Last evening I ran 7 miles from my Springvale office. I normally don't like running in Springvale/Sanford. I just can't seem to find my way off the busy roads and the drivers there are not very pedestrian friendly, no offense to anyone who lives in that area. Normally I run toward Sanford in an attempt to stay where they have sidewalks. But last night I put my life on the line and ran off in the opposite direction. Sure enough, the sidewalk abruptly ended forcing me into the traffic. I had reflective gear on, but that just seemed to draw the cars to me like a magnet. I could imagine the drivers thinking things like, "what the hell is that shining on the side of the road? I think I'll veer over there for a closer look." I took my first opportunity to leave the busy road and surprisingly found running bliss!
Running South and West of town opened up a whole new world of runner friendly hilly roads! I climbed past tranquil little houses and nice fields to the top of a ridge in the bright light from the 3/4 full moon. I would have kept exploring, but I had one evening patient visit to make and didn't want to risk being late for that appointment. So instead, I turned and ran back the same way. It was lovely.
I spent some time this morning mapping out some more loops in that area. I've figured out 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 mile loops that look like they will be very nice. The convenience of running from my office, instead of running from my car on the side of the road, is that there is a bathroom, a place to change, a water cooler... the list goes on and on! What a luxury!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
10 Miles in Whimpy Shoes
Yesterday, I knew the trails would be in bad shape for running with temperatures so warm and the little bit of snow left out there being so wet. So I was heading out for a road run, like it or not. At the last minute as I was just going out the door, I decided to try to find a pair of road shoes in my closet. I normally train all the time in heavy sturdy Solomens (I have several varieties.) I found a pair of Nike Assails from several years ago. True, they were marketed as trail shoes, but there really isn't much to them that would make them a trail shoe. I need more than that on the type of trails I run. These Nikes are as close to a road shoe as I possess. They are old, but haven't been used much.
I put them on and headed down the road. They were light and flexible and bouncy. Wow, I felt like I used to feel when I would change into my racing flats for a track workout or a road race. My feet were hardly touching the ground! My legs were spring loaded! I was moving! I wasn't really going that fast, but that's how it felt.
After about 3 sort-of-fast road miles on Spec Pond Road, I ran by the Town Farm Snowmobile Trail and screeched to a halt. I hadn't planned to run on trails. They were sure to be wet and messy and slippery. And wasn't I feeling all fast and happy running in my light shoes on this good clear road? But heck, why not give the trail a try for a few yards just to see how it is? You know, for future reference.
Down the trail I went. The packed snowmobile tracks were slippery, but soft enough that with each step my foot sunk into the snow enough to give me some grip. It was hard work and I wasn't moving very fast anymore. But my heart rate was through the roof and my quads and hamstrings were burning. Once in a while I would post hole through the packed snow, usually into melt water beneath the snow. This didn't happen often enough to seem annoying. I had been feeling good on the road, but now I was smiling and ecstatic! I love the trails!
My poor Nike Assails didn't know what was happening to them. They were soaked through in seconds. On one occasion, my left shoe was yanked completely off my foot when I pulled it back out of a post hole. My right achilles was feeling a lot of rubbing and burning as the shoe protested to this sort of running. I ended up with a huge blister by the end of the run.
I only went about 3 miles on the trail. Then I got back onto pavement and picked up the pace again. The Nikes were much happier. I tried to push the pace all the way home for a good solid ten mile effort. I followed with a strength workout and then later in the evening I did my Plyometric workout. The Nikes are on the boot dryer trying to recover.
I put them on and headed down the road. They were light and flexible and bouncy. Wow, I felt like I used to feel when I would change into my racing flats for a track workout or a road race. My feet were hardly touching the ground! My legs were spring loaded! I was moving! I wasn't really going that fast, but that's how it felt.
After about 3 sort-of-fast road miles on Spec Pond Road, I ran by the Town Farm Snowmobile Trail and screeched to a halt. I hadn't planned to run on trails. They were sure to be wet and messy and slippery. And wasn't I feeling all fast and happy running in my light shoes on this good clear road? But heck, why not give the trail a try for a few yards just to see how it is? You know, for future reference.
Down the trail I went. The packed snowmobile tracks were slippery, but soft enough that with each step my foot sunk into the snow enough to give me some grip. It was hard work and I wasn't moving very fast anymore. But my heart rate was through the roof and my quads and hamstrings were burning. Once in a while I would post hole through the packed snow, usually into melt water beneath the snow. This didn't happen often enough to seem annoying. I had been feeling good on the road, but now I was smiling and ecstatic! I love the trails!
My poor Nike Assails didn't know what was happening to them. They were soaked through in seconds. On one occasion, my left shoe was yanked completely off my foot when I pulled it back out of a post hole. My right achilles was feeling a lot of rubbing and burning as the shoe protested to this sort of running. I ended up with a huge blister by the end of the run.
I only went about 3 miles on the trail. Then I got back onto pavement and picked up the pace again. The Nikes were much happier. I tried to push the pace all the way home for a good solid ten mile effort. I followed with a strength workout and then later in the evening I did my Plyometric workout. The Nikes are on the boot dryer trying to recover.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Goodbye Snow
A few days ago I posted that between now and my snowshoe marathon, I was going to try to get all my running mileage in on snowshoes. Yesterday's rain has put an end to that idea! I've been luckier than some in that I have had local trails with good snow cover for over a month. It seems that almost everyone I know has broken snowshoes right now. Why? Because they've been out training and racing on trails without enough snow on them! Snowfall has been spotty in New England this winter. Even a few miles can make a difference in the amount of snow out in the woods. But I think it's fair to say after all the rain we saw yesterday, we will all be leaving the snowshoes behind for a while.
So today I'll be out on the roads. I also plan to put in a Plyometric workout and an upper body/abs strength workout. Triple workout today, because I did absolutely nothing yesterday but sit around sipping tea, reading, and crocheting while the rain fell outside. I'd better get going, the day only has so many hours in it!
So today I'll be out on the roads. I also plan to put in a Plyometric workout and an upper body/abs strength workout. Triple workout today, because I did absolutely nothing yesterday but sit around sipping tea, reading, and crocheting while the rain fell outside. I'd better get going, the day only has so many hours in it!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
My next door neighbor's house burnt down today. Kevin and I were just leaving the Osippee River Trail and saw a fire truck from Cornish go by. I joked, "maybe it's my house and I'll be off the hook," I have house I can't afford. We laughed and then went to the market to buy few bottles of wine. We then headed home. We went over the Kezar Falls bridge and I gasped "Oh my god. It IS my house." and Kevin said, "No. "It's Chris's." We had to drive around the block the long way to see it was true. Sure enough my next door neighbor's house had burnt pretty much to the ground. When he finally showed up at the scene, I was too shy to approach Chris. Kevin walked down the street and did tht dirty work for me. "Here but by the grace of God" is what I thought. I am very thankful that my house is not that empty hollowed out blackened mess next door. I feel very bad for him. He's been a very nice neighbor.
Sandwich Range Wilderness Snowshoe
Kevin and I did a very nice 6 mile snowshoe jaunt yesterday. We started with a steady gradual climb up the Cabin Trail from Rte 113A (in Tamworth I think) into the Sandwich Range Wilderness. We set out in bright warm sunshine and shed layers of clothes throughout the first mile. There was one other set of fresh snowshoe tracks, but otherwise the trail was soft and unpacked. Neither of us see a lot of sense wearing snowshoes on trails that are so well packed that you could easily manage without the snowshoes. Winter hiking has become so popular in the Whites that most trails are well packed within 24 hours after a snowstorm. That's why we headed over to this part of the Sandwich Range. There aren't any breath taking views or awe inspiring climbs where we were yesterday, just dense thick beautiful woods and nice white snow. It doesn't attract a lot of foot traffic and it is one of my favorite areas to runin. Yesterday it was perfect.
At the top of the Cabin Trail climb, we turned off to the right onto Whitten Brook Trail, again following very little used trail. A little way down this trail, the snowshoe tracks we were following suddenly ended. Who ever had been out there had turned around and haded back the same way. This meant beautiful, untouched deep snow for us! Kevin let me lead. You wouldn't think this would be the sought after position, breaking trail through fresh deep snow, but both of us love this kind of thing. Part of the fun is trying to stay on the trail. The other part is feeling your hamstrings and quads burn with every step. On Whitten Brook, the blazes have all worn off the trees but I managed to stay on course with very little prompting required from Kevin. This entire section of our outing was slightly downhill and we could really move fast through there! It was shaded and a little cooler, but we were moving and working hard enough that we didn't have to add any layers back.
There were several brook crossings before we got to the intersection with Big Rock Cave Trail. I didn't get wet until the last water crossing, just after we turned off onto Big Rock Cave. I stepped down on what looked like snow covered rock only to find out it was ice, which broke off and put my feet into the water. This didn't bother me much, because as soon as we crossed this water we had a big steep climb that kept me nice and warm. Finally we crossed over the top of Mount Mexico and back into the sunshine,where we stopped for lunch. Then it was a quick gradual descent back to Rte 113A. What a great snowshoe outing!
Today we both are feeling it a little in our legs, but we're headed out to Kezar Mountain with our snowshoes in a few minutes.Rain is expected tonight,so we have to take advantage of the snow while it lasts!
Friday, January 22, 2010
8 Snowshoe Miles
I just got back from running 8 miles in snowshoes at "snowshoe marathon pace." If you're wondering how fast that is, it's not. As far as I'm concerned it's a slow jog with walk breaks. I am beginning to realize that if I am going to finish the Peak Snowshoe Marathon, it is going to have to be at a relentless slow shuffle. Today I averaged 12 minute miles and the terrain wasn't all that hilly. My heart rate was in the 150-160 range most of the time even at this slow pace. The snow is pretty soft today and that makes forward progress hard work. I imagine that for the marathon at the beginning of March the snow might be even softer.
Today I ran out on the Stinky Mud Trail which, believe it or not, had some open holes with black stinky mud showing through the snow. These were small and easy to step over. This mud is black oozing stuff that brings to mind the tar pits of the dinosaur days. It's one of the wonders of the world where this stuff comes from and why it's there year round.
My quads are tired, but they feel STRONG. Plyometrics, skiing, snowshoeing, and leg workouts are working. My jeans are all tight in the quads now and hard to get on. I know a lot of women would be upset by this. I consider it a good thing, it's not as if I expect to be out in a bikini any time soon. This strength will give me a good base to build on in the Spring. Once I start putting the running miles in the legs will slim down pretty quickly. Until then, I have plenty of stretchy Yoga pants and running pants I can wear!
I am going to try to do most of my running on snowshoes from now until the marathon. It's tough and time consuming, but it sure is a good workout!
Today I ran out on the Stinky Mud Trail which, believe it or not, had some open holes with black stinky mud showing through the snow. These were small and easy to step over. This mud is black oozing stuff that brings to mind the tar pits of the dinosaur days. It's one of the wonders of the world where this stuff comes from and why it's there year round.
My quads are tired, but they feel STRONG. Plyometrics, skiing, snowshoeing, and leg workouts are working. My jeans are all tight in the quads now and hard to get on. I know a lot of women would be upset by this. I consider it a good thing, it's not as if I expect to be out in a bikini any time soon. This strength will give me a good base to build on in the Spring. Once I start putting the running miles in the legs will slim down pretty quickly. Until then, I have plenty of stretchy Yoga pants and running pants I can wear!
I am going to try to do most of my running on snowshoes from now until the marathon. It's tough and time consuming, but it sure is a good workout!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Ellis River/Hall Trail Loop
A regular winter fitness test for myself is to ski the Ellis River to High water Trail to Hall Trail loop at Jackson Ski touring. Normally I do it every few weeks and like to see improvement over the winter in how fast I can do it and how well I can climb. Today was my first time doing it this winter.
This loop is about 25 kilometers. I have done it both ways, but prefer counter-clockwise. That way I do the easy Ellis River Trail first as a warm up and then get to the hard stuff. Also, skiing the Hall Trail in this direction makes me do my steep climbing on the wide straight trail and my steep descent on the winding narrower trails. Because it takes so much control to make the curves on this downhill, I have to use a lot of strength and can't just take a break and relax like I do when skiing the other direction.
The Hall Trail has 1110 feet of climb along its length. I love the climbing. As soon as Hall leaves the Rocky Branch parking lot to start the return trip, it starts climbing. I start the climb by skiing hard in the tracks, eventually have to step out of the tracks into the softer snow for better grip, next have to resort to a running herringbone, and before I get to the first plateau, I end up slowing to a fast walking herringbone. All the while I am huffing and puffing and seeing stars. What's not to love?
From there to the top of Popple Mountain, there is plenty more climbing, but the stretches of climb are interrupted every so often with a short flat or even slightly downhill stretch allowing me to catch my breath. Once the top of Popple is reached there is often some ungroomed snow to make your way through. Today it had been groomed at one point and only had about 4 inches of fresh powder on top. Easy going!
Then comes the fun! Skiing down the mountain is a blast! Sometimes it's icy and scary. Today it was just scary. With about 8 KM or so to go, there is a long sweet slight downhill that is perfect for staying in the tracks in a tuck, and just riding gently down the trail. This goes on for quite a while, but gets ever so gradually steeper and steeper making me ski ever so gradually faster and faster. At some point, I have to jump out of the tracks before I get going to fast and loose control. You can't really slow yourself down in the tracks. Today, I pushed the envelope a little too far. by the time I tried to get out of the tracks I was really flying. I got my first ski out of the track OK, but something went wrong when I tried to lift my second ski out. I went into a crazy tumble. The thought that went through my mind as I tumbled was, "I think this is what they mean when they say falling ass over tea kettle." I came to a stop with no harm done, other than a lost earring and a tiny little laceration on my ear from having it yanked out. Oh, and a slightly sore right knee.
Unfortunately, the only person I saw on Hall came skiing up in the opposite direction immediately after that fall, while I was still covered with snow and trying to pull myself back together. "Took a tumble?" he asked. Without thinking I said, "no one saw it, so it never happened." He liked that.
I checked my watch when I got back to the parking lot and saw that I had classic skied the loop in 2 hours and 42 minutes. Not a bad start for the year. I've set the bar high if I am going to improve a little each time out this year! The big goal is to get up that entire first climb on Hall without slowing to a walk!
This loop is about 25 kilometers. I have done it both ways, but prefer counter-clockwise. That way I do the easy Ellis River Trail first as a warm up and then get to the hard stuff. Also, skiing the Hall Trail in this direction makes me do my steep climbing on the wide straight trail and my steep descent on the winding narrower trails. Because it takes so much control to make the curves on this downhill, I have to use a lot of strength and can't just take a break and relax like I do when skiing the other direction.
The Hall Trail has 1110 feet of climb along its length. I love the climbing. As soon as Hall leaves the Rocky Branch parking lot to start the return trip, it starts climbing. I start the climb by skiing hard in the tracks, eventually have to step out of the tracks into the softer snow for better grip, next have to resort to a running herringbone, and before I get to the first plateau, I end up slowing to a fast walking herringbone. All the while I am huffing and puffing and seeing stars. What's not to love?
From there to the top of Popple Mountain, there is plenty more climbing, but the stretches of climb are interrupted every so often with a short flat or even slightly downhill stretch allowing me to catch my breath. Once the top of Popple is reached there is often some ungroomed snow to make your way through. Today it had been groomed at one point and only had about 4 inches of fresh powder on top. Easy going!
Then comes the fun! Skiing down the mountain is a blast! Sometimes it's icy and scary. Today it was just scary. With about 8 KM or so to go, there is a long sweet slight downhill that is perfect for staying in the tracks in a tuck, and just riding gently down the trail. This goes on for quite a while, but gets ever so gradually steeper and steeper making me ski ever so gradually faster and faster. At some point, I have to jump out of the tracks before I get going to fast and loose control. You can't really slow yourself down in the tracks. Today, I pushed the envelope a little too far. by the time I tried to get out of the tracks I was really flying. I got my first ski out of the track OK, but something went wrong when I tried to lift my second ski out. I went into a crazy tumble. The thought that went through my mind as I tumbled was, "I think this is what they mean when they say falling ass over tea kettle." I came to a stop with no harm done, other than a lost earring and a tiny little laceration on my ear from having it yanked out. Oh, and a slightly sore right knee.
Unfortunately, the only person I saw on Hall came skiing up in the opposite direction immediately after that fall, while I was still covered with snow and trying to pull myself back together. "Took a tumble?" he asked. Without thinking I said, "no one saw it, so it never happened." He liked that.
I checked my watch when I got back to the parking lot and saw that I had classic skied the loop in 2 hours and 42 minutes. Not a bad start for the year. I've set the bar high if I am going to improve a little each time out this year! The big goal is to get up that entire first climb on Hall without slowing to a walk!
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