WINTER WONDERLAND
1.9 Mile Snowshoe At Thacher Park
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Woke up to a bit under a foot of snow... at least I'd shoveled last night so clearing the walk was easier than it might have been. Didn't have to do much more than brush the car off to get out, though parking is going to be a mess if the city doesn't do something about the snow sooon.
I was really struck by how much I've missed Thacher this year... ordinarily I'd have gone there once a month or so to run, but this year I've only been there a couple of times to walk.
I bypassed Hop Field - too many XC skiers - and headed over to the lots near the park office, figuring I'd walk along the escarpment. No one there at all - a plus in terms of having the trail to myself - but a minus in that I was breaking trail the whole way out. So it was a slow slog.
I had planned to take the trail behind the Haile's Cave picnic area back, but breaking trail slowed me down too much and I didn't want to risk getting locked in. Instead I backtracked - definitely easier going than the way out.
One plus to all that unbroken snow - I wasn't even the slightest bit tempted to try any sort of running, so while today's walk was hard work, it wasn't my usual start to snowshoe season ("Geez, this is so much harder than I remember!") Hopefully the snow will stick around long enough for me to build up a bit more gradually and determine whether running on snowshoes is in the cards this season.
JMH
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Thursday, December 12, 2013
WELL, THIS IS DISAPPOINTING...
No Gail's Trail Run for the Turtle
Thursday, December 12, 2013
It's funny, really... I originally started running December's Gail's Trail Run because it was an opportunity to run the Leatherman's Loop course when there weren't 900-1000 other runners crammed onto a little over 6 miles of trail in the beautiful Ward Pound Ridge Reservation down in Westchester.... and was drawn back by the added appeal of running it in December, when sometimes there was snow on the ground and ice on the surface of the stream crossings. When the park managers denied the permit application and forced the RDs to move the race to Collis Huntington State Park in CT, I figured I'd run it once and that would be it. Except... I've been there three times now (the last two Decembers, and a one-shot March running that apparently established the current course) and have found that it's grown on me. I remember thinking during my first run there that it was kind of neat that the race was finally developing its own identity, rather than simply being "the winter Leatherman's." I think I was especially looking forward to doing it this weekend because this year my damn knee (and, in all honesty, my own issues with getting myself out the door) have kept me from many of my usual runs - and it seemed like an especially good way to wind down my year of very little running.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature has thrown a monkey wrench into the works, with anywhere from 6-12 inches of snow forecast for the area between Saturday and Sunday. Since much of the parking is done in the field next to the small dirt lot (not a possibility if there's more than a couple of inches of snow) the RD's decided to move the race up a day. Which means I no longer have a room reserved for the night before (a minor problem, I could probably get one) and more importantly the work I have scheduled for the Honda is now in direct conflict with the trip to CT. Factor in my anticipated semi-fried state after work tomorrow (it's been a long week) and the result is - I'm staying local this weekend. No race for me.
Sadly, about par for the course this year.
JMH
No Gail's Trail Run for the Turtle
Thursday, December 12, 2013
It's funny, really... I originally started running December's Gail's Trail Run because it was an opportunity to run the Leatherman's Loop course when there weren't 900-1000 other runners crammed onto a little over 6 miles of trail in the beautiful Ward Pound Ridge Reservation down in Westchester.... and was drawn back by the added appeal of running it in December, when sometimes there was snow on the ground and ice on the surface of the stream crossings. When the park managers denied the permit application and forced the RDs to move the race to Collis Huntington State Park in CT, I figured I'd run it once and that would be it. Except... I've been there three times now (the last two Decembers, and a one-shot March running that apparently established the current course) and have found that it's grown on me. I remember thinking during my first run there that it was kind of neat that the race was finally developing its own identity, rather than simply being "the winter Leatherman's." I think I was especially looking forward to doing it this weekend because this year my damn knee (and, in all honesty, my own issues with getting myself out the door) have kept me from many of my usual runs - and it seemed like an especially good way to wind down my year of very little running.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature has thrown a monkey wrench into the works, with anywhere from 6-12 inches of snow forecast for the area between Saturday and Sunday. Since much of the parking is done in the field next to the small dirt lot (not a possibility if there's more than a couple of inches of snow) the RD's decided to move the race up a day. Which means I no longer have a room reserved for the night before (a minor problem, I could probably get one) and more importantly the work I have scheduled for the Honda is now in direct conflict with the trip to CT. Factor in my anticipated semi-fried state after work tomorrow (it's been a long week) and the result is - I'm staying local this weekend. No race for me.
Sadly, about par for the course this year.
JMH
BRRR...
12.6 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Managed to get out of work while there was still daylight, so I bundled up and headed over to the bike path to try and get a little closer to that next century mark. Between snow in the forecast and some really cold temperatures sweeping in - it's not clear at all how many more times I'll get out to ride before the end of the year.
I was worried about the cold and wind so I really layered - two pairs of thermal tights below, a thermal shirt, pullover, fleece-lined jacket, and windbreaker up top, double neck/chin gaiter, and hat/180s under my helmet. I have to say, for the most part I was pretty darn toasty once I got going. Only points of trouble were my feet - even with thermal socks and the toe covers on my shoes, my toes froze - and my pinky fingers. Maybe I'll try doubling the socks next time...
Parts of the bike path were fairly clear, and parts had a light layer of snow - no problems there. No surprise, didn't run into too many other people out there and no one else on a bike.
It was just starting to get dark when I wrapped up - I would have loved to turn on my light and stay out for a few more miles, but my feet were just too darn cold.
Hopefully I can get out a few more times before the end of the year!
JMH
12.6 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Managed to get out of work while there was still daylight, so I bundled up and headed over to the bike path to try and get a little closer to that next century mark. Between snow in the forecast and some really cold temperatures sweeping in - it's not clear at all how many more times I'll get out to ride before the end of the year.
I was worried about the cold and wind so I really layered - two pairs of thermal tights below, a thermal shirt, pullover, fleece-lined jacket, and windbreaker up top, double neck/chin gaiter, and hat/180s under my helmet. I have to say, for the most part I was pretty darn toasty once I got going. Only points of trouble were my feet - even with thermal socks and the toe covers on my shoes, my toes froze - and my pinky fingers. Maybe I'll try doubling the socks next time...
Parts of the bike path were fairly clear, and parts had a light layer of snow - no problems there. No surprise, didn't run into too many other people out there and no one else on a bike.
It was just starting to get dark when I wrapped up - I would have loved to turn on my light and stay out for a few more miles, but my feet were just too darn cold.
Hopefully I can get out a few more times before the end of the year!
JMH
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT
3 Mile Walk Around the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
And after a positively sweltering day (the heat index was in the low 100's this afternoon) dark and stormy was definitely welcome, as it meant the cold front was finally moving in. Even the splatters of rain that made it past my umbrella felt good. Though it would have been nice to have a better view of the lightning that lit up the sky periodically.
Tomorrow it's supposed to be stormy for much of the day, so probably no riding then either... maybe I'll try a short slow run instead, since I overslept and missed the Barry Hopkins 3.8mi last Sunday at Olana. I'd like to get some sort of clue about where my knee is at before next weekend, so I can decide if I want to try either of the races I've looked at (the Red Apple 10k down in Kinderhook or the Falling Leaves 14k out in Utica.)
JMH
3 Mile Walk Around the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
And after a positively sweltering day (the heat index was in the low 100's this afternoon) dark and stormy was definitely welcome, as it meant the cold front was finally moving in. Even the splatters of rain that made it past my umbrella felt good. Though it would have been nice to have a better view of the lightning that lit up the sky periodically.
Tomorrow it's supposed to be stormy for much of the day, so probably no riding then either... maybe I'll try a short slow run instead, since I overslept and missed the Barry Hopkins 3.8mi last Sunday at Olana. I'd like to get some sort of clue about where my knee is at before next weekend, so I can decide if I want to try either of the races I've looked at (the Red Apple 10k down in Kinderhook or the Falling Leaves 14k out in Utica.)
JMH
Friday, February 22, 2013
A Snowshoe Race Cancelled Due To... Too Much Snow????
Friday, February 22, 2013
Well... that's what it looked like originally, when the forecast called for about a foot of snow in Hawley between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Good for snowshoeing, bad for parking at the SCA Americorps HQ that we get to use for the Moody Spring and Hallockville races.
While the forecast is now for a lot less snow, Sunday's race is still cancelled - MA DCR pulled the permit, on the grounds that they don't have anyone to plow the parking lot Sunday morning.
While I'm not particularly fond of the Hallockville Orchard race (it's mostly on snowmobile trail) I will still miss the chance to spend some time with my friends over in the forest in West Hawley. On the plus side - I can stay closer to home and get my backside out for a long run instead.
JMH
Friday, February 22, 2013
Well... that's what it looked like originally, when the forecast called for about a foot of snow in Hawley between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Good for snowshoeing, bad for parking at the SCA Americorps HQ that we get to use for the Moody Spring and Hallockville races.
While the forecast is now for a lot less snow, Sunday's race is still cancelled - MA DCR pulled the permit, on the grounds that they don't have anyone to plow the parking lot Sunday morning.
While I'm not particularly fond of the Hallockville Orchard race (it's mostly on snowmobile trail) I will still miss the chance to spend some time with my friends over in the forest in West Hawley. On the plus side - I can stay closer to home and get my backside out for a long run instead.
JMH
Sunday, February 17, 2013
COLD & WINDY
Sunday, February 17, 2013
I really wanted to go back out and take down the markings for the Moody Spring course today - mainly because it would have given me a longer snowshoe than I ever done before (I think my current max is somewhere around 9.5 miles) and I really need to be building distance if I want to have any hope of making it to the finish of the Big Island Marathon in a month... exactly a month... OK, I feel ill now.
But today started out cold - about 10-15 degrees colder than yesterday - and turned very, very windy. Cold I don't mind. Cold and windy, on the other hand, can literally be a killer combo. Today it was bad enough that I couldn't even convince myself to stop anywhere on the way home to go for a walk, on a wonderfully sunny day.
As I sit here and listen to the wind howl outside, I'm pretty sure I made the right decision.
JMH
Sunday, February 17, 2013
I really wanted to go back out and take down the markings for the Moody Spring course today - mainly because it would have given me a longer snowshoe than I ever done before (I think my current max is somewhere around 9.5 miles) and I really need to be building distance if I want to have any hope of making it to the finish of the Big Island Marathon in a month... exactly a month... OK, I feel ill now.
But today started out cold - about 10-15 degrees colder than yesterday - and turned very, very windy. Cold I don't mind. Cold and windy, on the other hand, can literally be a killer combo. Today it was bad enough that I couldn't even convince myself to stop anywhere on the way home to go for a walk, on a wonderfully sunny day.
As I sit here and listen to the wind howl outside, I'm pretty sure I made the right decision.
JMH
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
SIGH.
Wednesday, January 30, 3013
I was really hoping to run this evening... if for no other reason than it's always a kick to be running in shorts and shirt-sleeves in January, and tomorrow the temperature's supposed to drop back to more seasonable levels.
Except - when I got to the Madison Avenue Pinelands trailhead for the Pine Bush, I discovered that the trails are covered with ice - and I didn't have my screw shoes. I went a little ways in but quickly concluded that it was simply too treacherous. So I beat a careful retreat and figured I'd hit the bike path instead.
Except - because it was warm I wasn't wearing tights, and it started raining fairly steadily as I was driving over to the trailhead. It became apparent very quickly that I would end up pretty chilled if I ran in the rain, despite the much-warmer-than-normal temperatures.
So in the end - no run for me tonight, as a result of circumstances beyond my control (icy trails and the rain) and poor choices on my part (not having my screw shoes or a pair of tights with me.)
Hopefully tomorrow night will work out better - I really would rather not jump into the Cast A Shadow race on Saturday after having last run almost a week before...
JMH
Wednesday, January 30, 3013
I was really hoping to run this evening... if for no other reason than it's always a kick to be running in shorts and shirt-sleeves in January, and tomorrow the temperature's supposed to drop back to more seasonable levels.
Except - when I got to the Madison Avenue Pinelands trailhead for the Pine Bush, I discovered that the trails are covered with ice - and I didn't have my screw shoes. I went a little ways in but quickly concluded that it was simply too treacherous. So I beat a careful retreat and figured I'd hit the bike path instead.
Except - because it was warm I wasn't wearing tights, and it started raining fairly steadily as I was driving over to the trailhead. It became apparent very quickly that I would end up pretty chilled if I ran in the rain, despite the much-warmer-than-normal temperatures.
So in the end - no run for me tonight, as a result of circumstances beyond my control (icy trails and the rain) and poor choices on my part (not having my screw shoes or a pair of tights with me.)
Hopefully tomorrow night will work out better - I really would rather not jump into the Cast A Shadow race on Saturday after having last run almost a week before...
JMH
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
COLD RAIN... BLEAH!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I was hoping to keep some of the momentum I built up this weekend... but the last two evenings have been miserable, wet and cold. At least tomorrow it should be warm enough that even if it's raining I'll feel somewhat comfortable getting out for a run...
JMH
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I was hoping to keep some of the momentum I built up this weekend... but the last two evenings have been miserable, wet and cold. At least tomorrow it should be warm enough that even if it's raining I'll feel somewhat comfortable getting out for a run...
JMH
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Counting Blessings
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I said it last night, and I'll say it again - we're awfully darn lucky around here. Woke up this morning to no rain, a little wind, and later in the morning - sunshine. Meanwhile it's been raining out in Rochester for the last four days, and with very good reason the NYC/NJ area has been declared a major disaster zone.
Locally I've heard reports of isolated power outages but nothing like what everyone was concerned could happen. In fact I'm looking forward to taking advantage of our day off from school and going for what should be a very pleasant run this afternoon. Yes indeed, ample blessings to be counted in this neck of the woods.
JMH
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I said it last night, and I'll say it again - we're awfully darn lucky around here. Woke up this morning to no rain, a little wind, and later in the morning - sunshine. Meanwhile it's been raining out in Rochester for the last four days, and with very good reason the NYC/NJ area has been declared a major disaster zone.
Locally I've heard reports of isolated power outages but nothing like what everyone was concerned could happen. In fact I'm looking forward to taking advantage of our day off from school and going for what should be a very pleasant run this afternoon. Yes indeed, ample blessings to be counted in this neck of the woods.
JMH
Monday, October 29, 2012
The Rain Has Arrived...
Monday, October 29, 2012
... though so far not in the apocalyptic amounts people have feared, just a good soaking rain. I've cracked my bedroom window open so I can enjoy listening to it before I fall asleep.
And I'm grateful I can enjoy it... we've certainly got it much easier around here than the folks down in the NYC/NJ area, from what the news reports are saying.
JMH
Monday, October 29, 2012
... though so far not in the apocalyptic amounts people have feared, just a good soaking rain. I've cracked my bedroom window open so I can enjoy listening to it before I fall asleep.
And I'm grateful I can enjoy it... we've certainly got it much easier around here than the folks down in the NYC/NJ area, from what the news reports are saying.
JMH
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