2.5 Mile Walk at Five Rivers EEC
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Thursday, July 31, 2014
THE EGRETS ARE BACK
14.4 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, July 31, 2014
... and someone filled my legs with bloody concrete. Really, after almost no riding for a week, you'd think they'd be raring to go. Instead, it was a struggle to go as far as I did. Ugh.
Lots of chipmunks along the path, and tons of birds. Saw over half a dozen herons in the river, and three egrets... a sure sign that summer is moving along rapidly. Sigh.
Hopefully the riding I have planned for tomorrow and Saturday will go better than today's did. I'm not exactly filled with confidence for the 75 miler in a little over 2 weeks and the century ride in early September (a little over 5 weeks!)
JMH
14.4 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, July 31, 2014
... and someone filled my legs with bloody concrete. Really, after almost no riding for a week, you'd think they'd be raring to go. Instead, it was a struggle to go as far as I did. Ugh.
Lots of chipmunks along the path, and tons of birds. Saw over half a dozen herons in the river, and three egrets... a sure sign that summer is moving along rapidly. Sigh.
Hopefully the riding I have planned for tomorrow and Saturday will go better than today's did. I'm not exactly filled with confidence for the 75 miler in a little over 2 weeks and the century ride in early September (a little over 5 weeks!)
JMH
Monday, July 28, 2014
First My Car, Now My Chair...
Monday, July 28, 2014
... though admittedly the car was only because some *#@$*$!! hit it and caused $3600 worth of damage - essentially more than the car was worth, in light of the $1500 worth of mechanical work it was going to need this year.
My chair, on the other hand, was second-hand when I claimed it something like 25 years ago, but about a month ago it seemed like it had given up the ghost, until I was able to do a bit of repair work on it. But then last week that repair gave up too, leaving my comfortable but beat up rocking chair leaning to one side and no longer able to rock.
So I finally bit the bullet and ordered a new chair. I'm a little bit disappointed with the cushion color - they looked darker on the web site - and I wish I could have gotten it without the matching ottoman (which is too big to use with the chair in my living room) but it is pretty comfortable. Though I have to wonder if it will last 25+ years...
JMH
Monday, July 28, 2014
... though admittedly the car was only because some *#@$*$!! hit it and caused $3600 worth of damage - essentially more than the car was worth, in light of the $1500 worth of mechanical work it was going to need this year.
My chair, on the other hand, was second-hand when I claimed it something like 25 years ago, but about a month ago it seemed like it had given up the ghost, until I was able to do a bit of repair work on it. But then last week that repair gave up too, leaving my comfortable but beat up rocking chair leaning to one side and no longer able to rock.
So I finally bit the bullet and ordered a new chair. I'm a little bit disappointed with the cushion color - they looked darker on the web site - and I wish I could have gotten it without the matching ottoman (which is too big to use with the chair in my living room) but it is pretty comfortable. Though I have to wonder if it will last 25+ years...
JMH
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Friday, July 25, 2014
Slow & Steady 2014 - Race #17
The Chase 5k
Friday, July 25, 2014
I don't typically run 5k's... given how slow I am, I find that I often need the first few miles to warm up and hit my racing stride. But given that I was planning to head to Ohio this weekend for a paddle triathlon, I checked the race listings along the way and found a pair of trail 5k's near Erie, PA (where I wanted to stop anyway, for a visit to Presque Isle State Park) and decided to give them a go on my way to Ohio. Of course, I ended up deciding to skip Ohio, but Erie is close enough and 5k's are short enough that it seemed worth it to make a day trip (OK, a 2 day trip) there and still run them.
I was a bit worried when we got to the Harborcreek Township building and saw no signs of trails, just pavement. A bit of questioning revealed that the race would start on a paved road, switch to some dirt trails, and then finish on the same paved road. Fortunately I'd packed my old Vasque Blurs, which are a bit better equipped for the combo (they definitely did the trick at the Shoreline duathlon) and had just enough time to switch shoes before the start.
The other reason I tend to dislike 5ks is having to run all out the entire time... there's really no leeway to take a break for a bit and then pick up the pace again. So in the past I've typically ended 5k's feeling ready to throw up. I planned for a slow run today, and by most standards it was... but between the short distance and the terrain (pavement, easy dirt, and gradual inclines) I found myself running the fastest I've run since my knee went out at the end of April 2013. Passed a bunch of folks as I warmed up and finished in a blistering 33 min 15 sec... an average of about 10:44 per mile. Got to admit that feels pretty good... I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to run that fast again, so apparently something I've been doing this year has been working.
It was nice to have Ann there and know she wasn't going to have to wait around forever for me to finish... another plus to 5k's, I guess.
Can't say that this is a run I'd make a special trip to do... but if I was going to be in the area anyway and didn't have anything else to do, I'd run it again.
Now it just remains to be seen whether doing a 2nd 5k tomorrow morning will be OK or if it was one of my stupider ideas...
JMH
2014 Event Totals
Run 114.1 mi, 27 hr 3 min
Bike 133.8 mi, 9 hr 26 min
Snowshoe 47.5 mi, 14 hr 38 min
Kayak 4.0 mi, 1 hr 3 min
states/provinces visited: AB, CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
The Chase 5k
Friday, July 25, 2014
I don't typically run 5k's... given how slow I am, I find that I often need the first few miles to warm up and hit my racing stride. But given that I was planning to head to Ohio this weekend for a paddle triathlon, I checked the race listings along the way and found a pair of trail 5k's near Erie, PA (where I wanted to stop anyway, for a visit to Presque Isle State Park) and decided to give them a go on my way to Ohio. Of course, I ended up deciding to skip Ohio, but Erie is close enough and 5k's are short enough that it seemed worth it to make a day trip (OK, a 2 day trip) there and still run them.
I was a bit worried when we got to the Harborcreek Township building and saw no signs of trails, just pavement. A bit of questioning revealed that the race would start on a paved road, switch to some dirt trails, and then finish on the same paved road. Fortunately I'd packed my old Vasque Blurs, which are a bit better equipped for the combo (they definitely did the trick at the Shoreline duathlon) and had just enough time to switch shoes before the start.
The other reason I tend to dislike 5ks is having to run all out the entire time... there's really no leeway to take a break for a bit and then pick up the pace again. So in the past I've typically ended 5k's feeling ready to throw up. I planned for a slow run today, and by most standards it was... but between the short distance and the terrain (pavement, easy dirt, and gradual inclines) I found myself running the fastest I've run since my knee went out at the end of April 2013. Passed a bunch of folks as I warmed up and finished in a blistering 33 min 15 sec... an average of about 10:44 per mile. Got to admit that feels pretty good... I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to run that fast again, so apparently something I've been doing this year has been working.
It was nice to have Ann there and know she wasn't going to have to wait around forever for me to finish... another plus to 5k's, I guess.
Can't say that this is a run I'd make a special trip to do... but if I was going to be in the area anyway and didn't have anything else to do, I'd run it again.
Now it just remains to be seen whether doing a 2nd 5k tomorrow morning will be OK or if it was one of my stupider ideas...
JMH
2014 Event Totals
Run 114.1 mi, 27 hr 3 min
Bike 133.8 mi, 9 hr 26 min
Snowshoe 47.5 mi, 14 hr 38 min
Kayak 4.0 mi, 1 hr 3 min
states/provinces visited: AB, CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Monday, July 21, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
TRAILS & BRIDGE SHOW FURTHER SIGNS OF NEGLECT...
1.5 Mile Walk at Ann Lee Pond
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Ann Lee Pond used to be a fairly regular stop for me, until the crazy bridge was closed last fall. I decided to walk there today to see if any effort has been made to repair and re-open the bridge. Unfortunately, what I found wasn't at all reassuring. Other than the mowed area along the north shore of the pond (where people fish) it's clear nothing is being done to keep up the nature preserve.
When I first visited there six years ago, there was a loop trail through the woods in the western part of the preserve. Unfortunately, no effort was made to keep it up and within a year or so it was so overgrown that it became impossible to follow. Now, other than the main path to the bridge, there are no walkable trails in that section.
The trails on the eastern side have always been better kept and less prone to getting overgrown, probably because they're almost entirely in the woods. But with the bridge closed and the first stretch of trail underwater (my guess is beavers have moved in nearby) the two trails through the woods are definitely falling into disrepair.
Even though the bridge is still closed, I climbed out onto it and used it to cross the southern end of the pond. It certainly doesn't seem any less stable than it was a year ago, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before vandalism and lack of upkeep leave it unusable. And that will be a real shame... it's a great place to go and observe the wildlife in the pond.
JMH
1.5 Mile Walk at Ann Lee Pond
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Ann Lee Pond used to be a fairly regular stop for me, until the crazy bridge was closed last fall. I decided to walk there today to see if any effort has been made to repair and re-open the bridge. Unfortunately, what I found wasn't at all reassuring. Other than the mowed area along the north shore of the pond (where people fish) it's clear nothing is being done to keep up the nature preserve.
When I first visited there six years ago, there was a loop trail through the woods in the western part of the preserve. Unfortunately, no effort was made to keep it up and within a year or so it was so overgrown that it became impossible to follow. Now, other than the main path to the bridge, there are no walkable trails in that section.
The trails on the eastern side have always been better kept and less prone to getting overgrown, probably because they're almost entirely in the woods. But with the bridge closed and the first stretch of trail underwater (my guess is beavers have moved in nearby) the two trails through the woods are definitely falling into disrepair.
Even though the bridge is still closed, I climbed out onto it and used it to cross the southern end of the pond. It certainly doesn't seem any less stable than it was a year ago, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before vandalism and lack of upkeep leave it unusable. And that will be a real shame... it's a great place to go and observe the wildlife in the pond.
JMH
16.8 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
It's never a good sign when a ride starts with a flat before even leaving the house... though today it was an easy "fix", since I have a spare front wheel I've wanted to try out. So I swapped wheels and headed over to the SCCC parking lot for a ride on the western stretch of the bike path.
I wasn't sure exactly how far I wanted to go today, but as I rode it was very clear my legs are still recovering from almost 60 miles of riding and a very tough 15k this weekend. The tracks were blocked at Scrafford Lane, so I took that as a sign to keep the ride shorter. I did go up and over the bridge crossing the river at the Thruway-890-5S interchange - originally to get some shots of the river, but then I decided to see what was on the other side, and found that the paved path goes all the way to a Park-and-Ride lot - another potential spot to ride out of.
Lots of birds along the way, especially catbirds. I also passed two groups of wood ducks, a group of geese, and a pair of kingfishers in the old canal. And not too many other people on the path, which is always nice.
JMH
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
It's never a good sign when a ride starts with a flat before even leaving the house... though today it was an easy "fix", since I have a spare front wheel I've wanted to try out. So I swapped wheels and headed over to the SCCC parking lot for a ride on the western stretch of the bike path.
I wasn't sure exactly how far I wanted to go today, but as I rode it was very clear my legs are still recovering from almost 60 miles of riding and a very tough 15k this weekend. The tracks were blocked at Scrafford Lane, so I took that as a sign to keep the ride shorter. I did go up and over the bridge crossing the river at the Thruway-890-5S interchange - originally to get some shots of the river, but then I decided to see what was on the other side, and found that the paved path goes all the way to a Park-and-Ride lot - another potential spot to ride out of.
Lots of birds along the way, especially catbirds. I also passed two groups of wood ducks, a group of geese, and a pair of kingfishers in the old canal. And not too many other people on the path, which is always nice.
JMH
Monday, July 14, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Friday, July 11, 2014
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
AFTER THE DELUGE - A COOL EVENING AND A RAINBOW
4.7 Mile Run in the Albany Pine Bush
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Well, the rain let up soon enough for me to still get in a run... after the problems with my knee last weekend, I really wanted to see how it was doing before the Quadzilla 15k this Sunday. So I headed over to the Blueberry Hills sections of the Pine Bush... not nearly as much fun running there as the old trail system was, but it's been a while and I wanted to check things out.
I really should have brought my camera, because along the way I was treated to a pretty nice sunset and a fantastic rainbow. Oh, well.
The knee didn't give me any problems, which bodes well for Sunday...
JMH
4.7 Mile Run in the Albany Pine Bush
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Well, the rain let up soon enough for me to still get in a run... after the problems with my knee last weekend, I really wanted to see how it was doing before the Quadzilla 15k this Sunday. So I headed over to the Blueberry Hills sections of the Pine Bush... not nearly as much fun running there as the old trail system was, but it's been a while and I wanted to check things out.
I really should have brought my camera, because along the way I was treated to a pretty nice sunset and a fantastic rainbow. Oh, well.
The knee didn't give me any problems, which bodes well for Sunday...
JMH
HAIL & A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
While I was back home grabbing a snack and deciding if I was going to do a run tonight, I heard what sounded like a pretty noisy storm outside, opened the door, and discovered dime-sized hail and torrential rain. After a few minutes the hail died off but the rain kept up for a while... it was running down the street so heavily that it was level with the sidewalk and almost up to the bottom of my car.
On the plus side, once it had blown through it was considerably cooler than it had been earlier in the day.
JMH
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
While I was back home grabbing a snack and deciding if I was going to do a run tonight, I heard what sounded like a pretty noisy storm outside, opened the door, and discovered dime-sized hail and torrential rain. After a few minutes the hail died off but the rain kept up for a while... it was running down the street so heavily that it was level with the sidewalk and almost up to the bottom of my car.
On the plus side, once it had blown through it was considerably cooler than it had been earlier in the day.
JMH
BUNNIES, CHIPMUNKS, BIRDIES - AND RAIN...
15.2 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Fortunately the plan was to do a shorter ride today, since not long after I started a short squall blew through and then during the 2nd half I was in the rain for a longer time. It was one of those weird storms where a few miles away you could see blue sky and fluffy white clouds...
On the way out I saw dozens of chipmunks along the path, as well a a few bunnies... between the squalls there were birds everywhere taking advantage of the chance to snag some food, and even more bunnies. Definitely a good afternoon for quick glimpses of bike path wildlife.
JMH
15.2 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Fortunately the plan was to do a shorter ride today, since not long after I started a short squall blew through and then during the 2nd half I was in the rain for a longer time. It was one of those weird storms where a few miles away you could see blue sky and fluffy white clouds...
On the way out I saw dozens of chipmunks along the path, as well a a few bunnies... between the squalls there were birds everywhere taking advantage of the chance to snag some food, and even more bunnies. Definitely a good afternoon for quick glimpses of bike path wildlife.
JMH
Tuesday, July 08, 2014
Sunday, July 06, 2014
Saturday, July 05, 2014
Thursday, July 03, 2014
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
Tuesday, July 01, 2014
BIKE PATH END-TO-END (SORT OF...)
41.5 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Longest ride since mid-May today, mostly on the bike path. There are three major off-road sections of the Erie Canalway Trail around here - the path through the Corning Preserve, from downtown Albany to Watervliet, the Mohawk Hudson bike path from Cohoes to Schenectady, and the Mohawk Hudson bike path from Schenectady to Rotterdam Junction. I started at the Niskayuna Lions Park and headed west to the end of the path in Schenectady... haven't ridden over there since last summer, mostly because of all the hills involved. Took it slow and easy and had a little over 21 miles by the time I got back to the park.
I had been thinking to just ride to the top of the hill in Colonie, but decided during the first leg to go a bit farther - both because I need to work on distance, with a 75 miler in mid August and a century ride in early September, and because I've never done the entire Cohoes-Schenectady stretch in one go before. Of course, the drawback comes after turning around in Cohoes, where the path climbs for 3 miles - nothing steep, but a gradual 3 mile climb after 31+ miles of riding is going to be a challenge. After that there were only a couple of short climbs to get past, and then the last 4 miles were as straightforward as the last few miles of a long ride will ever be.
Overall, legs felt pretty good... guess I'm on track for the long rides in August and September...
JMH
41.5 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Longest ride since mid-May today, mostly on the bike path. There are three major off-road sections of the Erie Canalway Trail around here - the path through the Corning Preserve, from downtown Albany to Watervliet, the Mohawk Hudson bike path from Cohoes to Schenectady, and the Mohawk Hudson bike path from Schenectady to Rotterdam Junction. I started at the Niskayuna Lions Park and headed west to the end of the path in Schenectady... haven't ridden over there since last summer, mostly because of all the hills involved. Took it slow and easy and had a little over 21 miles by the time I got back to the park.
I had been thinking to just ride to the top of the hill in Colonie, but decided during the first leg to go a bit farther - both because I need to work on distance, with a 75 miler in mid August and a century ride in early September, and because I've never done the entire Cohoes-Schenectady stretch in one go before. Of course, the drawback comes after turning around in Cohoes, where the path climbs for 3 miles - nothing steep, but a gradual 3 mile climb after 31+ miles of riding is going to be a challenge. After that there were only a couple of short climbs to get past, and then the last 4 miles were as straightforward as the last few miles of a long ride will ever be.
Overall, legs felt pretty good... guess I'm on track for the long rides in August and September...
JMH
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