Training Log Archive: Swampfox

I waited as long as I dared to go skiing, thinking that somehow the actual temps might warm up close to the forecast 18F. That didn't happen. I'm sure it got to 1F, but I'm not sure if it got any warmer. It was still about -7F at noon in full sun, and that wasn't a good sign.

Even so, by late afternoon it must have been at least a tad warmer than when I was skiing yesterday, because my skis had some degree of glide over most sections of the trail and my hands were staying warm for the most part. Lots of folks were still out after 3, another sign that it must have been warmer than yesterday.

Like yesterday though, it was still nice to switch over to running. I stayed out late enough to enjoy seeing the start coming into view, but not late enough for the moon to join them.

It should be less cold tomorrow.

The black beast is ready to hit the bar scene in downtown Laramie on a Saturday night:

From publiken

Excellent Yowsa! in the late morning: no wind, just the right amount of new snow, plus crisp temps. Really couldn't have been better.

Chilly out today, for sure the coldest day of the season so far. An acquaintance I ran into at the Tie City trailhead told me it had been 1F when they had left home, but I suspect it was already below zero by then at Happy Jack.

I started out skiing, but cut it short as glide was de minimus and hands were cold, and switched over for running as a better option--which proved to be correct. Thankfully there was only a light breeze. The running was very nice, with ice fog forming and settling in over the Range towards the end. It was -6F by the time I got back home, so definitely winterish out.

When I got home, it was time to make good on a promise, having told the black beast we would head downtown for dinner. But first, some remedial "freshening up" was necessary--south of the border, down Colorado way, those folks apparently aren't big believers in bathing and such. So I led the black beast into the shower, and turned on the water. I think we were both about equally surprised by what ensued. Lordy.

While Annie dried off, I plugged in a guitar and ran through a couple of songs. The volume wasn't properly decadent though, so I gave the volume knob on the amp a good yank and played them all over again. Yeah-ya man! : ) Then we were ready for departure. Let’s go in på stan!

Some places in Laramie are dog friendly, some aren't, and you don't know until you try, and the first three places we tried weren't having any of it.

The next place we tried was Sweet Melissa's and they weren't having any of it either. "Sir, I'm sorry, but you can't bring your dog in here," they said.

I told them: "I'm no sir, and this here's no dog, she's a vegetarian." When they heard that, they brightened right up and seated us at the bar. I think we fit in just fine, with Annie barking away until a waiter hustled over with a couple of menus, and Annie loved her tofu burger. Good thing they didn't ask for ID because Annie was going topless--I mean, tagless, as in no dog tags. But then, it *was* Saturday night in downtown Laramie.

Dra iväg från stan!

When we got back home Annie hopped right up on the sofa, and I was going to kick her ass real good, but then I thought what the hell, it's Saturday night in Laramie, Wyoming, and if Kris were here she'd be on the sofa instead of Annie, so what was the difference, really? When it's -13F outside at night and -12F inside, a dog on the sofa isn't the worst thing in the world.

Day 5 with the beast. I have spent much of the day experimenting to see which curse words are most effective with the black beast. Isn't this how most people spend their Christmas in these modern times?

Some of the curse words I've tried are really, really vile, so bad that I can not possibly put them down here; I would be banned from Orienteering USA for life, if I did. Though maybe I could get some work consulting for the Trump campaign?

As best I can tell, the black beast interprets all curse words as audibles--just different ways that some food event is about to happen.

Anyway, by day's end I have scientifically determined that curse words are utterly ineffective with the black beast. It just doesn't give a damn.

Fine Christmas Day skiing. Warmer than expected based on the valley temps, and it wasn't just me who thought so. No wind, either, so a medium weight jacket had to be traded off for a lighter jacket--how unfortunate! ; )

Many familiar faces out enjoying the trails, which is just as it should be.

Ran afterwards.

Day 4. Not too long ago a friend--or maybe it was a sister (who can keep track of such things?)--was visiting Kris and complemented her on how friendly the black beast was: "She was giving me lots of kisses!", the friend/sister exclaimed. Kris had to tell her the truth: what the black beast was actually doing was smelling her breath to see what she had been eating. But I suspect that underneath that truth, there is a deeper truth: that what the black beast is *really* doing is judging whether or not the friend/sister/prey-item is ripe and ready to be eaten.

I keep this in mind at all times. Risk is ever present.

Crisp day, sunny, some wind, got a little too crisp heading down back to the parking as I discovered when I got in my truck--my nose had a bit of frost nip. So added a face mask and a warmer jacket before heading out for some fine snow running.

Later, in the evening, I finished "Alone on the Wall", by Alex Honnold, which I picked up on a whim in the library the other day. Some might know the name; I didn't and had no idea who he was. The pictures alone were worth checking out. Even if you knew nothing about climbing and cared little about it, the book might be well something to consider. I found it fascinating and read it in two sittings. The idea of not letting fear getting to you and remaining always in control of your situation courses through the entire book, and relates very closely to successfully managing an orienteering race, or at least so I think.

I'm always grateful for suggestions about books to read that turn out to be really good, and am happy to occasionally be able to offer a suggestion in return.

Day 3. I have had another idea: I can sell the black beast on Ebay! If you search "black beast" at Ebay, what turns up are Brooks Beast running shoes. So now all I have to do is figure out how to make the beast look like a Beast. With a little duct tape, a few safety pins, and some peanut butter, almost anything is possible, so surely this will be, too.

C • Peanut butter 2

I saw an interesting report this morning from an analyst who focuses on the golf industry. The report was about the implications of the record non-winter winter weather up and down the East Coast. In part, it said: "We estimate that if the present unseasonably mild winter conditions continue, as much as 10% of New England golf courses are in danger of becoming mobile home parks. Most people don't realize that these New England golf courses are too stony and plagues with ground hogs to make for quality golfing, and that they are mostly cash flow negative during the summer months. They count on revenues from the winter XC ski crowd to build reserves for the lean summer months, and without that income this winter, a good many are going to be toast."

Some good news this morning: our request for an event (Rocky Mountain Orienteering Festival) in the Medicine Bow National Forest next summer, June 29 - July 4, has been approved. It may even include a One Cowboy Relay. RMOC will be seeking sanctioning for 3 days of racing (July 2-4), and the other 3 days will be handled by me, cowboy style.

One extra nice thing about these dates--at least for folks who are appreciative of natural beauty--is that they fall right in the middle of prime wildflower season, and in a good year, the contrast between how the mountain prairie looks in late June and in mid-August almost can not be greater.

C • "It may even include a... 3

Trace of new snow on the trails today, with some light snow falling during portions of the ski. Opted to pass on running and skied longer instead, in falling temps as dusk approached, and we're not talking the 70s (F) of the balmy East.

Very nice skiing up top, with about 1/2" of fresh snow falling during the day and more falling into the night. 1/2" doesn't sound like much, but if you have a good base, then 1/2" of new snow--preferably regularly administered--is almost the perfect amount.

Did some running, too, and weekend work by the snow shoe crowd (such as it is, locally) has put the running trails in great shape. Only saw 2 snow bikers while I was out, and since it wasn't full darkness yet, their lights didn't hurt my vision much.

Day 2 with the black beast. It has become all too obvious that while I am out the black beast considers it open season to search for food. Since the black beast believes that nearly anything it can fit in its maw is edible, if not outright nutritious, little is safe. Some things that the black beast considers food would be considered completely disgusting by any sentient being anywhere in the entire Milky Way. Ugh...

Paw prints on the counter, thoroughly investigated trash containers, jostled containers of skin lotion, toothbrush on floor (please do not tell me the black beast had that in its maw!), and myriad other details give ample evidence of what sort of thing is going on while I am out.

On the bright side, none of my guitars have been eaten yet. On the even brighter side, if things get too bad, I can literally send the black beast to the woodshed outside, and perhaps then will be able to once again watch the evening news in peace.

Am ordering more bubble wrap and already have issued a frag order for the return of the 133rd...

Nice grooming and fast snow at Happy Jack today, and even Summit Loop was looking mostly good except at the very top right before the descent (maybe one day...) Did some intervals on skis, and some easy running afterwards. As a bonus, there were generous amounts of gusty, swirling wind that would come up from all possible directions. No trees down today though, at least not that I saw.

A fine beginning to calendar winter, and the extra 3 minutes of afternoon feel like an early Christmas gift to be savored.

I have survived Day 1 with the black beast. It was startling to see how the eyes of the beast, when bathed in moonlight, transform and emit an eery red glow, becoming the eyeballs of a ravenous beast that no quantity of rabbit flesh could possibly satiate. I fear they have the power to transfix a possible prey item, so I am careful to only take millisecond glances before looking away, but even that is enough to fill my thoughts with an uneasy dread.

I reason that as long as the tail is wagging, I probably am not in mortal danger, but outside, at night, the tail blends into the dark so perfectly that it becomes invisible, and thus unavailable as an indicator of safety.

Already these night walks are breaking my soul and I do not know that I can take it for long.

C • I first thought, poor Annie... 2