Weekly Log: 10.5.15 - 10.11.15

Falling behind on the weekly blog reports.  Looks like the blog blahs have finally hit me.  I'll try to get up to speed as I had a big adventure in the second half of this week up in the White Mountains.  Three days of backpacking the Pemi Loop!

Monday - Cranston, RI - 6.5 miles

After work I returned to the Cranston Middle School to explore the trails that run alongside I-295.  After studying the map last time I knew where I had gone wrong and so this time I found the trails along the top of the canyon easily.  Great views up there of the highway below.  Definitely a party spot.  I followed the trail as it led down alongside the highway and there's a brief sketchy section of trail where you're basically running next to the freeway.  Then a guardrail appears and you descend and are able to cross under the busy roads.  The other side of the highway was the marquis event with a long stretch of dirt road, a hilly powerline section, more good views of the highway and a twisty singletrack network.  I explored for a while but darkness was approaching so I returned to the car.  Glad I brought a headlamp as I needed it towards the end.  Fun place and I'm looking forward to returning.

Tuesday - East Providence, RI - 7.7 miles

I needed an oil change so I dropped the car off and ran back to the office.  Then in the afternoon I did a run through the East Side of Providence before looping back and picking up the cart.

Wednesday - 0 miles

Thursday - Lincoln, NH - 13 miles

Day one of Pemi Loop hike.  Report forthcoming (hopefully)

Friday - Lincoln, NH - 12 miles

Day two of Pemi Loop hike.  Report forthcoming (hopefully)

Saturday - Lincoln, NH - 12 miles

Day three of Pemi Loop hike.  Report forthcoming (hopefully)

Sunday - Waterville Valley, NH - 4 miles

I'll try to detail the adventures of the first three days in a separate post.  On my last day in the Whites, I decided to tackle a smaller mountain before heading home.  I drove down the Kang and hiked up to Mt. Potash.  Trail wasn't too difficult and the views at the top were well worth it.  Foliage in full effect.  I met a couple guys briefly on the way up but there was a steady stream of folks I passed on the way down.  By the time I returned to the parking lot it was packed with cars.

Ledges near the Potash summit

View of the Sandwich region

View of the Pemigewasett Wilderness

Weekly Mileage: 55.1 miles
Year to Date: 1,556.8 miles

Sure most of this mileage was actually hiking but it was still hard work and with over 12k feet of elevation you'd better believe I'm counting it!

Weekly Log: 9.28.15 - 10.4.15

Things are in flux.  In my life and in running.  I have a feeling this will be a lower mileage week as my legs have been feeling it.  A rest is probably needed.  I'm still considering the 6 Hour Ultra in November but I'll probably wait until the last minute to decide.

Monday - 0 miles

After yesterday's blah long run it was easy to shirk off any running today.

Tuesday - West Greenwich, RI - 7 miles

175 push-ups (standard/diamond/wide) 30/20/35/30/20/40

RunningWarehouse had some trail Hoka's on sale and I was in need of some trail shoes so I pulled the trigger.  This was the maiden run - the cushioning is definitely nice and helps on the downhills.  I went to Big River, parking at Hopkins Hill lot but heading west towards the quarry.  I was surprised that I found the Secret Lookout with no problems.  Then I took Elephant and the Azalea trail over by the hunting club before heading back towards the car.  I liked the shoes but they had a tendency to roll on me, I'm guessing due not being used to the extra cushioning.  I had one bad roll which was frustrating as this ankle just can't heal up.  I need to put that ankle brace on for any trail run now.

Wednesday - Cranston, RI - 4 miles

After stopping at REI in Cranston I had the idea to check out some trails I have long thought about.  There are trails along the "canyon" of I-295 and I knew there was a path underneath the highway to reach them.  I parked at a middle school and was dismayed to hear a shitload of gunfire coming from the hill I had planned to climb.  Turns out the Cranston Police Academy was next door.  After a brief road section where I considered my options, I found a trail than ran alongside the hill opposite the Po-Po.   This was a fun little climb and it eventually led to a two lane road.  At first I thought this was 295 but then realized I was off-course.  I ventured on and discovered some trails that appeared to be part of a camp.  It was already getting late so I retreated to the car.  After I uploaded the run I realized where I went wrong.  Another time.

Thursday - Exeter, RI - 7.5 miles

Early morning run in Arcadia.  It was a crisp fall morning - perfect!  I stuck to dirt roads for the bulk of it and then took the trail around Breakheart Pond and went back towards the car via the J B Hudson Trail.  I wore the ankle brace yesterday and today which seemed to help, though it was hard getting it into the Hokas.  A fun run and I really liked running in the Hokas again.  The only problem was the calf soreness which is still creeping up towards the end of these runs.

Friday - 0 miles

Saturday - 0 miles

Sunday - Smithfield, RI - 3.5 miles

In an effort to give my legs a chance to rest I took a couple days off.  Today instead of running I decided to take Ezri for a hike.  Originally I wanted to hit up Wachusett Mountain but that didn't pan out.  Wolf Hill in Smithfield was an excellent substitute.  We hit up most of the points of interest on this one and had a good time.  I wore a 30 lb backpack in preparation for a White Mountain excursion next week.  Okay so this wasn't technically a run but from now I'm considering hiking as a perfectly acceptable "time on feet" alternative that gets added to the weekly mileage.

Weekly Mileage 22 miles
Year to Date: 1,501.6 miles

Weekly Log: 9.21.15 - 9.27.15

October is practically here and with it comes a cornucopia of big fall races.  I've not set my sights on any 50ks this year.  I feel like my lack of long runs is pretty apparent in my fitness and I'm wary to go out for a very long trail race.  Plus my schedule is already book with stuff so my options are limited.  I'm actually looking towards Bob Jackman's 6 Hour Ultra in the beginning of November.  I've been interested in it before but other fall races have always taken priority.  With lowered personal expectations, perhaps this is the year to give it a shot.

Monday - East Providence, RI - 5 miles

My calves were still sore from seizing up two nights prior plus yesterday's shortened trail run in Arcadia.  I almost bailed on today's lunch run but willed myself out to the Ten Mile River Bikepath for a few easy miles.  Still the legs have no pep though they loosened up a bit as I went.

Tuesday - Smithfield, RI - 7 miles

140 push-ups (standard/diamond/wide) 30/20/35/25/30

I returned to Wolf Hill for another meandering run on some of my favorite trails.  I discovered a couple new trails that seemed well groomed though they just led to houses.  Good run but again the last two miles were on trashed legs.

Wednesday - 0 miles

Definitely needed a day off to rest the legs.

Thursday - Exeter, RI - 11 miles

I wanted to get a decent amount of miles in the morning so I decided to stick to mostly roads.  I thought upon a run around the perimeter of Big River West that incorporated the dirt roads of the New London Turnpike and Sawmill Roads.  This turned out to be a good route but again by the time I reached the halfway point my legs began to ache.  Division and Hopkins Hill Road also suffered from fast moving traffic which was a pain to deal with.  Any thoughts of tacking on a little trail work near Tarbox Pond was gone by the time I passed it.

Friday - Providence, RI - 8 miles

200 push-ups (standard/military/wide) 35/25/35/35/30/40

I bailed on a second run yesterday before band practice which put my arbitrary 50 mile week goal in jeopardy.  I was determined to get 8 miles at lunch and also work in some hills.  Over the bridge I went and ran the roads over by Rochambeau Ave.  Once again, I was feeling good for most of the run but after mile six I ran out of energy and took a couple breaks while I stretched out my angry calves.

Saturday - 0 miles

Sunday - North Kingstown, RI - 13 miles

I had grand plans for a long run that took me from Quonset over to Hopkins Hill Road via Stony Lane and then back again via Frenchtown Road.  I knew that with my recent tired legs this 19 mile route was ambitious/stupid but I felt compelled to try anyway.  I had mapped out a 13 mile bailout option and once the climbs started on Stony Lane I knew I'd be using it.  The legs just had no pep and the climbing made my calves ache.  Even with the bailout option it was still a long slog of a loop and I took several breaks to stretch out the calves.  A frustrating run that left me dispirited.

Weekly Mileage: 44.3 miles
Year to Date: 1,479.6 miles

Well my legs have been junk all week.  I guess I've no choice but to decrease the mileage next week and give them some time to rest.  I really need to be more consistent with the foam rolling too.  Sunday's aborted longer run made me question any sort of longer race, even the RI 6 Hour.  So we'll see.

Weekly Log: 9.14.15 - 9.20.15

Monday - North Kingstown, RI - 3.2 miles

Evening run from my mom's house.

Tuesday - North Kingstown, RI - 5.6 miles

Basic Quonset loop

Wednesday - Smithfield, RI - 8.3 miles

215 push-ups (standard/military/wide) 35/30/40/40/30/40

Got out early and up to my old place of work to run the trails behind Fidelity.  They really are great trails and there's so many of them.  I miss them.

Thursday - North Kingstown, RI - 12 miles

Planks (53 / 55 / 58 / 58 / 62)
Chin-ups (3 / 4 / 4)

Did a run up to Calf Point.  I hadn't been here since they finished connection the two portions of the bike path.  I stopped for a bit on the beach to reflect and watch some fish swim near shore.  A couple fitness stations had been built along the path and I did a couple chin-ups at each one.

Friday - West Greenwich, RI - 8 miles

Parked at the Hopkins Hill lot to run around Carr Pond at Big River.  I attempted to find that cool rocky section that Galoob added to this year's Big River race but I failed.  Instead I passed a couple of mountain bikers and ran in circles a few times.  Rolled my left ankle bad with 1/4 mile to go.  Fun run though.

Saturday - 0 miles

Saturday - Exeter, RI - 10 miles

I went out to Arcadia to do a long run, parking at the Midway.  A big group of young runners passed just as I arrived, heading up along the dirt road.  They were gone by the time I set out.  I had brought my ankle brace since my left ankle was feeling very weak from numerous recent rolls.  The thing was a tangled mess and I gave up though.

My right calf seized up something fierce in the night and it was very sore this morning.  It loosened up once I started running.  I ran up to Breakheart Pond and then took the Breakheart trail around.  I had intended to head up to the Stepstone Falls and run the brutal hill up to Escoheag Rd but by the time I reached the Ben Utter Trail my calf was really starting to become uncomfortable.  I decided to just bail on the added miles and head back towards the car.  Not as far as I wanted but no point in pushing the point with a janky calf.  On the plus side I managed to not roll my shitty ankle.

Weekly Mileage: 47.3 miles
Year to Date: 1,435.3