Training Log Archive: cmorse

Over to Rt 30 to pick up the ridge off Hunter, and then from Browns Bridge back to house.

Read PG's log before venturing out and inspired myself to 'set a goal and just do it' even though I wasn't highly motivated to do so. My goal wasn't nearly as worthy as running to Montague, but I vowed heading out the door to run for at least an hour, and to do most of it in the woods... First 20 minutes were hard work, after that I just kind of settled into a groove and had an enjoyable 70 minutes in the woods. Mission accomplished.

Along the ridge above hunter, then found a series of blue tape blazes headed NW from Peaceful Valley, no trail per se, more fartlek with plenty of vegetation avoidance, but put me down behind Rolling Meadow Drive. Did some stealth running along back yards, then out and through some neighborhoods. Logged as trails since I stayed off pavement and ran in snow in front yards. Then picked up remnants of the old Rockville-Stafford trolley line back towards home. Mostly fartlek in the woods as most of the rail bed is either overgrown, or under water - neither of which are much running fun. Was looking for a trail back to SLR near the powerlines but obviously missed any sign as I wound up on Browns Bridge. Good enough.

Middle section of run back from dropping the car off. Headed off into Peaceful Valley Conservation area off of Hunter Road, which I've always meant to go explore, but never had. Up to the overlook area, then some bushwacking (to avoid an obvious descent) and then out along the ridge loop trail. At the southern end, being a loop, it began to head back towards Crystal Lake so I opted to bushwack up the ridge a bit and head back towards home in the out of bounds area. But upon attaining the ridge I came across another trail system (well marked) that appears to be part of the adult housing community built over the past couple years across 32 from Webber Road, so I explored my way south along there and it dropped me off on Rt 32 immediately across from Webber Road, where I resumed my trudging on pavement. A very nice surprise and a fairly decent sized chunk of land close enough to home not to have to drive to get there... Will be back...

D&M Auto (dropping off car for service) > South Road > Hunter > (Peaceful Valley (separate entry) > Webber Road > Browns Bridge > Shenipsit Lake Rd. Sloppy snow on shoulders, pretty much a trudge....

mid afternoon, easy paced run. Thought about more mileage, didn't feel like it... Although I never pushed the pace, I was nevertheless sweating profusely upon returning home and my min/km isn't too shabby either.

Went up to the old high school to pick up Anna from a field trip. Probably 50-60 people sitting in their SUV's while the engines idled. I opted to spend my time a little better so did brisk walk along the sidewalk back and forth in front of the school. Not really a workout, but I could feel the heart rate increase - probably equivalent to taking stairs 2 at a time. Beats burning fossil fuels for no apparent reason....

Snuck out the door at sundown for a quick romp over at Shafran. Probably haven't run at this intensity since US Champs.. Legs felt fine, chest very tight. Still some icy patches in the hollows, but overall pretty runnable in the light. Will wait for a little more melting before venturing out here in the dark.

Edit: I checked and I haven't run this pace for a trail run since Sept 11th, which happens to have been the same route, except I did the Shafran loop CCW instead of CW. I did run a slightly faster run on Oct 21, but that was on the dirt road. I guess the speeds still there - I just need to work on some endurance and perhaps not hurting so much at this pace