Training Log Archive: PG

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.

Stopped at Gay City on the way home to meet up with George and have another go at the MBO "expert" course from Saturday, with the intention of doing both all of it, no skipped controls, and also staying on trails the whole time, which would mean a good bit longer ride. Wasn't sure whether we'd go together or separately. I think my assumption was I would do it on my own, in effect another go at a "race."

Got organized, started off together to #1, and within 5 minutes I was saying to myself how glad I was to have company. Just seemed right. Good company for sure, also safer if we clobbered ourselves when we crashed (note that I don't say "if" we crashed). So a few times I waited for him, and a few times he had to wait for me, so what.

Took a couple of different routes -- to #2, first I rode right through the stream like Joe said he did, no problem, and then took the first trail up the hill, a little easier. To #6, took the left route, really fast the first part, then very slow and rocky the last part. And then to #8 and #9 all the way around on the single-track.

And it sure wasn't easy, at least for me. Surprised myself sometimes by making it through sections, but other times there was no point of even trying, just too steep and/or too many rocks. I'd imagine Joe is pretty good at such stuff. And I don't imagine I ever will be.

Actually I don't it think it would be too wise to try, since that would invariably mean a lot of falls. Had two unplanned dismounts today, though no damage fortunately on either.

But it is fun. And adding in the O' element certainly adds to the fun. I would think there would be a lot of O' maps in the Boston area (and elsewhere) where a MBO course could be set in addition to the foot-O' with very little advanced work. And might bring out a little new blood. Or at least something new for the old-timers to try.

Added my semi-bogus splits (I was stopping my watch when we stopped), so now I have two semi-bogus results in the list. :-)

C • bring out a little new blood 1

Expert Bike O - Splits