Training Log Archive: PGIn the 31 days ending Aug 31, 2016:
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Wednesday Aug 31, 2016 #
2 PM
orienteering 8:01 0.66 mi (12:07 / mi) +2ft 12:05 / mi
ahr:135 max:150 weight:139lbs
Testting the Sprint Shuffle. Almost just right, just needs one tweek.
C • data 5
biking - red bike 1:18:51 21.37 mi (3:41 / mi) +661ft 3:35 / mi
ahr:130 max:159
Lower Road - Upper Road in Deerfield, south breeze. Not so bad.
Tuesday Aug 30, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 46:11 12.29 mi (3:46 / mi) +343ft 3:40 / mi
ahr:122 max:155 weight:139lbs
To Montague.
Tried a new saddle, took the one off my old bike. Might be better? Only when I was done did Gail notice that I had taken the saddle off her old bike.
It only gets worse...
Tried a new saddle, took the one off my old bike. Might be better? Only when I was done did Gail notice that I had taken the saddle off her old bike.
It only gets worse...
Monday Aug 29, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 57:43 15.32 mi (3:46 / mi) +677ft 3:37 / mi
ahr:128 max:157 weight:140lbs
Leverett loop counter-clockwise. Started out with no ambition but got into it after a while. Lots of wind, ostensibly from the NW, but seemed liable at any moment to be coming from any direction.
5 PM
orienteering 16:48 1.35 mi (12:27 / mi) +1ft 12:26 / mi
ahr:138 max:148
In the maze, trying out ideas. My navigating is fine and the maze is cool, but running is just barely possible, and painful at that.
Sunday Aug 28, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 2:36:41 32.11 mi (4:53 / mi) +3583ft 4:25 / mi
ahr:144 max:166 weight:140lbs
I'd been planning on another go at Greylock this year, but waiting for a cool day and so expected it would be sometime in September. But I told Phil he could choose where we went today, and he opted for Greylock. Off we went. Sunny and warm, well into the 80s.
It seems I have never managed hot weather or hills especially well, and today was no exception. Took two bottles, polished both off easily, but I'm sure weight was down a good bit by the time we were done.
Up the south side this time, by the numbers it shouldn't be as hard as the north side, but it sure felt hard today. Made it up the first steep section (1,100' climb over a couple of miles) reasonably well, but that would have been a good time to turn around. There's a dip and some flattish miles before the last 1,100' up. This was maybe 7-8% vs. the 10% for the earlier section, but it felt as hard, or harder.
The legs, well, the image I had was of jello. That is not a positive image. Moving slower and slower. I thought about pulling out my phone and calling Phil to tell him to meet me at the junction a ways below the top. Occasionally it leveled out for a moment and I tried going up a gear and it felt like I'd just shifted up about 5 gears. Gave up on that.
Eventually I made it up. It was still Sunday. It was not yet dark. Phil looked well rested. Hey, there has to be some benefit.
Back the same way, contrary to original plans to go down the north side. Whatever, got it done.
Good company, always fine to go someplace different than usual, have a bit of an adventure. Just that some days are pretty depressing...
It seems I have never managed hot weather or hills especially well, and today was no exception. Took two bottles, polished both off easily, but I'm sure weight was down a good bit by the time we were done.
Up the south side this time, by the numbers it shouldn't be as hard as the north side, but it sure felt hard today. Made it up the first steep section (1,100' climb over a couple of miles) reasonably well, but that would have been a good time to turn around. There's a dip and some flattish miles before the last 1,100' up. This was maybe 7-8% vs. the 10% for the earlier section, but it felt as hard, or harder.
The legs, well, the image I had was of jello. That is not a positive image. Moving slower and slower. I thought about pulling out my phone and calling Phil to tell him to meet me at the junction a ways below the top. Occasionally it leveled out for a moment and I tried going up a gear and it felt like I'd just shifted up about 5 gears. Gave up on that.
Eventually I made it up. It was still Sunday. It was not yet dark. Phil looked well rested. Hey, there has to be some benefit.
Back the same way, contrary to original plans to go down the north side. Whatever, got it done.
Good company, always fine to go someplace different than usual, have a bit of an adventure. Just that some days are pretty depressing...
Saturday Aug 27, 2016 #
Note
A day trip to Burlington, VT, to attend a memorial service for a running friend of long ago (she moved to Alaska but grew up in Burlington) who died way too early at the age of 59. Sad to have to have the event, as these things always are, but also good to see some friends not seen for a while, especially her husband. She was a wonderful person, he too.
Friday Aug 26, 2016 #
2 PM
biking - red bike 1:13:11 17.51 mi (4:11 / mi) +826ft 4:00 / mi
ahr:138 max:170 weight:139lbs
Corn ride, plus a side trip up South Sugarloaf (9:18) on the way out. I figured that made more sense than on the way back, both in not having the extra weight plus not knowing if sudden altitude changes might do bad things to the corn.
First time up SS with my new low gear. I think about 30 seconds faster than last time, though I'm guessing the difference is in having done a bunch of biking in the meantime. The lower gear just makes it less likely that I stall. Though even with it, the last pitch after the hairpin is still pretty unpleasant. Looked at my HR about 100 yards from the top and it was 169, PR for the year I think, didn't look again.
Rest of the ride was blah. Pretty hot out, tired legs, sweating a bunch, low energy. But the successful climb made it a good ride.
-----------
A question -- in the book I just started, a favorable comment is made about Bibles, that the thin pages are really good for rolling joints. Laughed out loud, never heard that. Is it true?
Though perhaps I am asking the wrong crowd....
Though also maybe a crowd less likely to take offense.... :-)
First time up SS with my new low gear. I think about 30 seconds faster than last time, though I'm guessing the difference is in having done a bunch of biking in the meantime. The lower gear just makes it less likely that I stall. Though even with it, the last pitch after the hairpin is still pretty unpleasant. Looked at my HR about 100 yards from the top and it was 169, PR for the year I think, didn't look again.
Rest of the ride was blah. Pretty hot out, tired legs, sweating a bunch, low energy. But the successful climb made it a good ride.
-----------
A question -- in the book I just started, a favorable comment is made about Bibles, that the thin pages are really good for rolling joints. Laughed out loud, never heard that. Is it true?
Though perhaps I am asking the wrong crowd....
Though also maybe a crowd less likely to take offense.... :-)
Thursday Aug 25, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 43:58 11.94 mi (3:41 / mi) +324ft 3:35 / mi
ahr:131 max:158 weight:139.5lbs
Sort ride up the river and back, south wind. Easy going out, working hard coming back.
Wednesday Aug 24, 2016 #
Note
I've spent a good bit of time over the last five months dealing with my mom's house, both the disposition of contents and the selling process. It's been an interesting journey.
It was actually supposed to be my brother's responsibility to take care of this, but it didn't turn out that way. A lot of things were just easier for me to do (he lives in Austin, so a plane trip away), plus he was traveling a lot. And I didn't have any grand plans for the spring and summer (such as an O' trip), and I'm retired, so I had the time.
The house is not your normal house, and selling it did not turn out to be a normal process. It's in a style I believe is called mid-century modern, designed by Marcel Breuer, built in the mid-70s. It was a smaller version of the first Breuer house the family had (and the one I lived in during my teens), just up the hill from the current one, but when the kids were gone the big house was way too big. Hence the downsizing.
It's a beautiful house, but like any unusual property it might not appeal to a lot of people and we figured it might take a long time to sell. But we thought we were in good shape because there was already a possible buyer.
But life was not so simple.
Over the couple of months from late March to late May, we went from having one possible buyer, to a second possible buyer (a letter of interest out of the blue), to having the second possible buyer drop out after finding out what the house was appraised for, to having the first possible buyer drop out because it wasn't the right time. Well, damn.
In late May we talked to a real estate broker, friend of the family. Said we'd list it in a week or two if nothing came up in the meantime. Let the two possible buyers know it was a last chance for a private sale, the house was about to go on the market, and that we would entertain an offer for less than the appraised value. And much to my surprise, within a week we had a deal with the second buyer. A price that they could just manage and that we were willing to take. And no contingencies.
The negotiations, well, a sign of how times have changed. My brother was the only one who could sign papers, but he was in St. Petersburg (Russia, not Florida). A variety of phone calls, texts, e-mails with various attachments, and a couple of days later I was sitting with the buyers in the house, and at some point they asked, "Do we have a deal?" And I checked the laptop again, and there just arrived was an e-mail with the signed contract, and we had a deal.
The nicest part of it was that they really liked the house, had had their eye on it for a long time (just waiting for mom to pass...). And I really liked them, couldn't imagine nicer people to sell the place to. The closing was set for mid-July.
And we gone on with cleaning out the house.
You read of family feuds because of fights over who got to keep what from the estate. This one actually went pretty well. Got the whole cast of characters together (sister, brother, his two kids, and the boy's wife, plus Gail and me) to see who wanted what. And there were very few conflicts. Not that it wasn't stressful, not that I didn't come close to a meltdown. But we got it done.
Stuff got shipped off. And then Lina took a few things, and then the new buyers wanted a few things. And for the rest I found an older couple who do clean-outs (and various other stuff) for a very modest fee, with as much as possible the stuff going to the area homeless shelter or local churches.
We ended up closing last Friday, a month later than planned, but it's done. Various paperwork/money issues with the local bank and the IRS that left me just shaking my head, amazed and appalled that things that could be simple were just unbelievably complicated. But it's done.
So no more regular trips to Lichfield (a couple of hours each way), except occasionally to visit Lina and Angelo and their kids and grandkids, just a wonderful family. Can never repay them for what they did to take care of mom, though I will certainly try...
It was actually supposed to be my brother's responsibility to take care of this, but it didn't turn out that way. A lot of things were just easier for me to do (he lives in Austin, so a plane trip away), plus he was traveling a lot. And I didn't have any grand plans for the spring and summer (such as an O' trip), and I'm retired, so I had the time.
The house is not your normal house, and selling it did not turn out to be a normal process. It's in a style I believe is called mid-century modern, designed by Marcel Breuer, built in the mid-70s. It was a smaller version of the first Breuer house the family had (and the one I lived in during my teens), just up the hill from the current one, but when the kids were gone the big house was way too big. Hence the downsizing.
It's a beautiful house, but like any unusual property it might not appeal to a lot of people and we figured it might take a long time to sell. But we thought we were in good shape because there was already a possible buyer.
But life was not so simple.
Over the couple of months from late March to late May, we went from having one possible buyer, to a second possible buyer (a letter of interest out of the blue), to having the second possible buyer drop out after finding out what the house was appraised for, to having the first possible buyer drop out because it wasn't the right time. Well, damn.
In late May we talked to a real estate broker, friend of the family. Said we'd list it in a week or two if nothing came up in the meantime. Let the two possible buyers know it was a last chance for a private sale, the house was about to go on the market, and that we would entertain an offer for less than the appraised value. And much to my surprise, within a week we had a deal with the second buyer. A price that they could just manage and that we were willing to take. And no contingencies.
The negotiations, well, a sign of how times have changed. My brother was the only one who could sign papers, but he was in St. Petersburg (Russia, not Florida). A variety of phone calls, texts, e-mails with various attachments, and a couple of days later I was sitting with the buyers in the house, and at some point they asked, "Do we have a deal?" And I checked the laptop again, and there just arrived was an e-mail with the signed contract, and we had a deal.
The nicest part of it was that they really liked the house, had had their eye on it for a long time (just waiting for mom to pass...). And I really liked them, couldn't imagine nicer people to sell the place to. The closing was set for mid-July.
And we gone on with cleaning out the house.
You read of family feuds because of fights over who got to keep what from the estate. This one actually went pretty well. Got the whole cast of characters together (sister, brother, his two kids, and the boy's wife, plus Gail and me) to see who wanted what. And there were very few conflicts. Not that it wasn't stressful, not that I didn't come close to a meltdown. But we got it done.
Stuff got shipped off. And then Lina took a few things, and then the new buyers wanted a few things. And for the rest I found an older couple who do clean-outs (and various other stuff) for a very modest fee, with as much as possible the stuff going to the area homeless shelter or local churches.
We ended up closing last Friday, a month later than planned, but it's done. Various paperwork/money issues with the local bank and the IRS that left me just shaking my head, amazed and appalled that things that could be simple were just unbelievably complicated. But it's done.
So no more regular trips to Lichfield (a couple of hours each way), except occasionally to visit Lina and Angelo and their kids and grandkids, just a wonderful family. Can never repay them for what they did to take care of mom, though I will certainly try...
12 PM
biking - red bike 1:09:07 17.73 mi (3:54 / mi) +436ft 3:49 / mi
ahr:115 max:132 weight:139.5lbs
Nice ride in Whately and Hatfield, no ambitions... :-)
Tuesday Aug 23, 2016 #
1 PM
biking - red bike 2:26:08 37.04 mi (3:57 / mi) +1899ft 3:46 / mi
ahr:136 max:160 weight:140lbs
Shelburne Falls to Charlemont, then north on 8A into Vermont, then back on 112 via Colrain. Never been on 8A north of route 2. Not flat, but almost no traffic, good pavement, and really pretty.
The part on 112 I'd done about 35 years ago part of a Amherst - Brattleboro - Wilmington - Amherst solo century ride. This was the easy part, all down or flat, though the headwind just seemed to keep getting stronger.
Nice day to be out.
The part on 112 I'd done about 35 years ago part of a Amherst - Brattleboro - Wilmington - Amherst solo century ride. This was the easy part, all down or flat, though the headwind just seemed to keep getting stronger.
Nice day to be out.
Monday Aug 22, 2016 #
1 PM
biking - red bike 1:29:08 23.82 mi (3:45 / mi) +809ft 3:38 / mi
ahr:129 max:156
Nice loop north of Bernardston. A hint of fall in the air, 70s, low humidity, windy out of the north. Had several miles right into it, but then the last few miles it was at my back. I seem to work just as hard in either case, just the speed is a lot different.
Sure is a lot more fun than what little running I've tried to do recently.
Sure is a lot more fun than what little running I've tried to do recently.
Sunday Aug 21, 2016 #
10 AM
trail running 13:02 1.07 mi (12:10 / mi) +1ft 12:09 / mi
ahr:138 max:149 weight:140lbs shoes: pegasus 6
Running a course in the maze just to see how it feels. It will work just fine (and better than I expected).
Can't say the same about my running...
Can't say the same about my running...
Saturday Aug 20, 2016 #
8 AM
biking - red bike 4:04:38 61.65 mi (3:58 / mi) +3243ft 3:47 / mi
ahr:139 max:161
Went down to Willimantic, CT to do a longer ride. More interesting to go someplace new. You pay a little more for the privilege in such events, but the cause is always good and the aid stations are certainly appreciated.
Though I was having second thoughts early this morning. The weather here looked like it would be fine, not a cloud in the sky, but the forecast there was not so good, much more humid and thunderstorms around by midday. I headed off anyway. By Springfield it was starting to cloud up. Just past Hartford it started to rain lightly. Thought about turning around, but didn't, and glad I didn't. Never saw any more rain, the roads dried out pretty quickly, and the thunder was around, but not where I was.
Did the 62-mile option (seemed reasonable, the 100 certainly was more than I wanted). Set out with the intention of drinking a lot more than I usually do and not pushing the pace, the goal being to feel (relatively) good for the last few miles. And it worked pretty well. There was a couple riding just a little ahead of me, going about the same pace, and I just let them stay there for the first 25 miles, sometimes 50-100 yards ahead, sometimes 10-20. Kept me under control.
And so the miles just rolled by rather pleasantly, all the way to the end. All you could ask for. :-)
Though I was having second thoughts early this morning. The weather here looked like it would be fine, not a cloud in the sky, but the forecast there was not so good, much more humid and thunderstorms around by midday. I headed off anyway. By Springfield it was starting to cloud up. Just past Hartford it started to rain lightly. Thought about turning around, but didn't, and glad I didn't. Never saw any more rain, the roads dried out pretty quickly, and the thunder was around, but not where I was.
Did the 62-mile option (seemed reasonable, the 100 certainly was more than I wanted). Set out with the intention of drinking a lot more than I usually do and not pushing the pace, the goal being to feel (relatively) good for the last few miles. And it worked pretty well. There was a couple riding just a little ahead of me, going about the same pace, and I just let them stay there for the first 25 miles, sometimes 50-100 yards ahead, sometimes 10-20. Kept me under control.
And so the miles just rolled by rather pleasantly, all the way to the end. All you could ask for. :-)
Thursday Aug 18, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 48:18 13.57 mi (3:33 / mi) +372ft 3:28 / mi
ahr:131 max:161 weight:139lbs
South Deerfield - Whately. A reasonably hard effort. Felt OK.
Wednesday Aug 17, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 55:27 15.31 mi (3:37 / mi) +671ft 3:29 / mi
ahr:136 max:164 weight:139lbs
Leverett loop counterclockwise. Nice day, upper 70s and dewpoint in the low 60s, a lot better than recently, NW breeze. Put out a good effort.
Tuesday Aug 16, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 1:20:33 20.71 mi (3:53 / mi) +229ft 3:51 / mi
ahr:111 max:125 weight:139lbs
Really pleasant ride -- no hills, no hurry, cooler (upper 70s) though still humid.
Monday Aug 15, 2016 #
10 AM
biking - red bike 2:43:40 43.15 mi (3:48 / mi) +1007ft 3:43 / mi
ahr:134 max:161 weight:140lbs
Around the range, counter-clockwise. Not so hot, upper 80s. NW breeze was getting stronger (and in my face) the last hour or so, but still swirling enough that it wasn't totally annoying. And did several miles on 116, lots of cars/trucks going by to give a tailwind of sorts and a nice wide shoulder to make it relatively safe.
Took a stop after not quite two hours to get something to drink. Not quite George's routine, settle in for half an hour with coffee, but still nice. Used to do this on longer rides (general stores in Goshen, Northfield, Hardwick, Charlemont have all had visits over the years), but had gotten out of the habit.
Pretty beat by the time I got home, it's still warmer out than I'd wish.
Took a stop after not quite two hours to get something to drink. Not quite George's routine, settle in for half an hour with coffee, but still nice. Used to do this on longer rides (general stores in Goshen, Northfield, Hardwick, Charlemont have all had visits over the years), but had gotten out of the habit.
Pretty beat by the time I got home, it's still warmer out than I'd wish.
Sunday Aug 14, 2016 #
9 AM
biking - red bike 44:39 11.73 mi (3:48 / mi) +331ft 3:42 / mi
ahr:131 max:157 weight:140lbs
A short ride before heading off to Lina and Angelo's for lunch. Took a long time to stop sweating when I was done.
Saturday Aug 13, 2016 #
12 PM
biking - red bike 46:17 12.13 mi (3:49 / mi) +260ft 3:44 / mi
ahr:129 max:153 weight:139.5lbs
Pretty warm, lower 90s and humid, breeze out of the south. Figured it was best to not get too ambitious. Up the river a little ways, working harder into the breeze coming back. Just right.
Friday Aug 12, 2016 #
12 PM
biking - red bike 1:44:39 25.81 mi (4:03 / mi) +1495ft 3:51 / mi
ahr:140 max:167 weight:139.5lbs
Lake Wyola - Shutesbury loop. Hot and humid again. Trying to pace myself properly, though HR was in the upper 160's at the top of the climb -- actually surprised me, felt like I still had a reasonable amount in reserve. Wish I knew whether that (ie. the HR) is a good thing or a bad thing.
Put the seat up about a quarter to a half inch. Better, I think, though what is really needed is a new seat. Has to be something a little more comfortable.
Put the seat up about a quarter to a half inch. Better, I think, though what is really needed is a new seat. Has to be something a little more comfortable.
Thursday Aug 11, 2016 #
10 AM
biking - red bike 1:31:24 24.75 mi (3:42 / mi) +359ft 3:39 / mi
ahr:130 max:153
Hot and humid. Mostly in the flats, still easy to work up a sweat,
Wednesday Aug 10, 2016 #
treadmill 11:10 [2] 1.0 mi (11:10 / mi)
weight:139lbs shoes: pegasus 6
Lots of rain so a few minutes on the treadmill. Left butt is complaining a lot. Though really fortunate that it only seems a problem for running and uphill hiking, and, so far at least, not for biking, or walking, or sitting, or sleeping. Trying to get going on a program to address it.
Tuesday Aug 9, 2016 #
10 AM
biking - red bike 47:53 12.55 mi (3:49 / mi) +123ft 3:47 / mi
ahr:110 max:127 weight:138.5lbs
Easy ride in the flats south of town. Legs still tired, for sure. And the heart seemed to find not reason to get too excited -- I'm not sure if what seemed to be a very low HR is good or bad, or what it might signify. Never really understood all that stuff. Mostly I just wear the gizmo for entertainment.
Seems like a couple more easy days are called for.
Seems like a couple more easy days are called for.
Monday Aug 8, 2016 #
Note
I've been dealing with all sorts of loose ends as part of the process of settling my mom's affairs, and there was one recently that was quite something.
I'd noticed over the past few years that once a year a letter would arrive for her from Princeton University. It was from the part of the University that dealt with scholarships. My grandfather (her father) had gone to Princeton at some point in the teens (ie. roughly 100 years ago). He was killed in WW1 in France in 1918, and in 1919 his father donated money for a scholarship in my grandfather's name.
So for many, many years there had been a letter each year to my mom saying who that year's recipient was. And some years also at some point a personal letter from the recipient. I read a couple of them, very impressive. I thought it would be fascinating to connect with them, just for a chance to see a view of life through their eyes, but there is always the gap between thinking and doing, and it never happened.
In going through things recently I noticed that the most recent letter, back in November, still had my mom's address on it. I'd changed almost all of her mail to my address, but apparently not for Princeton. I figured I'd better do it or the connection might just disappear.
So I called them up. Got an assistant first, her boss was busy at the moment, gave her the new address, told her the circumstances. And then, just because I was curious, I asked about the details of the scholarship. She'd have to look them up, and she'd get back to me.
About 10 minutes later the phone rang, and this time it was her boss. She was also very friendly, and had looked up the history. A donation in 1919 from my great-grandfather of $10,000. It was invested, with the income each year used for a scholarship for a single student. The current value was just over $1 million and the scholarship amount this year was about $44K. Wow, I thought.
Princeton is not cheap, and 44K doesn't cover a year's cost, but it covers a good chunk of it. All I could think was, what a cool thing for great-grandpa to have done, that each year it is put to such good use.
I also asked if there were any restrictions on the use of the scholarship. "You mean like only for left-handed pitchers from Vermont?" Said with a tone that implied they had a lot of restrictions to deal with. Including one substantial bequest a long time ago that put a cap of $600 on the amount of aid to any one student, and now there were some 800-900 students getting aid from that scholarship each year. No, she said regarding this scholarship and sounding very pleased, no restrictions at all.
And just now, curious again, I looked up what 10K in 1919 would be worth in today's dollars? Less than I would have guessed, 143K. Princeton has done a good job investing over the years.
And hopefully, next time I get a letter from them about the latest recipient, I'll follow up. Never know what I might learn.
I'd noticed over the past few years that once a year a letter would arrive for her from Princeton University. It was from the part of the University that dealt with scholarships. My grandfather (her father) had gone to Princeton at some point in the teens (ie. roughly 100 years ago). He was killed in WW1 in France in 1918, and in 1919 his father donated money for a scholarship in my grandfather's name.
So for many, many years there had been a letter each year to my mom saying who that year's recipient was. And some years also at some point a personal letter from the recipient. I read a couple of them, very impressive. I thought it would be fascinating to connect with them, just for a chance to see a view of life through their eyes, but there is always the gap between thinking and doing, and it never happened.
In going through things recently I noticed that the most recent letter, back in November, still had my mom's address on it. I'd changed almost all of her mail to my address, but apparently not for Princeton. I figured I'd better do it or the connection might just disappear.
So I called them up. Got an assistant first, her boss was busy at the moment, gave her the new address, told her the circumstances. And then, just because I was curious, I asked about the details of the scholarship. She'd have to look them up, and she'd get back to me.
About 10 minutes later the phone rang, and this time it was her boss. She was also very friendly, and had looked up the history. A donation in 1919 from my great-grandfather of $10,000. It was invested, with the income each year used for a scholarship for a single student. The current value was just over $1 million and the scholarship amount this year was about $44K. Wow, I thought.
Princeton is not cheap, and 44K doesn't cover a year's cost, but it covers a good chunk of it. All I could think was, what a cool thing for great-grandpa to have done, that each year it is put to such good use.
I also asked if there were any restrictions on the use of the scholarship. "You mean like only for left-handed pitchers from Vermont?" Said with a tone that implied they had a lot of restrictions to deal with. Including one substantial bequest a long time ago that put a cap of $600 on the amount of aid to any one student, and now there were some 800-900 students getting aid from that scholarship each year. No, she said regarding this scholarship and sounding very pleased, no restrictions at all.
And just now, curious again, I looked up what 10K in 1919 would be worth in today's dollars? Less than I would have guessed, 143K. Princeton has done a good job investing over the years.
And hopefully, next time I get a letter from them about the latest recipient, I'll follow up. Never know what I might learn.
12 PM
run/hike 50:01 2.97 mi (16:51 / mi) +686ft 13:50 / mi
ahr:105 max:121 weight:138.5lbs shoes: pegasus 6
On the outer loop at North Sugarloaf, hike up the south side, jog most of the way down the north side. Can tell I've not been doing much of this stuff, feeling fragile.
Sunday Aug 7, 2016 #
8 AM
biking - red bike 5:07:13 73.93 mi (4:09 / mi) +4987ft 3:54 / mi
ahr:143 max:163 weight:139.5lbs
Drove over to NW Connecticut to ride the 74-mile version of the Tour of the Litchfield Hills. An interesting and generally positive experience, though as is often the case in such athletic endeavors, it would have been much more positive had the legs had some zip. But, for whatever reason, they certainly didn't.
I guess the contributing factors were lots of hills, a warm sunny day (it doesn't have to get really hot for my stomach to have trouble processing fluids), old age. And not sure if my pace in the early (and very hilly miles) was too quick; didn't seem like it was, but maybe.
Anyway, by the aid station at 27 miles I had done well over half the climb and was reasonably optimistic. The climb in the mid-30 was a struggle, but even then I thought, just one more real up, mid-50s to low 60s, then flat or down to the end, can't be too bad. But it was just survival mode, lower and lower gears, slower and slower, just try not to fall over or get run over.
And I suppose this ended well, no one had to peel me off the pavement, or shoot me off for an IV, or drive me home. Such things have certainly been done in the past. Maybe I'm getting smarter? :-)
Assuming the legs recover, the only lasting damage was to my shiny bike, and it was pretty trivial. Leaned it against a signpost at an aid station, but it slipped, and suddenly there was a nice scratch on the top tube. Now normally I would pay no attention to such things, but I have been trying to maintain the bike properly (a new experience for me). So I suppose I need to go find a little bright red paint.
By the way, this was a ride, and not a race, but that didn't seem to keep lots of folks from going very fast. I got passed many times, the feeling being that it was as if I was standing still.
Of course, I also passed a lot of folks and my recollection is that all of them actually were standing still (or at least off their bikes). See, I don't like to spend a lot of time at aid stations, whereas for most folks that just seems to be one of the ride's attractions.
I guess the contributing factors were lots of hills, a warm sunny day (it doesn't have to get really hot for my stomach to have trouble processing fluids), old age. And not sure if my pace in the early (and very hilly miles) was too quick; didn't seem like it was, but maybe.
Anyway, by the aid station at 27 miles I had done well over half the climb and was reasonably optimistic. The climb in the mid-30 was a struggle, but even then I thought, just one more real up, mid-50s to low 60s, then flat or down to the end, can't be too bad. But it was just survival mode, lower and lower gears, slower and slower, just try not to fall over or get run over.
And I suppose this ended well, no one had to peel me off the pavement, or shoot me off for an IV, or drive me home. Such things have certainly been done in the past. Maybe I'm getting smarter? :-)
Assuming the legs recover, the only lasting damage was to my shiny bike, and it was pretty trivial. Leaned it against a signpost at an aid station, but it slipped, and suddenly there was a nice scratch on the top tube. Now normally I would pay no attention to such things, but I have been trying to maintain the bike properly (a new experience for me). So I suppose I need to go find a little bright red paint.
By the way, this was a ride, and not a race, but that didn't seem to keep lots of folks from going very fast. I got passed many times, the feeling being that it was as if I was standing still.
Of course, I also passed a lot of folks and my recollection is that all of them actually were standing still (or at least off their bikes). See, I don't like to spend a lot of time at aid stations, whereas for most folks that just seems to be one of the ride's attractions.
Friday Aug 5, 2016 #
10 AM
biking - red bike 1:32:47 26.2 mi (3:32 / mi) +191ft 3:31 / mi
ahr:134 max:155 weight:138.5lbs
Down the east side of the river to Northampton, back the west side. Breeze out of the south, so moving quicker on the return. Pretty good effort all the way.
Thursday Aug 4, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 1:00:54 15.64 mi (3:54 / mi) +441ft 3:47 / mi
ahr:119 max:143 weight:139lbs
Corn ride. Mellow pace, breeze from the south.
Have room for a six-pack, but 4 is all we need --
Have room for a six-pack, but 4 is all we need --
Wednesday Aug 3, 2016 #
11 AM
biking - red bike 1:18:57 21.41 mi (3:41 / mi) +600ft 3:36 / mi
ahr:130 max:156 weight:139lbs
Turners Falls and Millers Falls, very gentle hills. Worked a little harder than I intended. But lovely morning to be out.
Tuesday Aug 2, 2016 #
2 PM
biking - red bike 2:43:17 41.24 mi (3:58 / mi) +2280ft 3:46 / mi
ahr:136 max:161 weight:140lbs
Amherst - Belchertown - Shutesbury (from the back side). Real pleasant ride on a nice afternoon, upper 70's and not much wind. One steep hill, up to Shutesbury from 202, hadn't done it in a long time, not as bad as I feared if you just keep turning the pedals.
Had a decent amount of energy, which is always nice.
Had a decent amount of energy, which is always nice.
Monday Aug 1, 2016 #
Note
Went to a really fun movie last night, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, to celebrate Gail's 68th.
10 AM
biking - red bike 56:36 15.33 mi (3:42 / mi) +670ft 3:33 / mi
ahr:131 max:160 weight:139.5lbs
Leverett loop, counter-clockwise, got out before the rain comes. Nice ride, just the right tempo -- easy for the first 20 minutes or so, then progressively a little harder. Could tell I had had a day off yesterday.
Plan is to do the Tour of the Litchfield Hills on Sunday if the weather cooperates. Either the 55 or 75 mile options will be plenty.
Plan is to do the Tour of the Litchfield Hills on Sunday if the weather cooperates. Either the 55 or 75 mile options will be plenty.