Training Log Archive: Fanatic

Event: HVO Blue Mountain Reservation
 

Been quite a while since I've been on such a rocky, technical course as Blue Mountain offered today. I felt fine physically, but found it hard to get used to the 1:10,000 scale and to read the map while moving.

Consequently, I was constantly over-running the route, and often losing contact with the map. Many 3-4 minute errors add up quickly.

A pleasant day, otherwise, as Bruce Shenker and I made the trip to Peekskill and got to run under partly sunny skies and with the temperature in the low 50s.

Kudos to the HVO crew--a nice course and outstanding results presentation on a computer monitor at the finish.

Red - Splits

I had to attend a Friends of Mt. Holyoke Range tonight at 7 p.m., so Colette and I decided to head down to Northampton a bit earlier, so she could do some shopping and that meant that I could do a trail run. Both of those to be followed by dinner before heading over to the meeting in Amherst.

I went back to the 5K course that Don Grant uses for his summer runs. I parked in the normal location and decided to run the outer loop that runs by the Community Gardens. Little did I realize how much development has occurred at the former State Hospital grounds. I could barely recognize where the remaining trails were, but did finally succeed.

Did a couple of loops and a bit more and then met Colette for dinner at a Thai restaurant. A pleasant change of pace, for sure.

I had a pair of Brooks shoes lying around that I 'discovered' the other day, having no recollection of having bought them, nor of running in them before. So that was worth a run, no?

Out to Woods Pond and then along the dirt road to the east of the pond. Some light sprinkles, but otherwise a perfect day with the temperature around 68F.

Thinking that it might be wise to let the trails dry out a bit, but not really wanting to run I pavement, I opted for an out and back on dirt roads near Goose Pond.

Part of the road is not maintained in winter, so at this time of year, they are soft and muddy with the occasional snow.ice covered section, making the going a bit slower than one might expect.

Beautiful day though with the temperature around 70F and much sunshine.

Over to Kennedy Park for a nice muddy trail run. :-)

Trails were as I expected--drying out somewhat, but with sections still covered with snow/ice, the ground hasn't thawed out completely yet, making for slipping and sliding from time to time.

I wore my new Ultimate Direction vest for the first time; a present from Colette, it is the Anton Krupika version, with two water bottles in front of one's chest. At first I thought it wasn't so great--too much bouncing around of the bottles, but with tightening various straps, it seemed to get better. And, in all fairness, there wasn't any weight in the back to offset the heavy weight in front. I do like it now.

The legs weren't quite recovered, after all, from the six-hour rogaine, so I cut back on my planned distance. Seems that I'm getting better at mis-estimating my recovery levels. :-)

Short recovery walk in Kennedy Park with Colette, as we were swinging by the Arcadian Shop anyhow to do some shopping. :)