Training Log Archive: Charlie

An hour of pleasant laurel wrangling with Matthew, a fine companion.

Last of the Thanksgiving company pulled out around 1:30. Not feeling very lively today. Tomorrow will be better.

All of the legs and core exercises and some of the upper body, with Matthew in the gym. He was doing his own stuff, including some treadmill, rowing, leg exercises.

2 dog loops, with Matthew. Matthew's first outing in icebugs, which seem prudent these days with leaves on the trail. The watch died part way around the first loop, so the time is a guess.

Laurel wrangling with Matthew, pretty much until dark. He is an enthusiastic disciple. Too bad he is not here more often.

I had other ideas, but Zack was feeling lively, so we split and stacked the rest of the firewood that had been bucked up. We sure have plenty now, but things are neater back there.

Loop around the RHINO course, considering some minor adjustments

10 ring pullups, a semi-competitive activity. Nephew Jake is supposed to be building up to 15 as a condition for baseball. He has a ways to go. My friend Dave also participated. He is a pretty dedicated cross-fitter, and this may be the only exercise I can beat him at, or at least one of relatively few. Could have done a few more, but no need to rub it in.

Rhonda's morning class.

For one reason or another I've been away from the rower for 10 days, while coach and chitown are putting up daily pieces. A little motivation. Maintained a steady pace, 23 strokes per minute, gradually increasing speed, but not by much.

weekly session with Eric. Focusing more on upper body today.

Strolling around the woods out back with Rhonda, Sassy and Isabel, who has been visiting for a few days. My back is quite sore, but otherwise no ill effects from the BHT, and my back was sore before it started anyway.

Event: NEOC: Blue Hills Traverse and Meet
 

Blue Hills Traverse.

Pretty fine day. Somehow the back was much sorer than it has been, but I was able to keep going at my rather sluggish pace and didn't have any big losses. Rode up from Tolland with Clint and Earl, fine company and I was happy to be a passenger.

Took the right fork to #1, well behind Clint and Dean, who were going much faster. Saw a long line of folks heading from 1 to 2, which made it pretty easy to find 1.

Behind Steve Tarry headed to 2, took the road for a while, then the trail WNW. Steve was going faster, plus he went up and over a fairly good sized hill, so I just kept going. Crossed the marshy area at the rocky patch SW of the control. Saw Phil a ways ahead, and Dean just a little ahead. Crossed to the left of the marsh heading to 3 rather than trying to find the strip along the right. Dean was still in sight.

Thought about going R to 4, but Dean was headed left, so I went that way. Pretty soon he was out of sight, though, and I was alone, just slogging down the trail, jumping off at the right place. More or less S along the stream bed for a bit, then climbing to the 2nd E-W trail, W to the stone wall and then S on the trail. Sam was in sight up ahead. He seemed to be walking the downs and running the flats and ups, while I was running the downs and walking the flats and ups, so a bit of back and forth, but I never caught up to him. Took the left fork headed for 5, and cut in just after the marsh, angling down and looking for the shelf under the green slash and steep hillside. After a bit I saw Dean and Sam, as I was cutting the corner on them, and they were stopping to look over the edge. Thought things were going pretty well, and caught up to the boys, but Dean went a little too far W and we all followed, maybe 50M, before heading back and finding it. Certainly the worst control for me.

They were out of sight on the way to 6 and I was alone. Drank two cups at 7 and ate 2 cookies, and then promptly forgot to punch. Thought of it after about 50M or so and went back, where I saw Clint and Steve Tarry coming in after butterflying. Steve was on his 2nd loop, same as my first, and caught and passed me at 8. Seemed like it took forever to get out to the trail from 9. Not sure what that was all about, but Steve was certainly long gone.

Met Ken Sr. at the middle of the butterfly. He had started late, so was one loop behind me, but his first loop was the same as my second, except he blew by it, and the last I saw of him he was well beyond it. Then I was alone for 11 and 12 and into 13. Saw Sam coming in after one loop when I was heading out toward 14. A fellow in red went by me like a shot on the way to 14, and then again on the way to 15. Then alone to 15, 16, 17 and 18, where I picked up another guy who was running a lot faster than I was. We more or less contoured toward 19, picking up Jessica Rykken near the flag and spiking it. He got ahead on the downhill, but no trouble with 20 and then picked him up and passed him before 21. Did 21 and 22 without incident with Jessica, mostly behind her. Then I went a little higher crossing the ski slope and got a bit ahead. Found 23 by reference to the water tower, and then it seemed to take a long time getting down to 24 and heading in. Jessica was close behind. Not sure what place I finished. Maybe around 20? A pretty good result, given my level of conditioning.

Maps

East and West

C • #8/11 3

Traverse - B-Loop - Splits