Training Log Archive: cmorse

Took the kids out to Mashamoquet Brook for the day for swimming/picnic etc. Went for a run sans map/compass - originally intending to do at least half in the terrain, but wound up getting turned around in the vague ferns in the NW part of the map - a big looping 180. So changed the plan to just run trails. Pretty much down the east side of the map, down by Indian Chair, then back up the middle of the map. Lots of FDF's, but none biting, more a nuisance.

I wake up at 4:45 every morning, but since being on vacation I haven't actually moved myself to get out of bed. So today I decided to actually get up and go riding. Not having any better ideas, I ended up riding my normal commute route as I had a couple things I wanted to attend to in the office.

slightly longer return route, pace a bit faster too. Hills slow, but not onerous. Tried a 24T granny yesterday, but not enough cage clearance, need to see if I can scrape up a 26T (74bcd) to see if that works to allow better spinning on steeper hills

Took Hayden over to the rail trail to ride his bike. Ran along behind - he tools a long at a pretty good clip. Pretty warm - mid 80's. Wasn't dressed for running this hard though I did have decent shorts on. But a heavy cotton T and sweating quite profusely.

Took Hayden over to Parker to ride his bike in the empty lot there. After a while we decided to go ride over to Crandalls on the bike path. As he took off on the downhill paved path, I had to give chase to keep him in sight. Did this a few times so probably 10 minutes or so of running total.

Thick, humid morning. Decided to try some of the old trails behind the house. Found even more trees cut down over trails, gates, no trespassing signs - sigh... used to be nice to just run out my backdoor - now its just a PITA....

AOWN - started out passing by the goat barn to feed owen some old hot dog rolls (WCOC picnic leftovers) and counted 7 rabbits in the backyard - all shapes and sizes (ok, all sizes, they're pretty much all the same shape). I'm never quite sure how many are really out there as they all disappear to different places and I know there are more than I ever see at one time. Then into the barn to find a bunch of sparrows just off the nest - fluttering about but not really flying yet. Then of course one big white goat.... Then into the woods and 3 separate encounters with deer - second one was a mother and fawn just staring at me from about 6-7m off the trail - I talked to them a few, then continued on...

Quite a few FDF's on the run back on SLR, dealt with them the old fashioned way - at least 12 kills, none of them landed a bite. Ran out of gas toward the end of the dirt road and walked most of the last mile or so home on pavement... Not inspiring, but I got out the door...

A minor touch of ITBS on the left knee this AM. Didn't really push anything yesterday while riding. Perhaps just tight from lack of riding. Will do some stretches on/off during the day...

total time spent stretching out the ITB a different points in the day.

AM Ride - dirt portion of SLR really nasty now that they have 'fixed' it - its worse than before the grading, even 3 weeks later. So I opted to head down off the ridge into Ellington, stopping by DD for bagel sandwich and a dew. Cruised up to the Rockville Spur trail, rode for a while, then found a nice bench to sit and eat my breakfast. Continued on, then swung east over by Valley Falls, then back past Walker Reservoir and home via SLR - crappy dirt road and all... Nice morning to ride - need to force myself out to ride every day.... Only a month until Pan Mass...

Early afternoon geocache hike with Ellen and the boys. Found all three.

A series of 6 geocaches with Ellen and the kids. Found 4 of the 6. Nice afternoon, the Wolf Rock preserve would make awesome orienteering terrain - nice open woods with interesting rolling terrain features and lots of glacial erratics. Too bad its only 86 acres or so....