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Attackpoint - performance and training tools for orienteering athletes

Training Log Archive: PG

In the 31 days ending Dec 31, 2017:

activity # timemileskm+ft
  biking - dark blue bike25 27:17:37 366.17(4:28) 589.29(2:47) 13680
  treadmill1 30:00 2.0(15:00) 3.22(9:19)
  Total26 27:47:37 368.17(4:32) 592.51(2:49) 13680
averages - weight:136.6lbs

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Sunday Dec 31, 2017 #

11 AM

biking - dark blue bike 1:09:31 intensity: (41:34 @1) + (27:57 @2) 11.6 mi (6:00 / mi) +582ft 5:43 / mi
ahr:97 max:120

Another ride from Caroline's with her and Gail. Different route. Also colder, mid 30s, NW 5 mph, not really cold, but overcast and it felt colder than it was.

Main excitement, unfortunately was a crash by Gail, but hopefully the damage was not too much. Got her bike back together, and she was back on and went the rest of the way, but will have sore ribs and maybe a sore knee for a while.

5,267 miles biking for the year (3,341 on the dark blue bike), 306,000' of climb, at least according to AP. Mileage might be slightly underestimated, climb surely is overestimated (maybe 10-20%?). A good year.

No orienteering...

Saturday Dec 30, 2017 #

3 PM

biking - dark blue bike 59:00 intensity: (19:19 @1) + (39:41 @2) 10.03 mi (5:53 / mi) +556ft 5:35 / mi
ahr:103 max:119

With Gail and Caroline (Gail's niece) from Caroline's house, a tour of her surroundings, mostly bike paths, plus some on dead-end roads with no traffic. Beautiful afternoon, about 50, sunny, light breeze from the NW.

Couldn't have been nicer.

Friday Dec 29, 2017 #

8 AM

biking - dark blue bike 1:05:43 intensity: (28:41 @2) + (37:02 @3) 14.21 mi (4:37 / mi) +945ft 4:21 / mi
ahr:133 max:150

Gorgeous early morning ride in Abingdon, VA, the route discovered by pure chance. Was looking for places to ride around Atlanta, and just as I was finishing I zoomed out far enough to include where we happened to be spending the night, and there was a rail trail starting just a mile away.

Headed out not much after dawn (we're way west in the eastern time zone). Low 20s, very light breeze from the NW, clear blue sky. Wonderful trail. Not one of those that go flat and straight forever, this was going through hilly country, alternated between rolling farmland and narrow wooded gorges, lots of trestles high enough to make me a little nervous.

On the way out I was often going right into the sun, had to pay attention for gates, there were a couple where I spotted in time but not with a whole lot to spare. On the way back just beautiful. A few walkers, no other riders.

Track was packed dirt, pretty smooth, bits of frost pockets in the middle but nice and firm on both sides. Very gradual inclines, never more than a couple of percent. Would have loved to do the whole trail, but that would have taken all day, and maybe a little more. But glad I got to enjoy some of it. Gave you a good sense of the work that was involved in building these railroads, and also how they changed transportation when they were finished.

Legs seemed tired, butt was complaining at times. Such is.

Thursday Dec 28, 2017 #

6 PM

treadmill 30:00 [1] 2.0 mi (15:00 / mi)

Wednesday Dec 27, 2017 #

11 AM

biking - dark blue bike 1:10:16 intensity: (1:14 @1) + (46:14 @2) + (22:48 @3) 16.94 mi (4:09 / mi) +434ft 4:03 / mi
ahr:125 max:145

Mid-20s, NW 5-10 mph, some sun, on and off snow flurries. Remarkably pleasant, wasn't cold at all except for my thumbs the last few minutes.

Headed out going NW on the WOD rail trail. Not many other users, couple of bikers, a few runners a few walkers. Quite a few birds, especially cardinals. Had gone about as far as I intended when I saw a sign for "Mona's Lebanese Cafe." Had to check that out. But it was closed.

Then back the way I'd come, then a bit more around Reston, ending up at the home of a long-time friend of Gail's. And settled in to a nice lunch.

And it is so nice with better clothing. Took me maybe 10 minutes to get the bike stowed away (front wheel off, seat lowered, that part is easy, it's the maneuvering the bike into the car in the right place that takes a bit of time). And after the 10 minutes I was still feeling toasty warm, no cold wet clothing to deal with. Pretty cool.

Tuesday Dec 26, 2017 #

4 PM

biking - dark blue bike 33:14 intensity: (1:20 @1) + (17:49 @2) + (13:59 @3) + (6 @4) 6.87 mi (4:50 / mi) +219ft 4:42 / mi
ahr:126 max:152

In Reston, just enough time for a short ride before it got dark. Decided it was a good chance to practice my turns. And so I did, lots of them.

Mid-30s, NW 5-10. Felt really pleasant.

Sunday Dec 24, 2017 #

1 PM

biking - dark blue bike 1:01:50 intensity: (15:02 @1) + (46:48 @2) 12.5 mi (4:57 / mi) +761ft 4:41 / mi
ahr:103 max:126

Delightful ride with Charlie, Pleasant Valley to Riverton to route 8, and back. Mid-30s, little wind. Couldn't have been better.

Thursday Dec 21, 2017 #

12 PM

biking - dark blue bike 1:13:02 intensity: (52 @1) + (49:27 @2) + (22:43 @3) 17.65 mi (4:08 / mi) +396ft 4:03 / mi
ahr:126 max:149 weight:136.5lbs

Low 30s, N 5, bright sunshine. Very pleasant out. Legs not feeling too spry, so fairly relaxed pace. Went south on the flats, came back through the first bit of the Leverett hills after agreeing (with myself) to just use as low a gear as necessary to avoid too much effort. Seemed to work. :-)

Wednesday Dec 20, 2017 #

Note

For better or worse, seem to have gotten myself on the Sunderland School Committee...

1 PM

biking - dark blue bike 1:01:35 intensity: (1:13 @1) + (23:30 @2) + (35:29 @3) + (1:23 @4) 15.35 mi (4:01 / mi) +681ft 3:51 / mi
ahr:132 max:156 weight:137lbs

Leverett loop, counter-clockwise. Upper 30s, WNW 10-15. Not bad.

Hadn't done this loop for a while. It's much more pleasant after the repaving of 63 (and a nice shoulder), plus a lot of the back roads in Leverett have been redone in the last couple of years. Plus, of course, with wider tires inflated to about 50 psi I just don't notice the potholes so much even if I hit them.

Decent effort, because there are some hills, but reminded myself several times that there was no need to push.

Tuesday Dec 19, 2017 #

2 PM

biking - dark blue bike 41:56 intensity: (36 @1) + (19:47 @2) + (21:07 @3) + (26 @4) 10.98 mi (3:49 / mi) +136ft 3:46 / mi
ahr:130 max:151 weight:138lbs

Same route as yesterday. Lovely day, upper 40s, S 5-10. First half heads roughly north. Very pleasant, moving along nicely without much effort, was figuring I was just having a good day, having totally forgotten about the wind.

Far from a strong wind. But when I turned around to head back there was a sudden sinking feeling that I had some work ahead of me. Which I did, and which also is not the worst thing in the world.

Butt has been bothering me recently on the bike from time to time. It did a little at this time last year and then was fine. But bothering me more this year. Would be nice if the problem went away again, and I try to be optimistic, but I expect the reality to be otherwise. At some point this whole adventure on the bike will end. It's just a matter of how soon.

Monday Dec 18, 2017 #

3 PM

biking - dark blue bike 43:31 intensity: (36 @1) + (20:57 @2) + (21:58 @3) 11.01 mi (3:57 / mi) +140ft 3:54 / mi
ahr:130 max:147 weight:137.5lbs

About 30, minimal wind, but overcast and gloomy. Several sore places, the body not used to the roughly 6 hours spent tromping around in the snow yesterday. But figured a short outing on the bike wouldn't hurt, and it it did, I could just turn around and make it a really short ride.

But the sore spots mostly vanished. Until I was done...

Parked at the start of Falls Road, then up along the river. Actually rather pleasant.

Saturday Dec 16, 2017 #

12 PM

biking - dark blue bike 1:00:17 intensity: (58 @1) + (37:34 @2) + (21:45 @3) 13.63 mi (4:25 / mi) +297ft 4:20 / mi
ahr:126 max:140 weight:136lbs

Bright and sunny early in the day, but also cold, figured I'd trade no sun for an extra 15 degrees. As it was -- 30, W 5 mph -- seemed pretty benign conditions.

Since I had to drive down the driveway anyway, went the half-mile up to the start of Falls Road so I could be on back roads the whole time. North through Montague Center, then looped around to come use the pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks. It occurred to me a little bit before I got there that it wasn't going to be plowed, and it wasn't. Walked across, pushing the bike through the snow.

Saw three others out on bikes, plus a couple of runners.

Friday Dec 15, 2017 #

1 PM

biking - dark blue bike 44:16 intensity: (9 @1) + (4:38 @2) + (39:29 @3) 10.94 mi (4:03 / mi) +49ft 4:02 / mi
ahr:136 max:147 weight:136lbs

Low 20s, overcast, S 5-10 mph. More or less the same as yesterday, flats south of town, but the wind had mellowed and so less character was needed.

Thursday Dec 14, 2017 #

2 PM

biking - dark blue bike 46:27 intensity: (15 @1) + (18:09 @2) + (24:49 @3) + (3:14 @4) 11.14 mi (4:10 / mi) +94ft 4:08 / mi
ahr:133 max:154 weight:136lbs

Thought about skipping today, but finally decided it was just too nice out not to be out enjoying it...

25F, NW wind about 15 mph. Started from the bottom of the driveway -- yup, drove down, driveway is way too icy to try riding on -- headed south on a route that is usually somewhat protected from the wind. On the way out it was very pleasant, but at some point I realized that wind, which I thought was supposed to be out of the west, and therefore a crosswind, was actually out of the NW or even a little more towards the N. And I was going south.

The last bit going south I passed two different tree crews trimming limbs, didn't envy the guys up in the cherry pickers nor the cops directing the very minimal traffic. They weren't far from my planned turn-around point, and having passed them both once I didn't really feel like passing them again right away.

So back a slightly different way, through the farm fields now, dead into the wind. Just kept the head down as much as possible while still seeing as much as needed to be safe (from cars, potholes, telephone poles, people, dogs, though the last two categories were nowhere to be seen).

And at some point I was done. And didn't even have to ride up the driveway.

Wednesday Dec 13, 2017 #

2 PM

biking - dark blue bike 44:02 intensity: (7:27 @2) + (23:34 @3) + (13:01 @4) 10.11 mi (4:21 / mi) +352ft 4:13 / mi
weight:136lbs

Lower 20s, W 15 mph. A bit nippy. I was wondering, as I headed downhill right into the wind, not what the windchill was, but how long it took flesh to freeze at that windchill. Not that I was seriously worried, just curious.

Parked just across the bridge* and did a short loop in Deerfield, couple of hills. Seemed not to have any zip, so I opted for the shorter of two possible loops I had in mind. Just as good, my fingers were starting to get uncomfortably cold by the time I was done. Need a better solution for them. But the rest of me was OK.

* because the driveway was sheet ice, wasn't going on it on my bike. Had two or three inches of snow yesterday, followed by some rain. Stuff was really heavy to shovel off the steps and deck. Lower back on my left side was starting to hurt (lower right side hurts every morning, but gets better after I move around a little, left side has been good) -- to clean the deck I have to toss the snow high enough to clear the railing and far enough to clear the bushes.

So I switched hand positions on the shovel, which put the force on the right side of my back, and that was OK. And even felt less awkward after I had done 50 or 75 tosses.

Pleasantly surprised today that the back is fine, ditto the arms and shoulders. :-)

4 PM

Note

Hmmm, looks like I could have stayed out all day and not worried about frostbite. Though hypothermia might have done me in...



Monday Dec 11, 2017 #

9 AM

biking - dark blue bike 1:00:54 intensity: (57 @1) + (32:55 @2) + (27:02 @3) 15.44 mi (3:57 / mi) +238ft 3:53 / mi
ahr:127 max:149 weight:136lbs

Flats across the river. Low 30s, W 5-10. As usual, seemed to take a while for the legs to get going.

More snow expected tomorrow. Even after the pavement reappears, I'm less enthusiastic about riding in the hills, or on dirt roads, or both, because of the greater likelihood of ice. So may be sticking to the valley most of the time.

Sunday Dec 10, 2017 #

1 PM

biking - dark blue bike 1:04:48 intensity: (51 @1) + (45:08 @2) + (18:49 @3) 16.05 mi (4:02 / mi) +244ft 3:59 / mi
ahr:126 max:150 weight:136lbs

Waited until early afternoon for the roads to dry out a little (got about 4" of snow yesterday) and then went out in the flats. Lower 30s, W 5-10 mph. Added a LS shirt to the mix (so now 2 LS plus jacket), really felt comfortable. Seems like riding when it's in the 20s will be a lot more pleasant than it was last winter.

Saturday Dec 9, 2017 #

10 AM

biking - dark blue bike 1:30:08 intensity: (1:01 @1) + (43:16 @2) + (41:23 @3) + (3:19 @4) + (1:09 @5) 18.43 mi (4:53 / mi) +527ft 4:46 / mi
ahr:129 max:166 weight:135.5lbs

Low 30s, slight breeze from the north. Forecast was for snow, and the weather radar sure made it look like it was snowing --



-- but there was not a flake to be seen, so it seemed like I should take advantage of the opportunity. The opportunity, of course, being an alpine ascent of Mt. Warner.

Yesterday's saunter up Massaenutten was a good warm-up, but today would be the real thing. I thought about taking my crampons and ice axe, but they haven't been used in decades and I figured by the time I found them it certainly would be snowing. So off I went.

And had a fine time. Made it up the trail OK (south side of the usual loop) although it was close in places as the dry leaves were slippery. Ditto for the unmarked trail heading to the summit. I recalled Phil's description of his ascent -- "But there's a trail going right to the prominent dot knoll that is clearly the highest point."

And there it was, Philosopher's Peak, a well-known false summit which, as local legend has it, is frequented by local philosophers on warm spring afternoons to discuss the meaning of life, and perhaps smoke a little dope.



But, as I stopped there to take in the surroundings, it was clear that the true summit lay about 50 yards to the NNW --



Tromped over to it, then figured it was time to be getting home. Back to the main trail, then down the north side of the loop. Still not a flake, and not a flake all the way home. Ten minutes later it was snowing hard... :-)

Friday Dec 8, 2017 #

11 AM

Note

Interesting story. I assume there's a lot more to the story, and probably a lot more unhappiness.

But good for her for sharing. And my view is that such sharing, going public, is very likely to help. I certainly hope it does.

12 PM

biking - dark blue bike 1:27:13 intensity: (21 @1) + (28:11 @2) + (50:03 @3) + (8:38 @4) 14.26 mi (6:07 / mi) +2186ft 5:20 / mi
ahr:134 max:157 weight:136lbs

Inspired by Phil's winter ascent of Mount Warner, I thought I should go off and visit the top of something, and opted for Massaemett Mountain in Shelburne. Started near the rotary in Greenfield, so a three-part climb -- first a good slog up Old Shelburne Road, then after a short dip on Route 2 a climb up to Davenports, and then the climb up to the old stone tower on Massaemont. I didn't know how the latter would go, rough dirt road of unknown traction plus some icy patches, so took it very cautiously. As it turned out, made it up with no trouble.

And then wheeeee on the way back, though there were several short ups to contend with.

Upper 30s, SW 5-10 mph, overcast. Stayed remarkably comfortable. Warm booties took care of the feet. Mittens and inserts mostly took care of the hands. Just one pair of tights but that seemed enough for the legs. And on top, just one LS shirt and a jacket, but both made specifically for biking when it's cooler. Worked well. Despite working hard on the climbs and sweating a bunch, when I finished there was just a small area around the back of my neck that was damp. Drove home the 15 minutes and not chilly at all. Remarkable.

The old tower on top. Parked my bike at the door, saw no reason to go up.



Thursday Dec 7, 2017 #

12 PM

biking - dark blue bike 1:38:15 intensity: (3:18 @1) + (1:15:29 @2) + (18:35 @3) + (53 @4) 19.47 mi (5:03 / mi) +470ft 4:56 / mi
ahr:119 max:154 weight:136.5lbs

40F, W 5-10 mph, overcast but pleasant enough. Put out a decent effort for at most half the time, also spent a bunch of time in meandering mode.

First meander was out on the Montague (sand) Plains, been there a number of times but not for a while. Started along the main "road" under the power lines and it was quickly apparent that it would be slow going, soft sand packed a little but not much. Probably would have been fine with fat tires....

Took the first exit from there, which dropped me by the entrance to the state fish hatchery, which was open because it also serves as a checking station in deer season. So I meandered along the narrow road through the pines, never been there before, eventually ending up at the hatchery operations, lots of pools with a pretty good current going through and a whole lot of fish. Getting them ready for April, I guess, and I assume the current will keep the water from freezing all winter.

Then my tour led me to the ramshackle building where the deer checking station was, and there was a pick-up there, and a couple of scruffy looking guys, and behind the truck a deer laid out on the scales. I chatted them up a bit, pleasant enough. And much as deer are fun to see in the wild, there is their fondness for tulips and their hosting of ticks to consider as well. So I had neither any particular joy nor sadness at seeing this fellow laid out. It's just the way things are.

And then the last part of my meandering was along a whole section of farm fields that I hadn't visit before. The access road in both places was right by houses, so I'd hesitated before, but this time there were no apparent farming activities going on and no "Keep Out" signs of any sort, so I ventured along a rather muddy, rutted, and in a few places frozen farm road. It got me down to the river and then along it for a bit, scared up three eagles in the process. Didn't quite make it to the end where the Sawmill River comes in, save that for another time.

As I've probably said before, any ride that takes you places you haven't been before is a good ride, so this one was doubly good.

Wednesday Dec 6, 2017 #

12 PM

biking - dark blue bike 1:42:27 intensity: (1:22 @1) + (1:06:34 @2) + (34:24 @3) + (7 @4) 26.23 mi (3:54 / mi) +348ft 3:51 / mi
ahr:125 max:151 weight:137lbs

Lower 40s, W 5-10 mph, sunny. Into Amherst, just because I hadn't been that way in a while, then through Hadley on the bike path, then back along the east side of the river. All pretty flat. Trying to pedal at a higher cadence (and lower gear), not that it makes much difference but it's useful entertainment.

5,000, 297,000'

Tuesday Dec 5, 2017 #

10 AM

biking - dark blue bike 57:50 intensity: (51 @1) + (36:41 @2) + (20:18 @3) 14.87 mi (3:53 / mi) +78ft 3:52 / mi
ahr:127 max:141 weight:137.5lbs

low 40s, S 5 mph. Got out before the rain started, just didn't get back before it started, though it was very light and no problem. But pleasantly surprised to get out at all as I'd thought the rain would be around all day.

Monday Dec 4, 2017 #

2 PM

biking - dark blue bike 1:19:49 intensity: (1:20 @1) + (53:58 @2) + (22:19 @3) + (2:12 @4) 20.37 mi (3:55 / mi) +507ft 3:50 / mi
ahr:123 max:155 weight:137.5lbs

Mid-40s, S 5 mph. Old Deerfield - River Road loop. Beautiful afternoon. Relaxed pace for the first half, then somewhat harder on River Road with its hills and a little headwind.

Sunday Dec 3, 2017 #

8 AM

biking - dark blue bike 1:33:58 intensity: (2:10 @1) + (29:35 @2) + (1:00:26 @3) + (1:47 @4) 15.89 mi (5:55 / mi) +2532ft 5:08 / mi
ahr:132 max:156

Upper 20s, no wind. Reasonably early ride from Charlie's the morning after Rhino. Since I was starting on the top of Ratlum Mountain, and the start would be severely downhill no matter which way I went, it seemed reasonable to take advantage of the situation and plan a route that would be not too long but maximize the downhill. And no repeats, also no Devil's Elbow because I've been there and done that.

Came up with a nice route. Even wrote out the turns on a piece of paper. But then I didn't look at the paper at one point and sailed right by one turn. Realized shortly that things were wrong, but decided it was not a problem, chance to see where the road went.

Lots of downhills, as planned. And even a few ups.... :-)

Saturday Dec 2, 2017 #

12 PM

biking - dark blue bike 1:01:49 intensity: (1:08 @1) + (33:47 @2) + (26:33 @3) + (21 @4) 15.5 mi (3:59 / mi) +473ft 3:53 / mi
ahr:127 max:152 weight:136.5lbs

About 40F, minimal wind, but overcast so it just seemed a little colder. Still had a nice, some flat a few small hills, nice variety and not much traffic.

Cold weather is coming. I expect my rides will get both shorter and less frequent. But at least it's a way to keep getting some exercise.

Friday Dec 1, 2017 #

3 PM

biking - dark blue bike 1:05:46 intensity: (33 @1) + (23:40 @2) + (37:05 @3) + (4:28 @4) 16.7 mi (3:56 / mi) +434ft 3:51 / mi
ahr:134 max:158 weight:137lbs

Late afternoon ride going north up along the river, back through Montague Center. Upper 40s, light breeze from the north. Worked a little harder than intended, but then that is often the case...

4,907, 293,200'

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