Last Wednesday, after waiting somewhere in the neighborhood of nine years, I had surgery to remove a neuroma from between the 2nd and 3rd toes of my right foot. In past years, running has been hit or miss with me: sometimes I could run for weeks without problem, others I couldn't run more than 2 miles without the pleasant sensation of having a red hot poker jammed into the middle of my foot. Lately, it's been more of the latter. Pretty hard to get psyched to run for training this summer with that going on.
Anyways, for the past 6 days, I have spent 90% of my time with my feet above the level of my hear (or close enough). I have been taking full advantage of my Netflix Play it Now feature. I am bored out of my mind!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Wonderlust will get you in trouble
Yesterday I had a quasi "epic" ride. That word gets overused a lot, particularly in the mountain bike community. Frankly, there needs to be some sort of pre-req for using the word EPIC, but in my case, it's at least partially justified. http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/vt/montpelier/976127112508692516
I started out the day wanting to get in a decently long mountain ride. Despite getting out on the trail last week for the first time (and it's only April 12!), we have had a couple days of showers, so I was not hopeful for getting a lot of time on single track. So it was off to the dirt roads. I managed to pull off a couple short ~20 minute sections of sniggle, but, for the most part it was dirt roads and Class 4. I have been scoping on our topo maps for years now a long logging road that is a continuation from Eagle Ledge Road in Worcester. It looks like a great place to ride/ski. Very remote, good terrain and lots of ponds. At some point, I am sure that it was a thoroughfare for sheep farmers from Wolcott to the big city, but now it's largely abandoned. I figured I would pull a loop in East Monty and Calais, do an out and back on Eagle Ledge and be home in 3+ hours. Turns out I have a problem with out and backs. I kept thinking "there has to be a way out to Route 12 here somewhere" or " I don't want to turn around now, I'd only have to go back through that 2 foot deep monster truck mud pit again and I'm sure it isn't this bad the whole way" and, lastly "It's probably shorter to keep going". None of these turned out to be remotely correct. When you go down a valley called "Eagle Ledge", there are going to be cliffs. As it happens, the "road" winds through the bottom of a valley with cliffs on both sides that run parallel to the road; there was no short cuts. The mud pits were both continuous, numerous, and in increasing size. For all those folks out there with big ass mud trucks, this is your wet dream - pun intended. And, no, it was definitely not shorter to keep going.
Long story short, 5.25 hours later I was pulling in to my driveway 44 miles. I haven't done that this year yet on a road bike. It was awesome, but definitely Type 2 fun. There were a lot of times that I was "Where the #$@! is that GD Road!".
A couple of take homes that made this only quasi epic:
1) I didn't get lost. I knew basically where I was, although I came out quite a ways further than I hoped.
2) I didn't get hurt.
3) I didn't break my bike in any way (knock, knock). It was definitely not liking the 100-foot long stretches of muddy water by the end, but it came away in one piece.
4) I didn't bonk. Probably the most miraculous achievement of the day. I used a Phil Beard Cocktail for my fuel bottle and one camelbak. I wish I had more water by the end, since the last hour was dry, but it wasn't too bad.
5) My wife is awesome. She didn't freak after showing up 2 hours late and made me a bunch of great recovery food.
6) I'd do it again in a heart beat.
I started out the day wanting to get in a decently long mountain ride. Despite getting out on the trail last week for the first time (and it's only April 12!), we have had a couple days of showers, so I was not hopeful for getting a lot of time on single track. So it was off to the dirt roads. I managed to pull off a couple short ~20 minute sections of sniggle, but, for the most part it was dirt roads and Class 4. I have been scoping on our topo maps for years now a long logging road that is a continuation from Eagle Ledge Road in Worcester. It looks like a great place to ride/ski. Very remote, good terrain and lots of ponds. At some point, I am sure that it was a thoroughfare for sheep farmers from Wolcott to the big city, but now it's largely abandoned. I figured I would pull a loop in East Monty and Calais, do an out and back on Eagle Ledge and be home in 3+ hours. Turns out I have a problem with out and backs. I kept thinking "there has to be a way out to Route 12 here somewhere" or " I don't want to turn around now, I'd only have to go back through that 2 foot deep monster truck mud pit again and I'm sure it isn't this bad the whole way" and, lastly "It's probably shorter to keep going". None of these turned out to be remotely correct. When you go down a valley called "Eagle Ledge", there are going to be cliffs. As it happens, the "road" winds through the bottom of a valley with cliffs on both sides that run parallel to the road; there was no short cuts. The mud pits were both continuous, numerous, and in increasing size. For all those folks out there with big ass mud trucks, this is your wet dream - pun intended. And, no, it was definitely not shorter to keep going.
Long story short, 5.25 hours later I was pulling in to my driveway 44 miles. I haven't done that this year yet on a road bike. It was awesome, but definitely Type 2 fun. There were a lot of times that I was "Where the #$@! is that GD Road!".
A couple of take homes that made this only quasi epic:
1) I didn't get lost. I knew basically where I was, although I came out quite a ways further than I hoped.
2) I didn't get hurt.
3) I didn't break my bike in any way (knock, knock). It was definitely not liking the 100-foot long stretches of muddy water by the end, but it came away in one piece.
4) I didn't bonk. Probably the most miraculous achievement of the day. I used a Phil Beard Cocktail for my fuel bottle and one camelbak. I wish I had more water by the end, since the last hour was dry, but it wasn't too bad.
5) My wife is awesome. She didn't freak after showing up 2 hours late and made me a bunch of great recovery food.
6) I'd do it again in a heart beat.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Fast becoming Fall
No apologies for not writing in several months. The summer has been great. The ORN JRT really gelled over the summer with many skiers really getting in to their training. We had a terrific group of skiers right up in to September, where we ran in to the juggernauts that are Fall Sports and School. For the fall, we have cut it back to 1 day of week, knowing that everyone is getting ample cardio work with their teams. We are concentrating our efforts on upper body strength and technique. There is always room for improvement in these areas!
This week, we're going to do a pretty crazy workout. I have set up a number of "tow straps". The idea is that one skier will be towing a partner up a hill while double poling. Should be good fun. I think the stronger folks won't have a problem, but we may need to handicap it a bit for some.
The plan for the winter and later half of the fall has yet to be sussed out. I am toying with the idea of a "travel team" that will attend Eastern Cups, but I want to be sure to augment the existing programs, not conflict with them.
Hopefully I will be able to get some video or pictures up before too long.
This week, we're going to do a pretty crazy workout. I have set up a number of "tow straps". The idea is that one skier will be towing a partner up a hill while double poling. Should be good fun. I think the stronger folks won't have a problem, but we may need to handicap it a bit for some.
The plan for the winter and later half of the fall has yet to be sussed out. I am toying with the idea of a "travel team" that will attend Eastern Cups, but I want to be sure to augment the existing programs, not conflict with them.
Hopefully I will be able to get some video or pictures up before too long.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
New Beginnings
The spring is starting to come around. Despite frost advisories in June, we look to be getting some warmer weather soon. For someone that studied climate change in grad school, I can't tell you how funny it's been to hear all the discussions about "global warming". Hearing someone wax poetic about how New England is going to "benefit" from global warming, that is more snow with cooler summers, is especially hilarious. Fact is - there are many, many models out there that describe many, many ways that the earth will warm, but they all say -unless they are funded by Exxon/Mobil- that it will warm and warm substantially. But I rant...
Today is second practice of the Onion River Nordic Junior Race Team, or ORN JRT. I started this group up with the help of Nick Petterssen as a way to bring the junior skiers in the area to the next level. There is a ton of enthusiam out there for this program! I have put together training plans for each of the twelve skiers. We are meeting twice a week through the summer and in to the fall to work on ski specific movements and strength. This morning we will be doing a creative run. It's a pretty standard workout of mine that I picked up at a camp with Cory Swartz and Bob Fitzpatrick back when I was a junior. You basically run, then stop to do core strength, plyos, and other calistenics for a couple minutes, run again, then repeat for a total of about an hour. It all ends with the "circle of fun", which has come to be a bit of a hallmark of mine. It involves lots of tuck jumps, quick feet and silliness.
I will post pictures of the group once I remember to take some.
Today is second practice of the Onion River Nordic Junior Race Team, or ORN JRT. I started this group up with the help of Nick Petterssen as a way to bring the junior skiers in the area to the next level. There is a ton of enthusiam out there for this program! I have put together training plans for each of the twelve skiers. We are meeting twice a week through the summer and in to the fall to work on ski specific movements and strength. This morning we will be doing a creative run. It's a pretty standard workout of mine that I picked up at a camp with Cory Swartz and Bob Fitzpatrick back when I was a junior. You basically run, then stop to do core strength, plyos, and other calistenics for a couple minutes, run again, then repeat for a total of about an hour. It all ends with the "circle of fun", which has come to be a bit of a hallmark of mine. It involves lots of tuck jumps, quick feet and silliness.
I will post pictures of the group once I remember to take some.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Long Way to Go
Yesterday was the Vermont Corporate Cup. A 5K that runs each year the week before Memorial Day in the streets of Montpelier. Due to some recent rule changes for the race, I didn't think I was going to be able to do it at all this year, since they outlawed strollers. I was planning on running with Heather and pushing the kiddos in the tandem stroller. Fortunately, or maybe not, I was bailed out by a co-worker who has a girl Meg's age. Unexpected play date = Dad gets to run a 5K.
The day was the hottest one of the year with highs for the day over 90. That, in combination with a lack of any real training yet resulted in a very poor race. Like 21:50. My worst 5K time in years and over 2 and a half minutes slower than my post kid PR. My only other time slower than that was when I just got out of grad school and was carrying about 20 more pounds.
So, if my training didn't already need a kick in the ass, there it is. I have a number of races targeted for the year, so I really need to get going. Today - I'm taking advantage of the weather and going to go for as long of a mountain bike ride as I can. Should be a great day for it - clear skies and 80.
The day was the hottest one of the year with highs for the day over 90. That, in combination with a lack of any real training yet resulted in a very poor race. Like 21:50. My worst 5K time in years and over 2 and a half minutes slower than my post kid PR. My only other time slower than that was when I just got out of grad school and was carrying about 20 more pounds.
So, if my training didn't already need a kick in the ass, there it is. I have a number of races targeted for the year, so I really need to get going. Today - I'm taking advantage of the weather and going to go for as long of a mountain bike ride as I can. Should be a great day for it - clear skies and 80.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
First Run
Yesterday was my first run of the year, and it felt like it. It was fairly short at 45 minutes, but I was able to through some trails in to the mix, so it was fairly entertaining. There is still a fair amount of snow in the woods, and the trail that I was on has seen some winter traffic, so the footing was variable.
As most runners can attest, the beauty of running is its simplicity. The only gear you have to deal with is a pair of shoes: no pumping, lubing, waxing, scraping. You don't have to worry about the weather, you don't have to think about grooming, and no driving to the trail head. Over the year, however, running for me has become somewhat more complicated. In high school, getting ready to run involved throwing on some Umbros, some cheap Air Pegasuses and a cotton shirt then blasting down the road at 6:30 pace. Now it's orthotics in the shoes (which are Asics Kayano's at $150 a pair due to my GD foot problems), liner shorts, shorts (or tights if its less than 50 degrees), poly propylene top, hat, water bottle belt, and various anti chaffing acutrements before warming up slowly for 15 to 20 minutes at 8:30 to 9 minute miles before turning it up to maybe 7:30 or 7's (if I'm really feeling it).
The joints are a little sore today, but in past years, I have basically just run through the pain for the first couple of weeks. After that, the pain usally lessens as my ligaments, muscles etc get used to the running motion and the pounding. Just one other thing that differs from when I was a wee bit younger. (I can already see my older running and skiing buds' eyes rolling).
As most runners can attest, the beauty of running is its simplicity. The only gear you have to deal with is a pair of shoes: no pumping, lubing, waxing, scraping. You don't have to worry about the weather, you don't have to think about grooming, and no driving to the trail head. Over the year, however, running for me has become somewhat more complicated. In high school, getting ready to run involved throwing on some Umbros, some cheap Air Pegasuses and a cotton shirt then blasting down the road at 6:30 pace. Now it's orthotics in the shoes (which are Asics Kayano's at $150 a pair due to my GD foot problems), liner shorts, shorts (or tights if its less than 50 degrees), poly propylene top, hat, water bottle belt, and various anti chaffing acutrements before warming up slowly for 15 to 20 minutes at 8:30 to 9 minute miles before turning it up to maybe 7:30 or 7's (if I'm really feeling it).
The joints are a little sore today, but in past years, I have basically just run through the pain for the first couple of weeks. After that, the pain usally lessens as my ligaments, muscles etc get used to the running motion and the pounding. Just one other thing that differs from when I was a wee bit younger. (I can already see my older running and skiing buds' eyes rolling).
Friday, March 27, 2009
I can't lift my arms...
Tomorrow is not going to be pleasant.
For the past couple of weeks, I have been in rest mode; trying to catch up on work, hopefully getting out for some backcountry skiing and starting my lifting program. Each of the past two years, I have split the Vermont City Marathon with my brother. It's a great race, but, to race well, you pretty much have to completely switch gears from skiing to running immediately after completing the competitive ski season. Last season, that meant stopping skiing while there was still quite a bit of snow (folks were skiing well into April last year). This year, I thought I would try to extend the season as much as I could, but unfortunately, the ski season cut short by an onslaught of warm weather and some rain. Things rarely go as planned.
The other change to my plan for this year from last year is to hit the weights. When I was in high school and college, I had the uncanny ability of putting on muscle without much time in the weight room. Double poling was my strong suit. Last summer, I decided that my strength program would be limited to bodyweight resistance only. Looking back on my season, and at the advanced age of 33, I think weights will be in my training program for the offseason.
Rather than shell out $70+ a month for a gym membership, I found a weight bench and free weights on Craig's list for $150. Pretty sweet deal. However, like a typical jackass, despite not having lifted for at least 4 or 5 years, I didn't exactly go into the weights easy. I tried to warm up a bit by splitting some wood for a while, but it wasn't enough after only 10 minutes. I did a pretty basic routine: bench, triceps, curls, bent over rows... But, after only 2 hours after I stopped, I can really feel it in my ligaments. I would be willing to bet that by tomorrow, I'll have a hard time shampooing my hair.
For the past couple of weeks, I have been in rest mode; trying to catch up on work, hopefully getting out for some backcountry skiing and starting my lifting program. Each of the past two years, I have split the Vermont City Marathon with my brother. It's a great race, but, to race well, you pretty much have to completely switch gears from skiing to running immediately after completing the competitive ski season. Last season, that meant stopping skiing while there was still quite a bit of snow (folks were skiing well into April last year). This year, I thought I would try to extend the season as much as I could, but unfortunately, the ski season cut short by an onslaught of warm weather and some rain. Things rarely go as planned.
The other change to my plan for this year from last year is to hit the weights. When I was in high school and college, I had the uncanny ability of putting on muscle without much time in the weight room. Double poling was my strong suit. Last summer, I decided that my strength program would be limited to bodyweight resistance only. Looking back on my season, and at the advanced age of 33, I think weights will be in my training program for the offseason.
Rather than shell out $70+ a month for a gym membership, I found a weight bench and free weights on Craig's list for $150. Pretty sweet deal. However, like a typical jackass, despite not having lifted for at least 4 or 5 years, I didn't exactly go into the weights easy. I tried to warm up a bit by splitting some wood for a while, but it wasn't enough after only 10 minutes. I did a pretty basic routine: bench, triceps, curls, bent over rows... But, after only 2 hours after I stopped, I can really feel it in my ligaments. I would be willing to bet that by tomorrow, I'll have a hard time shampooing my hair.
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