Week 4: 1.22.18 - 1.28.18

Monday - Tamworth, NH - 4.5 miles

My long weekend in New Hampshire with my wife sadly wrapped up.  I went out early and did a bit of redlining on the White Ledge trail on the slopes of Chocorua.  Started the hike in the dark using my snowshoes on the frozen choppy snow.  A mix of conditions, including bare trail at points and treacherous rocks freshly coated in ice from the freezing rain.  No views but I was happy to get a couple hours in before heading home.  See last week's blog for the video (it's mostly about Waumbek but the last few minutes are of White Ledge).

Tuesday - 0 miles

I'm experiencing my usual post-NH hangover.  Not from libations but rather from the return to the flat city wasteland of Rhode Island.  This state bores me now. It was raining all day.  I decided to hang out in Mopeytown (aka my office) instead of being productive and going to yoga.

Wednesday - Providence, RI - 5.5 miles

I tried to psych myself up with some repeats on Jenckes hill.  I'm out of shape but the temp was nearly 40 degrees and it was good to get back out there and punish my legs.  Jankle was a little sore afterwards but nothing concerning.

Thursday - East Providence, RI - 5 miles

10 degrees colder today and a steady wind made for a nippy run on the 10 Mile River Bike Path.

Friday - 0 miles

Saturday - Wakefield, RI - 8 miles

Ezri began another round of drama club at the local theater and it gave me an hour and a half to kill.  Spent the time exploring Old Mountain trails and finding the connector to South County Commons.  Then I ran little loop repeats on the hilliest section of trail I could find to almost eek out 1000 feet of climbing.  Gorgeous day.

Sunday - 0 miles

Opted not to run early in the cold rain.  My excuse is that it's flu season.  Thoughts of running later in the day of course drifted away...

Weekly Mileage: 22 miles / YTD: 55.6 miles

Time on Feet: 4h 52m / YTD: 14h 58m

Elevation: 4,478 feet / YTD: 9,761 feet

Things are slowly getting there.  Much more work to do...

Week 3: 1.15.18 - 1.21.18

Ankle finally began to feel better this week.  Doc confirmed that nothing major going on - just a bad strain.  Did a short run along the bike path which felt fine so I guess I've got no more excuses.

Wife and I went up to Conway for a couple days.  We hiked Waumbek which was a tough hike for her but she did it!  #40 for me.  I got a sweet gimbal for my GoPro which really improves the footage.  Take a look:

Weekly Mileage: 13 miles / Year to Date: 33.6 miles

Time on Feet: 5h 23m / Year to Date: 10h 6m

Elevation: 3000 feet / Year to Date: 5193 feet

Week 2: 1.8.18 - 1.14.18 - The Jankening

Monday - Seekonk, MA - 2.6 miles

Ankle remains sore but I can't stay contained indoors.  I brought my snowshoes with me to work and at lunch went over to the Seekonk Meadows for a lunch run.  It was 30ish degrees so I went with shorts.  I immediately regretted it as the snow was unbroken and soon the back of my legs was caked in frosty snow.  Soon though I found some broken trail and I was able to work into a run.  That melted the snow and warmed me up.  I did a mix of running and walking and my Dion snowshoes worked great.  They are not the straight up running shoes, but the ones designed for both hiking and running.  They worked well but man it's hard work on unbroken/half-broken ground.  A good 45 minutes of effort.

Rest of the week - 0 miles

I paid a price for Monday's snowshoe effort.  My ankle was very sore the next day and though I could walk on it fine through the week there is still major discomfort.  It's painful to apply pressure at points and I guess in retrospect this is a full-blown ankle sprain.  Fuck this shit.

The first race of the 4th Season Trail Series is this weekend but I haven't even considered running it.  So far rest has done little to make this ankle injury better so I suppose I'll need to get it looked at next week.

Sunday morning, 12 days after the injury and the ankle aches even when I'm sitting on the couch - a frustrating start to 2018.

Mileage: 2.6 miles / Year to Date: 20.6 miles

Time on Feet: 43 minutes / Year to Date: 4 hours 43 min

Elevation: 200 whopping feet / Year to Date: 2193 feet

Week 1: 1.1.18 - 1.7.18

Here we go - a new year, another chance for blog redemption!  This is a big year for ol' Seth as I turn 40 in April.  Let the midlife crisis begin!  Perhaps my ascension to Master status will inspire me to up my racing game once again.  Here we go!

Monday - Charlestown, RI - 8 miles

It was about 10 degrees out and my wife helped motivate me to get out the door to start the year right.  Ventured over to Carter Preserve and ran a mix of the usual trails.  Just enough snow on the ground to provide a nice crunch.  Chilled at first in just my cold compression tights but eventually I warmed up everywhere except my elbows which always fare poorly when the weather is especially cold.  Do they make elbow warmers for such occasions?

Tuesday - South Kingstown, RI - 6.5 miles

Ab Ripper X (15 minutes)

Started the day with a return to the Ab Ripper.  I mean to restart these morning workouts or die in the attempt!

I'm working from home this week and went over to DuVal at lunch for some crunchy trails.  Not as cold as yesterday but I was still chilled for the first couple miles.  Right towards the end as I'm approaching the cemetery I tell myself to keep my eyes on the ground - my stumbles always seem to come right at the finish line.  It didn't matter though, I still managed to bend my right foot backwards on a rock.  Pissed that once again I have summoned the Jank Monster™ ™to derail my efforts.  I hobbled along for a few steps and then was able to shamble the final stretch to the car.  It was very tender afterwards.  I'll almost definitely need to take it easy for a couple days.  Curses.

Wednesday - 0 miles

Yeah, the ankle hurts.  As does my pride.  I had hoped to get in a run today before the storm dumps on us tomorrow but it is not to be.  Looks like I'll have to be content with dragging in firewood as my day's effort.  My whole right foot is very swollen.  Luckily being in my snow boots seems to stabilize it so I won't be able to shirk my upcoming shoveling duties.

Thursday - 0 miles

The latest blizzard has arrived and I've got the basement cookin' at 80+ thanks to the wood stove.  Amazingly we haven't lost power which is a welcome break.  My foot is still very swollen.  Walking around isn't bad but I've got to continue to take it easy so that I can make a quick recovery.  Dammit.

Friday - 0 miles

A goodly amount of shoveling yesterday and another big round this morning.  Plow guy came in the night so we're in good shape post-storm.  Foot swelling is finally going down.  I was looking forward to some snowshoe exploring in my new Dion's at, say, Carter or DuVal but it is not to be...

Saturday - Charlestown, RI - 3 miles

Ankle remains sore and a bit swollen but I would not be denied another day.  Strapped on my snowshoes and hiked three miles in Carter Preserve, breaking trail most of the way.  Kept the pace easy and other than the wind chilling my nether regions as I battled the drifts in the grasslands I was very comfortable in the cold temps.

Sunday - 0 miles

Mileage: 18 miles

Time on Feet: 4 hours

Elevation: 1,993 feet

This ankle injury is an annoying way to start the year but I'll be back to running soon.  Anyway with the decent snow we got and my apathy towards roads I may just be looking at more snowshoeing for the time being anyway.