week five

Hit 15 miles running this week and no issues with IT band, knees, tendons, etc. Knock on wood! My long run on 8 miles today was on snow and ice covered rail trail. I thought the rail trail would be fully melted but was very wrong. I also had road running shoes on, which have no traction in snow. Oiy - worked a lot harder on these eight miles!

week four

Increased mileage to 14.4 this week. Ran 4 on Monday, 3 on Wednesday (close to zero degrees), and 7.5 today. Did yoga on Thursday.
It's funning to think that 30 years ago I used to run 25+ miles a week (that was when I was 17), and it feels like such a big deal to get to 15 miles in a week now...

week three

Ran three miles on Monday and Wednesday and five today at the Blue Hills with The Lu. Didn't go fast-packing the Pack Monadnock, which is a bit of a bummer. Was really cold on Wednesday; about 5 degrees with the wind-chill. Did yoga on Tuesday and walked three miles on Tuesday and Thursday. This was a step-back week of only 11.1 running miles.

big running

I'm not sure where this desire to run for a really long time over large distances came from, but it's been at the back of my mind for a while. It peaks out occasionally when these new trail runs or races come up. Of course I'm not ready for a 50K or any kind of ultra - I need to do a marathon or the Wapack first. Maybe that will cure these fantasies, or maybe it won't go away until I've run a 100K or a really big trail run.

week two

Ran about 3 miles on the road on both Monday and Wednesday. Did Yoga on Tuesday and Friday. Walked 2 miles on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Ran a "long" run of 6.15 today. Feeling pretty good - gradual build-up to the 22 mile mountain run...This was a 12.2 mile running week.

Have another race added for February 27th - Hyannis Marathon Relay! Four of us are doing it in 7.3, 5.8, 7.3, and 5.8 legs. Don't know if I want the 7.3 or 5.8 since 3 weeks later I'll be doing 13.1...

Next week will be hiking up the Pack Monadnocks so should get a feel for the beginning of the Wapack race.

week one review

Well - week one started off with the Rhody Runaround, which was good and bad.  I tried to keep momentum on this week by running three more times.  In retrospect, I should have taken two days off completely and then run only twice more.  Every day my lower legs felt like lead weights and my knee (that I bashed at the race) ached after running...

I found a couple of cool new blogs (RunSueRun and Have2Run) the second linked me up to a training website that I can upload my Garmin GPS data to called Running Ahead.  I hope to have some cool links on my mileage statistics on my blog soon from that.

Anyhow - I ran 8 trail miles on Sunday, 2 recovery miles on Tuesday, 3.5 slowish miles on Thursday (Thanksgiving), and 5 quickish miles today (Saturday).  The last three were all on the road.  Except for the race, The Lu ran at least 1.5 miles with me each day.

Week 1 and the Rhody Runaround 8 mile trail race

Oy Vey ... I don't run on trails all the time, but I do some, and I used to a lot ... and I never really fell down before ... but I fell (total crash really) at just about 1 mile into this race.  I really lost it and chin and knee planted into gravel.  My knee hurt so much I thought I wouldn't be running anymore, but I limped along until the pain finally went away, and then I noticed that blood was dripping on my bib and hand - my chin was bleeding!  It took a long time of compression (while running) to get the blood to stop flowing.

After my knee got better, I really kicked in gear and made it to about 4.25 miles in under 38 minutes, so I was doing really well - positioned to do the whole 8 in 1:15, which would have been terrific.  Unfortunately, my illiotibial bands slammed in at just about exactly mile 5.  It wasn't just my right leg (like at the Hartford 1/2 marathon), it was both legs.  Let me tell you how hard it is to step down (particularly run down) uneven surfaces when your I-bands are tightening up like guitar strings - much harder than just running on flat pavement.  The pain was so bad I slowed to a crawl and could barely run at all.  Pretty much the whole pack passed me between miles 6 and 8 and I finished at 1:22 - still not terrible but disappointing...
It was cool but not cold and windy like the Turkey Trot.  I should have just worn a thin long-sleeve or just the tee shirt - got to remember you get hot running in 40+ degrees.

I got a blister on a little toe again - my feet move around too much in my Sportiva's...I tried two pairs of socks but that felt too tight.  Need to figure something out or get a tighter pair of trail runners.  FWIW - I have a very narrow foot.

Week 1 of 24 - this is the first week of the 24 week training plan before the 21.5 mile Wapack trail race on May 7th.  It is also 17 weeks before the New Bedford Half Marathon...

Prep week for the Rhody 8 mile Runaround race

This week was a bit of a failure.  I was going to take it a bit easier by running on just Wednesday and Friday.  I ran on Wednesday on the treadmill for 3.75 miles (or 4 in real life).  My knee was hurting so I took it easy.  Didn't get to run on Friday as planned and today was to close to race tomorrow...

Fixing on some new goals

Ran on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday to adjust for the eight mile trail race on Sunday the 21st (next Sunday).  Did 3 miles on the treadmill, 4 on the pavement, and 5 in the woods respectively.  Also went to yoga on Friday but was very careful not to overstretch anything.  Still - my hips felt totally loose in their sockets that night and the next night my whole left leg, from knee to hip, hurt when I was bowling.
The trail run today with Lu was fun but not as successful as I had hoped.  I didn't want to push her, but I think she fools me by being so small.  She likes to stop a lot and sniff all the great gross smells.  I stop and let her sniff about every 10 - 15 minutes which makes the run not so smooth.  It works out fine when I'm not feeling rushed and its just to be out for no specific amount of time, but on days when I feel like I need to train, it is a bit frustrating.
So it looks like Jen and I will be doing the 21.5 mile Wapack trail race on May 7th and the New Bedford half marathon before that, on March 20th.  I'm going to start a 24 week Marathon training schedule soon, since this is close to marathon distance (although it will be much harder since its a trail race over eight small mountains).  I first thought it would be about 4500 feet in elevation gain, but it may be closer to 6000 - I'm going to investigate and get the actuals.  Anyhow - this will be as serious, or more, than a marathon...

Running the Turkey Trot 5 miler

Did a 3 and 3.5 mile road run on Monday and Wednesday at a pretty good pace.  Took the Lu with me for 1.25 miles of it on Wednesday.  Did a short run with some speed work on Friday - 2.25 miles using the treadmill.
Sunday race:  It was about 30-35 degrees with a wind-chill - a bit cooler than they said.  I ended up doing the 5 in 45:07 - just short of 9 minute miles.  So I kept about a 6.6 mph pace for the course - best time so far!
It was a really nice race.  Only 25 dollars, maybe about 200 people.  There was lots of food (pizza, fruit, muffins, donuts) and drinks afterwards in addition to a free 15 minute massage!

Ramping up for new race

Ran pretty slowly on Monday for 2 miles on the treadmill.  Picked it up a bit on Wednesday for 2.5 miles.  On Friday, did a short 1.85 mile run with the Lu around the grave yards.  She is really loving it and can easily do 5 mph on cool days.
Yesterday ran 4 miles at Slayter Park at just about 6 mph.  Need to crank it up to 6.5 for the race...

Back to normal?

On Monday I ran 2.77 in 28 minutes with the Lu.  This was faster than the prior week since I considered myself recovered.
Tuesday I woke up with some really weird ankle pain in the middle of the night and again in the morning.  Same thing happened on Wednesday.  Additionally my knees started hurting (I think from yoga).  Thursday I decided to not push it since I'd be doing a big hike the next day.
Jen and I hiked up North and South Hancock mountains - 9.8 miles in 6 hours.  We got a late start (7AM), hit a ton of traffic, and didn't get to the trail-head until 11.  We started hiking at 11:30 and were back just before dark at 5:30.  We had dinner and then another 3 hour drive back home...It was a super-long day!
We were still expecting Fall but unseasonable cold and winds made it practically a winter hike.  On the top of S Hancock it was 20 degrees and 30 - 40 mph winds - pretty brutal.  Luckily the top is tree-covered and not bare.

View from close to the top of South Hancock:

At last, we are back at the parking area:

Didn't do much on Saturday and Sunday...

Recovery week...

Tried a little trail run of 1.25 miles on Monday in the middle of over an hour hike with Bethany, Jen, Lupe, Nigel and Peter at Borderland State Park.
On Tuesday ran another very slow 1.5 miles on the treadmill.  On Thursday went back to the road for 2.25 miles in 25 minutes.  Friday did a very hard 1.5 hour yoga session.
Yesterday ran 3.5 miles on the road, still maintaining a very slow pace.

Half Marathon week

Did not run this week, just walked a lot.

Went to Hartford with Jen on Friday to be close to race start on Saturday.  The Half-marathon went really well, I ran the whole thing at about 5 mph and did it in 2 hours and 33 minutes, which is better than I had planned.  My right illiotibial band got really tight and painful at about 8 miles.  At 12 miles it was crazy painful and I could barely keep jogging.  Could barely walk in the evening.

Walked 2 miles today really slowly -  leg just hurt a little.

Sick week

Was very sick with a cold and then stomach virus all week.  Tuesday I thought I was getting better and walked for 60 minutes but got really violently sick on Wednesday.  Walked again yesterday cause I felt a bit better and today was the first day I ran - and I did so extremely slowly - 3 miles in 34:50 (13:50).

Ratcheting it up to run down.

Road ran on Monday and Tuesday, 3.5 and 4, in 39 and 44 (11:06 and 11:05).  Trail ran yesterday for 6.66 milies in 1:30, w/ Jen.  This was really slow and I felt like it was really hard.  Later in the afternoon I started getting sick - runny nose and getting tired.  Today I am really sick and exhausted - I guess I ran myself down and caught something.  Great...

Difficult week

On Monday morning while the dogs and I went on our morning walk, we found a very sick cat (that we thought had been hit by a car) between the end of our driveway and the road.  Needless to say, it took up my whole day while I took her to our vet and I didn't run.  I think I needed a slow week anyway.

I ran 3.25 on Wednesday and then a very fast 4.2 yesterday (Saturday) at the Slater Park paved trail.  Haven't done yoga in two weeks now....

Sookie (we named the sick cat) came back from the vet on Wednesday and has been taking a lot of my time because she is so neurologically impaired.

6th week from race

On Monday I ran 3 miles, then 3.5 on Wednesday - both on the treadmill and increasing my speed.

Yesterday (Saturday), I ran 5.5 miles on the trails at the Blue Hills with Lupe.  We kind of ran slow (because she keeps trying to stop and sniff everything...), but it went well.

Unfortunately, I got a terrible migraine headache afterwards and had to sleep all afternoon.  It totally sucked!

Increasing mileage/runs

I have continued to increase my run mileage in the hopes of being able to do more races (trail runs in particular), but also the 1/2 marathon in October.  Monday, I ran the same mileage as last Wednesday, in one minute less time.  Wednesday, I cut almost another two minutes (1:50) from that mileage and added another 1/2 mile.  Did my normal commute walking in addition to a couple extra morning walks with Bethany.  Yesterday (Saturday), did a "long" run of 4.5 miles in 51 minutes at Slayter Park - paved trail next to a river and lakes.  Today I hiked two slow miles with Lupe at the Attleboro Water Supply woods.

My knees have actually been feeling much better every day and the running doesn't seem to be affecting them.  I did feel them a bit after the hike today.  I also did some weeding in the gardens this afternoon, and tonight my lower back is killing me...doesn't feel good to bend over or turn.  Yikes!

First Race

On Wednesday, I ran 34 minutes on the treadmill and walked 60 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday. The running was very difficult all week because I was still very sore from yoga...those crazy groin stretching exercises...hard to lift my legs up to walk or run...

Yesterday was my first race ever. It was great fun - 4 miles (or maybe 3.66 since they cut it) of technical trails in Beverly Falls, MA. This was part of the North Shore Trail series. I did pretty well and ran it in 43 minutes (11:50 pace). Jen ran the 8 mile (or 7.34) in like 70 minutes.

I started off too fast, even though I was trying not to, but maintained it fairly well. This was the longest I've run in a few years.

Today, I went back to yoga and it was great!

Update:  Course was 3.65 and 7.3 (according to the updated website)

going to race

I found a trail-running race in Beverly Farms (North Shore) next Saturday and Jen said she'll run it with me. She is preparing for a 1/2 Marathon on October 9th - and I may go ahead and do it as well!

Today ran 25 minutes on the treadmill.

Fallout

This week my knees ached a lot but I managed to run twice, do an hour walk and start taking yoga. Well today (day after yoga), I feel like someone beat me with a bat. The yoga killed more than anything I have felt in a long time.

Also today, Bethany and I went and watched Jen at an all female triathlon in RI. It was a lot of fun to watch. Maybe I'll do it next year. In the meantime, I think I'll try doing some kind of race since I never have and it seems good motivation.

Jen coming in for the finish:

Jen and Lisa's excellent adventure wrap-up.

We hiked up Falling Waters trail, over the Franconia Ridge and down to the Greenleaf hut. Next day we hiked down from Greenleaf to our car and drove over to the Highland center. We hiked up and back Mt Jackson. Next morning we saw a young bear trying to get up the nerve to go over to a compost container, then we hiked up and back Ripley and Arethusa Falls and headed home.



We hiked a little over 18 miles, about 8300 feet of elevation gain and loss. That's over a mile and a half straight up!

The Falls

Today we are taking it easy before our drive back home. We are hiking a couple of easy waterfall hikes.

To and from Ripley Falls was 1 mile and 425 of elevation gain. This was a really nice spot with no other people present!
To and from Arethusa Falls was 3 miles and 1120 feet of elevation gain. We did this in an hour and 45 minutes, 45 minutes faster than book time. There were lots of people here...

Total mileage for today was 4 miles and 1545 feet of elevation gain.

Relaxing at the Highland Center

From the top of Mt Jackson

After hiking 2.9 miles down from Greenleaf Hut (2565 elevation loss), we hiked 5.25 miles up and back Mt Jackson: 2590 feet of elevation gain and loss: a total of 8.15 miles, 2710 gain and 5155 loss.

We actually did slightly better than book time, despite how rugged the trail and tired we were!

Sunset at Greenleaf Hut

At Greenleaf Hut!

Took us 5 hours and 15 minutes (including breaks), to hike up Falling Waters trail, over Haystack, Lincoln and Lafayette, and down to Greenleaf hut. It was a total of 6 very hard miles: 4040 feet of elevation gain and 1640 of loss.

Jen trying to text/call Peter:

From 2010-08-14

At the top of Mt Lafayette

On the Franconia ridge

We've got Lincoln and Lafayette ahead of us. It was a grueling hike up the Falling Waters Trail.

In car and on way to Franconia Notch

Moving

Last Sunday, I went for a long 1.5 hour walk at Slater Memorial Park with Bethany and Lupe. On Monday, road ran for 21 minutes and walked for 45. Tuesday, walked for 1.5 hours again. On Wednesday, a 22 minute run on the treadmill. Thursday, just to and fro work for 45 minutes of walking. On Friday, 45 minutes to and from work plus 30 minutes in the morning. Yesterday, Saturday, ran for 32 minutes at Slater and walked 15, plus another 30 minute walk after dinner. Today did another 1.5 hour 4.5 mile walk at Slater.

Hiking up to Cannon

Hiked up Cannon Mountain today by myself. It was 4 hours with a few rest stops, but pretty much up and back. The last .75 miles of the trail before the ridge is crazy, here is a picture:

Some beautiful views on the way up:

Sick again

I was sick with a stomach bug practically all week. Thursday I felt better but then Friday I felt tired. I was supposed to climb Liberty and Flume yesterday but I didn't think it was a good idea feeling as I did all week. I'm sure this has 100% to do with work - the totally dysfunctional idiots I work with.

Yesterday I ran a very little on the treadmill for 20 minutes and some hills. This was the first running since before the Presidential traverse. Today I walked only with the rocking-chair shoes (Ryka toning).

At this rate I'll never get to all 48...

Recovery

Thursday and Friday I walked a 1/2 hour extra each night with the Ryka rocking-chair shoes, in addition to my normal 50 minutes per day.

Saturday and today (Sunday) I walked 4 miles / 1.5 hours with Bethany and The Lu at Stayter Park with the Ryka rockers...

I just haven't felt like running or hiking yet.

My legs hurt

More specifically - my thighs are aching a bit today. Thank goodness something can give them a workout! Going back to work was a nightmare from another planet - big sucking crazy cave of Napoleon nut-bags...except for the few nice people I go to meetings with.

I walked for an hour back and forth to work and meetings.

Southern Traverse

This was a brutal day - up and down Washington and then across the ridge, doing the remaining mountains, and back down to Highland Center. My feet hurt because my feet grew but my boots didn't and had to tighten them so much I cut off the circulation...

The weather turned out to be absolutely perfect for the remainder of Saturday and the rest of Sunday! Just stunning scenery - fantastic.

Total mileage for the day was 10.55 with 2608 in elevation gain and 5755 in loss.

It would have been better had we discussed plans on Saturday morning before heading down, so we could split up at that point and head across the traverse instead of going all the way down and then back up again.

Here are pictures from the hike:



Total mileage for the trip was 25 with 8710 feet in elevation gain and 12570 in loss...

Sunset at Lakes of the clouds

The weather shift from raining and cloudy to clear created the most awesome sunset in history. Check out the photos from the hike to see.

At Lakes of Clouds!

Beautiful hike up!

We are here.

I am so glad the six others with me decided to continue back up to Lake of the Clouds and eventually continue our trek across the ridge back to Crawford Notch. The trail up Ammonoosuc Ravine was beautiful in the breaking clouds. There were just gorgeous views and the sunset at the top...unbelievable!

Total mileage for the day is 6.93 with 2688 elevation gain and 3638 loss.

Sucky weather

Sucky weather has turned us back from the ridge hike. We came back down and are hiking up to Lakes by the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail direct route.

Was a total bummer but at least 6 others were pissed and hiked back up again - although we missed the traverse...

Adams from Madison

Hiked up to the top of Madison after dropping the packs at the Madison Hut. It is just amazing up here! Adams is for tomorrow...

Total mileage for today is 4.83 miles, 4117 feet of elevation gain and 639 feet of loss.

At Madison Hut

Still hot but cleared up - very sunny and beautiful.

Beautiful day

It is beautiful this AM - actually a little cool. I suspect it will heat up quickly but maybe it will stay nice for the 4000 ft climb...starting at 10. Don't know how cell reception will be on north of mountains - we'll see.

Haze at Highland Center

Very hazy in Franconia and Crawford notches. Can't see the Ridge nor Mt. Washington - which I'll see up close on Saturday. Very warm but there is a breeze.

Arrived at Highland Center too late to do any hiking. Pretty hazy and VERY humid. Met a Grandfather (77) and Grandson (15) at the dinner table. The grandfather was a life-long distance runner and hiker. This was the first time the grandson had been away from either mother or father. The grandfather was trying to plant the hiking seed.

I also saw them at breakfast the next (7/9) morning and spent time talking with them, I said to the grandson that he was very lucky and would some day really appreciate the time with his grandfather. He said "I already appreciate my grandfather". I thought that was really great - the relationship that was happening between the two of them.

Heading to the Presidents

So, I've pretty much run and hiked since 6/29. The last few days just walking mostly in those rocker sneakers - which are great!
Will hopefully be posting directly to this blog with pics and comments - there should be signal available the whole time.

blah kind of week so far

On Saturday I trail-ran/hiked with Lupe at Blue Hills for about 7 miles. It was pretty hot and humid out. Kind of wondered how I'm ever going to make it up a mountain. I think it was the heat.

On Sunday Bethany, Lupe and I did a 4 mile walk on pavement with those new tone-up sneakers (Ryka brand) - like rocking chairs for your feet. (Actually Lupe didn't wear any shoes.) It did certainly make those 4 miles a lot harder than it would have been - almost like walking in sand. These were a good deal at $70.

Yesterday I ran on the treadmill (the humidity was ridiculous) and then walked with max inclination. I am also adding leg exercises because my knees have been hurting all the time and I'm thinking they may be too weak - well that's what the research shows and it could be true.

Today I had to walk really fast to make the train and I now (a few hours later) my left hip is hurting. That's one way to screw up your training...

Oh, and some people at my job are really losing it and causing grief to me as well.

Prepping for the Presidents

I'm going to spill it...

I'm a bit out of shape (compared to last year...and the year before...etc), and I am doing a hut-to-hut traverse hike of the Northern Presidential White Mountains on July 9th - 11th, so I am struggling to get back in ready mode.

Anyhow - I went a trail running with The Lu on Monday (took the day off from work) at the Attleboro Water Supply and it was cool. Not many people take the trails there so plenty of spider webs across the path but the path(s) are next to the water and it is quite beautiful...

Today I only ran and incline hiked on the treadmill - it was hot, humid and rainy outside and I didn't want to overheat.

Foxboro State forest again...

It is Saturday and that means Trail Running if not hiking...

and we go to Foxboro State forest again - some bugs, but a lot of fun with The Lu. We ran for 33 minutes and then hiked for 27 minutes.

To follow-up with Yesterday, we went hiking at Foxboro (OK - FSF is only 22 minutes from my house so it is easy-access) for 1.25 hours.

running on the street

OK well, I can't always Trail Run or more importantly HIKE ...

So...today and Monday I just did some (lil bit) of road running for 20 minutes each time. Running on concrete or asphalt is 100X more jarring to the bones (in particular the shins) than the soft pine needle coated trail running I do (or sometimes its just dirt-packed with soft leaves atop).

It was still a lot of fun because The Lu (Guadalupe Carmen Conchita Maria) went with me and barely barked at anything...

Foxboro State Forest

You may be wondering (well I am) what has been going on since Moosilauke. Well, what has been happening is ... nothing. I was very tired the two days after the hike - unusually so. Then I had a sore throat and felt REALLY tired for the next three days. I was better over the weekend but not 100% and didn't want to push it. So, I did absolutely nothing (in terms of working out) for two weeks - until a nice relaxed hour hike with Bethany and Lupe today. If I feel good, I'll be running tomorrow or the next day.

From the top of Moosilauke

Today Jen, Nigel and I hiked up to the top of Mount Moosilauke.  We took the Gorge Brook Trail up to the top and the Moosilauke Carriage, Snapper, and Gorge Brook back for a loop hike.  It was beautifully windy (and a little chill) at the top.  There were some bugs on the hike back down - mostly annoying, not biting much.  The winds were bringing the Canadian fire haze, smoke and smell with them.  It was hazier than it should have been.

Jen and Nigel near the top:

From The 48 by 48 Blackberry Pictures

With the walk from the car, it looked like just over 8 miles with my GPS.  The book mileage says 7.5 miles.  It took us about 5.75 hours including all the stops.  It was approximately 2600 feet gained and lost for the trip.

Franconia Ridge from the top of Moosilauke:

From The 48 by 48 Blackberry Pictures

Click on picture to the right to see pics from this trip using Jen's camera:

training 2

I forgot to mention the strange knee pain.  It was the right inside tendon near kneecap and behind.  Was a lot better on Wednesday but now the left one hurts...  I feel like a broken pile of bones.  Did go running very slow mostly on trail with Lu for about 25 minutes.  At first the right achilles tendon hurt (which was what hurt last week and I took time off) but I went super slow and it went away.  Hopefully everything will be creaking smoothly for Sunday hike up Moosilauke.

training

Only did a short run and treadmill hills today because left hip was hurting yesterday after 45 minute walk. Well, left doesn't hurt tonight - the right one does...

urg...

Thoughts and connections

Went trail running with Lupe at the Attleboro Water supply area. This was 27 minutes of fun running with 13 additional minutes of walking. Put on a little less DEET than yesterday - there was a nice breeze going on - so no bugs really.

There are a few parallels of both Six Feet Under and Lost that I think make quite a statement about what we need/crave as mortal humans. Both shows were very successful and played a relatively long time (six years in both cases). They were shows about people and the connections between them, the interactions, with death as a background. Most importantly, both their endings (last episodes) were similar. At the end of life the white light, the flashing through our life, all the important beautiful moments that made us who we are. These are the experiences we had/have with people. Maybe even where we've been and what we've done with those people - the shared experiences, the "ahh" moments, like hiking up that mountain or across that ridge ... who knows.

I just read an article by Matt Samet about himself in Outside magazine. Wow - will need to get back to that.

Bugs and Deet

A bug got through all the Deet on me - I have one giant welt on my left forearm. I don't think it was a mosquito. It is like a horsefly bite but I didn't see any...

Went for a mini-hike with the Lu today at the Attleboro water supply. I forgot about those trails. They are pretty nice except that no one walks them and there are spider webs criss-crossing all over the place!

It was still fun - only 10 minutes from home. We only did a 2 mile/40 minute mini-hike, but it was nice out - sunny and a light breeze.

Trail "running" at Foxboro State forest

Went trail-running with Lu the Chihuahua today. I thought that there may be lots of bugs since it was so warm lately. Not sure if there were bugs or not since I deeted myself - which I think gives me a headache when sweating...

It was warm with some nice breezes. We ran for 20 minutes, walked for 2, ran for 14 more and then walked for 10. It was great - Lu is great on the trails.

My La Sportiva trail-runners are not as narrow as I had hoped or as reviewed by others. My forefoot has a lot of room to move around even with fairly thick running socks. They are great runners but I would call them an average width shoe.

Tecumseh

Hiked up Tecumseh with the 4 Seasons Group.  This was a great mix and good number of people.  Tecumseh isn't much on the scale of beautiful views but it still is a nice hike and mountain.  Pretty easy 5 miles.

We took the Tecumseh trail only on the East side from the ski parking lot. This trail can easily be done in trail runners - no need for hiking boots. Only a couple of places where the trail was damp or was a stream crossing.

Total mileage was about 5 miles and 2320 feet of elevation gain and loss.

From Other Camera 48 x 48

Winter wash

My plans to go winter hiking (aka expedition) didn't happen. I'm not exactly sure why except for mostly not planning well. See, for me to go hike one of the 48's (or anything on any list), it requires a 3-hour drive minimum. In the winter with about 2 minutes of daylight, that means being ready and leaving my house by 5 AM latest, sometimes earlier. This is kind of difficult since that means waking up by 3:30...Urgh!

Anyhow, I have done a lot of local hiking, running and trying to stay in shape - although that hasn't worked that well since I'm over what I should weigh by about 10 pounds.

I started trail running on the weekends! I used to trail run years ago with my dog Ripley. I couldn't even run in the street if you paid me because trail running was so awesome and wonderful! I also lived only 10 minutes away from some great trails. Now it requires at least a 25 minute drive. This is OK for weekends, but will only work for a few months while we have lots of light.

Well, I'm going to do a really easy one - Tecumseh - this Friday. I was hoping to try just trail running shoes but I suspect there still may be some snow or at least mostly muddy trails. So I will likely wear my H20-proof boots I got last year. This should be an easy 4-hour hike.

The following weekend I'm hoping for the rain-check hike with Jen and Nigel on Mt Moosilauke, an easy 5-hour hike.

Overall I've got to get ready for the BIG ones I'm doing July 9th - 11th.