Training Log Archive: PGIn the 31 days ending Oct 31, 2012:
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Wednesday Oct 31, 2012 #
3 PM
trail running 36:06 3.6 mi (10:02 / mi) +489ft 8:53 / mi
ahr:137 max:150 weight:140lbs shoes: Brooks something-or-others
Up North Mt, down Gunn Mt, and then back. A little more energetic today, felt nice.
Tuesday Oct 30, 2012 #
Note
MRI's on both shoulders. Not sure what I might want them to find. Have to start educating myself. I have some hope that the right one will mend on its own, but the left one has been getting worse for 9 months now.
Of course I could stop all physical activity (especially falls and sudden movements when running or orienteering or biking, and golf swings) but that seems a lousy solution.
Of course I could stop all physical activity (especially falls and sudden movements when running or orienteering or biking, and golf swings) but that seems a lousy solution.
1 PM
trail running 1:01:29 5.89 mi (10:26 / mi) +837ft 9:12 / mi
ahr:140 max:159 weight:141lbs shoes: pegasus #2
On the ridge in Greenfield, legs a little heavy but got an hour in. No storm damage, actually we didn't have much of a storm here, got lucky. People made a big deal of it anyway, shut down the schools and colleges yesterday, no reason for it. But that's the way we do things I guess.
Seems like people right along the water got hammered. Our house is along the Connecticut River, but on the uphill side of the road, so maybe 100 yards from the river but a good 50' higher. I'm sure some people would much rather be right on the river. I've always been very happy to be high enough that there's no way we're going to get flooded. Thought that when we bought the place almost 30 years, still think that. Also feel pretty safe from earthquakes, volcanoes, mudslides, poisonous snakes, grizzly bears, tropical diseases, rabid evangelicals, and people carrying guns. Nice place to live.
Of course all that means is that something else will end up getting you.
Seems like people right along the water got hammered. Our house is along the Connecticut River, but on the uphill side of the road, so maybe 100 yards from the river but a good 50' higher. I'm sure some people would much rather be right on the river. I've always been very happy to be high enough that there's no way we're going to get flooded. Thought that when we bought the place almost 30 years, still think that. Also feel pretty safe from earthquakes, volcanoes, mudslides, poisonous snakes, grizzly bears, tropical diseases, rabid evangelicals, and people carrying guns. Nice place to live.
Of course all that means is that something else will end up getting you.
C • Safe 7
Monday Oct 29, 2012 #
Note
Maps from the weekend
Huntington SP, Sunday, Green course. Shaky on 2, 3, and 5.
QR.jpg)
Paugusset, Saturday morning, vetting, totally screwed up on the route to 54. Moved 58 down about 20 meters, moved 51 up 5 meters, moved 47 north about 40 meters, moved 57 east about 40 meters. Only one that would have been a problem was 57, one reentrant off, and even that, you could just about see it from the correct spot. But sometimes I'm just feeling picky.... :-)
QR1.jpg)
Paugusset, Saturday late afternoon, picking up controls. No problems other than moving.
QR2.jpg)
Huntington SP, Sunday, Green course. Shaky on 2, 3, and 5.
Paugusset, Saturday morning, vetting, totally screwed up on the route to 54. Moved 58 down about 20 meters, moved 51 up 5 meters, moved 47 north about 40 meters, moved 57 east about 40 meters. Only one that would have been a problem was 57, one reentrant off, and even that, you could just about see it from the correct spot. But sometimes I'm just feeling picky.... :-)
Paugusset, Saturday late afternoon, picking up controls. No problems other than moving.
C • # 57 1
9 AM
road running 37:22 4.32 mi (8:39 / mi) +79ft 8:30 / mi
ahr:139 max:152 weight:141lbs shoes: Brooks something-or-others
Roads in town. Not much happening. Closed all the schools and colleges, made the announcement yesterday afternoon, which seems awful early, in the winter they usually wait until 5 am. But we are in a "better safe than sorry" culture, and only getting more so.
And the weather right now? Cloudy, almost a little sun poking through, a little breezy. If my shoulders weren't hurting I'd head for the golf course.
And the weather right now? Cloudy, almost a little sun poking through, a little breezy. If my shoulders weren't hurting I'd head for the golf course.
Sunday Oct 28, 2012 #
10 AM
orienteering 1:05:18 4.45 mi (14:40 / mi) +620ft 12:58 / mi
ahr:146 max:160 shoes: mizuno
WCOC local meet at Huntington, Green course, 5.8 km beeline.
Not too bad, not great, 3 bad controls, total maybe 4 minutes wasted, so sort of middling orienteering. Energy not great, not bad. Fell down a couple of times in the first 5 minutes, then decided I should pay more attention and don't think I went down the rest of the way.
Was hoping for 10 min/km, but was a little over 11, but the course was slow in places.
Anyway, enjoyed it, nice course, glad I went, had been thinking of just heading home from Litchfield but made the right decision.
And then made another good decision, called up my uncle, he was home, so I drove down to Southport for a short visit, the timing was just right for lunch at the yacht club (sounds posh, but I can assure you it wasn't, though the lunch, really a buffet brunch, was quite good).
And a nice talk about family things. Hadn't seen him for several months, it had been one of those situations where I was meaning to call but didn't, and he was meaning to call but didn't, and both feeling a bit guilty, with the moral being if you are thinking about calling, just do it.
And made plans for him to come up to Litchfield next week while there is still time.
So a good day. And I had enough gas to get home so I didn't have to wait in what looked like 15-minute lines (or more) as people down by the shore moved into full panic mode.
Not too bad, not great, 3 bad controls, total maybe 4 minutes wasted, so sort of middling orienteering. Energy not great, not bad. Fell down a couple of times in the first 5 minutes, then decided I should pay more attention and don't think I went down the rest of the way.
Was hoping for 10 min/km, but was a little over 11, but the course was slow in places.
Anyway, enjoyed it, nice course, glad I went, had been thinking of just heading home from Litchfield but made the right decision.
And then made another good decision, called up my uncle, he was home, so I drove down to Southport for a short visit, the timing was just right for lunch at the yacht club (sounds posh, but I can assure you it wasn't, though the lunch, really a buffet brunch, was quite good).
And a nice talk about family things. Hadn't seen him for several months, it had been one of those situations where I was meaning to call but didn't, and he was meaning to call but didn't, and both feeling a bit guilty, with the moral being if you are thinking about calling, just do it.
And made plans for him to come up to Litchfield next week while there is still time.
So a good day. And I had enough gas to get home so I didn't have to wait in what looked like 15-minute lines (or more) as people down by the shore moved into full panic mode.
Saturday Oct 27, 2012 #
11 AM
orienteering 1:33:36 4.13 mi (22:40 / mi) +679ft 19:37 / mi
ahr:119 max:144 shoes: mizuno
Vetting the controls on the advanced courses at Paugusset. Took me longer than expected, partly because I doing it right and partly because I was doing it wrong.
The latter first, let's just say I blew off the better part of 10 minutes wandering around not where I thought I was, and taking forever to figure it out. Glad I had enough time to get in before the first start time.
And the former, well, if you are doing the vetting process right it is not just a matter of finding the controls. And you have to keep reminding yourself that. Because it is so easy to see the control and assume it is right, but it's not. Moved 4 controls, one about 5 meters, one about 20, and a couple about 50, just making them as precisely correct as possible.
Excellent training!
Nice courses by Jim Henderson and Rich Nietupski, zero complaints, just the way you want it. And Paugusset has some wonderful terrain.
Then did the e-punch computer during the event. Managed to solve most problems. :-)
The latter first, let's just say I blew off the better part of 10 minutes wandering around not where I thought I was, and taking forever to figure it out. Glad I had enough time to get in before the first start time.
And the former, well, if you are doing the vetting process right it is not just a matter of finding the controls. And you have to keep reminding yourself that. Because it is so easy to see the control and assume it is right, but it's not. Moved 4 controls, one about 5 meters, one about 20, and a couple about 50, just making them as precisely correct as possible.
Excellent training!
Nice courses by Jim Henderson and Rich Nietupski, zero complaints, just the way you want it. And Paugusset has some wonderful terrain.
Then did the e-punch computer during the event. Managed to solve most problems. :-)
4 PM
orienteering 58:46 2.51 mi (23:25 / mi) +499ft 19:42 / mi
ahr:121 max:144 shoes: mizuno
And then picking up a dozen controls late in the day. This is a lot easier, except the load gets progressively heaving, though this was not bad at all because there were no stakes, just flags and e-box. But a long time ago I used to be able to pick up 30 or so in one trip, the backpack getting heavier, and keep running most of the time. Today was mostly walking, and feeling tired too.
Friday Oct 26, 2012 #
1 PM
trail running 16:45 1.68 mi (9:58 / mi) +144ft 9:13 / mi
ahr:122 max:136 shoes: mizuno
Legs were feeling tired so I thought I'd run a bit of reasonably flat stuff before I headed uphill. Perhaps it helped, meaning up the hill could have been even worse? No zip at all.
run/hike 27:54 1.86 mi (15:00 / mi) +1056ft 9:45 / mi
ahr:145 max:153 shoes: mizuno
And then up Mt. Wantastiquet, a struggle right from the beginning, just very tired and sweating a lot (it was about 70F, felt warm). Walked a bunch of times. I think this was a PW by about 2 or 3 minutes. Not that I probably won't do even worse next time I try it.
Heart rate never got going much, but I had no desire to push any more. I don't know if those two are correlated.
Lots of leaves covering the rocks, so not the best footing.
Heart rate never got going much, but I had no desire to push any more. I don't know if those two are correlated.
Lots of leaves covering the rocks, so not the best footing.
C • PW 2
trail running 5:08 0.35 mi (14:40 / mi) +26ft 13:42 / mi
ahr:136 max:148 shoes: mizuno
Checking out the trail that continues to the east. Pretty crappy. Decided rather quickly that I had gone far enough.
trail running 18:17 1.88 mi (9:43 / mi)
ahr:129 max:138 shoes: mizuno
And then back down. This was actually not so bad -- footing was rather bad, but no sprained ankles and no falls. Got to be positive about something. :-)
And it was better being able to do this at all, even if slowly, than not.
And it was better being able to do this at all, even if slowly, than not.
Thursday Oct 25, 2012 #
2 PM
trail running 1:00:46 5.6 mi (10:51 / mi) +689ft 9:43 / mi
ahr:139 max:157 weight:139lbs shoes: mizuno
At Earl's Trails, from the fitness center up to the low point on the main trail, back via the bike trails.
One fall, tripped as usual. With both shoulders hurting, there was a classic "Oh, shit" moment as I reached out to break my fall and decided I didn't really want to do that, but I also didn't want to just land on my face and chest. Ended up a little bit of both. I think in the near term I am going to have to make a greater effort to stay upright.
Entertainment from This American Life about 24 hours in a Chicago diner. Not their best.
One fall, tripped as usual. With both shoulders hurting, there was a classic "Oh, shit" moment as I reached out to break my fall and decided I didn't really want to do that, but I also didn't want to just land on my face and chest. Ended up a little bit of both. I think in the near term I am going to have to make a greater effort to stay upright.
Entertainment from This American Life about 24 hours in a Chicago diner. Not their best.
Wednesday Oct 24, 2012 #
5 PM
trail running 36:56 3.68 mi (10:02 / mi) +476ft 8:57 / mi
ahr:139 max:153 weight:140lbs shoes: mizuno
Up behind the house, North Mountain and down Gunn to 47, and back. Not too bad, though shoulders hurting by the end, as usual these days.
Very good Fresh Air interview about end of life, from the perspective of someone involved with options for "hastening death." Very good, in that it got me to realize that I have a lot more thinking and planning that needs to be done now with regards to things in Litchfield. Not with regard to hastening death, one needs to have a lot of cognitive ability to consider that road and that time has long since passed, but with regard to the various possible bad things -- a fall, a stroke, heart issues, breathing issues, and so on -- that might result in a lot of distress, and what I would do. Just having DNR orders isn't close to enough.
Need to talk to her doctor (actually he is a cold fish, need to talk to the PA who is human), need to make more specific plans, need to work through all this with the staff, so hopefully when things happen the response will as good as is possible.
Really and quite suddenly got me scared at how unprepared I am.
Very good Fresh Air interview about end of life, from the perspective of someone involved with options for "hastening death." Very good, in that it got me to realize that I have a lot more thinking and planning that needs to be done now with regards to things in Litchfield. Not with regard to hastening death, one needs to have a lot of cognitive ability to consider that road and that time has long since passed, but with regard to the various possible bad things -- a fall, a stroke, heart issues, breathing issues, and so on -- that might result in a lot of distress, and what I would do. Just having DNR orders isn't close to enough.
Need to talk to her doctor (actually he is a cold fish, need to talk to the PA who is human), need to make more specific plans, need to work through all this with the staff, so hopefully when things happen the response will as good as is possible.
Really and quite suddenly got me scared at how unprepared I am.
Tuesday Oct 23, 2012 #
3 PM
orienteering 1:00:20 3.11 mi (19:22 / mi) +499ft 16:49 / mi
ahr:122 max:158 weight:140lbs shoes: pegasus #2
O' training at Earl's Trails with Amy Lane, giving a bit of instruction. First tailed her around a yellow course, then a few exercises. Certainly got my heart going a few times. She quick and quite fearless, just hasn't done much O. So we have to work on that. :-)
Feeling a little sluggish. And both shoulders are still not at all happy.
Feeling a little sluggish. And both shoulders are still not at all happy.
Monday Oct 22, 2012 #
2 PM
biking 48:14 12.37 mi (3:54 / mi) +397ft 3:47 / mi
ahr:123 max:146
Up to Greenfield to fetch my car. Wind out of the NW so hurting more than helping. But another beautiful afternoon.
Lots of aches, particularly both shoulders. Don't know what I'm going to do about them. And a sore knee, lost some skin off the kneecap after contact with a rock, but that should be fine shortly.
Lots of aches, particularly both shoulders. Don't know what I'm going to do about them. And a sore knee, lost some skin off the kneecap after contact with a rock, but that should be fine shortly.
Sunday Oct 21, 2012 #
Note
And then a change of universes on the way home. Stopped in Brewster to pick up my brother and his wife at the train station, then to Litchfield. Mom continues to get weaker. Things promise to get more difficult, but I have an excellent support staff in place, so I assume we will just deal with whatever happens. Though I have no idea what that will be, or what we might do.
In the meantime, a joy to have the visitors from Texas.
In the meantime, a joy to have the visitors from Texas.
10 AM
orienteering 13:21 1.36 mi (9:51 / mi) +72ft 9:23 / mi
ahr:154 max:166 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
NAOC sprint, 1.9 km beeline.
Decent run, though one that in retrospect left a little on the table, especially one leg where I went around on trails to avoid a bit of green, but think all the time I should have gone straight. And I should have, can't believe it wouldn't have been 20 seconds faster.
Also missed a couple of places I could have taken a slightly shorter route, though it may be that just going with an obviously good route, even if not the best, is still a good decision because it is made with no delay. Hard to know for sure.
And then a fun rest of the day watching the relay, also making sure the BK and FC Cups got wrapped up properly. Nice coordination with Mike Waddington to resolve any issues that cropped up. Too bad about the couple of DQ's. But at least it gave a good excuse for calling up both junior teams for recognition at the end.
And thanks to Mike Smith, who donated the FC Cup, and who was a valued participant in the process of setting up the structure and the rules for the FC Cup. I'd say that with respect to its goal, to give a serious team competition for the juniors and thereby spur junior development, it is already a success and that will only increase in the future.
Decent run, though one that in retrospect left a little on the table, especially one leg where I went around on trails to avoid a bit of green, but think all the time I should have gone straight. And I should have, can't believe it wouldn't have been 20 seconds faster.
Also missed a couple of places I could have taken a slightly shorter route, though it may be that just going with an obviously good route, even if not the best, is still a good decision because it is made with no delay. Hard to know for sure.
And then a fun rest of the day watching the relay, also making sure the BK and FC Cups got wrapped up properly. Nice coordination with Mike Waddington to resolve any issues that cropped up. Too bad about the couple of DQ's. But at least it gave a good excuse for calling up both junior teams for recognition at the end.
And thanks to Mike Smith, who donated the FC Cup, and who was a valued participant in the process of setting up the structure and the rules for the FC Cup. I'd say that with respect to its goal, to give a serious team competition for the juniors and thereby spur junior development, it is already a success and that will only increase in the future.
C • FC Cup 11
Saturday Oct 20, 2012 #
12 PM
orienteering 47:13 3.49 mi (13:32 / mi) +541ft 11:48 / mi
ahr:152 max:169 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Long at the North Americans, M65, 4.9 km beeline.
Another good run, this one my orienteering was excellent and the legs were what they were, not awful, not great. Had a late start and the best time when I went out was 52 (though there was a 51 later), so very nice to come into the end of the course with a nice cushion.
I thought the map and courses were excellent again. The vegetation was more open, made the navigating easier, but you still had to get there. I'm surprised I ran almost as fast per km yesterday, seemed like yesterday should have been slower.
Overall just a really nice day, good vibes though out. Perhaps the best part was deciding the evening before that we should give Sandy, the meet director, an award, and the best time to do it was at the long awards late this afternoon. Put the plan in action this morning, off to the nearest supermarket to get flowers and chocolate. Recruited help, wrote up a script, made sure Sandy didn't know. Such a pleasure to see her get several long and totally well-deserved ovations.
And then a bit of PR for the BK and FC Cups. Last day tomorrow, the sprint and then finishing up with the relay. It should be really cool.
Another good run, this one my orienteering was excellent and the legs were what they were, not awful, not great. Had a late start and the best time when I went out was 52 (though there was a 51 later), so very nice to come into the end of the course with a nice cushion.
I thought the map and courses were excellent again. The vegetation was more open, made the navigating easier, but you still had to get there. I'm surprised I ran almost as fast per km yesterday, seemed like yesterday should have been slower.
Overall just a really nice day, good vibes though out. Perhaps the best part was deciding the evening before that we should give Sandy, the meet director, an award, and the best time to do it was at the long awards late this afternoon. Put the plan in action this morning, off to the nearest supermarket to get flowers and chocolate. Recruited help, wrote up a script, made sure Sandy didn't know. Such a pleasure to see her get several long and totally well-deserved ovations.
And then a bit of PR for the BK and FC Cups. Last day tomorrow, the sprint and then finishing up with the relay. It should be really cool.
Friday Oct 19, 2012 #
Note
Valerie, miracle worker that she is, joins us for a moment at dinner to announce that someone has turned in a 305 they found in the woods!
What excellent karma, shows what a life of clean living gets you.
My 305 and I were soon reunited, it suffering not from a broken strap as I assumed, but from a pin that had been pulled out of its socket. Apparently in the same fall in which it now feels like my right shoulder was pulled out of its socket.
So my track -- click on the blue globe if you are a paying customer -- includes my track up to just before my third control, and then a period of rest, and then the rescuer's route from there to the finish. Having a hard time identifying who that was, still working on it.
Meanwhile, :-) :-) :-)
What excellent karma, shows what a life of clean living gets you.
My 305 and I were soon reunited, it suffering not from a broken strap as I assumed, but from a pin that had been pulled out of its socket. Apparently in the same fall in which it now feels like my right shoulder was pulled out of its socket.
So my track -- click on the blue globe if you are a paying customer -- includes my track up to just before my third control, and then a period of rest, and then the rescuer's route from there to the finish. Having a hard time identifying who that was, still working on it.
Meanwhile, :-) :-) :-)
C • figuring 12
1 PM
orienteering 29:23 1.54 mi (19:05 / mi) +282ft 16:16 / mi
ahr:149 max:160 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
North Americans, M65, middle. 2.9 km straight line. Good enough run until the last missed, missed the last 4 controls though nothing major. Major miss was that when I looked at my wrist at about #7 to see my time, my 305 was no longer there. RIP.
Excellent map, orienteering on a combination of contours and vegetation.
No energy, just felt dead, but at least most of the time the brain was working.
Click on map for larger version --
Excellent map, orienteering on a combination of contours and vegetation.
No energy, just felt dead, but at least most of the time the brain was working.
Click on map for larger version --
C • 305 3
Thursday Oct 18, 2012 #
9 AM
biking 45:30 12.46 mi (3:39 / mi) +344ft 3:33 / mi
ahr:135 max:152
Back home from Greenfield after leaving the old Subaru for a little maintenance -- replacing a ball joint that is getting a little worn, plus a new set of tires. I think that's the fourth set of tires, but maybe 5th? Car has 241K miles on it and still seems to be chugging along.
A nippy morning for the road bike, about 40F. But not cold enough or out long enough for the hands/toes/ears to freeze up, though they were getting chilly.
A nippy morning for the road bike, about 40F. But not cold enough or out long enough for the hands/toes/ears to freeze up, though they were getting chilly.
Wednesday Oct 17, 2012 #
4 PM
mountain biking 43:24 6.26 mi (6:56 / mi) +774ft 6:12 / mi
ahr:138 max:160 weight:137.5lbs
On Mt. Toby, up North Mt, over and then down South Mt. Didn't have to get off the bike at all (which means also no falls). :-)
This is such a nice time of year.
This is such a nice time of year.
Tuesday Oct 16, 2012 #
Note
So what's the standard these days for results from a local meet? I went to the HVO meet at Pound Ridge on Saturday. E-punching, printed out splits afterwards from a little printer but the interface with the laptop wasn't working. So there were no results on site. Three days later, none on the web page.
Should I just assume there won't ever be any?
Not that it's a big deal, just curious to see who else was there and how they managed.
Should I just assume there won't ever be any?
Not that it's a big deal, just curious to see who else was there and how they managed.
3 PM
orienteering 1:19:46 4.08 mi (19:34 / mi) +600ft 17:10 / mi
ahr:114 max:146
Easy peasy O' training with Amy Lane, trying to give a few pointers. Beautiful afternoon, very mellow and enjoyable.
Monday Oct 15, 2012 #
Note
81-82-1-66. Good round, finishing up with a nice birdie on 18.
And then 45 minutes on the porch with two of the guys I played with (had never met before), chatting about life and golf, very enjoyable. Sometimes you get lucky.
A nice birthday present.
And then 45 minutes on the porch with two of the guys I played with (had never met before), chatting about life and golf, very enjoyable. Sometimes you get lucky.
A nice birthday present.
Sunday Oct 14, 2012 #
Note
Route from yesterday (click on map for larger image) --
QR.jpg)
If one wanted to be picky, one could say that it was the 40th anniversary, and that the clues for 8 and 9 could have been more precise. :-)
Lots of sore places, generally feeling quite battered. Had the usual number of falls, a couple pretty hard.
If one wanted to be picky, one could say that it was the 40th anniversary, and that the clues for 8 and 9 could have been more precise. :-)
Lots of sore places, generally feeling quite battered. Had the usual number of falls, a couple pretty hard.
Saturday Oct 13, 2012 #
Event: HVO: Ward Pound Ridge
Note
Nice to see Erin and a bunch of juniors out training at Pound Ridge, after training earlier in the day at Westmoreland. It's going to be interesting and fun seeing what he can accomplish. More power to him. I hope that whenever there is an opportunity to help him, folks will pitch in. Got to get that median age a lot lower!
11 AM
orienteering 2:00:54 7.38 mi (16:23 / mi) +1585ft 13:37 / mi
ahr:141 max:162 weight:138.5lbs shoes: x-talon 212 #2
A slightly modified version of the M21 course at the 1972 US Champs, or maybe of an M21 course if was a two-champs? Slightly modified because the start/finish area was not available, so the beginning and end were different.
Also the map was quite different, 1:15 based on Eric Weyman's 1983 mapping, not the 1:24 used in 1972.
An interesting run, both good and bad, though overall certainly more good than bad. Might as well get the bad out of the way first.... :-)
-- My orienteering was a little shaky, especially to #1, couldn't adjust to (or read) the map, blew off at least a couple minutes. Also misses at #2 (a minute or two), #5 (at most a minute), at #6 (at most a minute, lucky it wasn't more), at #8 (30-45 seconds), and at #9 (a minute). Not so good.
-- My minute or two at #2 is only part of the story. Never found the control. Got to the area and saw two guys claiming to have been there quite a while. Did a quick look around and then split. Balter found it, figured it was 100-150 meters to the north. Glad I didn't spend much time searching.
-- Had a really hard time reading the map, could extract only minimal info on the run, many many times had to stop and then still really struggled to read it. I assumed it was just the 1:15, hardly ever get that these days for the courses I run. But then back home I pulled out the 1983 version, offset printed, and it was substantially better, especially the contour lines.
And then the good....
-- A beautiful day, nice and cool, and the legs had some energy. Ran up a lot of hills. Started getting a little heavy-legged the last 25 minutes, but even that was not so bad. Really happy about that, given I was out for two hours. Still struggling with the rocky areas and the hemlock deadfall, but that is a given these days.
-- If there is going to be a bad control, a local meet is the place to do it. Not stressed at all about it, just moved on. So nice not to have any reason to be bummed or pissed or obnoxious. :-)
-- Compared splits with Greg. He was killing me early on, getting me by a normal margin in the middle, and I got him by a little on the last three. Guess the course was just too short.
Are there results anywhere from 1972? Would be interesting to see.
Today's map (click on map for a larger version) --
.jpg)
And the 1983 map (click on map for a larger version). Notice, for example, just east of #9 on the hillside, how much sharper the contours are. Both maps were scanned and condensed the same way.
Also the map was quite different, 1:15 based on Eric Weyman's 1983 mapping, not the 1:24 used in 1972.
An interesting run, both good and bad, though overall certainly more good than bad. Might as well get the bad out of the way first.... :-)
-- My orienteering was a little shaky, especially to #1, couldn't adjust to (or read) the map, blew off at least a couple minutes. Also misses at #2 (a minute or two), #5 (at most a minute), at #6 (at most a minute, lucky it wasn't more), at #8 (30-45 seconds), and at #9 (a minute). Not so good.
-- My minute or two at #2 is only part of the story. Never found the control. Got to the area and saw two guys claiming to have been there quite a while. Did a quick look around and then split. Balter found it, figured it was 100-150 meters to the north. Glad I didn't spend much time searching.
-- Had a really hard time reading the map, could extract only minimal info on the run, many many times had to stop and then still really struggled to read it. I assumed it was just the 1:15, hardly ever get that these days for the courses I run. But then back home I pulled out the 1983 version, offset printed, and it was substantially better, especially the contour lines.
And then the good....
-- A beautiful day, nice and cool, and the legs had some energy. Ran up a lot of hills. Started getting a little heavy-legged the last 25 minutes, but even that was not so bad. Really happy about that, given I was out for two hours. Still struggling with the rocky areas and the hemlock deadfall, but that is a given these days.
-- If there is going to be a bad control, a local meet is the place to do it. Not stressed at all about it, just moved on. So nice not to have any reason to be bummed or pissed or obnoxious. :-)
-- Compared splits with Greg. He was killing me early on, getting me by a normal margin in the middle, and I got him by a little on the last three. Guess the course was just too short.
Are there results anywhere from 1972? Would be interesting to see.
Today's map (click on map for a larger version) --
And the 1983 map (click on map for a larger version). Notice, for example, just east of #9 on the hillside, how much sharper the contours are. Both maps were scanned and condensed the same way.
Friday Oct 12, 2012 #
3 PM
trail running 41:50 3.57 mi (11:43 / mi) +659ft 9:58 / mi
ahr:138 max:160 weight:138lbs shoes: pegasus #2
On North Sugarloaf, getting hard to follow the bike trail as the leaves start coming down. Not as spry as yesterday, but not as bad as expected. Did have one face-plant.
Terry Gross interviewing Stephen Colbert certainly got me up the hill easier.
Off to Pound Ridge in the morning with a box of maps for training camp folks, but probably without Gail as her back is acting up. :-(
Terry Gross interviewing Stephen Colbert certainly got me up the hill easier.
Off to Pound Ridge in the morning with a box of maps for training camp folks, but probably without Gail as her back is acting up. :-(
Thursday Oct 11, 2012 #
4 PM
trail running 1:04:44 5.75 mi (11:15 / mi) +889ft 9:49 / mi
ahr:136 max:158 shoes: pegasus #2
One of those runs that makes up for all the times that you feel like crap.
Tried a couple of trails I'd never been on before on the SW side of the Holyoke Range, the lower part of the Dry Brook trail and then the Lithia Springs trail over too the reservoir. Turned out to be very nice -- pretty good footing (not too rocky), no hills I couldn't run, interesting terrain to observe.
And for whatever reason, the legs felt really good, no problem going up the hills, didn't feel at all tired when I was done. Though I sense the weather played a part, a perfect fall day, 50s, low humidity, late afternoon sunshine filtering down though the hemlocks. And maybe it also helped that I have been doing some training recently.
Entertainment was also first class, a This American Life story about loopholes. It, too, as well as the run, could have happily gone on a lot longer.
Tried a couple of trails I'd never been on before on the SW side of the Holyoke Range, the lower part of the Dry Brook trail and then the Lithia Springs trail over too the reservoir. Turned out to be very nice -- pretty good footing (not too rocky), no hills I couldn't run, interesting terrain to observe.
And for whatever reason, the legs felt really good, no problem going up the hills, didn't feel at all tired when I was done. Though I sense the weather played a part, a perfect fall day, 50s, low humidity, late afternoon sunshine filtering down though the hemlocks. And maybe it also helped that I have been doing some training recently.
Entertainment was also first class, a This American Life story about loopholes. It, too, as well as the run, could have happily gone on a lot longer.
Wednesday Oct 10, 2012 #
3 PM
mountain biking 42:22 4.28 mi (9:53 / mi) +256ft 9:22 / mi
ahr:120 max:139
Hard going. Started out on some single track. Not especially rocky or rooty and no big hills, but lots of very short but steep bits, at least too steep for me to get up. So after maybe 10 times practicing my dismounts under stress, all done reasonably well, plus one descent where I was skidding heading first for one tree, and then having controlled my skid and missed it but now heading for another tree, fortunately repeating my evasive manouver, I decided enough was enough and headed for a wide sandy/gravelly track under a power line. Did enough there to work up a sweat.
I think this sport requires young legs and young nerves.
I think this sport requires young legs and young nerves.
Tuesday Oct 9, 2012 #
Note
Today's run, click on map for a larger image --
QR.jpg)
10 AM
trail running 3:13 0.3 mi (10:43 / mi)
ahr:120 max:133 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Warm-up. Not much this time, but even a little bit helps.
orienteering 37:34 2.63 mi (14:17 / mi) +545ft 11:56 / mi
ahr:149 max:162 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Blue course at Earl's Trails from Day 1 of the 5-Day, 3.9 km beeline. Good run, not much in the way of mistakes, just a few seconds at #4, and actually ran uphill a little (still walked a lot, but today was an improvement). So maybe the conditioning is getting just a little better. Nice day for running, 50s and cloudy but no rain.
And I was thinking afterwards how cool it is that at almost 68 (next week) I can still do this sport, and still not so bad. Don't know how much longer it will last, but for the time being I need to remind myself to cherish it.
And I was thinking afterwards how cool it is that at almost 68 (next week) I can still do this sport, and still not so bad. Don't know how much longer it will last, but for the time being I need to remind myself to cherish it.
trail running 2:56 [3] 0.27 mi (10:51 / mi) +13ft 10:23 / mi
ahr:143 max:148 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
And back to the car. And then off to a new course not too far from here, been meaning to visit it. Quite a fine place. Still in the 50s, overcast, always looked like rain but never did. The perfect day, in other words, to be out, as the place was almost deserted. Had a wonderful time, again thinking it is very cool I can still do this sport too, must remember to cherish it.
82-80-0-65.
82-80-0-65.
Monday Oct 8, 2012 #
4 PM
mountain biking 51:48 6.46 mi (8:01 / mi) +719ft 7:15 / mi
ahr:133 max:159
Pocumtuck Ridge, south end to Pine Nook Road and back. Rode this once a couple of years ago and it was bumpety-bumpety-bump, lots of roots and small racks. Right on the line between no big deal, and unpleasant. Funny enough, it hasn't changed.
Made all the ups but one.
And stopped on the way home to see Jim Henderson and go over courses planned for Paugusset (Saturday afternoon, weekend after the NAOC). Should be nice.
-------------------------
And this is a little note I sent out to family regarding the state of things in Litchfield. I go there every week, but I have it very easy. It's the women doing the direct care that are the saints --
Just a few more thoughts.
Things are changing. She is getting weaker. One result is that she is no longer (or at least much less) pushing away help with respect to walking and feeding. The former, she was always pushing help away, wanted to walk on her own. Now she really needs help, and seems glad to have it. The latter, she used to really fight. This morning Jenn just started feeding her breakfast, one spoonful at a time, and she didn't object at all.
Angelo will put in a ramp this week. Walking may not be possible before long.
It's also getting harder to have conversations, and what conversations there are are much simpler, but it's important to keep trying.
There's no way of knowing what will come. The goal is to keep her safe, keep her clean, give her good nutrition, and keep her home. As I said last week, the staff right now is giving her excellent care.
One thing that hasn't changed — she seems happy, rarely complains about anything. That is a blessing.
Made all the ups but one.
And stopped on the way home to see Jim Henderson and go over courses planned for Paugusset (Saturday afternoon, weekend after the NAOC). Should be nice.
-------------------------
And this is a little note I sent out to family regarding the state of things in Litchfield. I go there every week, but I have it very easy. It's the women doing the direct care that are the saints --
Just a few more thoughts.
Things are changing. She is getting weaker. One result is that she is no longer (or at least much less) pushing away help with respect to walking and feeding. The former, she was always pushing help away, wanted to walk on her own. Now she really needs help, and seems glad to have it. The latter, she used to really fight. This morning Jenn just started feeding her breakfast, one spoonful at a time, and she didn't object at all.
Angelo will put in a ramp this week. Walking may not be possible before long.
It's also getting harder to have conversations, and what conversations there are are much simpler, but it's important to keep trying.
There's no way of knowing what will come. The goal is to keep her safe, keep her clean, give her good nutrition, and keep her home. As I said last week, the staff right now is giving her excellent care.
One thing that hasn't changed — she seems happy, rarely complains about anything. That is a blessing.
Sunday Oct 7, 2012 #
Note
Today's run (click on map for larger version) --
QR.jpg)
10 AM
trail running 12:21 1.1 mi (11:14 / mi) +253ft 9:13 / mi
ahr:131 max:151 weight:138lbs shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Warm-up. One way to make sure I warm up at least a little is to park a ways away from, and below, where I am planning on starting.
orienteering 41:39 2.72 mi (15:19 / mi) +755ft 12:08 / mi
ahr:157 max:165 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
Blue course from day 2 at the 5-Day. Been to all the points before, of course, but had never run the course. Seemed just fine. Not sure I had all the best routes, but hit all the points pretty cleanly, just 10 or 20 meters off on a couple,
Cool day. sure glad I wasn't doing it when it was 90. I was croaking going up the hills anyway, even with just walking.
But excellent to get out and do this, good training.
Cool day. sure glad I wasn't doing it when it was 90. I was croaking going up the hills anyway, even with just walking.
But excellent to get out and do this, good training.
trail running 11:08 1.13 mi (9:51 / mi) +3ft 9:49 / mi
ahr:133 max:144 shoes: x-talon 212 #2
And then back to the car, very nice, gently downhill.
Saturday Oct 6, 2012 #
11 AM
mountain biking 1:35:26 10.1 mi (9:27 / mi) +791ft 8:48 / mi
ahr:126 max:164 weight:137lbs
At Montague Plains (flat, sandy, a lot of scrub vegetation) and Willis Hill, the latter with lots of places to challenge my climbing skills.
Quite a fun ride. Not pre-determined route, just some exploring, and then when I got to the hill, did a bunch of little climbs that were right at, or above, my skill level. Tried one pitch three times, a little better each time but still not to the top. Had a good time doing it, and always managed to bail out reasonably gracefully.
Would be a fine place for a MBO event, but that would require a map....
Quite a fun ride. Not pre-determined route, just some exploring, and then when I got to the hill, did a bunch of little climbs that were right at, or above, my skill level. Tried one pitch three times, a little better each time but still not to the top. Had a good time doing it, and always managed to bail out reasonably gracefully.
Would be a fine place for a MBO event, but that would require a map....
Friday Oct 5, 2012 #
12 PM
trail running 1:14:47 6.8 mi (11:00 / mi) +843ft 9:50 / mi
ahr:140 max:157 weight:138lbs shoes: pegasus #2
Nice loop at Earl's Trails.
Stopped on the way to get new earphones for my iPod, a big improvement, then entertained first by a This American Life story about PI moms, nothing earth-shattering but makes an hour go by very quickly, and then a story from The Moth about a search for an American author in Morocco, just wonderful.
And the latter met one of the true tests of a good story -- either the run, or the drive if you're listening in a car, is over, but you just keep listening, doing nothing, because there's no way you can just turn it off.
Stopped on the way to get new earphones for my iPod, a big improvement, then entertained first by a This American Life story about PI moms, nothing earth-shattering but makes an hour go by very quickly, and then a story from The Moth about a search for an American author in Morocco, just wonderful.
And the latter met one of the true tests of a good story -- either the run, or the drive if you're listening in a car, is over, but you just keep listening, doing nothing, because there's no way you can just turn it off.
Thursday Oct 4, 2012 #
Note
86-79-0-65.
Wednesday Oct 3, 2012 #
4 PM
mountain biking 45:39 6.23 mi (7:20 / mi) +778ft 6:33 / mi
ahr:125 max:149 weight:137lbs
Late afternoon ride on Mt. Toby, up North Mountain, over to and then down South Mountain. Not raining but everything was wet from rain earlier. Had to get off once, picked a bad line, close a couple other times but managed.
And trying to be careful going down, not too fast....
And trying to be careful going down, not too fast....
Tuesday Oct 2, 2012 #
11 AM
Note
85-78-1-65 with Mike. A lot of fun. And an excellent psychological rescue, get myself from full meltdown status back to bright and cheery in 100 yards, using the simple but very effective question -- "How do you want to spend the rest of the day?"
Very pleased with myself. And the golf was good too, a lot of good shots, excellent company, just still can't putt. But that's pretty low on the list of possible life problems.
Very pleased with myself. And the golf was good too, a lot of good shots, excellent company, just still can't putt. But that's pretty low on the list of possible life problems.
3 PM
run/hike 51:45 2.69 mi (19:14 / mi) +1955ft 11:24 / mi
ahr:148 max:157 shoes: Brooks something-or-others
Up the Healdsville trail on the north side of Okemo, supposed to be 1,900' climb and 3.0 miles. Last did this 6 or 7 years ago in 42+, how times have changed. Though this time I wasn't really putting out, lots of walking, plus it was post-golf instead of pre-golf. Maybe I'll have to try it again to see if I really have lost that much.
Everything was wet, so also being careful.
Everything was wet, so also being careful.
trail running 35:46 2.83 mi (12:38 / mi) +33ft 12:30 / mi
ahr:138 max:154 shoes: Brooks something-or-others
And back down, being very very careful to not do anything stupid given that everything was wet and slippery. Amazingly, no falls going up, none coming down, not even any on the golf course.
Dark by the time I got home, but just in time for a delicious dinner, co-production of Alex and Gail.
Dark by the time I got home, but just in time for a delicious dinner, co-production of Alex and Gail.
Monday Oct 1, 2012 #
7 PM
orienteering 1 [0] +98ft
Phil's 305 track for his July 9th training, just discovered, thanks to Amy Lane's sharp eyes! Amy was out getting some O' instruction from Alex in preparation for domination by the two of them and Ali at one of Hammer's races in November. Might as well just mail them the prize right now.
In western Mass, it seems we can find anything. :-)
And he really ought to erase his history, must have 50 runs on there. I can see why it wanted to get away.
In western Mass, it seems we can find anything. :-)
And he really ought to erase his history, must have 50 runs on there. I can see why it wanted to get away.
C • 305 18
8 PM