Training Log Archive: PG

Event: WCOC Hurd State Park
 

WCOC meet at Hurd SP in CT, new map by George. Red course, 6.7 km.

I thought I should make one proper attempt at orienteering this fall, and Hurd seemed the best choice, appealing in two ways -- a new map by George, curious to see what he had come up with, and woods that seemed like they would offer decent runnability and a lot of trail and road options. So off I went.

And overall, not too bad. The main concern was not to hurt myself, neither making the back worse nor coming up with some new ailment. Success on the latter, no new ailments I'm pretty sure; judgement on the former may have to wait a little as the back is sore, but it's not clear if it's the sore that goes away in a day or the sore that doesn't. It seems to be within the range of what I was hoping for, but we'll see. At least I felt like I didn't do anything traumatic.

Running a lot, but running very cautiously, and staying on trails a lot because I figured that lessened the odds of something bad happening. Still got very tired, especially when off-trail, because I haven't done any running or hiking on soft ground. But overall reasonably pleased with the effort. And my navigating was good enough, just a couple of small mistakes, maybe a minute or two in total.

And nice forest, nice map, nice weather, glad I went.

Red - Splits

In Granby (CT) on the way home from Litchfield. Windy and a little chilly, but I was dressed right so perfectly OK.

Long run! Seemed like harder work than it should be for the pace, but what else should I expect given not much running for 3 or 4 months. But slowly getting a little back.

On the treadmill for 40 minutes.

Veteran's Day. Always stirs up a few feelings, though perhaps nothing compared to some contemporaries.

The world has changed so much since the late '60s, most younger folks wouldn't have a clue. A place called Vietnam, a thing called the draft, an unpopular war (and unpopular in a way that Iraq never was, viciously and angrily unpopular).

I did my three years in the Army. I'm a vet. Although over the years I have thought of myself as a vet "light," didn't go to Vietnam. And so only slightly qualified to talk about what it felt like to serve your country, and have your country turns its back on you. I didn't experience that personally, I was happy enough just being ignored, but it sure did happen. And if you look around carefully, you'll see the people still suffering from what their country made them do when they were young.

It's all different now, but one thing is still the same. People volunteer, expecting to deploy. When they come home, if they come home, there are parades, there are honors, they are treated like heroes rather than villains. All that matters, and all that is OK. But all that is also cheap, easy to do.

What is much harder and much more expensive, is the medical care, and here, as in my time, it falls way short of what is needed.

They are still fighting about what cancers can be traced to serving in Vietnam and exposure to Agent Orange, still trying to duck paying the bill. We will be paying the bill for Iraq for years to come.

I watched some of the Republican debate last night. They seem all so eager to send our troops off to war. They also all seem to not have a clue about what it really means, about what it really costs, not just at the time but also for decades and decades down the road. All so eager to say they support our veterans, but all just lip service.

It could easily make me very angry, but I've gained a little wisdom over the years and getting angry is usually not productive. But it sure does make me sad.

C • Service in the 60s-70s 2

A different hill to try and run up, this one at the west end of the Holyoke Range, from 47 along the river up to the porch on the summit house. Wasn't sure I could run all the way up, but got in a low enough gear so it was possible.

Coming down was a lot easier, though I'll have to see if the back acts up. So far in the last couple of weeks it's been bouncing back pretty well after a variety of physical efforts. Still hurts some, but definitely better.

C • hill 1

Back roads in Leverett just before the rain came. Ran this loop every once in a while when we lived in Amherst and I wanted to do 12 instead of 8. Times change.

Felt OK. Had thought I'd take the day off, having spent the morning finishing up a bunch of outdoors work around the house, but the rain took its time getting here, so why not.

Perfect weather for running, low 50s and low humidity.

At Mt. Warner. Did two loops, one each way, as planned, though it took a moment of reflection after the first one to head out for the second, as the hill is a little steeper that way. But got the legs in a low enough gear and made it up without too much distress. And overall a pretty good effort.

Not that I agree with what seems to be the policy, but there is a very clear sign posted at the entrance of the small parking lot that say that it is open from sunrise to sunset, and at all other times cars are subject to being towed. And it gives the e-mail and phone number of the park superintendent in case anyone, such as Phil perhaps, might care to contact him.

There is also a sign in the parking lot that says it is under 24-hour video surveillance. Hmm. Made the choice of a spot to pee a little more complicated.

C • Obviously... 4