Training Log Archive: dlevine

First leg of what would turn out to be a very aborted AT trip. After driving to White River Junction (having dropped off Sarah at camp), we chose to stay in the hotel rather than hike the road sections of Norwich, VT in the rain. Dubious choice as the rain was worse this morning. Drove to the trailhead in VT (two miles in) and ditched our packs. Drove the car back to A Lot in Hanover and slack-packed from A Lot to the AT to the bridge and on through Norwich in the rain. Called in the location of the car to Dartmouth parking and then put my phone in my pocket and forgot about it (mistake!).

Trail magic on road heading up hill was nice and nobody had touched our packs when we got to them. Climbed Happy Hill and got to the buggy shelter for a quick lunch. While Theresa was fiddling with her poles, the literally fell apart as the locking mechanism disengaged. I gave her mine and slogged on pole-less (mistake #2). After a few hours, at VT 14, we found some other hikers who managed to figure out how to jam the locking mechanism so that Theresa could use (but not adjust) her poles. Good enough. After a rain respite and a quick soda in Hartford, we headed up into the woods as the rain returned in full force. Eventually, we found ourselves in the "Energy Sucking Field of Death" - a very pretty field that had lost its treadway as all of the chest high vegetation had been knocked horizontal by the wind and rain. Eventually, wet, tired, and sore, we made it to Thistle Hill Shelter.

Nice folks, but nobody shared "drying space" and one snored so badly that I barely slept.

First time in three weeks that I felt solid throughout the class. Probably ready to start back up other stuff, but I leave tomorrow to head off towards the AT. This year, Vermont!

Nav-Stock DUO with Malcolm Goddard

Pairs score-O with a twist. Each competitor gets one map and must punch whatever (s)he likes. Then, after each downloads, the team swaps maps and repeats. The catch is that you only get credit for those controls that you BOTH punch.

We decided to try for the exchange in 55 minutes, figuring that we'd be slower on the second half. I got off to a good start, staying with the pack to #100, but veering off and blowing #102. I looped back in, but lost time. I compounded the error by making a "90" out of the control and ending up on the escarpment near 101. I missed 101 AND 105, but heard some folks near 106 and crashed in there. From then on, I was pretty good, spiking 107 and 110. I momentarily forgot the map was 1:5000 and went too far up the path and then too far in to 111 and ended up in sight of 117. Saw another guy and we commented that it's not often that you get rewarded for your mistakes (117 was worth more). Small error heading to 116, but got it and upon leaving finally "clicked" vis-a-vis the mapping strategy. Got 109, 105, and 101 on the way in for a disappointing, but not disasterous run. Came in at about 52 minutes. The northern half was easier and I did fine until I went for 126(?), the fence corner NOT near Appleby Line. I was going fine, but was looking at the circle for 131(?) the fence corner by Appleby. Things didn't look good to my right, but the field was a dead giveaway to my left. Just as the control should have been there, there was a big (by map standards) hill. It took me about two minutes to sort out my error, then I charged up the hill, punched and took off, spraining my ankle. The rest of the clean up was straightforward although it took two tries to get in to 132 because I went to the wrong side of the uncrossable fence. Walked/jogged the last bit in with Bash who had cleaned up a good bit more. Malcolm had duplicated my run (albeit much more efficiently) with the exception of 101. Not sure how we did, but the partnership worked well and it was a fun event. Ankle is a bit swollen today, but should be fine by the end of the week...

Clock time was 5:47. Apparently, without realizing it, I was amazingly fast. Of course, after I got out, helped move the lane marker, got a drink and examined the clock again, my elapsed time had increased to... 5:47. Yup, some doofus turned off the clock when "he was done with it". I have no idea how long I was, but the egocentrism of such a swimmer... So, I just put an estimate that I know was high in so I don't later think I set a PR or anything. It should only be high by a minute or so - probably not enough to affect my Attackpoint rating...

C • Green Freaks 3

Testing the leg; it held up well - even through an extended running phase when I pushed it a bit...

Felt good; twinge of pain in LEFT calf after it had cramped up during the night, waking me with a yelp.

Going along fine when WHAM!!! RIGHT calf cramped so badly (starting at the top, not the bottom like a "normal" cramp) that I had to limp to the side of the pool and hang on for a few minutes before exiting. VERY sore now. Not sure I'll make the drive to Buffalo for a meeting tonight...

Lost track of lap count multiple times; think I did one extra, which would still be slow...