A Thought from the Trail

View from Monadnock summit. 03/20/2012

Mountain Running is...

... a cross between hiking and parcour.

... focusing on little more than your next four foot strikes.

... knowing the closest, steepest, most sustained trails in the area.

... knowing the rockiest trail in the area.

... spending most of your recovery time studying maps.

... living for two things: vert and beer.

... stopping to enjoy a view before enjoying a descent.

A view west of Mount Massive, CO. 08/30/2011

Run Log Update

Week of March 4th to 10th: 12.2 miles in two runs. Long run was the Pumpelly Trail with a repeat of the steep section. 3,500' weekly vert.

Running up the White Arrow Trail on March 12th.

Week of March 11th to 17th: 14.7 miles. Long run was a tour of Monadnock. Ran the last race in the Winter Wild series at Bretton Woods. The course was shortened due to the lack of snow and the start time was pushed back a little but I placed 25th out of 107, finishing in 35:59. 3,800' weekly vert.

Week of March 18th to 24th: 15.7 miles in three runs. Long run was a double Monadnock by way of the White Dot then White Cross trails. 4,550' weekly vert.

The last few weeks have been unseasonably hot. Daytime temps were in the 70s and 80s for a solid week. Needless to say, work is done for the winter. I have saved a small chunk of cash that I think will be adequate for survival the entire summer long. I am ready to fall into a training schedule where my recovery days really are recovery days and not another day that I work, swinging chairs or dragging k-guns. I am ready for Spring and Summer!

An Ode to Microspikes

Your hard spikes bite into hard ice.

One or two teeth grab. 

That's all that's necessary.

Ice, snow, and rock you eat

like sausage, egg, and cheese burritos

from McDonald's.

Without you I would watch more TV in the winter.

Update of the Run Log

Week of February 5th to 11th, 2012: 2.25 Miles in one run, 100' of vert. total.

Week of February 12th to 18th, 2012: 11.2 miles in two runs; 7.2 mile long run, 36th out of 202 at Winter Wild Pat's Peak. 2,500' vert. total.

Week of February 19th to 25th, 2012: Sadly, no runs this week.

Week of February 26th to March 3rd, 2012: 6.25 in two runs; McCabe, and 37th out of 150 at Winter Wild Sunapee, 1,600' vert. total.

Technically, I have started training but my numbers don't show it yet. To be honest, I have needed some rest time lately because I started my laborious job (snowmaking) before I was completely recovered from the Bear. But as of the first week in March I am fairly well rested and ready to go!