jacket to autopsy, and the report came back today. It was brief. "Death due to zipper failure," was what it read in its entirety. Attached to the report, but not a formal part of the report, was a note which explained the death was 10 years premature and could be blamed on "excessive amounts of use during exercise." I suppose that was supposed to be a finger of blame pointed at me, but I refused to accept it. Isn't that what a jacket is for, to be worn during exercise? And how can it be excessive for the jacket, when I'm the one doing all the work? If a jacket can't keep up, why would I want to wear it anyway? It's almost as bad as buying tights and finding out they're too sheer, whatever that means. Maybe Bobby Dylan will write a song for the masses about it.

After reading the autopsy, I grabbed the next jacket in line and headed out into the winds for some skiing and running. It was a little too heavy for the conditions, but so what, I will sweat more than I otherwise would. And if this jacket fails due to zipper failure or for some other equally ridiculous reason, then too bad. I'll throw it away and I won't miss it one little bit either.

Though upon a little reflection, I guess it might be a little much to expect manufacturers to design a zipper that can withstand for long the full onslaught of the winds that pummel the Laramie Range on a near daily basis.

3 stellar days in a row.

Thursday was cold, not bad cold, but cold enough that my skis were pretty slow on the squeaky new snow.

Friday saw temps somewhat above seasonal averages, with sun more than ample to make it feel warmer than it really was, and my skis were incredibly fast. That despite the fact that, 24 days into the new year, I have yet to waste any time on unnecessary waxing, or even necessary waxing (nothing against waxing, it's just one more demand on time when I'd rather be out.) Running trails after skiing, I came across an extensive section marked by numerous fox prints, and I wondered about, all the while musing about a fox going running after me and how it would wonder about all the swampfox prints on the trail. Who needs shoes anyway?

Today was full sun, from start to finish, and it was a great opportunity to once again meld biking, skiing, and running for the trifecta. Now it's time to prepare for the promise/rumor of some new snow in the offing.

C • wax 2

Cold air arriving late in the day created dense fogs on top of the Laramie Range. Skiing in the fog! Trying to figure out if you were going to back over some unwary skier in the parking lot of death was interesting. So far as I know everyone made it out alive, contradicting temporarily the assertion made by the Doors.

Things I did not see included large wild pigs estimated at 100 pounds or larger. Things I would like to see would include a large wild pig estimated at 100 pounds or more trying to claim it was only a small wild pig.

Followed up yesterday's trifecta with another today. Due to get colder tomorrow so no plans to complete the hat trick. But today was not colder, and in fact the predicted 42F high was surpassed by an official reading of 50F, and my private reading of 51F. That latter is only 3 degrees off the record high for the date, so not bad at all.

Days like today could lead some to think that winter locally is practically over. However, such thoughts would be foolish. After all, it's not even May yet!

Things I did not see while running: elephant, bear, lion, or antlion. Things I did see while running: some bare dirt (though not suitable for antlion), black Great Dane, and snow biker. The snow biker told me he had just seen a mountain lion a few minutes earlier down the trail in the direction I was headed, and had a picture to prove it. My luck wasn't as good, however.

C • luck 2

A good day--no, actually a great day--for the classic mid-winter trifecta of biking, skiing, and running. Sunshine, wind, and snow combine for the ultimate feeling: so fine!