14.6 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, March 30, 2017
It's hard to believe that a little more than a month ago I rode this same route in shorts and shirt-sleeves.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
AT LEAST THERE WAS SOME SUNSHINE...
16.8 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Woke up this morning and for the first time all week my quads didn't feel like they'd been beaten with a hammer. So naturally this afternoon I set about trying to change that by going on the windiest, hilliest, and longest ride so far this week.
It's amazing what a difference two days makes. I was able to ride the bike path from Lock 7 to just past the Colonie wastewater treatment plant and only had to dismount once. There were a couple of snow & ice covered stretches between there and Island View Rd (especially the hill down to the road, which gave me an excuse to walk it.) I probably could have gone further past Colonie Mohawk River Park, but I didn't want to overdo it anymore than I already was.
Hopefully this means the path west of Schenectady is mostly clear - that's where I'm hoping to ride tomnorrow.
JMH
16.8 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Woke up this morning and for the first time all week my quads didn't feel like they'd been beaten with a hammer. So naturally this afternoon I set about trying to change that by going on the windiest, hilliest, and longest ride so far this week.
It's amazing what a difference two days makes. I was able to ride the bike path from Lock 7 to just past the Colonie wastewater treatment plant and only had to dismount once. There were a couple of snow & ice covered stretches between there and Island View Rd (especially the hill down to the road, which gave me an excuse to walk it.) I probably could have gone further past Colonie Mohawk River Park, but I didn't want to overdo it anymore than I already was.
Hopefully this means the path west of Schenectady is mostly clear - that's where I'm hoping to ride tomnorrow.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Long Distance 2017 - Race #4
Brrr-lingame 5mi Trail Race
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Ugh. One of the hazards of the Brrr-lingame course is that it's a 5 mile loop that 10 milers complete twice, meaning it's really easy to stop after 5 miles. Of course that may have been a real plus today given how dead my legs were feeling... no muscle, just concrete. I started out hoping they'd wake up after 2-3 miles but nope... they just got worse. So I chose discretion over valor, especially seeing as I have a point-to-point half marathon to run tomorrow...
A real shame too, because other than grey skies it was a great morning for a run... shirtsleeves warmth and not a bit of snow in sight. The trails weren't even particularly muddy.
I'd be kicking myself for coming all the way out here to run a 5 mile race except - this afternoon I'll make a visit to Trustom Pond and the Branford Trolley Trail (aka the Shoreline Greenway Trail) before I head to northeastern PA for tomorrow's half. Which, if today is anything to go by, will be very slow going indeed. (Fortunately there's a marathon going on at the same time, so I shouldn't run into any issues with the finish line closing down before I'm done.)
JMH
2017 Event Totals
Run 56.3 mi, 14 hr 37 min
Bike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 30.0 mi, 10 hr 16 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
states visited: CT, MA, NY, RI, VT
Brrr-lingame 5mi Trail Race
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Ugh. One of the hazards of the Brrr-lingame course is that it's a 5 mile loop that 10 milers complete twice, meaning it's really easy to stop after 5 miles. Of course that may have been a real plus today given how dead my legs were feeling... no muscle, just concrete. I started out hoping they'd wake up after 2-3 miles but nope... they just got worse. So I chose discretion over valor, especially seeing as I have a point-to-point half marathon to run tomorrow...
A real shame too, because other than grey skies it was a great morning for a run... shirtsleeves warmth and not a bit of snow in sight. The trails weren't even particularly muddy.
I'd be kicking myself for coming all the way out here to run a 5 mile race except - this afternoon I'll make a visit to Trustom Pond and the Branford Trolley Trail (aka the Shoreline Greenway Trail) before I head to northeastern PA for tomorrow's half. Which, if today is anything to go by, will be very slow going indeed. (Fortunately there's a marathon going on at the same time, so I shouldn't run into any issues with the finish line closing down before I'm done.)
JMH
2017 Event Totals
Run 56.3 mi, 14 hr 37 min
Bike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 30.0 mi, 10 hr 16 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
states visited: CT, MA, NY, RI, VT
Friday, March 24, 2017
SNOW-FREE TRAILS & AMOROUS WOODCOCKS
4.6 Mile Run at Bluff Point State Park
Friday, March 24, 2017
Bluff Point is one of those places where I just enjoy running... that's one of the reasons I try to get down there for the annual Twilight Trail Race whenever I can. And while going for a run tonight might not have been the brightest plan (tough ride yesterday and two races over the next two days...) - how could I resist, when I'd be staying at my usual motel a mere 15 min away?
Slow going overall, with me walking just about anything resembling an uphill... but regardless it was wonderful to once again be on trails that aren't covered with snow! It was grey and chilly so not too many other people around, and by the time I was wrapping up the sun had set, so I was treated to the courtship sounds of at least half a dozen woodcocks over the last half to 3/4 of a mile. Presumably we'll start hearing them in our neck of the woods soon.
JMH
4.6 Mile Run at Bluff Point State Park
Friday, March 24, 2017
Bluff Point is one of those places where I just enjoy running... that's one of the reasons I try to get down there for the annual Twilight Trail Race whenever I can. And while going for a run tonight might not have been the brightest plan (tough ride yesterday and two races over the next two days...) - how could I resist, when I'd be staying at my usual motel a mere 15 min away?
Slow going overall, with me walking just about anything resembling an uphill... but regardless it was wonderful to once again be on trails that aren't covered with snow! It was grey and chilly so not too many other people around, and by the time I was wrapping up the sun had set, so I was treated to the courtship sounds of at least half a dozen woodcocks over the last half to 3/4 of a mile. Presumably we'll start hearing them in our neck of the woods soon.
JMH
Thursday, March 23, 2017
21 Mile Ride Through Schodack Island State Park & Along Rt 9J
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Not as bad as yesterday but still pretty chilly for late March - and the headwind on the way back was a pain. Schodack Island was pretty quiet when I got there, slightly busier when I returned. Traffic on 9J was light, and I suspect most riders would say it's flat with some rolling sections... what can I say, they felt like hills to me! Made it all the way down to the Swyer Preserve, and on the way back did a short stretch up to Castleton-on-the-Hudson. Back in the park I noticed that the camping loops were plowed, so I rode both of them and ended up with an additional mile and a half of easy riding.
Spotted was I think is an eagle's nest on the shore of Schodack Island from 9J - there were a couple of large birds soaring nearby but the angle and brightness of the Sun made it extremely difficult to get decent pictures, since I could barely see the camera screen. What I did manage to get looks like an immature bald eagle to me...
Since I'll be heading out of town tomorrow no more riding until at least next Monday... at this rate, March is going to turn out to be my least productive month on the bike, which is ironic considering that in theory it should be warmer than it was in January and February (nope) with most of the snow gone (nope) plus I have two weeks off and can actually get out during the day instead of after work. Maybe next week will be better... or next month...
JMH
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Not as bad as yesterday but still pretty chilly for late March - and the headwind on the way back was a pain. Schodack Island was pretty quiet when I got there, slightly busier when I returned. Traffic on 9J was light, and I suspect most riders would say it's flat with some rolling sections... what can I say, they felt like hills to me! Made it all the way down to the Swyer Preserve, and on the way back did a short stretch up to Castleton-on-the-Hudson. Back in the park I noticed that the camping loops were plowed, so I rode both of them and ended up with an additional mile and a half of easy riding.
Spotted was I think is an eagle's nest on the shore of Schodack Island from 9J - there were a couple of large birds soaring nearby but the angle and brightness of the Sun made it extremely difficult to get decent pictures, since I could barely see the camera screen. What I did manage to get looks like an immature bald eagle to me...
Since I'll be heading out of town tomorrow no more riding until at least next Monday... at this rate, March is going to turn out to be my least productive month on the bike, which is ironic considering that in theory it should be warmer than it was in January and February (nope) with most of the snow gone (nope) plus I have two weeks off and can actually get out during the day instead of after work. Maybe next week will be better... or next month...
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Monday, March 20, 2017
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
STILL A MESS...
2.9 Mile Walk Along Snow-Clogged Streets
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Spent about an hour this morning unburying my car to the point where I should be able to get it out if I decide to drive to work tomorrow instead of walking. I definitely need to get back to doing some upper body work. All told I'd guess we got somewhere right around 2 feet of snow, and if the long-term forecast is correct we don't have any warm sunny days coming up any time soon to melt it all, so I suspect it's going to hang around for a while. Bleah!
Most of the sidewalks around here still aren't cleared, so when I went out this afternoon I ended up walking in the road a lot initially - not as pleasant with the increased traffic today, especially given how fast some of the morons were driving. My first stop was the Post Office, and thankfully once I got over by Main Street I had sidewalks to walk on most of the way. Along the way I was surprised to hear and then see a pair of pileated woodpeckers knocking away on a tree, right on Main Street. Then again, I once saw a turkey a couple of blocks from here and years ago the DEC had to remove a black bear from a tree about a mile or so away, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised.
More hopping on and off the sidewalk as I went from the Post Office to Price Chopper (sorry, "Market 32") to pick up something for dinner. One thing that became very clear is that the side streets (like the one I live on) have received the least plowing and are real mess, with both packed and churned-up snow (plus the snow people are pushing off their vehicles into the street, idiots!) I saw numerous cars stuck and helped push one out of the patch of snow that had it spinning the wheels (and convinced the driver to go a different way, since she probably would have gotten stuck again 100 feet down the street.) Hopefully the city will do something about that during the upcoming snow emergency.
I took the unusual (for me) route of Madison Ave to get home, reasoning that St Rose would have their sidewalks cleared fairly well, and I was right - it only got messy when I headed back to my street, where I ended up walking in the road again.
I would be happy to be heading to Rochester for a few days if not for the fact that they also got 2 feet of snow - there's no escaping it! Guess I'll be packing the snowshoes and skis which I barely used over the past two winters, and running mostly on pavement for the time being.
JMH
2.9 Mile Walk Along Snow-Clogged Streets
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Spent about an hour this morning unburying my car to the point where I should be able to get it out if I decide to drive to work tomorrow instead of walking. I definitely need to get back to doing some upper body work. All told I'd guess we got somewhere right around 2 feet of snow, and if the long-term forecast is correct we don't have any warm sunny days coming up any time soon to melt it all, so I suspect it's going to hang around for a while. Bleah!
Most of the sidewalks around here still aren't cleared, so when I went out this afternoon I ended up walking in the road a lot initially - not as pleasant with the increased traffic today, especially given how fast some of the morons were driving. My first stop was the Post Office, and thankfully once I got over by Main Street I had sidewalks to walk on most of the way. Along the way I was surprised to hear and then see a pair of pileated woodpeckers knocking away on a tree, right on Main Street. Then again, I once saw a turkey a couple of blocks from here and years ago the DEC had to remove a black bear from a tree about a mile or so away, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised.
More hopping on and off the sidewalk as I went from the Post Office to Price Chopper (sorry, "Market 32") to pick up something for dinner. One thing that became very clear is that the side streets (like the one I live on) have received the least plowing and are real mess, with both packed and churned-up snow (plus the snow people are pushing off their vehicles into the street, idiots!) I saw numerous cars stuck and helped push one out of the patch of snow that had it spinning the wheels (and convinced the driver to go a different way, since she probably would have gotten stuck again 100 feet down the street.) Hopefully the city will do something about that during the upcoming snow emergency.
I took the unusual (for me) route of Madison Ave to get home, reasoning that St Rose would have their sidewalks cleared fairly well, and I was right - it only got messy when I headed back to my street, where I ended up walking in the road again.
I would be happy to be heading to Rochester for a few days if not for the fact that they also got 2 feet of snow - there's no escaping it! Guess I'll be packing the snowshoes and skis which I barely used over the past two winters, and running mostly on pavement for the time being.
JMH
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
ALL OF WINTER IN A DAY (OR TWO)
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
So far I've shoveled twice today, about 10 inches of snow each time, and it doesn't seem to be easing up that much. By the time this storm is done we'll have gotten more snow than Albany has had for the last two winters combined.
I went out for a short walk... tried walking on the sidewalks but most are still uncleared, so I quickly got tired of post-holing and walked in the road. That wasn't much easier - apparently my street hasn't been plowed for at least several hours. Ended up walking a loop on one-way streets where I could walk again traffic and keep an eye out for the few cars that are on the road at the moment. It's a real mess out there, and I doubt it's going to get any better as people dig out their cars and sidewalks and have nowhere to put the snow.
JMH
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
So far I've shoveled twice today, about 10 inches of snow each time, and it doesn't seem to be easing up that much. By the time this storm is done we'll have gotten more snow than Albany has had for the last two winters combined.
I went out for a short walk... tried walking on the sidewalks but most are still uncleared, so I quickly got tired of post-holing and walked in the road. That wasn't much easier - apparently my street hasn't been plowed for at least several hours. Ended up walking a loop on one-way streets where I could walk again traffic and keep an eye out for the few cars that are on the road at the moment. It's a real mess out there, and I doubt it's going to get any better as people dig out their cars and sidewalks and have nowhere to put the snow.
JMH
Monday, March 13, 2017
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Season of the SnōShū 2017 - Race #10 & Race #11
Northeast Championships 5k Snowshoe Race
Northeast Championships 10k Snowshoe Race
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Wrapped up a mostly unsatisfying snowshoe season with not one but two races today at Prospect Nordic in VT. I was able to do both races because the lousy snow conditions forced the RD to abandon his original 10k route that would have climbed up and up and up and up and go with a "gentler" route that still had snow when he first started prepping it early last week. Of course what's gentle for Tim Van Orden still involves me working my tail off to get to the end, and today was complicated by the fact that much of the snow had given way to ice by today (and what was still snow was frozen fairly solid.) Add in temperatures in the single digits and a brisk wind on parts of the course that kept me cold even through multiple layers and you have perfect conditions for me to (1) consider bailing after the 5k to just head home and go for a run on some nice frozen-dirt trails (obviously I didn't) and (2) walk most of the 2nd loop of the 10k when my feet started complaining about my "snowshoeing" on a surface with the consistency of concrete for 6+ miles (with three more to go.)
Can't say my times were anything to write home about (a number of the 10k front runners finished before I even made it around the 1st lap of that race) but I did gut it out and make it to the end despite a number of opportunities to say "screw it" and drop out. And by being one of only three runners in the 5k I managed to be first male to finish (it was actually a near thing... if there hadn't been a couple of short but steep climbs in the last mile the guy behind me probably would have finished ahead of me, since he took the lead for much of the 2nd mile) for the first time (and likely the last time) in my racing career.
Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that we don't get much snow on Tuesday... I'd really like to put the snowshoes away until next December.
JMH
2017 Event Totals
Run 42.0 mi, 11 hr 20 min
Bike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 30.0 mi, 10 hr 16 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
states visited: CT, MA, NY, VT
Northeast Championships 5k Snowshoe Race
Northeast Championships 10k Snowshoe Race
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Wrapped up a mostly unsatisfying snowshoe season with not one but two races today at Prospect Nordic in VT. I was able to do both races because the lousy snow conditions forced the RD to abandon his original 10k route that would have climbed up and up and up and up and go with a "gentler" route that still had snow when he first started prepping it early last week. Of course what's gentle for Tim Van Orden still involves me working my tail off to get to the end, and today was complicated by the fact that much of the snow had given way to ice by today (and what was still snow was frozen fairly solid.) Add in temperatures in the single digits and a brisk wind on parts of the course that kept me cold even through multiple layers and you have perfect conditions for me to (1) consider bailing after the 5k to just head home and go for a run on some nice frozen-dirt trails (obviously I didn't) and (2) walk most of the 2nd loop of the 10k when my feet started complaining about my "snowshoeing" on a surface with the consistency of concrete for 6+ miles (with three more to go.)
Can't say my times were anything to write home about (a number of the 10k front runners finished before I even made it around the 1st lap of that race) but I did gut it out and make it to the end despite a number of opportunities to say "screw it" and drop out. And by being one of only three runners in the 5k I managed to be first male to finish (it was actually a near thing... if there hadn't been a couple of short but steep climbs in the last mile the guy behind me probably would have finished ahead of me, since he took the lead for much of the 2nd mile) for the first time (and likely the last time) in my racing career.
Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that we don't get much snow on Tuesday... I'd really like to put the snowshoes away until next December.
JMH
2017 Event Totals
Run 42.0 mi, 11 hr 20 min
Bike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 30.0 mi, 10 hr 16 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
states visited: CT, MA, NY, VT
Saturday, March 11, 2017
8.6 Mile Run at the Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Another bitterly cold day, which made it tough to get out the door - though it helped that I'd run last Saturday and enjoyed it a lot. I ended up going to Vischer Ferry on the grounds that (1) the mud would be frozen and (2) the construction crew working on the "towpath restoration" (really, converting existing towpath into smoother stone dust road and extending it over to the Northway) wouldn't be there on the weekend, so I could check out what they've done so far.
Very few cars at the main parking lot by the Whipple bridge, probably due to the cold and wind. I started out heading east and a short distance beyond the remains of Clute's Drydock found the new bridge, which I crossed so that I could follow the rough-surface towpath to Towpath Rd. I ran a short distance on the paved road past the Twin Bridges and then headed back to the car so I could drop off my waist pack.
From there I looped through the woods and fields a bit until coming out on the towpath just east of the old lock. Kept on west, did a loop through the field, and decided that Ferry Rd was too ambitious, so I headed back to the car.
While the cold was helpful in freezing the mud and reducing the number of people there, it also meant that much of the water was frozen over, so there were only a couple of spots where I saw ducks and geese (including, I think, a few ring-necked ducks.) I did see lots of signs of beavers (chewed trees.)
It would be great to get back here in warmer weather, after the mud has dried up somewhat but before the bugs become unbearable.
JMH
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Another bitterly cold day, which made it tough to get out the door - though it helped that I'd run last Saturday and enjoyed it a lot. I ended up going to Vischer Ferry on the grounds that (1) the mud would be frozen and (2) the construction crew working on the "towpath restoration" (really, converting existing towpath into smoother stone dust road and extending it over to the Northway) wouldn't be there on the weekend, so I could check out what they've done so far.
Very few cars at the main parking lot by the Whipple bridge, probably due to the cold and wind. I started out heading east and a short distance beyond the remains of Clute's Drydock found the new bridge, which I crossed so that I could follow the rough-surface towpath to Towpath Rd. I ran a short distance on the paved road past the Twin Bridges and then headed back to the car so I could drop off my waist pack.
From there I looped through the woods and fields a bit until coming out on the towpath just east of the old lock. Kept on west, did a loop through the field, and decided that Ferry Rd was too ambitious, so I headed back to the car.
While the cold was helpful in freezing the mud and reducing the number of people there, it also meant that much of the water was frozen over, so there were only a couple of spots where I saw ducks and geese (including, I think, a few ring-necked ducks.) I did see lots of signs of beavers (chewed trees.)
It would be great to get back here in warmer weather, after the mud has dried up somewhat but before the bugs become unbearable.
JMH
Thursday, March 09, 2017
WINDY & COLD
14.5 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Tough going tonight, due to a stiff wind blowing from the west (ie. headwinds for half the ride.) That also had the effect of making it feel a good deal colder than the low 40's of the actual air temperature - I ended up wishing I'd worn my heavier tights and an even warmer thermal shirt. It's hard to believe that when I rode this same route two weeks ago it was 30 degrees warmer!
As I was loading the bike on the car at Lock 8 a huge dark bird appeared out over the river - I'm pretty sure it was a juvenile eagle. Unfortunately I had already put my camera in the car, so by the time I grabbed it the bird was no longer in sight.
JMH
14.5 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Tough going tonight, due to a stiff wind blowing from the west (ie. headwinds for half the ride.) That also had the effect of making it feel a good deal colder than the low 40's of the actual air temperature - I ended up wishing I'd worn my heavier tights and an even warmer thermal shirt. It's hard to believe that when I rode this same route two weeks ago it was 30 degrees warmer!
As I was loading the bike on the car at Lock 8 a huge dark bird appeared out over the river - I'm pretty sure it was a juvenile eagle. Unfortunately I had already put my camera in the car, so by the time I grabbed it the bird was no longer in sight.
JMH
TOUGH (BUT SMART) DECISION
Thursday, March 9, 2017
As much as I would enjoy running the Belleville Pond 10k Saturday morning... now that Sunday's snowshoe races are definitely happening, I don't think a trip to RI makes sense. It's one thing to do the 6+ hour round trip for a race and then visits to a bunch of the parks and wildlife refuges down that way... it's quite another to do it for a race that will take me approximately 1/4 of that time to finish. I'll be much better off having a more relaxed Friday evening and Saturday.
Sigh. Sometimes it sucks to be sensible.
JMH
Thursday, March 9, 2017
As much as I would enjoy running the Belleville Pond 10k Saturday morning... now that Sunday's snowshoe races are definitely happening, I don't think a trip to RI makes sense. It's one thing to do the 6+ hour round trip for a race and then visits to a bunch of the parks and wildlife refuges down that way... it's quite another to do it for a race that will take me approximately 1/4 of that time to finish. I'll be much better off having a more relaxed Friday evening and Saturday.
Sigh. Sometimes it sucks to be sensible.
JMH
Wednesday, March 08, 2017
MUD, ICE, MUD, A BEAVER, MUD, OWLS, MUD, COYOTES, & MUD
6.8 Mile Run at Thacher Park
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Tough going tonight... a few spots where there was still ice left, but mostly mud, mud, and more mud. Add in the fact that Daylight Savings Time doesn't start until Sunday morning (so that I had to cover several miles in the dark) and you've got - slow going, at least for me.
But also some great treats for braving Thacher during muddy March - a beaver in the pond that's a little ways in from Ryan Rd. A waxing gibbous moon rising as the Sun set, and lighting everything up later on whenever I shut my headlamp off. Two very loud barred owls calling at two different locations. Possibly a group of coyotes yipping and yowling off in the distance. And the peacefulness of the Hailes Cave picnic area in the dark on a late winter evening.
Slow going, but well worth the time spent.
JMH
6.8 Mile Run at Thacher Park
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Tough going tonight... a few spots where there was still ice left, but mostly mud, mud, and more mud. Add in the fact that Daylight Savings Time doesn't start until Sunday morning (so that I had to cover several miles in the dark) and you've got - slow going, at least for me.
But also some great treats for braving Thacher during muddy March - a beaver in the pond that's a little ways in from Ryan Rd. A waxing gibbous moon rising as the Sun set, and lighting everything up later on whenever I shut my headlamp off. Two very loud barred owls calling at two different locations. Possibly a group of coyotes yipping and yowling off in the distance. And the peacefulness of the Hailes Cave picnic area in the dark on a late winter evening.
Slow going, but well worth the time spent.
JMH
Sunday, March 05, 2017
11.7 Mile Ride Through the Corning Preserve & Schuyler Flatts Cultural Park
Sunday, March 5, 2017
A little warmer in Albany but still pretty chilly, and the breeze was tough... once again not too many people out and about today, and I don't know that I can blame them... we've really been spoiled by all the warm weather we've had recently.
JMH
Sunday, March 5, 2017
A little warmer in Albany but still pretty chilly, and the breeze was tough... once again not too many people out and about today, and I don't know that I can blame them... we've really been spoiled by all the warm weather we've had recently.
JMH
Saturday, March 04, 2017
A COLD BUT GORGEOUS MORNING
5.8 Mile Run at Onondaga Lake Park
Saturday, March 4, 2017
I really dragged my heels getting out the door this morning, and in some ways that might have been just as well, because I'd been planning to head over to Green Lakes... but since I got a very late start I decided to go to Onondaga Lake Park instead, since it was about 15 minutes closer.
I was really surprised to find no one else in the parking areas, and it wasn't until I'd been out for a while that I encountered other runners and walkers. Which was great in a way because despite it being cold it was a beautiful sunny morning, with a dusting of snow on everything... I really wish I'd brought my camera with me. Lots of geese, gulls, and ducks... the geese were mostly hunkered down, probably to minimize the effect of the wind. At the southern end there was a large raft of ducks out on the lake - some sort of divers, probably ring-necked, though that's totally a guess since I couldn't see them very well.
The run back was a little less pleasant, turns out I had the wind at my back all the way out so heading back was a good deal colder, but nothing too bad - I've run in colder conditions, and I was dressed fairly well. Still, between the cold and the fact that Ann had probably already gotten to the hotel, I called it a morning when I got back to the car.
JMH
5.8 Mile Run at Onondaga Lake Park
Saturday, March 4, 2017
I really dragged my heels getting out the door this morning, and in some ways that might have been just as well, because I'd been planning to head over to Green Lakes... but since I got a very late start I decided to go to Onondaga Lake Park instead, since it was about 15 minutes closer.
I was really surprised to find no one else in the parking areas, and it wasn't until I'd been out for a while that I encountered other runners and walkers. Which was great in a way because despite it being cold it was a beautiful sunny morning, with a dusting of snow on everything... I really wish I'd brought my camera with me. Lots of geese, gulls, and ducks... the geese were mostly hunkered down, probably to minimize the effect of the wind. At the southern end there was a large raft of ducks out on the lake - some sort of divers, probably ring-necked, though that's totally a guess since I couldn't see them very well.
The run back was a little less pleasant, turns out I had the wind at my back all the way out so heading back was a good deal colder, but nothing too bad - I've run in colder conditions, and I was dressed fairly well. Still, between the cold and the fact that Ann had probably already gotten to the hotel, I called it a morning when I got back to the car.
JMH
Friday, March 03, 2017
HOLY $&#**!! IT'S COLD!
Friday, March 3, 2017
There's some sort of arctic air mass paying a quick visit to the area for a couple of days, which means cold temperatures with vicious wind chills. Tomorrow morning the wind chill is supposed to be down around -8 degrees F! (And this idiot is supposed to go for a run... at least I'm not signed up for any races.) Realistically, this isn't that crazy for winter in eastern and central NYS... except of course we've been enjoying strings of days with temperatures in the 50's-70's, and the contrast is brutal.
JMH
Friday, March 3, 2017
There's some sort of arctic air mass paying a quick visit to the area for a couple of days, which means cold temperatures with vicious wind chills. Tomorrow morning the wind chill is supposed to be down around -8 degrees F! (And this idiot is supposed to go for a run... at least I'm not signed up for any races.) Realistically, this isn't that crazy for winter in eastern and central NYS... except of course we've been enjoying strings of days with temperatures in the 50's-70's, and the contrast is brutal.
JMH
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