Monday, 1/23: It's finals week, and I had way too much to do today. No running.
Tuesday 1/24: Still no running. It looks pretty slick outside.
Wednesday 1/25: It is slick outside! I finally managed to get away from the building early enough for a run in the Dishman Hills; I thought that the footing might be better on the trails. Ha! At least I only fell once. It was slow going the rest of the time. I think I should be able to claim an additional mile for all of the backwards and sideways sliding I did in the snow and on the ice. Total: 3.5 miles.
Thursday 1/26: I thought it might be better on Centennial Trail since it gets more sun and the temperatures have been warmer the past few days. Instead it was a solid sheet of ice! I cut the run short--I'll have to wait for safer conditions! Total: 3 miles.
Friday 1/27: Last day of finals and too much work to do! I stayed at the school until after dark getting everything together for the new semester, so I guess it will be another day without running. I wasn't really sure where I could go running anyway--it's still so slick everywhere!
Saturday 1/28: Today I went Alpine skiing, so no countable mileage for the day, but at least I got outside and did something for a change. We skinned up Angel Peak for the first run, but it was a little crusty on top and we didn't go back. In fact, it was pretty crusty on top on all of the runs. I felt a little off with my skiing--I guess that's what comes of hardly ever getting out on my skis! It was only my second day of Alpine skiing of the winter, and my first time on my own skis since I used the demo equipment last time. I think the demo telemark skis were easier than my own AT skis, but hopefully that was just the ski conditions.
Sunday, 1/29: Today I ran from home and did an out-and-back on one of the dead-end roads in my neighborhood. It's interesting to see the reaction of the neighbors to a person running on a road that never sees any traffic, especially not foot traffic. The first person I saw was near my turnaround spot--he was driving a tractor and clearing snow off of the road. When he saw me he completely stopped what he was doing and just watched me. To be honest, I intended to run a little farther up the road, but the staring was a little weird so I turned around. I waved first, and he didn't wave back--so I decided perhaps that was far enough. Then on the way back down I saw one person standing at her window just watching me run by. I think they think I'm crazy; perhaps I am! Total: 4 miles.
Weekly totals: 10.5 running miles. I need to do better than this!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Finally some snow!
Monday, 1/16: This was the only good run of the week. I started at my parents' house and ran up Antoine Peak and back. Blaze came along as my running buddy. We made it almost all the way to the top; the crew that's building the new tower was working today despite the holiday, and I didn't want to get in the way of anyone driving heavy equipment. Approximately 6 miles.
Tuesday, 1/17: I had kids in for makeup work immediately after school, and then I had to get home early to get ready for the FRA annual meeting.
Wednesday, 1/18: It snowed like crazy all day long. I was hoping to ski around campus a little after work, but the snow was too fine; I was afraid I'd damage the skis. I decided to forget it and make the drive home before it got dark instead.
Thursday, 1/19: Tonight I did ski around the school! I put on my older pair of skate skis and skied behind the school, did a couple laps on the track, and then went out on the football practice field. It was actually too deep for good skating; maybe I should have tried it on Wednesday. I also didn't stay out very long because I wanted to get home while it was still light outside. Approximately 2 miles, ski.
Friday, 1/20: Mom and dad wanted some help moving things tonight, so I went to their house after work and took Blaze out for skijoring on the field while I waited for Joe to show up to help with the moving. We only made around one perimeter before Joe arrived, but Blaze was happy to get out and play a little, even if it was a short trip. Approximately 1 mile, ski.
Saturday, 1/21: I graded papers most of the day, but escaped for the 3-mile Foothills Fun Run route in the afternoon. It was sunny out, which was nice! It was also quite icy. In the evening Joe and Courtney had a sledding party so I also got some hill repeats in while running back to the top of the sledding hill. 3 mile run.
Sunday, 1/22: Today I went to Mount Spokane to skate. The grooming wasn't great today, so I revised my original route plan and just did Shadow Mountain. It was nice to get out and ski hard for a change; this is the first time I've had my newer skate skis out on the mountain this season. 6 mile ski.
Weekly totals: 9 miles running; 9 miles Nordic skiing
Tuesday, 1/17: I had kids in for makeup work immediately after school, and then I had to get home early to get ready for the FRA annual meeting.
Wednesday, 1/18: It snowed like crazy all day long. I was hoping to ski around campus a little after work, but the snow was too fine; I was afraid I'd damage the skis. I decided to forget it and make the drive home before it got dark instead.
Thursday, 1/19: Tonight I did ski around the school! I put on my older pair of skate skis and skied behind the school, did a couple laps on the track, and then went out on the football practice field. It was actually too deep for good skating; maybe I should have tried it on Wednesday. I also didn't stay out very long because I wanted to get home while it was still light outside. Approximately 2 miles, ski.
Friday, 1/20: Mom and dad wanted some help moving things tonight, so I went to their house after work and took Blaze out for skijoring on the field while I waited for Joe to show up to help with the moving. We only made around one perimeter before Joe arrived, but Blaze was happy to get out and play a little, even if it was a short trip. Approximately 1 mile, ski.
Saturday, 1/21: I graded papers most of the day, but escaped for the 3-mile Foothills Fun Run route in the afternoon. It was sunny out, which was nice! It was also quite icy. In the evening Joe and Courtney had a sledding party so I also got some hill repeats in while running back to the top of the sledding hill. 3 mile run.
Sunday, 1/22: Today I went to Mount Spokane to skate. The grooming wasn't great today, so I revised my original route plan and just did Shadow Mountain. It was nice to get out and ski hard for a change; this is the first time I've had my newer skate skis out on the mountain this season. 6 mile ski.
Weekly totals: 9 miles running; 9 miles Nordic skiing
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Cold!
Monday: I ran the Mormon Temple Loop from the school. 3.5 miles.
Tuesday: I had students in late for makeup work, so I finally took a day off. I needed it--my knees were killing me.
Wednesday: I had students stay later tonight than they did yesterday. I wanted to run, but I had a meeting at R.E.I. that started at 6:30--no time tonight.
Thursday: Tonight the students were gone by 3pm, so I drove to Iller Creek to run the ridge route. It was very cold, so I figured that the mud would be solid again. It was--with a solid sheet of ice on top in most places! It's a wonder I never crashed. I went up 20 minutes--I didn't get nearly as far as I normally do in that time--and then I came back down as carefully as possible. Then it was back to work for a couple more hours. 4 miles.
Friday: I returned to the Dishman Hills to run the loop out by East/West Pond and around through Camp Caro. Wednesday's meeting was about the Earth Day service project, and I wanted to visit my adopted project area. The girls don't know it yet, but I volunteered the xc team to work on the native plant garden--we'll replant it at the service day, and then water it all summer when we run out there. I don't think they'll mind! :) 3.5 miles.
Saturday: I started as early as I was able to, and drove up to Curlew to check out the Rail Trail ski day. It was fun, but they really need more snow--I gouged my skis on rocks several times. I skied out to the tunnel and back; some kids I met on the trail told me that was two miles each way. Then I drove down to Thirteen Mile to camp. I got there with a couple hours of light remaining, and it promised to be good light, too. I decided to hike straight up the hillside above the trail head to try to get to the rock face that towers over the campground. It was a lot steeper than it looked from down below! When I got nearly to the rock face I found a giant standing snag that looked spectacular in the late afternoon light, so I spent a lot of time taking pictures from different angles. I was afraid I'd run out of daylight after that, and I certainly didn't want to go back down the steep slope in the dark, so I decided to start back for the trail head. I started following game trails and contouring along hillside instead of going straight down. As it turned out, it wasn't a game trail after all; I soon saw the "center stock driveway" signs along the route. I need to look up more information on these signs, but a lot of them have graffiti dating back to the 1930s and 1940s. One of the ones I saw tonight was signed May 29, 1946! Once I knew I was back on the stock driveway, I hiked out quite a way so that I could intersect the trail and take it back to trail head. I came out above all of the switchbacks and hiked back down before it was completely dark. Then I started a campfire and ate dinner while I waited for the others to show up to camp. It snowed for a little while while I was on the trail, and it was cloudy for a little while at camp, but then it cleared and became frigid. My neck still hurts from looking up at the stars, though--there's no light pollution at Thirteen Mile, and the stars were spectacular! Ski: 4 miles; hike: 3 miles.
Sunday: Today wasn't exactly what we intended, but that happens sometimes I guess! It was soooo cold this morning, and I never exactly warmed up after I went to bed. Then we had...communication issues...that led to a very truncated hike. I started back for Spokane, but decided to stop at Sherman Pass to dig out my water bottle and a snack and contemplate a trail run. I ran into the Colemans at the pass, and Tim suggested that I ski the South Fork Sherman Creek roadbed--so I did! It started snowing in earnest while I was there. I skied for an hour and then got home, exhausted, before dark. Hike: about a mile; ski: about 5 miles.
Weekly stats: run = 11 miles; xc ski = 9 miles; hike = 4 miles
Tuesday: I had students in late for makeup work, so I finally took a day off. I needed it--my knees were killing me.
Wednesday: I had students stay later tonight than they did yesterday. I wanted to run, but I had a meeting at R.E.I. that started at 6:30--no time tonight.
Thursday: Tonight the students were gone by 3pm, so I drove to Iller Creek to run the ridge route. It was very cold, so I figured that the mud would be solid again. It was--with a solid sheet of ice on top in most places! It's a wonder I never crashed. I went up 20 minutes--I didn't get nearly as far as I normally do in that time--and then I came back down as carefully as possible. Then it was back to work for a couple more hours. 4 miles.
Friday: I returned to the Dishman Hills to run the loop out by East/West Pond and around through Camp Caro. Wednesday's meeting was about the Earth Day service project, and I wanted to visit my adopted project area. The girls don't know it yet, but I volunteered the xc team to work on the native plant garden--we'll replant it at the service day, and then water it all summer when we run out there. I don't think they'll mind! :) 3.5 miles.
Saturday: I started as early as I was able to, and drove up to Curlew to check out the Rail Trail ski day. It was fun, but they really need more snow--I gouged my skis on rocks several times. I skied out to the tunnel and back; some kids I met on the trail told me that was two miles each way. Then I drove down to Thirteen Mile to camp. I got there with a couple hours of light remaining, and it promised to be good light, too. I decided to hike straight up the hillside above the trail head to try to get to the rock face that towers over the campground. It was a lot steeper than it looked from down below! When I got nearly to the rock face I found a giant standing snag that looked spectacular in the late afternoon light, so I spent a lot of time taking pictures from different angles. I was afraid I'd run out of daylight after that, and I certainly didn't want to go back down the steep slope in the dark, so I decided to start back for the trail head. I started following game trails and contouring along hillside instead of going straight down. As it turned out, it wasn't a game trail after all; I soon saw the "center stock driveway" signs along the route. I need to look up more information on these signs, but a lot of them have graffiti dating back to the 1930s and 1940s. One of the ones I saw tonight was signed May 29, 1946! Once I knew I was back on the stock driveway, I hiked out quite a way so that I could intersect the trail and take it back to trail head. I came out above all of the switchbacks and hiked back down before it was completely dark. Then I started a campfire and ate dinner while I waited for the others to show up to camp. It snowed for a little while while I was on the trail, and it was cloudy for a little while at camp, but then it cleared and became frigid. My neck still hurts from looking up at the stars, though--there's no light pollution at Thirteen Mile, and the stars were spectacular! Ski: 4 miles; hike: 3 miles.
Sunday: Today wasn't exactly what we intended, but that happens sometimes I guess! It was soooo cold this morning, and I never exactly warmed up after I went to bed. Then we had...communication issues...that led to a very truncated hike. I started back for Spokane, but decided to stop at Sherman Pass to dig out my water bottle and a snack and contemplate a trail run. I ran into the Colemans at the pass, and Tim suggested that I ski the South Fork Sherman Creek roadbed--so I did! It started snowing in earnest while I was there. I skied for an hour and then got home, exhausted, before dark. Hike: about a mile; ski: about 5 miles.
Weekly stats: run = 11 miles; xc ski = 9 miles; hike = 4 miles
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Keeping Track
Craig Romano just posted his last year's mileage stats on Facebook and asked others to comment regarding their stats, and I realized that I have no idea outside of my Hike-a-Thon mileage!
I have always been one to have good intentions and very little follow through when it comes to keeping something as simple as a training log for my running mileage. I could dig out any of my old training logs (from high school or college or post-college) and locate entire sections that were completely blank. It's not that I had zero mileage for all of those days, just that life got too hectic to write it all down. Then there would be other sections, suspicious sections, where the mileage said "-ish" after it and all of the writing was done in the same pen. These were the weeks of the educated guesses about mileage. I'd be vacuuming and discover the training log under my bed and realize I hadn't written down any workouts for the past three weeks (and I probably hadn't vacuumed for that long, too)--but I could surely remember what I did (plus I wanted a cleaning break)!
So, this attempt is probably doomed to failure, but hey, aren't all resolutions? And I don't have a resolution yet, so here it is: this year, I will keep track of my mileage. Not just Hike-a-Thon, and not just running. We'll see how far I can keep this up, but here is the start:
Sunday, 1/1: I wanted to start the year running, so I ran from home to the end of Piper and back. 4 miles. In the afternoon I met Diana and some other people for skijoring at Mount Spokane. We went to the skijor turnaround and back, probably 5.5 miles. I don't think I'll factor in my ski mileage, but it was a good double workout day for me.
Monday, 1/2: Grading, grading, grading, and then escape for a loop north on Forker to Farwell, up the hill and then back to the house. 3 miles.
Tuesday, 1/3: Back to work. I escaped after school and did the Saltese Loop, then entered grades for a few more hours. 3 miles.
Wednesday, 1/4: I thought it would be a good idea to go to Iller Creek for a nice run on this nice warm afternoon. It wasn't a good idea, or at least it wasn't a good idea to take the tower trail. It was so muddy! I guess it was a nice soft running surface for my always-achy knees. I finally gave up the idea of heading to the tower and slid back down to the creek-side trail to get a little more mileage in. At least I didn't fall down (because I left all of my extra clothes at school)! Then it was back to school to work a little bit longer. 4 miles.
Thursday, 1/5: Bowdish Loop from school. There were golfers at Painted Hills! 3 miles.
Friday, 1/6: Dishman Hills Natural Area. I ran the loop that goes up to the high point in the Natural Area--I think it's called Eagle Peak? There were a lot of people out walking tonight. 2.5 miles.
Saturday, 1/7: I started at mom & dad's and ran Antoine Peak, lower trail to turn-around time. I finally started feeling like a runner again today; the rest of the week has been fairly slow and painful. 4.5 miles.
Year to date = 24 miles (running); 0 miles (hiking)
I have always been one to have good intentions and very little follow through when it comes to keeping something as simple as a training log for my running mileage. I could dig out any of my old training logs (from high school or college or post-college) and locate entire sections that were completely blank. It's not that I had zero mileage for all of those days, just that life got too hectic to write it all down. Then there would be other sections, suspicious sections, where the mileage said "-ish" after it and all of the writing was done in the same pen. These were the weeks of the educated guesses about mileage. I'd be vacuuming and discover the training log under my bed and realize I hadn't written down any workouts for the past three weeks (and I probably hadn't vacuumed for that long, too)--but I could surely remember what I did (plus I wanted a cleaning break)!
So, this attempt is probably doomed to failure, but hey, aren't all resolutions? And I don't have a resolution yet, so here it is: this year, I will keep track of my mileage. Not just Hike-a-Thon, and not just running. We'll see how far I can keep this up, but here is the start:
Sunday, 1/1: I wanted to start the year running, so I ran from home to the end of Piper and back. 4 miles. In the afternoon I met Diana and some other people for skijoring at Mount Spokane. We went to the skijor turnaround and back, probably 5.5 miles. I don't think I'll factor in my ski mileage, but it was a good double workout day for me.
Monday, 1/2: Grading, grading, grading, and then escape for a loop north on Forker to Farwell, up the hill and then back to the house. 3 miles.
Tuesday, 1/3: Back to work. I escaped after school and did the Saltese Loop, then entered grades for a few more hours. 3 miles.
Wednesday, 1/4: I thought it would be a good idea to go to Iller Creek for a nice run on this nice warm afternoon. It wasn't a good idea, or at least it wasn't a good idea to take the tower trail. It was so muddy! I guess it was a nice soft running surface for my always-achy knees. I finally gave up the idea of heading to the tower and slid back down to the creek-side trail to get a little more mileage in. At least I didn't fall down (because I left all of my extra clothes at school)! Then it was back to school to work a little bit longer. 4 miles.
Thursday, 1/5: Bowdish Loop from school. There were golfers at Painted Hills! 3 miles.
Friday, 1/6: Dishman Hills Natural Area. I ran the loop that goes up to the high point in the Natural Area--I think it's called Eagle Peak? There were a lot of people out walking tonight. 2.5 miles.
Saturday, 1/7: I started at mom & dad's and ran Antoine Peak, lower trail to turn-around time. I finally started feeling like a runner again today; the rest of the week has been fairly slow and painful. 4.5 miles.
Year to date = 24 miles (running); 0 miles (hiking)
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