Friday, July 30, 2010
The only bad part about going to the Adirondacks is the first two-thirds of the drive on I90 east to Utica, N.Y. Once off the freeway, the route quickly becomes enjoyable as you wind your way north and into the Adirondack State Park. The Park is the largest in the lower 48 states encompassing an area of over 6 million acres…an area about the size of Vermont. There is very little industry outside of tourism in the north country…good for visitors like me and bad for residents…so the scenery is beautiful. The ride is dotted with beautiful lakes and rivers, quaint towns, and, of course, wonderful mountains and wilderness trails.
I made the drive alone, having Jimmy and Reza drive separately so that I could continue on to visit relatives in upstate New York before returning home. I actually don’t mind the drive since it gives me a good chance to listen to ‘books on tape’. I finished two during the trip.
We drove to the trailhead just east of Newcomb, called the Upper Works. It is the former site of a mining town, abandoned since the 1940’s with a few buildings still remaining, but slowly tumbling down. This is the southern and least known entrance to the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks and an excellent kick-off point for backpackers looking to access most of the 46 peaks above 4,000 feet located here. Because the Park is so far north, the tree line ends at just over 4,800 feet, making for spectacular views that one would have to climb much higher to achieve in mountains further south.
We were looking at a hike of about 5.5 miles to our camp site in the Flowed Lands, a distance that would take about 90 minutes in the Cleveland Metroparks. Here though, the trail is rutted, full of rocks and mud, and gains over a 1,000 during the hike. It can be quite slippery, which begs caution for someone walking with 60 pounds on their back. Stumbling with a full pack can quickly turn into a fall as the shifting momentum of the pack dictates that the body should follow…to the ground. I managed it twice on the trip.
The hike in is completely canopied, but opens into a magnificent vista upon reaching the Flowed Lands. This area was once the center of a logging operation which stripped the area of its old growth forest over 100 years ago. Streams making up the headwaters of the Hudson River were dammed at Flowed Lands to allow for the necessary levels of water for the floating of felled timber. The dam must have created a large lake at that time, but what remains is an area of over 100 acres of grassy marshland with a river winding through. It is now an area for wilderness camping with a few scattered lean-to’s and tent sites. The area is partially surrounded by towering peaks, rising more than 4,000 feet above our elevation. The sunrises and sunsets resulting from their strategic placement alone make the trip worthwhile.
We hiked beyond this point, across the breeched dam which created the Flowed Lands, to a remote site seldom used by campers. To our delight, it was unoccupied and would remain so for the three days we were there. Reza and Jimmy occupied the lean-to and I set up my one-person tent in the tent site nearby. I’ve found that, even with my sleeping mattress, I am more comfortable on sleeping on a bed of pine needles than on the hard, wooden floors of lean-to’s.
The hike in had taken around 3 hours and, as would be expected, I was a sweaty mess. I bathed in the stream, stripping my clothes as I cleaned them (no soap…Leave No Trace campers just use the water), down water of where the guys were purifying water for dinner. We hadn’t planned on cooking since we were getting in so late, so dinner consisted of gorp (trail mix of raisins, M&M’s and peanuts), sardines on bread, beef stick and cheese and hot chocolate. It’s dark by 8:30 p.m. and since fires are prohibited in this area, it’s pretty much hit the sack early. I read and wrote in my journal until 10 p.m. – long enough for the area to be in total darkness, which accentuates the starry-filled night sky.
Hike duration: 3 hours.
Training Heart Rate: 90.
Calories burned during workout: 1800.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Another PR...but a sore hip is the reward
Thursday, July 29, 2010
To complete the tapering, I should have had an easy running day…or not run at all. I was going with the ‘easy day’ until I arrived at the park and started thinking how the weather, cool and less humid, would be perfect for a faster run. I hadn’t eaten all day and so my stomach was completely empty…another good indicator for a pr run. I knew this would not be particularly smart, what with the hip giving me problems only two days ago and killer hikes on the horizon…but I could not resist the urge to run fast.
I started hard, coming through my first checkpoint…around two miles…about a minute faster than my best ever. The hip was good until I reached about 20 minutes, but by that time I was committed to hitting a new pr. When I cruised through my third check point about two minutes ahead of pr pace, I knew I’d bag it unless I fell (something I do regularly) or really crashed and burned. Neither happened as I approached my finish. In fact, I felt strong until the end. I crushed my pr by 2:20, but my hip was hurting. I decided that even though it wasn’t too hot, I’d take a plunge in Clear Creek and let the cool water work on the sore hip. I was floating with only my nose out of the water and my eyes closed when I sensed I was being watched. A few members of the Mayfield cross country team had happened down the trail and were crossing the creek on the stones when they noticed me. I suppose I looked more dead than alive and the female in the group shrieked surprise when I rose from the water.
“Good place to finish your run, guys,” I said.
They ran away without a backwards glance. I climbed from the water and walked the remaining half mile to the car, happy with the pr and the conditioning I had achieved, but somewhat concerned about the continuing pain in my hip. Tomorrow, I would be hiking for over two hours with 60 pounds resting squarely on that hip and was hoping to climb a number of peaks over the weekend. Well…I’d pack my Allieve and hope for the best.
Run duration: 53 minutes.
Training Heart Rate: 140.
Calories burned during workout: 950.
To complete the tapering, I should have had an easy running day…or not run at all. I was going with the ‘easy day’ until I arrived at the park and started thinking how the weather, cool and less humid, would be perfect for a faster run. I hadn’t eaten all day and so my stomach was completely empty…another good indicator for a pr run. I knew this would not be particularly smart, what with the hip giving me problems only two days ago and killer hikes on the horizon…but I could not resist the urge to run fast.
I started hard, coming through my first checkpoint…around two miles…about a minute faster than my best ever. The hip was good until I reached about 20 minutes, but by that time I was committed to hitting a new pr. When I cruised through my third check point about two minutes ahead of pr pace, I knew I’d bag it unless I fell (something I do regularly) or really crashed and burned. Neither happened as I approached my finish. In fact, I felt strong until the end. I crushed my pr by 2:20, but my hip was hurting. I decided that even though it wasn’t too hot, I’d take a plunge in Clear Creek and let the cool water work on the sore hip. I was floating with only my nose out of the water and my eyes closed when I sensed I was being watched. A few members of the Mayfield cross country team had happened down the trail and were crossing the creek on the stones when they noticed me. I suppose I looked more dead than alive and the female in the group shrieked surprise when I rose from the water.
“Good place to finish your run, guys,” I said.
They ran away without a backwards glance. I climbed from the water and walked the remaining half mile to the car, happy with the pr and the conditioning I had achieved, but somewhat concerned about the continuing pain in my hip. Tomorrow, I would be hiking for over two hours with 60 pounds resting squarely on that hip and was hoping to climb a number of peaks over the weekend. Well…I’d pack my Allieve and hope for the best.
Run duration: 53 minutes.
Training Heart Rate: 140.
Calories burned during workout: 950.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Bear attack in Yellowstone...pay attention, John
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The hip seems better after taking a day off and so I decided an easy run was in order. It had been in the 90’s all day and was extremely humid. I went to Best Buy for my 5 p.m. appointment to have the CD player in the Honda fixed. A week earlier, it had decided not to eject my ‘Dances with Wolves’ CD and I was getting tired of it and thinking I didn’t want to listen to it for the 16 hours I would be on the road to and from the Adirondacks.
I arrived on time, but Bob announced that he was still trying to get to his 2 p.m. install…not a good sign. “How about I go for a run and come back around 6 p.m.?” I suggested. He thought that was a great idea.
I arrived at the park to a light rain…and massive humidity. I started the run feeling really good, but the sweat was pouring off and I figured it was only a matter of time before I was forced to slow. It finally happened around the 30-minute mark, but I didn’t care. My shoes were full of sweat at this point and I had to keep hiking up my shorts, which tend to want to run down below my hips once they’re totally saturated. I wanted to dunk myself in the creek, but was running short on time since I was supposed to return to Best Buy and repairman Bob.
Bob got the CD player fixed and I returned home to continue camping preparations. Picking the food to feed three people for four days is the toughest chore. I have to get everything into two bear canisters, which means not too much variety. I go for the things I like best and hope the others eat it, too. They will if they’re hungry enough. I had read another report of a bear attack in Yellowstone yesterday, with the resulting death of one camper and injuries to two others. The bear escaped and at this point officials are uncertain as to whether it was one or more or the type. I suspect once they do the DNA from the victims, they will find it was one bear and a grizzly. All three were attacked through their tents while sleeping and none stored food improperly or cooked it near their campsite (the lingering aroma often brings bears into a site to investigate. In grizzly country, you should prepare food 100 yards from your sleeping area and never wear the clothes you cooked or ate in into your sleeping area. Good advice for black bears as well, though I seldom follow it.
I’ve go some aggressive hiking planned for the trip and might just take another day off before leaving. After all, I ain’t getting any younger and I don’t want to run out of steam while there.
Run duration: 43 minutes.
Training Heart Rate: 140.
Calories burned during workout: 730.
The hip seems better after taking a day off and so I decided an easy run was in order. It had been in the 90’s all day and was extremely humid. I went to Best Buy for my 5 p.m. appointment to have the CD player in the Honda fixed. A week earlier, it had decided not to eject my ‘Dances with Wolves’ CD and I was getting tired of it and thinking I didn’t want to listen to it for the 16 hours I would be on the road to and from the Adirondacks.
I arrived on time, but Bob announced that he was still trying to get to his 2 p.m. install…not a good sign. “How about I go for a run and come back around 6 p.m.?” I suggested. He thought that was a great idea.
I arrived at the park to a light rain…and massive humidity. I started the run feeling really good, but the sweat was pouring off and I figured it was only a matter of time before I was forced to slow. It finally happened around the 30-minute mark, but I didn’t care. My shoes were full of sweat at this point and I had to keep hiking up my shorts, which tend to want to run down below my hips once they’re totally saturated. I wanted to dunk myself in the creek, but was running short on time since I was supposed to return to Best Buy and repairman Bob.
Bob got the CD player fixed and I returned home to continue camping preparations. Picking the food to feed three people for four days is the toughest chore. I have to get everything into two bear canisters, which means not too much variety. I go for the things I like best and hope the others eat it, too. They will if they’re hungry enough. I had read another report of a bear attack in Yellowstone yesterday, with the resulting death of one camper and injuries to two others. The bear escaped and at this point officials are uncertain as to whether it was one or more or the type. I suspect once they do the DNA from the victims, they will find it was one bear and a grizzly. All three were attacked through their tents while sleeping and none stored food improperly or cooked it near their campsite (the lingering aroma often brings bears into a site to investigate. In grizzly country, you should prepare food 100 yards from your sleeping area and never wear the clothes you cooked or ate in into your sleeping area. Good advice for black bears as well, though I seldom follow it.
I’ve go some aggressive hiking planned for the trip and might just take another day off before leaving. After all, I ain’t getting any younger and I don’t want to run out of steam while there.
Run duration: 43 minutes.
Training Heart Rate: 140.
Calories burned during workout: 730.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Yummy couscous
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
I tend to get a little paranoid as I get closer to leaving for the Adirondacks. Every ache and pain is overanalyzed as I imagine its consequence if I were half way up a peak and five hours from camp. I’ve got a pain in the left hip right now that has me concerned and which caused me to take the night off. I could have walked or ridden the bike, but what would that get me? Once in a while, I can use common sense about exercise.
I spent the early evening in one of my favorite pursuits instead, which is preparing for the trip. I pull out all the necessary gear and check that it is in working order and then go over every item I intend to put in my pack to convince myself that I will use it. I hate to carry any extra weight…forget about the extra exercise value – I don’t put myself through it in the back country. I typically end up with about 45 pounds on my back when I go solo and a little less when traveling with someone (some items can be shared, so why bring two?), and that’s more than enough. I train with 60 pounds, so it’s like taking the lead doughnut off of the bat when you stride to the plate…it feels so much lighter.
I also go over the food. Since I’m taking Jimmy and Reza, I actually try to accommodate their tastes…to a degree. They’re actually pretty simple…willing to eat almost anything and that makes them my kind of people. Jimmy was pushing for couscous, something I’ve had before, but found pretty tasteless. Couscous is a typical Berber food, a culture found in Northern Africa, and is made from rolling and shaping moistened semolina wheat ant then coating them with finely ground wheat flour…according to Wikipedia anyway. All I know is it’s light and cooks by simply adding boiling water and letting set for five minutes, which is perfect for backpacking when fuel for stoves is used sparingly on a week-long trip (this is the instant way. Normally, couscous would be steamed, leaving it fluffy, but taking considerably more time and fuel – impractical in the field).
I made a batch using the spice packet that came with it and had it done in about 7 minutes. It tasted pretty good, was quite filling and would be easy to combine with dehydrated vegetables, soups, beef stick or cheese…all things I typically pack. By weight, it will be lighter than rice and take up less space than angel hair pasta with more calories – all good things. Jimmy may have done something right.
I finished the evening by going to ‘Date Night’ with Holly. The movie featured Tina Fey and Steve Carell, two of my favorite comedians, but I thought the comedy was only fair and that it fell flat on its face, as a whole. I was still hungry when we got home and warmed up my rice and beans concoction, but chased it with a piece of ice cream cake. Oh well. Tomorrow may be a run, depending on the hip.
I tend to get a little paranoid as I get closer to leaving for the Adirondacks. Every ache and pain is overanalyzed as I imagine its consequence if I were half way up a peak and five hours from camp. I’ve got a pain in the left hip right now that has me concerned and which caused me to take the night off. I could have walked or ridden the bike, but what would that get me? Once in a while, I can use common sense about exercise.
I spent the early evening in one of my favorite pursuits instead, which is preparing for the trip. I pull out all the necessary gear and check that it is in working order and then go over every item I intend to put in my pack to convince myself that I will use it. I hate to carry any extra weight…forget about the extra exercise value – I don’t put myself through it in the back country. I typically end up with about 45 pounds on my back when I go solo and a little less when traveling with someone (some items can be shared, so why bring two?), and that’s more than enough. I train with 60 pounds, so it’s like taking the lead doughnut off of the bat when you stride to the plate…it feels so much lighter.
I also go over the food. Since I’m taking Jimmy and Reza, I actually try to accommodate their tastes…to a degree. They’re actually pretty simple…willing to eat almost anything and that makes them my kind of people. Jimmy was pushing for couscous, something I’ve had before, but found pretty tasteless. Couscous is a typical Berber food, a culture found in Northern Africa, and is made from rolling and shaping moistened semolina wheat ant then coating them with finely ground wheat flour…according to Wikipedia anyway. All I know is it’s light and cooks by simply adding boiling water and letting set for five minutes, which is perfect for backpacking when fuel for stoves is used sparingly on a week-long trip (this is the instant way. Normally, couscous would be steamed, leaving it fluffy, but taking considerably more time and fuel – impractical in the field).
I made a batch using the spice packet that came with it and had it done in about 7 minutes. It tasted pretty good, was quite filling and would be easy to combine with dehydrated vegetables, soups, beef stick or cheese…all things I typically pack. By weight, it will be lighter than rice and take up less space than angel hair pasta with more calories – all good things. Jimmy may have done something right.
I finished the evening by going to ‘Date Night’ with Holly. The movie featured Tina Fey and Steve Carell, two of my favorite comedians, but I thought the comedy was only fair and that it fell flat on its face, as a whole. I was still hungry when we got home and warmed up my rice and beans concoction, but chased it with a piece of ice cream cake. Oh well. Tomorrow may be a run, depending on the hip.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Jimmy is a trip...
Monday, July 26, 2010
Jimmy stopped over with a daypack full of the clothes he thought he would need for the trip. I have never seen such ugly combinations of colors, but on him they’ll look appropriate. I’m concerned about my own reputation since I will be seen with him and you are judged by the company you keep.
I gave Jimmy a taste of the pinole and asked him if he’d been reading the blog. “Nah…I’ve been too busy,” he said.
“Busy? You don’t work, train, read or anything. What has you so busy?”
”Well…I only have about 7 hours a day since I have to sleep 17. You know…people who are really smart have to sleep long hours to give their brain a rest since it’s so busy being smart while they’re awake,” he informed me.
At no point did he claim to be smart as the reason for sleeping 17 hours and I know from first hand knowledge that he’s dumber than a box of rocks, so I don’t know what his point was in letting me know how much he slept, but I did remind him we’d have to be up early on the trip if he hoped to get to climb a peak and return in daylight.
Walking trails in the Adirondacks is nothing like hiking in the Metroparks I discovered on my first trip. I’d read the trail guides and they went over this point repeatedly, saying that you should allow for a pace of about 2 miles per hour and slower with elevation change. They were right. The other factor I hadn’t known then, but figured out quickly was the amount of calories I was burning and how hungry I was getting. It’s nothing to be on the trails walking for 8 hours and if you’re burning even 400 an hour, and it’s likely more, that’s 3,200 by the time you return to camp. Everything tastes good at that point, which is helpful since the normal diet is out the window with no way of bringing and keeping fresh food.
I continued to explain to Jimmy the things he would need. He disputed every item, which doesn’t really matter too much since he’ll be the one inconvenienced. If he becomes too much of a problem there, I’ll send him out for water and move the camp while he’s gone.
I ran the Clear Creek Trail in a little over 56 minutes. It’s been taking closer to an hour with the heat, but it was cooler today and my time showed it. I’m having a little soreness in my left hip…something I get when I’ve been carrying too much weight in the pack and doing too many step-ups. I’m hoping it goes away quickly and I think I’ll have to lay off weight bearing exercise for a couple of days. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize climbing this weekend.
Run duration: 56 minutes.
Training Heart Rate: 140.
Calories burned during workout: 1020.
Jimmy stopped over with a daypack full of the clothes he thought he would need for the trip. I have never seen such ugly combinations of colors, but on him they’ll look appropriate. I’m concerned about my own reputation since I will be seen with him and you are judged by the company you keep.
I gave Jimmy a taste of the pinole and asked him if he’d been reading the blog. “Nah…I’ve been too busy,” he said.
“Busy? You don’t work, train, read or anything. What has you so busy?”
”Well…I only have about 7 hours a day since I have to sleep 17. You know…people who are really smart have to sleep long hours to give their brain a rest since it’s so busy being smart while they’re awake,” he informed me.
At no point did he claim to be smart as the reason for sleeping 17 hours and I know from first hand knowledge that he’s dumber than a box of rocks, so I don’t know what his point was in letting me know how much he slept, but I did remind him we’d have to be up early on the trip if he hoped to get to climb a peak and return in daylight.
Walking trails in the Adirondacks is nothing like hiking in the Metroparks I discovered on my first trip. I’d read the trail guides and they went over this point repeatedly, saying that you should allow for a pace of about 2 miles per hour and slower with elevation change. They were right. The other factor I hadn’t known then, but figured out quickly was the amount of calories I was burning and how hungry I was getting. It’s nothing to be on the trails walking for 8 hours and if you’re burning even 400 an hour, and it’s likely more, that’s 3,200 by the time you return to camp. Everything tastes good at that point, which is helpful since the normal diet is out the window with no way of bringing and keeping fresh food.
I continued to explain to Jimmy the things he would need. He disputed every item, which doesn’t really matter too much since he’ll be the one inconvenienced. If he becomes too much of a problem there, I’ll send him out for water and move the camp while he’s gone.
I ran the Clear Creek Trail in a little over 56 minutes. It’s been taking closer to an hour with the heat, but it was cooler today and my time showed it. I’m having a little soreness in my left hip…something I get when I’ve been carrying too much weight in the pack and doing too many step-ups. I’m hoping it goes away quickly and I think I’ll have to lay off weight bearing exercise for a couple of days. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize climbing this weekend.
Run duration: 56 minutes.
Training Heart Rate: 140.
Calories burned during workout: 1020.
Getting ready for the Adirondacks
Sunday, July 25, 2010
John and I had scheduled a ride for today, which was kind of too bad since it was finally cool enough to run comfortably. It was raining in all morning and I was beginning to think that I’d run in the rain and ride later…if it ever cleared up.
I needed to take the Jeep out to see Dan…it was overheating…and so I packed my bike and riding gear on the off chance I’d be leaving it there and would have to ride back. This wouldn’t be a bad scenario because I would get in an extra 16 miles before John arrived. I went over everything I’d need for the ride and discovered I didn’t have my shorts so I ran in, grabbed them and returned. On my last trip to Dan’s to drop a car, I’d forgotten one of my riding shoes and having one foot clipped on and one flopping loose is not an efficient way to ride.
When I got to Dan’s it became evident I would be leaving the Jeep so I began pulling the bike from the car. As I grabbed my gear, I noticed the shorts were missing. A search of the car left me wanting and so I was in trouble again. I couldn’t ride in what I was wearing and so I called Holly to come and pick me up…which thrilled not a little.
I only need to bring my water bottles, shorts, shoes, helmet, riding gloves, and a t-shirt to ride home from Dan’s and I don’t know why having all of these things in the car when I drive there is such an issue, but it is. Can I chalk it up to age?
John and I went on a short ride, logging around 75 minutes. He thinks he’s still feeling the affects of the low iron from the stomach ulcer. He complained about being winded, but I thought we rode pretty strongly.
Reza stopped over shortly after my return and we went over in great detail the gear he should be bringing on our Adirondack trip. He was excited about going and wanted to make certain he had all of the essentials. He made a list of the things he would be needing and had two food requests – macaroni and cheese and pudding. Pudding is tricky in that it doesn’t like to jell, but I can drink the stuff so that’s no big deal. Jimmy would be coming over later to discuss what he’d need to bring…which is his mommy. I’ve been in the woods with this guy before and he needs constant care. His mom isn’t coming, so I’m going to do my best to have him ready ahead. The first rule of ‘Leave no trace’ camping is plan and prepare. Jimmy does neither, but he’s got complaining down to a science and when he realizes he’s forgotten something, he’ll have a long list of the reasons why it’s not his fault. I love this guy. It’s never dull when he’s around.
Bike duration: 75 minutes.
Training Heart Rate: 120.
Calories burned during workout: 1125.
John and I had scheduled a ride for today, which was kind of too bad since it was finally cool enough to run comfortably. It was raining in all morning and I was beginning to think that I’d run in the rain and ride later…if it ever cleared up.
I needed to take the Jeep out to see Dan…it was overheating…and so I packed my bike and riding gear on the off chance I’d be leaving it there and would have to ride back. This wouldn’t be a bad scenario because I would get in an extra 16 miles before John arrived. I went over everything I’d need for the ride and discovered I didn’t have my shorts so I ran in, grabbed them and returned. On my last trip to Dan’s to drop a car, I’d forgotten one of my riding shoes and having one foot clipped on and one flopping loose is not an efficient way to ride.
When I got to Dan’s it became evident I would be leaving the Jeep so I began pulling the bike from the car. As I grabbed my gear, I noticed the shorts were missing. A search of the car left me wanting and so I was in trouble again. I couldn’t ride in what I was wearing and so I called Holly to come and pick me up…which thrilled not a little.
I only need to bring my water bottles, shorts, shoes, helmet, riding gloves, and a t-shirt to ride home from Dan’s and I don’t know why having all of these things in the car when I drive there is such an issue, but it is. Can I chalk it up to age?
John and I went on a short ride, logging around 75 minutes. He thinks he’s still feeling the affects of the low iron from the stomach ulcer. He complained about being winded, but I thought we rode pretty strongly.
Reza stopped over shortly after my return and we went over in great detail the gear he should be bringing on our Adirondack trip. He was excited about going and wanted to make certain he had all of the essentials. He made a list of the things he would be needing and had two food requests – macaroni and cheese and pudding. Pudding is tricky in that it doesn’t like to jell, but I can drink the stuff so that’s no big deal. Jimmy would be coming over later to discuss what he’d need to bring…which is his mommy. I’ve been in the woods with this guy before and he needs constant care. His mom isn’t coming, so I’m going to do my best to have him ready ahead. The first rule of ‘Leave no trace’ camping is plan and prepare. Jimmy does neither, but he’s got complaining down to a science and when he realizes he’s forgotten something, he’ll have a long list of the reasons why it’s not his fault. I love this guy. It’s never dull when he’s around.
Bike duration: 75 minutes.
Training Heart Rate: 120.
Calories burned during workout: 1125.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Almost blew it off...
Saturday, July 24, 2010
I was headed for Colby’s graduation party and thinking about the trip we would all be taking to the Adirondacks in three weeks. Though I had not been able to get an absolute ‘yes’ from Don, I had confirmed with his wife, Rae, that he was, in fact, available for the trip on the scheduled dates. Colby had been much more excited than Don whose fear of heights and concern for Colby’s falling off a sheer cliff because he was daring and foolish, though without merit, were real.
“We won’t be using piton’s and hanging off the side of cliffs to climb these peaks, so I don’t think the height will bother you,” I told Don.
“Yeah? You don’t know Colby. He’s a daredevil. What if he twists an ankle on the trails walking in. What will Oregon say to that,” he asked.
“You can’t keep him in a plastic bubble. He could twist his ankle on any trail run in the Rocky River Reservation, but you don’t stop him from running there,” I said, knowing logic played no part in Don’s paranoia.
I saw Colby as soon as I arrived and asked him about the trip.
“Um…I might have a problem with that weekend. It’s our fantasy football draft,” he said sheepishly.
“Right…wait…what?”
Now…I’m not into the whole fantasy league thing, but I know many people who are and they are fanatics. I think some of them actually think they’re managing, owning and playing for the team they’ve selected and put more time and get more enjoyment from this than the actual playing of the major league teams. Losers. Colby made lame excuses about how big a deal it was…how they dress up for the occasion…and do weird, ritualistic, fantasy league stuff. Nerds. I mean…pass up a trip with...well…me…to the Adirondacks for a fantasy league draft? He’s seriously flawed and if he does come I may get up in the night and smear peanut butter on his sleeping bag. Bears love peanut butter…
It had been a terribly hot, busy Saturday and I’d never gotten the chance or had the desire to put in a workout. Somewhere in the back of my mind I’d told myself I’d stop at the park after the graduation party and run in the dark. Right.
I was driving home around 8:30 p.m. and the guilt was becoming unbearable. I’d eaten very little fat at the party and figured I could run…digestion nearly complete…and headed for the park. Thunderstorms had been rolling across Cleveland all afternoon and more were threatening. The air was so heavy with humidity that I could almost chew it. The sky had an eerie, orange glow reflecting from ominous storm clouds as I dressed for the run. Though it was light enough on the road, the canopy covering the trails made almost too dark to run. Almost.
I started out with limited vision…a good thing since the storms had deposited numerous branches along the bridle trails. It was too dark for hiking trails unless you were looking for a good place to fall…and I wasn’t. I ran about 20 minutes in semi-light conditions, but when I reached my turn-around at Squires Castle and headed back, it was almost completely black. I slowed my pace after tripping over…I don’t know what…but finished the run feeling good about getting it done. Though I’d only ran 35 minutes, I was so drenched in sweat from the extreme humidity, I felt like I’d gone an hour. The forecast was for cooler weather for the next two days – something I’m going to savor.
Run duration: 35 minutes.
Training Heart Rate: 140.
Calories burned during workout: 595.
I was headed for Colby’s graduation party and thinking about the trip we would all be taking to the Adirondacks in three weeks. Though I had not been able to get an absolute ‘yes’ from Don, I had confirmed with his wife, Rae, that he was, in fact, available for the trip on the scheduled dates. Colby had been much more excited than Don whose fear of heights and concern for Colby’s falling off a sheer cliff because he was daring and foolish, though without merit, were real.
“We won’t be using piton’s and hanging off the side of cliffs to climb these peaks, so I don’t think the height will bother you,” I told Don.
“Yeah? You don’t know Colby. He’s a daredevil. What if he twists an ankle on the trails walking in. What will Oregon say to that,” he asked.
“You can’t keep him in a plastic bubble. He could twist his ankle on any trail run in the Rocky River Reservation, but you don’t stop him from running there,” I said, knowing logic played no part in Don’s paranoia.
I saw Colby as soon as I arrived and asked him about the trip.
“Um…I might have a problem with that weekend. It’s our fantasy football draft,” he said sheepishly.
“Right…wait…what?”
Now…I’m not into the whole fantasy league thing, but I know many people who are and they are fanatics. I think some of them actually think they’re managing, owning and playing for the team they’ve selected and put more time and get more enjoyment from this than the actual playing of the major league teams. Losers. Colby made lame excuses about how big a deal it was…how they dress up for the occasion…and do weird, ritualistic, fantasy league stuff. Nerds. I mean…pass up a trip with...well…me…to the Adirondacks for a fantasy league draft? He’s seriously flawed and if he does come I may get up in the night and smear peanut butter on his sleeping bag. Bears love peanut butter…
It had been a terribly hot, busy Saturday and I’d never gotten the chance or had the desire to put in a workout. Somewhere in the back of my mind I’d told myself I’d stop at the park after the graduation party and run in the dark. Right.
I was driving home around 8:30 p.m. and the guilt was becoming unbearable. I’d eaten very little fat at the party and figured I could run…digestion nearly complete…and headed for the park. Thunderstorms had been rolling across Cleveland all afternoon and more were threatening. The air was so heavy with humidity that I could almost chew it. The sky had an eerie, orange glow reflecting from ominous storm clouds as I dressed for the run. Though it was light enough on the road, the canopy covering the trails made almost too dark to run. Almost.
I started out with limited vision…a good thing since the storms had deposited numerous branches along the bridle trails. It was too dark for hiking trails unless you were looking for a good place to fall…and I wasn’t. I ran about 20 minutes in semi-light conditions, but when I reached my turn-around at Squires Castle and headed back, it was almost completely black. I slowed my pace after tripping over…I don’t know what…but finished the run feeling good about getting it done. Though I’d only ran 35 minutes, I was so drenched in sweat from the extreme humidity, I felt like I’d gone an hour. The forecast was for cooler weather for the next two days – something I’m going to savor.
Run duration: 35 minutes.
Training Heart Rate: 140.
Calories burned during workout: 595.
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