Training Log Archive: PG

Wapack Trail Race. I wasn't going to go based on how I was feeling earlier in the week, but my legs felt better by Thursday and Phil more or less talked me into it, even offering to chauffeur me over to New Ipswich, NH, and back. Gail, on the other hand, when she found out last night that I was planning on going, well, she kept her comments rather succinct -- "You idiot!"

And, of course, I had to get my weekly training up over an hour.

We had a plan B of course, which was to not go, but that would only be implemented if when we woke up in the morning the weather was both hard rain and winds up in the 30-40 mph range. Don't want to take any unnecessary risks!

So at 6 am it was only raining moderately, with winds a modest 10 mph. No need even to check with Phil, who arrived at 7:10, just 10 minutes late (he's getting better, he says), and we motored over to the start, where it was raining hard and somewhat more windy, not that we would have gone with plan B at this point anyway, once you're at the start, you start.

The course is out and back along the Wapack ridge, not so much longer than Mt. Toby last Sunday but hillier and definitely rougher, lots of rocks and roots and for today at least, mud and water.

I'd run the race three times:
1992 -- 2:49 (low 60s, sunny, dry, good race)
1994 -- 2:46 (low 60s, sunny, dry, good race)
2000 -- 3:46 (upper 70s, very humid, bonked big-time)
Course record is 2:21. So I was thinking something in the 3:15-3:20 range would be excellent, especially because the plan wasn't to make a really hard effort (as last week's was).

I hit the halfway point in 1:34, just about right -- the return trip has been on the order of 10 minutes slower -- running steadily but not pushing it and certainly not charging the downhills because of the wet and quite slippery conditions. Felt pretty good coming back too, climbing well, and hung in there well with the pace (1:39) despite the fact that my legs felt pretty trashed -- hamstrings, quads, but only minimally the calves, which was a very good sign -- in the last half hour or so. Ended up in 8th out of about 60, quite pleased, best was 2:46, weak field.

Chauffeured back home, we didn't even stop for Phil's usual mega bag of chips (to keep his sodium levels right, he says). Is he getting on a health kick? Next thing I know he'll be telling me he's no longer eating a quart of ice cream every night....

C • Kytäjä Golf 6

Up to the power line and back, didn't feel great but better than nothing. Just taking an easy week or too.

C • For a second there... 2

A very short run on Poet Seat ridge after a round of O' practice and just before a long D/S board meeting. Leg felt 99% ok.

C • 99%? 2

Another day of no running, though the leg is getting better, maybe tomorrow, and continued gluttony. Has the G undergone a major trend reversal, or is this just the proverbial dead cat bounce, just to draw in a few last buyers before the G plunges to new lows?

Mt. Toby results and info on other trail races in the northeast.

Left calf still way too sore to think about running (though quads are mostly fine), rain all day so no O practice, time to eat, and eat some more, and then, might as well, eat some more. Lord knows what the G will be tomorrow....

Legs very sore today, though I'll skip the details (which I don't like to dwell on anyway, my theory being that things heal much faster if ignored). Planned training for today is 4 hours of O' practice just at a walk.

Excellent O' session (76), best in a long time, found every shot despite two in the tall grass. Spent a lot of time on the range on Saturday, new swing and all that, next time out should be a disaster. So better enjoy it while I can.

C • O' session 1