2 Mile Walk at Mendon Ponds Park
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Friday, September 29, 2017
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Monday, September 25, 2017
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Thursday, September 21, 2017
TOO... HOT...!
8.6 Mile Run in the Albany Pine Bush
Thursday, September 21, 2017
My original plan for today was to head over to northwestern MA and run/hike some of the trails at Savoy & Monroe State Forests... except I ended up not getting enough sleep last night and decided that 14-15 miles up and down Berkshire hills plus well over 3 1/2 hours of driving was not a good choice for today's agenda. So instead I decided to keep it local and went to the Albany Pine Bush instead.
Given the heat I should have carried two water bottles and I definitely should have brought along some food - I started getting hungry by the time I made it to DiCaprio Park. I had hoped to top off my water bottle there but the bathrooms were locked and I wasn't sure if I should trust the outside faucet to be potable.
Lots of changes to the Pine Bush trails, both in terms of re-routes and even more clearing out all but a few trees. When I first started running there 15 years ago or so, many of the trails were pleasantly shaded and surrounded by woods. Those are increasingly in the minority, and I wouldn't be surprised if they pretty much disappear in a few more years as the Pine Bush Commission fulfills its goal of returning as much of the preserve as possible to meadow conditions.
JMH
8.6 Mile Run in the Albany Pine Bush
Thursday, September 21, 2017
My original plan for today was to head over to northwestern MA and run/hike some of the trails at Savoy & Monroe State Forests... except I ended up not getting enough sleep last night and decided that 14-15 miles up and down Berkshire hills plus well over 3 1/2 hours of driving was not a good choice for today's agenda. So instead I decided to keep it local and went to the Albany Pine Bush instead.
Given the heat I should have carried two water bottles and I definitely should have brought along some food - I started getting hungry by the time I made it to DiCaprio Park. I had hoped to top off my water bottle there but the bathrooms were locked and I wasn't sure if I should trust the outside faucet to be potable.
Lots of changes to the Pine Bush trails, both in terms of re-routes and even more clearing out all but a few trees. When I first started running there 15 years ago or so, many of the trails were pleasantly shaded and surrounded by woods. Those are increasingly in the minority, and I wouldn't be surprised if they pretty much disappear in a few more years as the Pine Bush Commission fulfills its goal of returning as much of the preserve as possible to meadow conditions.
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Monday, September 11, 2017
RACING SUNSET
20.5 Mile Ride on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Monday, September 11, 2017
The weather forecast indicated that this might be the last sunny afternoon/evening this week, so I sucked it up and took the bike over to Pittsfield to ride the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. Unfortunately I left the house later than I'd hoped (I really should have taken everything to work and left straight from there), didn't realize how much rush hour traffic would slow me down both in Albany and driving through Pittsfield to the trailhead, and forgot that now that it's essentially fall, sunset is happening earlier and earlier - by the time I got there and geared up, I had about 100 minutes of riding time before sunset. No problem, since I'd remembered to pack a light - except I'd forgotten that I took the handlebar mount off the bike for the summer, when I almost never need a light...
So instead of a relaxed ride through the woods and wetlands and along the shore of the Cheshire Reservoir, I found myself pushing as hard as I could to try to cover as much of the trail as I could before sunset. As I headed north, I pretty much figured I would turn around before the steeper hill down into Adams... but once I got there, the thought of driving all that way to ride a little over 8 miles was too much, and I ended up going all the way to Harmony Street, about a mile before the end of the trail at the Adams Visitor Center. And then I cursed myself out for doing so as I crawled back up the hill I had just ridden down at a snail's pace... my legs were definitely feeling the effects of Saturday's runs and yesterday's running, walking, and riding.
In the end I made it back to the car a little after sunset, with plenty of light to see... I briefly thought that maybe I should have pushed a bit further and gone all the way to the northern end of the trail, but that would have added another 10-15 minutes to the ride, and that might have been all I needed to end up riding the last mile or so in the dark... so I made the right choice to turn around when I did.
The next time I ride this trail, I hope I can do so when I have more time to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Though I did spot a couple of beaver swimming in the reservoir, which was pretty neat.
JMH
20.5 Mile Ride on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Monday, September 11, 2017
The weather forecast indicated that this might be the last sunny afternoon/evening this week, so I sucked it up and took the bike over to Pittsfield to ride the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. Unfortunately I left the house later than I'd hoped (I really should have taken everything to work and left straight from there), didn't realize how much rush hour traffic would slow me down both in Albany and driving through Pittsfield to the trailhead, and forgot that now that it's essentially fall, sunset is happening earlier and earlier - by the time I got there and geared up, I had about 100 minutes of riding time before sunset. No problem, since I'd remembered to pack a light - except I'd forgotten that I took the handlebar mount off the bike for the summer, when I almost never need a light...
So instead of a relaxed ride through the woods and wetlands and along the shore of the Cheshire Reservoir, I found myself pushing as hard as I could to try to cover as much of the trail as I could before sunset. As I headed north, I pretty much figured I would turn around before the steeper hill down into Adams... but once I got there, the thought of driving all that way to ride a little over 8 miles was too much, and I ended up going all the way to Harmony Street, about a mile before the end of the trail at the Adams Visitor Center. And then I cursed myself out for doing so as I crawled back up the hill I had just ridden down at a snail's pace... my legs were definitely feeling the effects of Saturday's runs and yesterday's running, walking, and riding.
In the end I made it back to the car a little after sunset, with plenty of light to see... I briefly thought that maybe I should have pushed a bit further and gone all the way to the northern end of the trail, but that would have added another 10-15 minutes to the ride, and that might have been all I needed to end up riding the last mile or so in the dark... so I made the right choice to turn around when I did.
The next time I ride this trail, I hope I can do so when I have more time to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Though I did spot a couple of beaver swimming in the reservoir, which was pretty neat.
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Saturday, September 09, 2017
Friday, September 08, 2017
0.8 Mile Walk at Ooms PCA
Friday, September 8, 2017
A nice quiet walk at dusk, and I haven't been to Ooms nearly often enough over the last year... but originally I would not have gotten here before dark.
I had planned to ride through the Corning Preserve and maybe get some shots of the tugboat procession up the Hudson to the annual Waterford Tugboat Roundup this weekend - and even went down there in the light rain that was falling. Except after making my way through the start of rush hour traffic in downtown Albany, I found the lots filled with cars parked for the Labor Day Parade that I had forgotten happens early this evening. And since I couldn't remember exactly what time that would be happening and didn't want to risk getting stuck waiting for everything to wrap up before I could go home - I just kept going and my hoped-for bike ride turned into a 35-40 min drive around the city. Bleah.
School starting back up again this week has definitely raised havoc with my running and riding. Hopefully I can get back into a more regular workout schedule soon, assuming my body adjusts to getting up at 5:30-6 AM every day again.
JMH
Friday, September 8, 2017
A nice quiet walk at dusk, and I haven't been to Ooms nearly often enough over the last year... but originally I would not have gotten here before dark.
I had planned to ride through the Corning Preserve and maybe get some shots of the tugboat procession up the Hudson to the annual Waterford Tugboat Roundup this weekend - and even went down there in the light rain that was falling. Except after making my way through the start of rush hour traffic in downtown Albany, I found the lots filled with cars parked for the Labor Day Parade that I had forgotten happens early this evening. And since I couldn't remember exactly what time that would be happening and didn't want to risk getting stuck waiting for everything to wrap up before I could go home - I just kept going and my hoped-for bike ride turned into a 35-40 min drive around the city. Bleah.
School starting back up again this week has definitely raised havoc with my running and riding. Hopefully I can get back into a more regular workout schedule soon, assuming my body adjusts to getting up at 5:30-6 AM every day again.
JMH
Wednesday, September 06, 2017
Monday, September 04, 2017
Sunday, September 03, 2017
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