Training Log Archive: Fanatic

Since yesterday's workout was more of a hike than a run, I thought a run on some gently rolling terrain might be worth pursuing, even though it was fairly warm.

So over to the Taconic Crest Trail, starting on Route 20 in Pittsfield, and heading north for an out-and-back.

I was prepared for the FDFs--and a good thing, too, as I ended up eliminating 30 of them. :-)

I had a good run, and I felt pretty energetic, much to my surprise.

C • You're just getting into ve... 2

Shortly after the Escarpment Trail race on July 29th, I'm scheduled to join Michael Childs, from Amherst, for a five-day hike in the White Mountains.

Michael has his sights set on a 1/2 Direttissima, which is a hike that takes in all the 4000-footers in the Whites in one continuous hike. The record is held by Matt Roing, who did the complete Direttissima in ten days, while carrying everything he needed for those ten days in his 80-lb backpack.

Michael and I are shooting for only half the peaks, but we won't be carrying heavy packs, as Michael has planned a route that takes us to either one of the AMC huts, or a tentsite, where our families will meet us with food and the tents.

So today we decided to do the 7 Sisters in South Amherst, as a test of our fitness, and just to get some training in, as well.

We took our time and completed the out leg in just over two hours, but on the return trip, Michael discovered that perhaps he needs to do a bit more training--those steep short Sisters were taking their toll. :-)

C • direttissima 6

Over to Kennedy Park for an easy, recovery run. Will take a few days to get over Wednesday's 14-mile outing, however.

Since Bruce Shenker would be leaving for a trip to Ireland soon, we decided to do one last long training run for Escarpment. Bruce choose the locale and the loop--a 15-mile loop that would take us over Slide Mountain in the Catskills, the highest of the Catskills 3500' peaks.

We started on County Road 47 south of Phoenicia and did a clockwise loop. There were a few steep pitches on the climbs up Wittenberg and Slide mountains, but the initial descent off of Slide was quite a surprise--a smooth gentle descent that lasted for about a mile, before becoming the usual rock-strewn steep trail that we all love.

It was fairly warm and humid today, and that might have contributed to my total lack of energy on the climbs beyond Wittenberg, but I might have been dehydrated before I even started the run.

Still, it was great to get another long training run in before Escarpment.

Leisurely walk around the neighborhood--taking it easy before Wednesday's 15-mile run/hike up Slide Mountain in the Catskills