Training Log Archive: PG

Low 40s, gusty W wind 15-20 mph, so headed for the Conway hills to get a little shelter. Worked pretty well. Still lots of wind, but changing all the time, which is way better than out in the open fields.

Nice ride. Saw several runners out (all females), a few people walking, all a friendly wave or greeting. Not a single other biker.

Reminds me, yesterday, out at Quabbin, at mile 17 I went out on a little point just to see if any wildlife was around. The wind was howling, whitecaps on the water. No wildlife to be seen, but there was a young man walking along the shore, heading in my direction, maybe 100 yards away.

Curious as to why someone would be out in rather unpleasant conditions, I waited until he got close and then said hello and asked where he was headed.

He answered, and I somewhat understood, the problem being that he stammered so badly that,. well, I guess you feel awkward and uncomfortable and somewhat embarrassed and not really wanting to extend the conversation because it seemed like the effort on his part was significant and the output was extremely meager.

So when it was my turn I quickly said something like I was getting cold and had to keep moving and goodbye. But not at all sure what one ought to do in such circumstances. I imagine, had it been a person with normal language skills, the conversation might have continued on briefly, because the fact was that I was getting cold and did need to keep moving. But I really didn't know what to do.

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4,711 miles so far for the year (target 5,000, or maybe it should be 5,200, or 5,214?). And 284K feet climbed (target is 290,290).

Old roads in Quabbin, starting at gate 33 down to Dana center and back. Mid 30s, computer said wind out of the south at about 5 mph, but there were whitecaps on the reservoir. Most of the time I was in the trees, but there were a couple of miles in each direction where the wind was definitely noticeable, and cold.

Legs were on the tired side, but I had in mind to go out 10 miles before turning back, and by that point a little more to get to Dana seemed reasonable.

Got a new phone a couple of days ago, main reason because it was supposed to get better reception -- lots of places in the hills around here don't get a strong signal, if any. It certainly is better. Though I stopped once in Dana to check and no signal there. Not surprising, I guess, because there is no one living there. But lots of places that I've checked are now much better. Good to know, because I spend a lot of time wandering by myself, and you never know what might happen.

C • Phone for safety 5

Sunny and about 40F with winds out of the NW at 10-20 mph. A little bit bracing, but still a lot nicer than if it had been 20F with the same winds. Though that's coming...

Picked a good route today, definitely more with the wind than against. Mostly out in the open and on the flats when heading roughly south, mostly in the hills and woods when heading roughly north. Though the wind seemed to slacken a bit at the end, didn't quite get the big push I was expecting the last few miles.

My mantra for getting out the door was a familiar one -- think how much you'll enjoy having done it. And it's true.

Lots of rain in the morning, but then it stopped for a while, so I figured I'd best get out. The roads were wet, but it was actually rather pleasant, low 40s and no wind at all. At one point the sky even brightened up and I could see where the sun was, even if I couldn't actually see it.

And then I guess it got darker again, although I didn't really notice, got home with no more rain. The recycle bin was still down by the road, so I walked down to pick it up. By the time I was headed back up it was pouring. Didn't take too long for me to realize that the bin, once inverted, made a nice umbrella. Back to the house staying quite dry and feeling very fortunate with my timing.

Nice late fall afternoon, mid 40s and a very light breeze from the south. Up to Greenfield on the east side of the river, back through Deerfield. Pleasant ride, decent effort.

In the hills in Westfield and Granville. Upper 30s, light N breeze, rain had stopped but the roads were wet. Not so bad.

Nice, as always, to go someplace I haven't been. In this case, at least for the first few miles, never been at all. The latter miles are mostly on either the older or the current Westfield half-marathon course, on in Stanley Park, where I've run a few XC races. Need to keep exploring.

My winter clothing includes a bright orange puffy jacket, which both keeps me warm and makes me really visible to drivers (and hunters). On the downside, it also adds a significant amount of wind resistance (or whatever the proper term is). Seems like I needed to be a gear lower anytime I'm not going up a pretty good hill. Not that there's anything wrong with that....

C • Westfield and Granville 3

Upper 30s, light N breeze. Pretty benign, at least compared to around noon, when it was snowing hard. Was wondering then if I was going to get out today, but when the time came it was fine, roads wet but not enough to spray me.

South through the flats for a while, around Mt Warner and back. Hadn't given much thought as to a route, so pleasantly surprised when 20 miles passed. Rides will start getting (much) shorter as the cold weather settles in.