Long hill run - Sun. Jan. 21

It was too cold (windy, sub 20 deg. F) and I was too busy to try the Snowstorm 5K on Saturday, and so I was not sure yesterday whether I'd made my 25 miles for the previous week. In fact I had, at just over 26 miles total, but I wanted to make the best of my Sunday opportunity just in case, and I figured (especially given some knee soreness) I wanted to stay off roads. Also, given that it was still seriously cold (no snow, and mainly no wind, but in the low twenties F.) I wanted to get warm quickly. So I cadged a lift to the bottom of Holland Glen and headed up there, aiming in a roundabout way for the Quabbin.

As I set off I was passed by two runners coming down -- I'm pretty sure it was Mr and Mrs Nedeau, serious racers, doing some local training: good company, I thought. The brook was spectacularly iced up in places, and the trail was plenty tricky (ice turns highly technical into specialists or nutters only territory), but I managed to get a bit warm as I made my way up to the second belvedere (fantastic viewscape at this time of year, 0.88 miles from the startpoint). Paused a bit, then plodded on up the M & M trail. It was much browner than the last run with Mark, done in our faux spring of late December or early Jan., but fortunately most all the oak leaves were blown off the trail, which was thus less slippery. At the confusing junction I chose uphill and though I was heading for Gulf as I'd wanted, but no, it came out on the old tumbledown shack and new MacMansion cluster at the end of Munsell. Ah well, same difference - I headed to Gold, then up to Knight's Pond (*cold* wind there) and took a right towards 202. Helped a couple find their way to 30 Knights (as Packardville is called at that point, it turns out) and then across 202 (where the big old house if for sale; lovely place, tough location) past the candle shop and down the res. access road. Nicely soft, and it was a good mile away from the main road before I reached the turn-off for Juckett Hill. Took this and was again really feeling the hill (this run would be a good one to keep in mind for future training, especially when I'm feeling a bit tougher!), but made it all the way up and felt the chill of the wind up there on the top.

After that, coming out on to Juckett and right onto Allen, along to 202 and then home past VFW. Stopped the clock as I reached 9, since I had a good distance covered and I wanted to avoid hurrying across 9 busy w/ Sunday traffic when already tired. Too cold for a warmdown, I went directly home and enjoyed hot tea, a late lunch and a good nap.

Time: 1:32:25
Speed: 7.2 mph
Distance: 11.05 miles

Comment: that was enough hill training for the week, as well as a good long run. I'd forgotten how tough it is to run in cold -- seems much worse when there's no snow, somehow. But now just 8 miles to go during the week, as long as I make it to the 10K next Saturday. Yosh!

Road run with tea break - Thu. Jan. 18

Recovered from the flight, I thought of a daytime run but was too busy, so it was just freezing evening when I set out. Sleet had fallen and the ground was treacherous, so I had to hobble along in places, and narrowly missed slipping over several times on downhill stretches. Because the winter has been such a lame one there's not even a good grit wash alongside the roads (though the gritting truck did pass me by several times during this run). Headed out past VFW to 202 and along to Allen, up and over to 9, then down Federal to the lake, and left onto Metacomet and thus directly to the House of Dave. I was carrying licorice from Iceland and some Gevalia beans for those guys; not very good at running with stuff in hand, but considering the conditions I made fairly good time. Stopped chez gray-heyes and enjoyed a cup of tea and a chat, then back home via Bay and Hamilton. Had set out planning about 5-6, but ended up a bit longer:

Time: 53:46
Speed: 7.9 mph
Distance: 7.04 miles

Comment: I'm feeling very slow, and maybe this is the corollorary of having a distance target. Still, perhaps after a month of doing 25+ mile weeks I'll get some speed back.

London, Hyde Park laps - Tue. Jan. 16 [UK]

[Backpost]
From Tim's flat nearby, headed out to the park after a long day for my last run of the UK trip. Found my way there okay, and negotiated very confusing underpasses under Marble Arch to surface at Speaker's Corner, then set off around the perimeter inside the park, on a nice sandy road used by horses and some parts of the bike trail or regular roads: Broad Walk, Lovers's Walk, round the Achilles statue and back into to Serpentine road, next to a dark and duck-floating Serpentine that looked quite expansive and *chilly.*

A bit alarming that the low light-pollution lamps were barely bright enough to let me see prospective muggers, but I ran with hairs prickling and eyes sweeping the path's edges. The presence of a few other runners and cyclists reassured me that I wasn't totally nuts. I turned away from the water at the North Ride and followed that all the way back to the start point, then did the same again. Then back into the underpasses and out into the streets towards Edgeware. Realized I needed to think about how to get back, so stopped the clock, for the first set of readings, then ran on a bit more before giving up and phoning home to get directions! Made it back after lots of toing and froing; while waiting for one traffic light a chap asked if I was training and I said yes, sort of, and he said, "Well, see you in 2012 then!" Riiiight.

Time: 46:30 and another 7-8 minutes
Speed: 7.7 mph and slow
Distance: 6.01 miles and another 0.8 miles

Comments: hit a puddle or two so got clean gear muddy again (in London, even!) but it was a comfortable run and soothing given stress factors about the trip and the heap of work awaiting me. Tim's certainly got room to train there, though, for sure.

The Pilsdon Lewesdon Run - Sun. Jan. 14 [UK]

[Backpost--with non-running related memorabilia]

This is the one I'd been waiting for, and the day turned out to be lovely: some sun, not too cold, and lots of the mud was firm enough to get across without bogging down. Dropped off at the Pilsdon Pen lookout layby (the Cockpit, I think it's called) I was chatting to a viewgazer before I set off: he asked how far I was heading, and said his brother was/had been a marathon runner for charity, earning an OBE for it. Much more modest goals here -- I still don't think I could do a marathon without some sort of paradigm shift, but maa, ne. I attacked the steep climb and was well knackered once I hit the top: starting at about 720 feet up to the summit of 909 feet in about 200 yards. Did a lap of the hillfort parapet, partly to get my breath back, and partly for the AMAZING views, up country for miles and miles, and south across the vale out to sea - just breathtaking!

Then down the steep path again and off along the Broadwinsor road to the back way up Lewesdon (Dorset Ridgeway path, technically). This was a muddy slog in places, but pleasant (motorbikes had been up there earlier, but were fortunately gone), and I was at the top of that hill fort (892 feet) glimpsing the sea, and then down the far side trying not to crash into trees; levelled out and reached the lower slopes, where one dog walker explained her dog's dogging me with a, "He doesn't like orange, see" (I was wearing my lovely Xmas top). Across the fields then (footpath, officially) to exit at Four Ashes and then cross the B3162 and on down into Stoke Abbott. Long road section followed, but laced with memories of the hike we all did that Saturday that prompted F's story. Tried to call F from the payphone, but it needed a coin to activate even for 0800 calls, alas.

Cooled my head at the old fountain and then plodded on Beaminster-wards, intrigued in passing by the pub sign -- text on both sides, under the picture; too small to read, but next time, I hope. Very little traffic, fortunately, along the lane; a couple of women out for a hack smiled (perhaps simply from enjoying the comfort of their position compared to mine -- two very different ways to take pleasure in the scenery of a Sunday afternoon). Made it to Beaminster still feeling pretty good, taking the footpath right immediately after crossing the river: the start of my run down the Brit Valley trail, this meant I didn't go through the square at all, but ran down the old road next to the church (with the pulpit/ambo? too tall for me to see out of w/out a step when I was a first former) and on by the river out the back of town to the field path off behind Parnham. I remember a science class trip there one time, and also the many passages to and fro visiting Sarah when she lived in the town (can I even recall where the house was though?).

Familiar fields and some startled Sunday walkers as I chugged on towards Netherbury -- one family just before I came out by the church had a wee lad in tow, and the mum turned and called him, "Come on Legolas, see? Everyone's running!" as I went by. Legolas?! Maybe just a nickname (the little chap, maybe 3-4 years old, was very fair). Down past the Reading Room (which seemed to have a load of music stands in it: a singing group, perhaps? -- but at least it's still used), and then down the maind street, past the cider farm (I wonder if Mr Warren still does his barely licit biz?) and across the white bridge to the lane that keeps the Brit Valley trail going. Some very muddy bits, as I splashed on to Riverside cottage (a woman gardening, but the famous cook no longer living there) past the weir, and then more wet fields as far as Oxbridge. Out into the lane and back over the river to the next section of trail, the bit where buzzards be (as I remember only too well). None there to dive at me that day though, and I followed fields and barely visible paths more or less beside the river on down the valley. One field had a couple of sheep carcasses or skeletons, as with the Pymore Wooth run the other day -- maybe that's common practice these days? I don't remember seeing so many as a kid. A field with a big flock had lots of wool on the wires, all curly and so soft: I gleaned a bit for F. Another field was strewn, I thought, with feather, but on picking them up I saw they were fine leaves, so pretty and so not like the land all around. A fruit tree, for sure, in someone's garden next to the trail.

Lost the flow a bit near Pymore --the markings got very vague, and I blundered into an electric fence, pulling it about three paces before I realised what it was. The setting was fairly low, just a bit uncomfortable as I stepped back to loosen it and then stepped over it. Memories of how alarming such encounters were when I was a kid -- and renewed amazement at how puzzling it is to run into one. You just don't automatically connect the tick tock jolts with the fence very quickly (or is that just me?). Came out through a farm yard finally at Pymore and followed the footpath back into the new old Pymore Village, then down the path all the way home.

Time: 1:34:56 and 5:40
Speed: 7.3 mph and 6.8 mph
Distance: 11.5 and 0.64 miles

Comments: the second numbers are a bit I added at the end, since I initially stopped just after Pymore. Also, I accidentally stopped the timer as I left Netherbury, so I can add half a mile to the distance. It won't have affected pace much. Overall, a long and very tiring, but swamped with memories and images, just a real treat!

Short BoHampton run -- Sat. Jan 13 [UK]

[Backpost--with non-running related memorabilia]
After driving down the four hours from where the Evertons now live I was itching to get out on foot, and in the mild dark of a spring evening (really! leaves coming out and flowers about to bloom already in Dorset) headed off into town, thinking of heading up towards Long Lane.

Started down the riverside trail behind So.St. carpark (all nicely dark), back into So.St. to Flood Lane and then on the old school route all the way back (along the high pavement, not the lane) to Church Hayes. Paused to look at the farm and the house (new window at bottom of attic stairs, sensible!), then headed on up towards the dump, but decide not to pursue that lane--turned round up at the gateway into AdValley field and went back down the cut to the Working Men's Club, then across to the other cut up to join Crock lane, entering past old Dr Thompson's (and Leonora's?) house. Followed Crock lane (past Antony Powell's house) to the little cut through onto Sea Road as was, crossing directly onto the path leading to the river. Crossed at the weir where we used to fish for eels, along past the Ackermans' place (now converted into several dwellings, no trace of the workshop it used to be) and up past the chippy to cross East St and up Barrack St, then along Rax lane and home.

Time: 26:35
Speed: 7.7 mph
Distance: 3.4 miles

Comment: Ah nostalgia! Slow run despite its short distance as I was sort of wandering about, not really heading anywhere in particular.

Pymore, Wooth, Waytown & Salway Ash--Thu. Jan 11 [UK]

A big lunch, with wine and guests -- yet after doing the washing up, and without even a nap, I thought I should try and get an outing in. It wouldn't need to be fast, so a stitch shouldn't be a problem; the worst thing would be carrying the weight of such a full tum. Departed a bit after four, again in reflector vest, training pants, hat etc. Headed up Victoria Grove to Pymore Lane, now graced with a walkway behind the hedge. At the mill, found the old footpath after running through the old factory, along a trail I remember being told to clear when I worked there that summer, so many years ago. Across the weir to pick up the slender streamside path; ducking branches and brambles, followed it till it ran out, and headed through a hedge into a field, mudplugging and sensing my way out eventually to the Dottery road. Up the hill to the trail that heads towards Pineapple lane; entered the pathway but it led into a field and then faded away; followed it as best I could, but the farmer (yes, he'd prefer folk sort of forgot about the trail, I guess, even though it's on the MAP!) was not being helpful -- at one point a marker led into a field, and I followed, but there was no egress: hedges closed up, no way out. I ran round the whole thing, and then just had to plunge on as best I could. Got a bit scratched and muddy, but finally picked up signs again and found my way to what turned out to be Higher Ash Farm. The only way back into lanes was through their yard, and of course one bottleneck was deep soft mud slurry. I nearly lost both shoes, stopping abruptly as I felt them grabbed by the mud - I didn't want to be reaching down with my hands to rescue them, so I slowly wiggled out and suck-plopped along a few more steps to the other shore. Yucky yikes. Figured I do just lanes after that, and did so: one large lanetop lake necessitated more wet feet, but I made my way to the Waytown road, joining at the top of Wooth, running past the cottage where Lesley and I babysat for some friends of her parents, even more years ago. Past Elwell Fruit Farm and then into Pineapple lane and across to Salway Ash, and back down the [busy] road to Dottery, then back across to Pymore and home. Aiming for 7+ miles, I ended up going this far:

Time: 1:26:43
Speed: 6.9 mph
Distance: 10.02 miles

Comment: that covers my 25 miles this week, with a little to spare. Again, a marvellous run, the long and slow I've been looking for, with enough mud to last me a year!

to Eype by clifftrail - Wed. Jan 10 [UK]

After reaching the UK on Tue. evening, and suffering the shock and awkwardness of having my laptop stolen, I needed a run as soon as I could to cool off, but the first evening was already booked. Probably the beers and post-pub sleep were good in some sense. When I got to Dorset I was ready to go and I left as soon as I could get changed, about 4 p.m. by the riverside path down to the bay. Fields and countryside were boggy as heck, after two weeks of rain -- but a clear sky and breeze gave me fine conditions to enjoy the mud. At the bay I waved to the sea and headed for the cliff trail; steep indeed, but doable, though I got a bit snarled in brambles at one point (straying from trail, as an ex-local will). The sea was rough, quite well out and showing rocks and beach; the sky was green at the horizon, and darkening gently. At Eype I crossed the stream and headed up the far side, but only long enough to figure I had no time left, and I turned. Picked up a bottle to dispose of (an old-style pinta bottle, from Cricket Malherbe dairy--half buried in mud, left by a camper several seasons ago?) and this gave me an excuse to run down the beach to rinse the bottle. Then back up the cliff path (puff puff!!) and along the top, slippy sliding as I crossed a cow and calf filled pasture up there behind the ruins of the lime kiln, then over the stile and down the slope back into Port Bredy. Went down on to the (still newly redesigned, to my eyes) beach to get up close with the sea, running along the tops of the foam left by waves, but the ocean didn't appreciate my muddy prints on its delicately billowing white traces--a sudden surging wave roared in and pushed at my feet, even as I laughed and tried to leap inshore. Nearly had me down, even though it was only up to my shins, it was so sudden and fierce. I was running out of beach anyway, so I climbed the breaker wall, looped round the pier and headed back up to town along the railtrail and road (feet washed by the sea, why get muddy again?). Town workmen were clearing a flooded underpass when I crossed into South street, so I splashed through that and then as I headed up into the lights I realised that darkness had beaten me home. Not too long a run, but so much to see, feel, hear and remember:

Time: 55:51
Speed: 6.9 mph
Distance:6.47 mles

Comment: not fast, but wonderful -- I felt quite calm afterwards, and enjoyed the sound of the seagulls from the bathroom. Mudplugging and coastal trailing in one day: priceless.

Leisurely Ten -- Sun. Jan. 7

Fine day again, if not quite as bizarrely warm as yesterday. Bright and sunny, and Mark was free at 2:30 so we met here and headed out to the railtrail. Entered it via GeoHannum to add a bit, and then plodded along all the way to the crossing at Washington, which we then followed to Bardwell, going right to 21 and then we were at the canal junction. Took the canal path all the way back to Washington, then crossed and railtrailed it home again. Stopped the clock at 9 miles as it was time for a break, but then we added a closing run back to the development, so I just nicely cleared my 10 mile goal:

Time: 1:18:07 & 9:08
Speed: 7 mph & 6 mph
Distance: 9.08 & 0.92 miles

Comment: a pleasant and warming cup of cocoa at the end with Mark, and we talked also about the Town & Country 10 miler coming up late February. Seems like we might try for it. . .But now it's pack and fly time, so who knows when and where I'll run next: London? Dorset? Shrewsbury? We'll see.

Two v. different 5Ks -- Sat. Jan 6th

Morning started with a "Snowstorm Classic 5K" - -the temperature was mid-60s, sunny showers. More like June than January -- maybe that's why there was such a good turnout, 128 people registered!! This was the day with R joining me, and we got there in good time. Showed him round a bit and then as we were getting a pre-run drink there was Mark -- nice timing. Did a mini warmup and then it was off: Mark disappeared quickly, and went on to do a 22:01, nice job, though he said his start was too fast and he was being passed quite a lot; still a good time, I think. R quickly got a stitch, and so we slowed and then he got frustrated because everybody (including a 6 y.o. and 8 y.o.) passed him. The rest of the run was mounting frustration and, alas, tears until near the end. Then he got some vigor back and headed for the finish strongly. Time was even slower than the Btown FunRun, but c'est la vie. So we both did something like this:

Time: 35:33 mins
Speed: 5.4 mph
Distance: 3.1 miles

Then we noshed a bit on chocolate stuff, which was cheering. Home to various post-Christmas chores, it being Epiphany, and then I just had time to go out for another run. So I did a variation of the Hamilton 5K, starting with the trails, popping out onto the road at the railway tracks and then finishing Hamilton, down Bay and up Allen to 9 and then 9 all the way back to St.P&Shop. A fortuitously balanced mix of road and trail, hill and flat. I felt a bit out of steam, a mere 4 hours since the morning run, but a fair time:

Time: 22:04
Speed: 8.5 mph
Distance: 3.12 miles

Comment: managed my 25 miles for the week, WOOT! It will be hard during the semester, but somehow, I'lkl stick with it. Yosh!!

Campus laps - Thu Jan. 4

So Mark couldn't make it this time, but I went out anyway. Very mild weather, which is good as I only had shorts (and several layers on top and a hat and gloves, bien sur). Did one regular lap from Herter, then another, but on the second lap cut a corner (ran behind Newman) and then stopped as I reached the visitor center. Warm down jogging back to my car to bring it up to the office.

Time: 30:16
Speed: 8.8 mph
Distance: 4.42 miles

Comments: felt like hard work, but the time was fair. A bit pushed for time, which is why I didn't try a third lap. On track for the weekly target now, just about 5 miles to go.

Celebrating a new year - Tue Jan. 2

My first run of 2007 and a new age category for me (must remember this for Saturday's Snowstorm, at which finally I will have Mark's company!). Came home after work and indulged in a solo 10K or so, very conscious of the total mileage as my plan for the year is 25 miles per week (for at least 50 weeks -- total 1250 miles, which doesn't sound so much here in early Jan.). I went out in fantastic moonlight and enjoyed it all the way: wearing full gear even though it wasn't too cold, I went down to Jackson, then up into town, round the common and down Jabish; crossed 9 and up old Enfield, then Allen and 202, and finally home past the VFW. Here's the stats:

Time: 45:03
Speed: 8.4 mph
Distance: 6.28 miles

Comments: this is variant of the reverse Enfield, cut down to keep it within 45 mins (my estimate - not bad, enfin). A fair amount of uphill, albeit gentle. A useful toning run, I think, though I'd like time (now that grading's done) to get a few long runs in. . .