Training Log Archive: bl

Pawtuckaway, redo of a training exercise from last March. Woods maybe 2/3rds snow-filled, fairly deep in places. Drove in parking lot - sign: "Visitors must register at headquarters" and parked in front of another sign: "Dogs must be on leash" (Z&M being present). Not my kind of start so we drove to a bend in the road beyond the park entrance where I've parked in past & shortened the long haul to the start triangle. Drove back & forth a bit because at the bend there were 5-6 signs that said "no parking". The land of "live free or die" was getting to me! Parked on a no-name street that made no threats & walked about 300m to the entrance to woods. The road in was quite snow-covered.

Decided to started asap & not make my way to the start triangle. Hung a sweater on a tree branch just off the road. Leaving the car, I realized I had no compass! Had balked at the one in my O bag at home & then forgot to get the one on my desk upstairs. Oh well, a better training opportunity.... In general, did ok. There were times when it was pretty darn hard to tell where to go in a 20ish degree sector looking at a lot of bland hills & knolls. Other times, it was quite straightforward. The noon sun got to be a better & better compass with practice. For the old NEOC days of contour-only & no compass, corridor exercises with long gone Martin Mulligan!

Stopped a few times - once to warm right toes which were numb. Slipped off a rock into a stream near the end so feet got another dose of cold. Air temp was perfect & not a Pawtuckaway mosquito in sight. In returning, forgot I'd left the sweater which proved a 500m error which had the effect of some brief dourness but couldn't last as the outing was so nice. Met 4 people & a 3-years-young yellow lab, Cody - other than that, no even a squirrel. Calf did not bother.

Considered Harold Parker meet but longish drive for '84 vintage map, likely a lot of trails leading to segments with mediocre terrain feedback at price of screwing up unknown calf in the name of trying hard - feel like I might have grown up some by resisting temptation. Reminded myself of 11/27/11 visit which led to above. Needs a redo, remember saying same to Ian S.

To start triangle.

Return to car.

Control Picking - Splits

SPS after work in shorts...nothing like ventilation. Went down to boat house -
a few ice fishing types on the ice, surprising me. Lots of XC kids on the road. More map reading.

SPS wander, 2 mi goal. Slipped once avoiding a puddle, which set off some probable hypochondriasis. Stopped by to see JB but he was at a meeting.

Went to BHS first thing this morn but crust was too soft - a slightly warmer night so left after 10'. Interesting that an antique Saab was parked bumper to bumper after my Saab comment yesterday re newer ones.

PL walk with Beth & dogs to slough. Had not been there in weeks. Very quiet.
Z came close to trouble falling thru ice & not readily getting out.



Looking at WP & Harriman O maps past 2 days - a virtual start to the new spring.

BHS on way to work to try crust on main field. Not bad, smooth enough along far side. New poles, did not get grips straightened out til PM - so didn't use much.

There at 0730, parking lots full. Every kid has a car...from Saabs & BMWs to
muscular Ford pickups

Went back at end of day, different field, soft but had grips figured out - very nice, readily detachable from poles with gloves intact. More kids there, too - kids everywhere today.

Concord Memorial field - goal to jog 2 miles, nothing more. Pure March day:
blustery, snow piles & puddles & many kids for track & tennis.

Try 2 mi maybe twice a day for confidence builder

BHS around 5p with Z. Idea was to walk as prelude to running. 3 weeks today since the calf precipitation. Just walked in mostly snow on soccer fields & in woods over to look at the football field for the possibility of skating - would guess 4-6" snow depending on shade duration.

Less than a month to the BG & going relatively nowhere re running miles but tried to push it along 2 weeks ago & it became a setback.

Noted an amazing ropes course for first time - some very high perches & climbing opportunities. Somewhat surprising in this litigious world as falling could well be kaput. One platform was perhaps 75' up (first rung about 15') - fix onto a wire & ride it gradually down nearly 100m.

Walked to Turee, a large white expanse, & a little out on but no go after the January debacle. Saw what appeared to be a dead tree in the distance a bit away from shore & maybe 2' later, it moved, being a person more brave than I.

Wished I thought to bring along some O maps for more efficient use of time.

AM waxless ski with dogs over ridges around house to far corners, nice.

White farm/TRT for a look see. Astounded with change from Friday. Had to walk about 200m for snow. But what available crust there was, was very good. Not long before I shed to T shirt & discarded mitts. One car when I arrived, a pr of skis inside but did not see that person & the car was gone when I was leaving. Went back to get camera & let dogs out to sniff around. Not the conditions to fret about dogs mucking things up whereas Friday was a 'no dogs allowed' day. 'Tripped' once over a corn stalk that stopped me about dead. Stepped around or over a few rocks & piles of mud that looked like cow dung. Could be that I was last user of season. Great fun.

Corn rows and crust

Waxless DP at BMS. Plan was to ski to swamp. Reminded I'd not been to the right at the T so went that way but quickly a road. Back to swamp plan which ended by the swamp & complete lack of snow for proceeding. A quick look at a spur that ended at another road. A few roots & rocks, not too much dirt. Headed back, good enough for old dogs.

Came home & cleaned car of winter accumulation, incl skis & poles.

NP practice.

DP on classic waxless out back, supportive crust in places: across pond to contours, up old path & along it & then over to ridge on top of contours to nose. Saw some prints in snow there, thought maybe moose or SS but turned out to be Bigfoot. Sidestepped down nose, over to field by BBR (where prints headed) & back thru swamp.

Spring in spite of the sight - actually appealing to be able to see fairly distant terrain since it is snow-covered. NW breeze, sun in & out of clouds, sun shafts hitting spring snow in hemlock shade - savor the moment. Z&M slowed
down, content until the pm.

Went to the Y around 5p. Had Peter & Mel & kids here midday & needed to get away. Cold has dissipated so will strike it out. Three weeks ago today for the calf strain & 4 weeks to the BG with minimal running. Such is life.