Training Log Archive: PG

87-75-2-63.

An earlier plane out of Bradley than needed left just enough time for a round on a Pete Dye course north of town. As much fun as I've had on a golf course in a long time. Played with two young guys, maybe in their early 40s, they announced right away that they hoped I wasn't any good because they were terrible, both 30's.

And they were terrible. But there were more laughs and there was no way not to have fun, even after depositing 4 balls deep in the desert on the front nine I was couldn't be pissed, it would have been so out of place.

Fierce winds early on, really fierce, and then it started to calm down and the last few holes in the last of the sunlight were incredibly serene. Topped off by, who would have guessed, both me and one of the 30's getting birdies on 18. Gave me a 48-39.

Exchanged phone numbers. They have convention duties to attend to and I am all tied up Tuesday, but we are meeting at a different course early Wednesday morning before we all head for the airport. The only worry is that there is really no chance of matching today.

Event: WCOC Stratton Brook State Park
 

WCOC local meet at Stratton Brook. Nice to get out, even though the woods took a bit of a beating from the October snowstorm a year a ago, so even a couple of trails were slow running. But a nice course, actually required a lot of thinking as to what routes to take in general, and then what the best way was to avoid the deadfall.

Pretty decent run. Took a while to get going, a warm-up might have helped, but then just a few mistakes, and they were pretty small.

Best part was hanging around afterwards, lovely day. And very glad I wasn't Charlie, headed to Canada....

C • Headed to Canada 9

Red - Splits

Just a short outing, didn't actually feel so bad but glad I wasn't setting off on one of the long runs I used to do.

I think I need to line up some running partners. Would get me out the door more often, and for longer runs.

Usual loop on Mt. Toby in reverse. Got up the hill leaving the river, but not the one after the gate (for the latter, made it halfway up the first pitch, hardly at all up the last one).

Quads felt tired from yesterday. Should have gone for a run instead, but this just seemed more appealing.

93-74-0-61.

Slightly longer loop on the Toby trails. Almost made it all the way up South Mt Road, just had to get off once, even though I was close to my max (heart rate and skill) at the top where it is the steepest.

That's better than the usual 3 or 4 or more times, but I think the reason is the lower pressure in my tires, just getting a little better traction. Might have to drop it even a little more.

Lots of branches down from the storm a couple of days ago, but no big ones. Still had to pay more attention.

Night and day difference between this and Gay City, especially the single-track there. A few rocks and a few roots, but just a whole lot easier. And for my skill level, a lot more fun.

Needed to go for a run today and had to be in Greenfield, so ran my usual winter loop on the ridge. Got through it without any distress, though it helped that I wasn't going very fast. Certainly a nice day for running, getting to be the best time of the year.

Entertainment -- which always makes a run go easier -- from three different Fresh Air pieces: assisted living, feathers, and cell phones. All kept my attention but the one on assisted living was the one that got me thinking.

It was an interview with a guy suffering from something I don't remember at an early age who can only live in assisted living, where he is 30 years younger than everyone else. Many interesting comments, including that he makes an effort to connect with all the others, and one way he does with many of them is set up a video camera and then sit and just talk with them about life and death and whatever else came up. A combination of good conversation plus something usually treasured by the relatives.

Got me wondering if I could do the same with my mom. I expect it wouldn't be easy, but there's the old rule, nothing ventured nothing gained.

Some practice. Changed putters (took Gail's), changed grip, changed stroke. Did not do the one thing which might really help -- a lobotomy. Played seven holes, one over. A bunch more practice. There seems to be some hope, but the acid test is when it counts, so who knows. But I am hopeful for some improvement.

Unfortunately, I have been hopeful before....

For the (sad) record, 42 putts yesterday. Should be about 30.

88-73-0-61.

With Mike on one of our "meet in the middle" outings where we pick some place equidistant, sometimes like today a place neither has played before. Playing a new place is always appealing, even when the weather isn't so good as was the case today -- light to moderate rain the whole time and windy. But golf, like O', is an outdoor sport and some days it just rains.

Interesting course, lots of topography, never a flat lie, huge rolling greens. Hit a lot of good shots under the conditions but abysmal around the greens again. Make that really abysmal.

But very nice outing. Drove home in steady rain all the way, just in time for us to get to Northampton for a fine dinner with Charlie and Rhonda. Such a pleasure.