Weekly Log 19-Mar to 25-Mar-2018: Brrr-lingame

Monday:  0

Tuesday:  0

Wednesday:  0
So excited about another snowstorm.  School cancelled.  Forecasts ranged from 4-8" to 6-10".  Waited all day.  Nothing but sleet and freezing rain.  Depressing.

Thursday:  6
We got about 1/2" of slush.  Ran single-track through puddles and mud at Barn Island, but no snow.

Friday:  0

Saturday:  3
Had planned out a run in Grills for late morning, but that was with the overly optimistic goal of being able to finish up my work and leave the office by late morning.  Didn't happen.  Snuck in a short shakeout run late afternoon instead.

Sunday:  8
Brrr-lingame 8 mile trail race.  Had debated even signing up given my current lack of fitness and sloth-like existence.

The start:  Started off a bit slower and in the middle of the pack so I wouldn't get sucked up with the fast guys.  It's definitely more fun that way than what often feels like a near-sprint off the starting line to get into position.  Midway through crossing the starting field, Seth, looking like one of the ZZ Top guys, was running backwards filming us with his Go-Pro.  He said something about warning him about crashing into a tree, but unfortunately he was really heading towards crashing into a picnic table.  I yelled, "Whoa!" twice, but to no avail, as he hit the picnic table and crashed.  I felt badly, but didn't know what else I should have yelled.

Talked to Cliff briefly before I went ahead of him and then ahead of Paul before entering the woods.  The next mile and a half was also new to the course this year as it wound through Kimball.  I caught up to Leslie, who recognized that I was behind her (it was probably the dinosaur-like breathing that gave me away) and graciously offered to let me past.  Next I caught up to Mike Daniels and stayed behind him for the next mile or so as we worked our way out to the pond in a formation of 6.

Tracking Mike Daniels early in the race
(Photos by Beth)

The pack:  Leaving the pond and working our way through the campground, I was able to gradually pick off one runner after another in our pack and by the time I reached the bog-bridge trail intersection with Vin Gormley, I had passed all of them except for one guy in yellow.   We were hit by stinging sleet and snow squalls at this point, and the bog bridges were slippery as hell.  I avoided the bridges and chose the mud where I could.  The next section was near bush-whacking and really fun.  The sand pits section was really tough with short steep climbs, and at this point, the guy in yellow made a wrong turn, and by the time he realized it and got back on the trail, he jumped in behind me.   (Looking at results now, I estimate I was in 4th place at this point but well behind the top 3.)

After the bush-whacking section, we had about 3 miles left to go and this would be the first 3 miles (in reverse direction) of the previous course.  Up onto the ridge trail we went, and that's when it happened ...

The crash:  This is the most technical part of the course, yet I've run this trail many times (although, typically in the opposite direction).  I tripped on something in the trail and went down.  I put my hand down instinctively to break the fall, but to no avail.  My knee smashed into some jagged rocks on the side of the trail and I went down hard.  Two guys quickly went around me (although were polite to ask if I was OK).  I tried to get up right after they went by, but it wasn't happening.  A lot of pain!  I hobbled a few yards to where Seth was and then went down and laid by the trail as a scad of runners passed me, including the whole pack that I had slowly overtaken but were now spread out, Mike Daniels, and Leslie (again, all politely asking if I was OK or needed help).  According to my Strava recorded activity, I was down for about 5-6 minutes here before I finally got up and on my way. 

Bloody knee at the end of the race.

Hobbled at first, and then after a while was able to get in to a half-limp/half-run gait and finish.  Honestly, by then, the leg was still hurting and I just wanted it over.  Crossed the finish line, got a water, and left to attend to my wounds.  When still bleeding four hours later, went to Urgent Care, where they gave me a tetanus shot, and used a scalpel, brush, and tweezers to clean out the remaining gravel in the multiple lacerations.  That was not fun!

Don't bloody trail wounds usually look much
better after you shower and clean them up?
Not this time I guess.

Bandaged up after a visit to Urgent Care

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?  Well, I tell you that this course was a lot of fun!  I'll be back next year with more stamina, less work stress, and hopefully do a better job staying on my feet!

Weekly mileage:  17

Weekly synopsis:  No mileage expectations at this point.  (Just one week to go on the project now.)  Fun race at Brrr-lingame.  Well, up to Mile 5, anyway.
 

Weekly Log 12-Mar to 18-Mar-2018

Monday:  0

Tuesday:  7
Snowstorm!  Work is closed, so I can sneak out a little bit between working from home and phone calls.  Got the call from Tommy 5K to come out and play.  Deal me in!  Ran from his place out to Weekapaug, and the Sand Trail out to Quonnie Breachway in Charlestown and back.  It was brutally windy out by the breachway; I was cold for a while until we get back into protected areas.  Great to be outdoors in the storm!

Trying to stay upright at the breachway in the
howling snowstorm.

Check out those waves!
How come no one is at the beach today?

Beautiful out in the snow today!
Feel bad for those folks stuck on a treadmill today.

Wednesday: 0
Got an invite to go out for a 3pm snowshoe with a few from the Westerly Land Trust.  I put my snowshoes in the car just in case, but tortured myself indoors at the office from dawn to dusk.  Ugh.

Thursday:  0

Friday:  0

Saturday:  0
A long, trying day at the office.  Yes, on a Saturday.  Arrived at 7 to set up and get organized before a few dozen people showed up for a project simulation; finished up just before 5pm and was spent.

Sunday:  6
Got out for a fun run with Jonathan Short in B-game.  Lenny, Vinny, and Sammy were our trails today.

Weekly mileage:  13  (don't laugh too hard)

Weekly synopsis:  Lowest mileage in almost two years when I was sick with triple tick diseases.  Work is my life now seven days and seven nights a week, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Two weeks to go.

Weekly Log 5-Mar to 11-Mar-2018

Monday:  0

Tuesday:  0
7am - 9pm work day.  Sick of it.  April project completion cannot come soon enough.

Wednesday:  0
Potential snowstorm petered out.  Deluged in rain, with an inch of wet snow at the end.

Thursday:  5
Hale Reservation, Dover, MA.  Fortunately here they got 8" of heavy snow.  Brought my snowshoes and got out for some fun.

These were the only guys I saw on my run today.

Lots of downed and bending branches.

8" of heavy, wet snow.  Just beautiful!

Friday:  0

Saturday:  14
Fun solo run, mostly on single-track in the snow and dirt roads.  Good to escape work and civilization for a bit. Bonked on the last couple of miles.

Where you see the broken snow clumps on boardwalk in foreground,
that's where I slipped and landed flat on my back.  Ouch.

Raging streams.

See the orange blazed trail mark?
Yes, the trail goes right through here.  Flooded!

Fun running the snowy fields.

Ran a number of deserted dirt roads.

Love this red barn, flanked by snow, and multiple
stone walls.  Quintessential New England.

Deserted Nicholas Farm Management Area.

Started and finished here.

Sunday:  0
Woke up with pain in both of my legs.  Could I be that sore and out of shape?  Turns out I had a fever.  Ugh.

Weekly mileage:  19

Weekly synopsis:  Pathetic mileage.  2 out of 7 days hardly counts as running.  Get me to April.

Weekly highlight:  Saturday solo run was a fun adventure.

Weekly Log 26-Feb to 4-Mar-2018

Monday:  6
Morning road run on local roads, including rolling hills on Moonlight, Urso, Links Passage, etc.  Was running on Wildflower when a pickup truck passed and then slowed to a stop and put the window down.  Uh-oh.  What's next?  Asking for directions?  Yelling "Run, Forrest, Run"?  No, it's Kenny Shardlow working in the area and catching up.  Will see him at Belleville on Sunday.  Nice way to wind down the run.  Not as fun as trails, but good to mix it up once in a while.  Average 6:57 pace.

Tuesday:  5
Slept in too late, and my only chance for running was neighborhood roads before going to eight hours of meetings.  Turning onto Ice Pond Road, I saw the most amount of turkeys together at a single time in my life.  At least 40.  And they were mighty unhappy that I was there.  Hissed and gobbled at me, while fanning their tail feathers.  They looked like they were ready to attack me.  Nasty birds.  Was happy to be past them and continue to the beach.

Wednesday:  5
Burlingame campground sunrise run.  Fun solo run, mostly on the Brrr-lingame course.  Wanted to go longer, but had to give opening remarks before today's work training session, so finished up quickly before heading to the Westerly Education Center.

Thursday:  8
3 out of 4 days this week on roads, thus far.  Very unusual for me, but I had hard time stops to get ready and setup for training sessions each day, so I was reticent to risk being away on the trails.  Ran a progression 7-mile 'round the pond run, starting at 7:40 pace and progressing down to 5:50 for the last mile.  Was really winded when finished.  Need to incorporate any kind of speedwork more often.

Friday:  5
A major nor'easter hit New England today.  It was warm at 42 degrees, so unfortunately no snow.   But the wind was howling it was raining sideways.  The roads would be miserable, so I went to Wahaneeta to run.  Pretty much instantly soaked as I had expected.  Made sure to liberally apply BodyGlide, and I was fine.  Never saw a soul out there, but when I finished up, I was surprised and impressed to see WLT president Sheilia's vehicle in the parking lot, meaning she was out there running in the monsoon as well.

Saturday:  0
Went up to Boston to see Matthew's final high school indoor track race.  The 4 x 800 team did well and lowered their time to 8:13, with Matthew anchoring and clocking the fastest of his team's times at 2:01.

Sunday:  10
Spectated at Ocean's Run and ran a very short distance of the race with Tommy, before heading up to Ryan Park for the Belleville Pond 10K.  Write-up to follow.

Weekly mileage:  41

Weekly synopsis:   While not anything to write home about, that's the most mileage I've run since December.  A good week in all.

Weekly highlight:  Belleville Pond 10K.  A brief catch-up with Tommy on his half marathon tune up was second.

Weekly Log 19-Feb to 25-Feb-2018

Monday:  7
Presidents' Day.  Solo run in DuVal.  Trails mostly clear, with the rest having an inch of crusty snow.

Tuesday:  0

Wednesday:  0

Thursday:  9
Blue Heron trail loop, Dedham and Boston, MA.  I've avoided this loop for over a year, as a short section of road/bridge that you run on had been under construction and you were forced into a one-lane busy road running between temporary jersey barriers and very very close to trucks.  Scary.

Was so excited the bridge construction was finished and the short section of road now has an ample protected shoulder to run on.  There also has been a lot of trail maintenance on the southernmost section, so it was really fun to get out there and run it again.  It's kind of an urban trail loop, as while there are parts where you can't hear or see any signs of civilization, you also exit briefly onto busy roads (protected shoulders) crossing the Charles River into Boston city limits before trails that connect around industrial parks.  Only saw one person out on the trail system today.

Friday:  0

Saturday:  8
Parked at Camp Yawgoog.  Ran two miles on roads down to Narragansett Trail trailhead on Canonchet Road, then technical trails up to and around Hidden Lake, before running back through Camp Yawgoog to finish.  Fun run on an unusually warm 50 degree day in late February.

Sunday:  5
Rainy, cold day.  Felt bad for teammates running Hyannis Marathon today.  Waited until the rain let up a bit mid-afternoon, and went to Bluff Point State Park for a short run.  Fun, flooded, and muddy on Bluff single-track.

Sad to see the Winter Olympics come to an end.  Although obviously bereft of running events, in some ways I prefer the winter games to the summer and really enjoy watching the skiing (alpine and XC), snowboarding, and speed skating events.  When we see the next winter games in Beijing, it will be the year 2022, Mark will be out of college, and Matthew a senior in college.  Time flies.

Weekly mileage:  29  (4 trail runs, 0 road)

Weekly synopsis:  Paltry mileage totals to be sure, but I'm having a tough time balancing a demanding and stressful work project that lately has me working 7 days a week and most nights, versus having a life outside of work.  Hence I'm focusing at the moment on the quality of my runs and not the quantity.  The work project is finite and goes live April 2, so I just need to hang in there for another five weeks.

Weekly highlight:  Running the Blue Heron trail loop.  It's a mix of urban and suburban trails, but I find it fun and hadn't been able to run it in a long time due to construction.

 

Weekly Log 12-Feb to 18-Feb-2018: Renaissance Week

Last week:
The serial killer look

This week:  the winter beard experiment comes to an end.
I never really planned it, just was lazy over Christmas
and let it go from there.  It had just gotten too itchy,
so time to go.
---
My last beard experiment was at age 17 (36 years ago).
So given that time interval, my next one should be at age 99?
(Of course if I am still breathing then, I expect
to be still running trails and rocking AC/DC!)

Monday:  0
Planned rest day.

Tuesday:  5
Took advantage of the need to be in Warwick for an evening company event, and stopped for a run in Big River.  Ran my new standard trail, Lego, which I'm finally comfortable with finding my way.  From up on the ridges, the sunset was a stunning orange.  Wound my back via Foster's Folly, with the aid of my headlamp lighting the way.  That's a fairly technical trail; I couldn't imagine running that one in complete darkness.

Upon entering the Kent County Y for a shower and change of clothes, another male patron remarked that I was "really brave to be wearing shorts".  Umm, it's 33 degrees; how do I begin to respond to that?  He seemed to just be friendly, so I told him I'm awaiting spring (I'm not).

Wednesday:  6
Ran the BRR long and short course trail portions.  This is tentatively slated for June 17 this year, pending DEM approval.  Plenty of mud and water crossings on the course; it would be great if we had either for the race itself, although not likely by then.  Felt fat, slow, and out of breath on the run.

Well, it was inevitable, but this is what happened when I
stepped on the scale today.  I'm now 7 pounds heavier than
I was in the fall.  Time to start getting serious about upping
the running and curbing the junk eating.

Thursday:  6
After a 3-week hiatus from road running, not sure what prompted me to run roads this morning.  Even less sure what prompted me to run on busy Beach Street and East Avenue.  Running on asphalt with morning commute traffic coming very close to me and splashing wet crap on me was not so enjoyable.  Keeping it positive, two highlights:

1. On East Avenue, a car approaching me crossed the center line to give me extra room and confidence that they saw me.  Nice.  Oh, it's Matthew driving to school.  Thank you!
2. Just after Matthew went by, a baby deer crossed busy East Avenue between cars.  Once it got across the street, it paused and seemed to freeze as I ran by it within ten feet.  Poor thing.  I wanted to tell it come with me and I'll show him the trails.

Friday:  0
Should've gotten out early.  Lost my window later on with a work event that I had forgotten about.

Saturday:  9
Back to Big River.  Probably the only time I've ever run Big River twice in the same week.  I've really come to enjoy the full 3-mile Lego segment, and used that to start my run again.  Got a little out of my comfort zone on Dead Shed and then a trail paralleling Hopkins Hill Road out to a cemetery.  However, getting onto the Pump Trail gave me confidence again, and I thought it would be an easy return via Venom and Foster's Folly.  Until somewhere I took a wrong turn...

I know the see-saw near the end of Foster's Folly,
but did NOT know there are two see-saws in Big River!
Of course I ran over it.  Twice actually.

Ever watch the movie "European Vacation"?  If so, do you remember the scenes where Chevy Chase keeps coming back to Big Ben because he is stuck in a rotary?   "Look kids, it's Big Ben!" loses its appeal the 3rd, 4th time, etc.  This was my run today, switching out "Big Ben" for Carr's Pond, as I got on twisty trails that kept coming back to Carr's Pond.  Look kids, it's Carr's Pond.  Again.  And again.  Argh.  Finally, somehow, I got on a trail that didn't circle back towards the pond, and then I got in the right direction and eventually recognized the turn-off to Foster's Folly.  Just when I thought my carcass would be found and eaten by coyotes, I found my way out.

This was actually a pretty cool trail.
But, where the hell am I, and how do I get out of here?!

Got home, showered, and headed up to what could be my final visit to PCTA (unless the old man ever tries an indoor master's meet there).  Very happy to see Matthew and his team lower their 8x400 time to 8:19 and qualify for New Englands, but it seemed odd for Matthew not to be running any individual events at the indoor state meet this year.  It's good that he finally seems over his injury and can focus on outdoor track next.

Sunday:  6
Went to bed Saturday with snow blanketing the trees white, and forecast of 3 - 8".  Set out my snowshoes and was very excited.  Probably drooled in my sleep.  The wet snow also meant I could build a snowman.  Woke up in the middle of the night to a pouring rain.  NO!!!!!  Very depressed when I woke up to see only about 1" on the ground.
Tried to make the best of it, and tried out my new Gore-Tex trail running shoes in trails and puddles of Bradford Preserve and Woody Hill.  At 35 degrees, I can live with my feet getting wet today, but I had a few 10 -15 degree snowshoeing and snow run treks this winter where my feet got wet and very uncomfortable, so this would be a good experiment.

My new NB 910v4 GTX waterproof trail shoes:
time to try them out and see if they live up to their classification

So far so good on these trails, but with just 1-2" of crusty snow,
it's remotely possible my feet would have stayed dry in my regular
mesh trail shoes

Ah, now for the real test (above):
Ran right through the middle of this long puddle
and mud.  The result?
Feet and socks completely dry!

Amazing to me, but these shoes live up to their
billing.   At 9.2 ounces, not heavy, either.
Won't be my go-to trail shoe, but a good one to
have in my arsenal for cold and wet or snowy
weather.

Weekly mileage:  33

Weekly synopsis:  While 33 miles can hardly be called a renaissance, I did get out there and run 5 days for the first time in quite a while.

Weekly highlight:  Snow run in Woody Hill. 

Weekly lowlight:  Running busy Beach Street during a morning commute.

Old Mountain Field 5K 2018

South Kingstown, RI
Saturday, February 10, 2018

This is the 7th year of the winter trail series, and my 7th year running this specific race.  This is my favorite race of the series, primarily because it's the most technical. 

I was bummed out that the snow we had in January is completely gone, as I had hoped for a good snow trail race and the chances diminish beyond mid-February.  What's the next best thing to snow for a race?  Mud!  Knowing the course terrain and all the recent melting snow and rainstorms, there was a high probability of mud and on this note, I was not disappointed!

As we pulled into the OMF parking lot at 9:30, even Pard remarked that we had arrived uncharacteristically late.  Totally my fault as I was working Saturday morning on sending out a work project status communication that was already behind schedule and I knew would be a relief off my mind to get finished and sent.  Anyhow, picked up my bib and went for a short solo run on the trails, before coming back to change into my lighter minimalist trail shoes.  Then off for Team WTAC pics and making my way to the starting line.

Team WTAC before the start,
less a few stragglers.  I really like our new green singlets.
(All race pics courtesy of Jana)

The start:  Lined up in 2nd row behind Brightman and Jackman, knowing they would lead it out quickly.  The start is always hectic, and hopefully RD Mike Galoob's admonition for younger runners NOT to fly out in the beginning helped to keep it somewhat in check.  Nonetheless, the first 200 meters or so, on the field before entering the woods, is a mad dash for positioning.  At the first corner around the ballfield, the muddy slide would be a harbinger of the course conditions yet to come.

Crossing the road just steps ahead of Ralph Lufkin. 
Ralph finished just ahead of me at Resolution, so I was conscious of
where he was at today's race and happy I stayed ahead of him for the duration.

Just before crossing the road into the trails, I passed a young girl to get into better position.  On the short trail scramble leading up to the stone steps, I went past one guy, and then afterwards it was a little tight on single-track as I followed closely to a guy in front of me.  On a downhill section that temporarily widened a bit, I went to the right to get past this guy but did not see two dogs in my way in the middle of the path until it was too late to correct.  I was going downhill over a rock, passing someone, while avoiding two labs.  I feared a gazelle/canine collision, but went as far right as possible brushing bushes and got by. 

The swamp:  I jumped in next behind Mike Daniels and when we went over the technical rocky stream bed, I caught right up to him.  Much like at Run for the Beavers, I sensed him slow a bit on the more technical sections and each time I would contemplate trying to pass him, but it would be tough to pass here so I continued behind.  Deep into the swamp we went.  I was truly enjoying splashing through the wet sections and muck.  Soon we caught up to a guy and fell in behind him.  As to wardrobe choices, to each his own I suppose, but it's hard for me to take male runners as serious or legit when they're wearing shorts over tights, especially when the temp is 45 degrees.  I bided my time jumping and ducking under trees, splashing through muck, and towards the end of the swamp, I found enough of a runway to go past both Mike and shorts-over-tights.  I gave frenemy Mike some encouragement as I went by.

The finish:  Emerging from the fun romp in the swamp, I saw a TNT singlet a ways ahead of me, but couldn't make out who it was.  The rain started anew here, and that was fine with me.  Climbed up the "mountain", where we took a 90-degree left down a steep hill to the bridge crossing the north end of the pond.  It was on the downhill that I went into gazelle mode and caught right up to the mystery turtle, Dave Principe!  Followed right on Dave's heels as we went over the bridge and started to make our way around the pond and over very slippery wooden bridges.  Unfortunately on one of the twisty turns near the pond, I slid and went down.  When I got back up, Dave was gone. Tried to catch back up to him and got him back in sight, but as we crossed the bridge around the south end of the pond, I felt he was pulling away a bit. Followed him on the twisty climb back up the mountain, and starting downhill I was hoping I could catch and pass him as I did here a few years back, but it wasn't to be.  He was a little too far ahead of me, and while I kept him in close sight, he was able to hold me off through the final twists and turns, and finish 7 seconds ahead of me.  I was able to hold off Mike Daniels this time.

Trailing Dave Principe

Around the pond, before entering the trails for the final 1/2 mile or so

Final trail section

Final results:  21:27, 6:55 average pace.  10th overall, 2nd in age group.  Full results here.


While I've certainly had much gorier runs,
was none the less happy to be called up for
"Most Mud & Blood".

Caught up with Chris, Dave, and Mike post-run, before going out on a WTAC/TNT group cool-down.  Afterwards, Mike told me he's training for Providence Marathon.  Hmmm ... should I really be giving up a spring marathon?  Unfortunately, I couldn't persuade Jonny to go back into the swamp again, but it was a good run and catch-up regardless.  Caked in mud and blood and a bit shorter on time today, I opted to pass on the group lunch at Mews this time and went to the nearby South County Y for a hot shower and change into dry clothes.  What a great race; so much fun!

Bonus:  while I generally prefer Saturdays to Sundays for racing, I was going to have to miss the next race, Belleville, due to a conflict.  BUT now that he just switched Belleville to Sunday, the race is back on the table for me.  Now if Mother Nature could only do us a favor and dump some heavy snow on the course before the next race ...