Training Log Archive: PG

Mostly on North Sugarloaf, up the steeper way, had to walk twice but ran most of it. Then back down one of the bike trails, very hard to follow -- it's mostly oak forest and the trails don't get much use, so the newly fallen leaves do a very good job of covering things up.

Finished, and then thought I should explore the trail going north of the road, which connects with the trail along the top of Pocumtuck Ridge. Thought it would be maybe 5 minutes over to the next road, first gently down, then gently up, but after 7 or 8 minutes and a couple of steep downs and steep ups I decided that full exploration would have to wait for another day. Really pretty though, mostly hemlock forest, good visibility.

Entertainment, well, I'm not sure if "entertainment" is the right word, anyway, listened to a "Savage Love" episode, first time ever, this one mostly with listeners calling in -- this being Halloween time -- with their personal stories of scary sex. So I listened to that for a while and was reasonably appalled, and then there was a break while Dan talked with the guru of morticians and other death related stuff, I assume she plays Dan's role -- in her case, it's OK to live a life focused on death -- and she seemed quite intelligent, as did he, so very enjoyable.

Except then the show reverted to more of these recorded scary stories about sex that people had called in, and after a couple of them Dan interrupted to say that if you were, and now my memory fails me, he might have said "squeamish" and I'm pretty sure he also said if you like biking, well, then maybe you should stop listening to the rest of the podcast. Squeamish I figured I could handle, but scary sex and biking?

Hit the "off" button, switched to Freako, listened to three short episodes, can't remember any of them. And trying not to remember any of the Savage podcast.... :-)

C • Savage love 4

Event: WCOC Pond Mountain Meet
 

Wonderful day.

WCOC local meet at Pond Mountain in Kent. Really enjoyable, excellent terrain, excellent, map, excellent course by George and Lyn. Red course, 6.6 km, about 300m climb (so not flat). Had a pretty good run, just a couple of minutes lost at most, and slowly getting in better shape. Still walked up a lot of hills, but ran some too, nice to be under 10 min/km. And the woods are just gorgeous.

If they had terrain like this around Boston they'd just pee in their pants out of delight, no matter whether the map was superb or piss poor.... :-)

Well, I guess they have Pawtuckaway, not that far away. And I actually really enjoy Nobscot, has the scouts to keep the nasty vegetation beaten down.

Had company down and back with Steve Richardson, very enjoyable, also good to see him orienteer well despite spraining an ankle early on. Then a brief stop in Litchfield to take care of payroll, plus a stop in Northampton to get a flu shot.

And while the left shoulder still seems to be getting worse, I think the right one is a little better, can lift that arm up without too much discomfort. Left one is another matter. No falls today but one stumble when I clipped a log, and that sent a shot of pain through the shoulder. And it doesn't seem to like most any kind of movement. Don't know where this is going to end up.

My route (click on map for larger image) --

C • 9-10? 31

C • If 2

Red - Splits

Longer run on Mt. Toby, and putting out a good effort the last 15 minutes (13:08 back from the power line). Felt like very hard work, also a good reminder that I need to do some faster running on a regular basis.

I hope to go orienteering this weekend. Seems like four choices, none very close but none unreasonably far. From closest to farthest --

Estabrook (NEOC), near Concord, MA, maybe 1:40 driving? Two sprints, map was always not very good, woods always a little trashy and a little boring. Been there a few times going back to the late 70s. Not much appeal.

Pond Mountain (WCOC), Kent, CT, maybe 2:15? Wonderful area except for some serious hills in places. Excellent map. Always enjoyed it (except for the hills).

Woods Hollow (EMPO), Saratoga Springs, NY, maybe 2:20. New area and map I think. Who knows, might be fine, might not.

Those three are on Saturday, the following is on Sunday:

Lynn Woods (CSU), Lynn, MA, maybe 2:00 driving? Nice enough map. Was there for the Middle champs last fall. Didn't particularly like it, lots of green. Not much appeal. (Could say the same about most areas around Boston, either too much greenbriar or too much scrub oak or both.)

Normally my other consideration would be tying things in with a visit to Litchfield, but I have to go there on Monday, so not necessary to go Saturday or Sunday.

So seems like a choice between Pond Mt. and Woods Hollow? Just wish they were closer.

C • Pond Mt 25

Up North Mt, down Gunn Mt, and then back. A little more energetic today, felt nice.

MRI's on both shoulders. Not sure what I might want them to find. Have to start educating myself. I have some hope that the right one will mend on its own, but the left one has been getting worse for 9 months now.

Of course I could stop all physical activity (especially falls and sudden movements when running or orienteering or biking, and golf swings) but that seems a lousy solution.

On the ridge in Greenfield, legs a little heavy but got an hour in. No storm damage, actually we didn't have much of a storm here, got lucky. People made a big deal of it anyway, shut down the schools and colleges yesterday, no reason for it. But that's the way we do things I guess.

Seems like people right along the water got hammered. Our house is along the Connecticut River, but on the uphill side of the road, so maybe 100 yards from the river but a good 50' higher. I'm sure some people would much rather be right on the river. I've always been very happy to be high enough that there's no way we're going to get flooded. Thought that when we bought the place almost 30 years, still think that. Also feel pretty safe from earthquakes, volcanoes, mudslides, poisonous snakes, grizzly bears, tropical diseases, rabid evangelicals, and people carrying guns. Nice place to live.

Of course all that means is that something else will end up getting you.

C • Safe 7

Maps from the weekend
Huntington SP, Sunday, Green course. Shaky on 2, 3, and 5.



Paugusset, Saturday morning, vetting, totally screwed up on the route to 54. Moved 58 down about 20 meters, moved 51 up 5 meters, moved 47 north about 40 meters, moved 57 east about 40 meters. Only one that would have been a problem was 57, one reentrant off, and even that, you could just about see it from the correct spot. But sometimes I'm just feeling picky.... :-)



Paugusset, Saturday late afternoon, picking up controls. No problems other than moving.

C • # 57 1

Roads in town. Not much happening. Closed all the schools and colleges, made the announcement yesterday afternoon, which seems awful early, in the winter they usually wait until 5 am. But we are in a "better safe than sorry" culture, and only getting more so.

And the weather right now? Cloudy, almost a little sun poking through, a little breezy. If my shoulders weren't hurting I'd head for the golf course.