Training Log Archive: vmeyer

Executed the plan of inviting Amy to spend the night after the QOC Saturday training with a promise of a trip to Prince William on Sunday morning. This is generally guaranteed to get my butt of the bed and on the road. Plan was to leave by 8 AM, which we did.

Temps were about 80 F with 100% humidity (possibly a slight exaggeration). Parked at Turkey Run Ridge with the idea that if conditions got worse, then we had a building to huddle under if one of us was waiting for the other.

Not necessary, because it never did rain, and we made it back around the same time. I wanted to do 40 miles, so I set Amy up with a 5km semi-advanced permanent course with a bit of climb, and the plan worked perfectly. I arrived back about 5 minutes before she did. I would have been about 10 more minutes earlier, but I tried to help a MTB guy with a totally flat tire with my little pump, different valve. Not successful, even switching out the valve option, so he had a bit of a trek back on foot to Montclair, and he was a Super Clydesdale! Oh well, he probably won't travel unprepared in the future.

Anyway, once I got past the 1.1 mile gravel fire road going out (I am still a weenie), my ride was three laps back and forth on Scenic Drive and into the Oak Ridge Campground, including two loops around the one mile campground loop.

A bit boring at times, but having to deal with the head and tail winds at different points of the loop made it a bit interesting. I was also fascinated by two dead snakes on Scenic Drive - a couple of miles apart. Got to pass each of them 6 times each. The last time, I stopped for a photo op. I really wanted to pick the smaller one up and put it in a baggie, but I was not quite brave enough for that, despite the very dead state of the snake.

Pictures of dead, slightly smashed snakes follow - abort now if this will freak you out...
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Good sized snake. Lots of guts hanging out.



Smaller snake - a tasty specimen for the yellow jacket and red ants...

C • snakes 10

Event: 2012 Western States Orienteering Championships
 

A little catching up on my Lailah postings - four generations August 2012
Valerie ("Me") - age 54, Lailah - age 18 months, Sarah (Mommy)- age 31, and Dorothy (GreatNana) - age 77



and the picture from November 2011:


And, my favorite picture to date, especially given the background that Lailah had like a 10 minute nap that day because she fell asleep in the car. Amazing how bright-eyed and pleasant she remained, at least on my watch. No idea what her mom had to deal with later after I handed her off. :)

C • Love it! 4

After horrible late rush traffic getting through WDC, I made it to Annapolis to pick up Lailah. Not finding the trail parking lot didn't help matters, but finally consulted the web and figured it out.

Maiden voyage with Lailah on the B&A rail trail on this late summer, non-humid morning. Stopped about 15 minutes into the ride for a water fountain break and a visit with a friendly poodle named Daisy. Then out two more miles to Jones Station. Lailah was somewhat resistant to the idea of getting back in the trailer after we stopped at the turnaround point, insisting instead that she wanted to walk. Lured her back in with a stick to play with and the promise of the pool at the other end. Crackers and stuffed animals were also helpful.

Pushed as hard as I could going back, singing Old MacDonald most of the way. This pulling a trailer thing is not easy, especially into the wind.



Hard to stretch out the arms far enough for this picture, and I was shocked that we were both in the shot.



The flag was a big hit.





Then off to the pool.



Yes, indeed, it was a very good day with Lailah.

C • Bike Trailer + Lailah 2

A speedy (for me) wind aided ride into work on a very lovely, low humidity morning. A positive start to the day, that's for sure!

I think this is my time to ride home. My 310xt has reset all of the training dates to something screwy, and not for the first time. This is my first ever major issue with the forerunner, and I had literally all of them up to this point. OK, maybe Ken has topped me for recent models, but I got an earlier start on my collection.

Anyway, all of the wokrkouts have times in the 5:30 PM range and are out of sequence. I see last night's workout and this morning and tons of other ones in between.

So, new watch time, not that I need any sort of excuse.

Oh, and, the ride home was quite lovely.

People on the back forest tonight - four of them. More unusual then the deer sightings.

My left bike sandal is ripped in the back, thus explaining why it has felt like it has stretched out in the last month.

MRI today. I sure hope there is something found, otherwise I will just have to suck it up and train through the pain, or resign myself to being 200+ pounds. Those are the options.

Hummingbirds and deer in the back this evening.

Taking Lailah out for a couple of hours on Thursday, so looking for things to do that will work for both of us. So, I bought a bike trailer today and toodled around the neighborhood with 24 x 20 oz of blue, red, and purple Gatorade. Wanted to make sure I was comfortable before taking a more precious load for a ride. I sure hope she weighs less than the Gatorade. That was hard! Well, the wind in the face every quarter mile didn't help. :)

Plan is to go every other week to Annapolis for the next semester and give Sarah some planning time for the courses she is teaching this semester at UMD. And, enjoy my granddaughter at the same time. We'll see if I make it past the next poopy diaper.