Training Log Archive: kissy

The weather was definitely not cooperating, with strong winds and driving rain. So, I headed for the basement and my trainer for a nice session on the bike while listening to an old Fresh Air podcast about MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech. Quite interesting. The second story was about a book by Hampton Sides called, "Hellhound on His Trail," which intertwines the lives of MLK and James Earl Ray in the weeks leading up to the assassination. It also sounds like the next book I want to read. I really enjoyed Sides' "Ghost Soldiers, " about the Bataan death march. Well, I guess "enjoyed" isn't a good word to use in that case.

Both Sides and another one of my favorite authors, Mark Jenkins, were both writers for Outside magazine at one point. I really liked that magazine until about 5 years ago when it turned into a GQ for pseudo outdoorsy guys. That was a big turnoff. So many great stories came from that magazine before, but I guess that's done. I met Jenkins once, on a flight on Great Lakes Airlines from Denver to Laramie, where he lives. I had actually just read his final column in Outside magazine on the flight to Denver. It was a very poignant story about the death of his best friend, and it was the only column that ever included his picture; usually it was just a caricature of him. That's how I recognized him.

When we landed in Laramie, Mikell was there waiting for me, and as we were waiting for the bags to come off the plane, I introduced myself to Mark and told him how much I enjoyed his writing and how sad I was to have found out that he had written his last column there. He told us a little of the background, how a new editor had been brought on board and that they really didn't see eye to eye on many things, so it was mutually decided that it was time for him to leave. He still writes occasionally for Backpacker magazine, and Mikell bought one of his books for me, so I can still get my fix.

C • Fresh Air 4

I finally got out of work early enough to go for a hike in Jockey Hollow. I had to cut a few corners to make it back before they locked the park gates. It was a beautiful evening, and the the skunk cabbage was everywhere!

HVO Meet at Rockhouse. I've signed up for West Point, so I thought it would be a good idea to get in a little practice beforehand, so I headed up to Rockhouse for the HVO local event, which was in conjunction with the Jr. Training camp. And my results were about what I expected, but in an unexpected fashion. I could actually move a little faster than I thought I would be able to, eventually graduating from walking to a lively jog, especially on the uphills which are easier on my knee than the downhills.

My navigation, on the other hand, was not great. I didn't have any big misses, just off a little here and there, but there was a lot of hesitation, which shouldn't be the case when I'm going that slowly. Just double checking everything, and being careless with the fine orienteering. Not really looking at the details in the circle, or anywhere, really. I'll need to work on that some more.

It was a fun day, though. Lots of folks there, and the weather was good for running...and walking. I'm glad I went.

C • West Point 4