Training Log Archive: Swampfox

Some quick and fun Yowsa! to take care of the light snowfall overnight. The skies cleared off before sunrise, and when that happens this time of year, typically the temps plummet. -15F a little after sunrise, which qualifies as decent winter.

Ran trails; the new snow from the past 2 days was around 3"-4" on average, and deeper in zones of accumulation. Running was much easier in snow bike tracks, which were plentiful. In contrast to yesterday's calm, the winds were back up nicely today, and effectively it was colder.

Grateful that we had some more winter today. Temps were around 19-20F for a high, no sun, and very light snow was falling much of the day. Just a dusting in town, but a dusting+ higher up, maybe even a 1/2" or so. Every bit helps.

Ran trails in the new snow and breathed in and out a real lot. Didn't feel cold at all and the fact that it was dead calm might have helped with that a tiny bit. Okay, that was totally why it didn't feel cold.

No idea if it's true, but I saw a rumor today that the Bottom 25 might expand the playoffs to 8 teams this season--too many unwon teams to choose from!

Finally some more snow, a couple of inches worth, making for some light, quick Yowsa!

Winter without snow is like soft drinks without carbonation.

About 3" or snow fell during the day, ending before mid-afternoon (or what passes for mid-afternoon in these winter short days), making for some fun Yowsa!

Did that right before taking off for some trail running in the new snow. No wind so it was extra pleasant to be out, and finally it feels like real winter again! 19F when I stuck out and 9F at return.

That said, the snow amount is nowhere near close enough to allow for some grooming, and really not much better than "fast gravel"--which I could ascertain from checking the one set of fresh ski tracks I came across. Hopefully more comes soon, otherwise we are closing in on a record late start for skiing.

I was thinking out of the box a little today, and was thinking, why not try out for the Junior Team? I still have all my years of eligibility, and I know I might need to get a waiver for being left handed and all that, but it can't hurt to apply anyway--after all, I had to get a waiver just to go to school, and they gave me one and let me right on in, and gave me a whole lot more, too.

Besides, my bionic eye is better than it ever used to be for map reading, and that's the simple truth.

As an example of that, I laid down a 11.9 km course at Remarkable Flats, printed it up at 1:15,000, and took it out in the latter part of the afternoon with completely overcast skies and fog and dim seeping down over the Range from the north.

And though I had my doubts that I would be able to finish up the whole thing before darkness shut the exercise down, given how late I was starting, I got 'em all, even with dusk arriving for the last 4 controls and 2 km of running.

Maybe I'll forego the application and just print off this post and send it in, and see what happens. Lordy, you never know.

C • Junior Team 4

Biked some around town at midday, and then was out on the trails for some easy running by right around 3. Enjoyed the last mild day in the streak of December mildness by running in shorts. Can't remember the last time I've done that at Happy Jack in December. I'm not sure I'd ever even thought about it before. All that ending with a spectacular sunset featuring skies with a scattering of lenticular clouds and some very high cirrus wisps.

Back home for some quick dinner, and then hopped downstairs to hit the trainer and watch the Cowboys take on DU.

C • shorts 5

Looks like chances to tie or set new record highs both today and tomorrow, before a cool down on Thursday.

Tisdags Träning, på Tisdag, denna veckan! 10 x 5 min cruise intervals. NOt sure if the temps hit a record high or not, but whatever they hit, it was pretty strålande ut. Ingenting alls at klaga på.

At one point, a piece of trash blew across the dirt road I was using. Except that it wasn't that windy out. As I got a little closer, I recognized it wasn't a piece of trash at all. It was an ermine! It vanished when it hit the verge, but when I came up that spot, there it was again, right by a clump of sage, stopped and staring at me as I went by, not more than 6' away. (So still socially distanced.) It's cool to see a moose, when you do, but seeing an ermine is at least an order of magnitude better.

C • Ermine 13

Wanted an easy day today, and so I opted to go back out to Pelican Bay and retrieve a mule deer shed and an old 1 pint milk bottle I spotted yesterday.

Another terrifically fine day outside for everything except water. If you've needed a lot of water this year, you've been hosed, because with only 3 weeks left in the year, we're at about 49% of normal for precip, or, put another way, about 1/2 of the upper limit for a desert. If we keep this up, we're going to start seeing active dunes someday.