Training Log Archive: Swampfox

Orienteering out at Sugar Hill, 11.4 kms or something like. As nice as it was yesterday, today was even better. Entirely cloudless from sunup to sunset, perfect running temps, and just the lightest breeze--just enough to keep the mylar balloon crowd moving on along. The forest felt deserted and it was strange not to hear a single gun shot the whole time.

O' at Granite Planite, ran a 5 km course back to back forward and reverse. Stellar day, felt somehow more like a mild day in March with the snow melting--except that the gates into the National Forest were open.

Having orienteered yesterday, and noting that the wind had kicked back up a few notches today and that it still wasn't much above freezing despite the sun being out, I decided to run trails at Happy Jack--in part to see how much snow was on the ground, and in part to see if the big winds on Wednesday had brought down any trees. Or, more to the point, how many; I could be pretty sure at least some trees had fallen especially since some of the time the wind had been out of the south--not the typical direction for the really strong stuff.

There turned out to be enough snow on the ground that skiers had been out on some of the friendliest snow-thin conditions. And enough drifting in several spots that I am sure already there is enough snow around that at least some of it won't melt until April-May or so (maybe June.)

As for the trees, in the first mile on the first trail I hit, I counted 21 trees that had already been sawed and cleared, and then came to the 22nd tree, which hadn't been cleared. My guess is the chain sawer at that point ran out of either fuel or time, but probably fuel. I quit counting at that point. There were a lot--like a really lot--of trees down. Maybe the most ever from a single wind event. Good job, Mister Wind!

Felt like a Friday, even though it snowed in the morning and actually was only Thursday. I want to tell you that is confusing things.

Out to Remarkable Flats for an O' run. Thankfully yesterday's Force Level 10 Wind was down to a mere normal breeze, otherwise I would never have ventured out into the great wide open.

Happy to see there were still some cattle in one of the grazing units.

Ventured out for an O' run at the edge of the Nat. Forest. "Ventured out" was unusually appropriate to the outing, due to an absolutely screaming wind following on yesterday's early winter storm. Supposedly the winds were only going to be about 35 mph, and only if they had been that tame--ha. There was light snow cover on the ground, and nearly full sun. The sun made the temp (just above the freezing mark) bearable.

In one section of the map the ground and snow had been much scuffed up by a group of elk. I didn't see them but must have just missed them--it was clear the tracks with scuffed up dirt were as fresh as they could be.

Glad I could get out and experience the polar opposite of the weekend at Mille Lacs.

Long run in the falling snow at Happy Jack. Saw absolutely no one. It felt weird not to be surrounded by ladybugs.

Had planned for an evening walk, but taking a pass tonight due to blizzard.

Nice weather for the drive home for most of the way, until I hit the Wyoming border where, as usual, the wind picked up. And signs of the approaching big first winter storm quickly became manifest in the form of darkening clouds along with the strengthening wind.

Used the indoor training for a short while in a futile effort to try to loosen up the legs a little after the long drive.

C • Minnesota 2