An Outdoor Life – Page 36 – A blog about running, hiking, dogs and seeing the world

April 25, 2020May 13, 2020

Another injury, ankle this time

I was on a roll, until I wasn’t

I love the SNL skit with Roseanne Rosannadanna. Gilder Rader was hilarious and I always think of her rambling commentary and Jane Curtin bringing her back to reality. “It’s always something,” she would say.

For me, I think of this skit when I’m on a roll and then get side tracked; which in endurance training happens at least three times a year.

On Tuesday I twisted my ankle, bad. I was trail running in Winant Park and I noticed a runner on the trail that paralleled my trail. I didn’t want to startle him when the two trails merged so I was watching him. When he noticed me, I waved and – boom – I wasn’t looking at my feet and my ankle twisted so hard I almost screamed in pain. I hobbled home (1.5 miles).

I twist an ankle at least once a week but never to the extent of Tuesday. I do all the flexibility exercises for ankles and feet, and typically don’t get injured. But Tuesday….. Ugh.

I have two dogs to walk and so this week was a bit trying on my nerves as I hobbled around the block walking the dogs. Goldie is terrible on leash and when she sees a squirrel ….

My new start was a bust. This week I wasn’t able to capitalize on last week’s training. I walked this week but no biking or running. Today I hiked with Winnie and took Goldie on a walk to the park. Later today, I plan to do a 3 mile walk around Concord and maybe a short bike ride. But that is it.

I’m guessing that running isn’t going to be a thing for another week. Meh. I think today I’m going to take advantage of Netflix and cable TV. And of course, the Andrew Cuomo hour coming up shortly. Man, that guy can talk.

April 20, 2020May 13, 2020

Monday, Training & Racing Update – Week 2

Races:

Rock Hopper Chocorua Race – canceled.

White Mountain Tri, Ragged Mountain Stage Race, IM Mont Tremblant, Gunstock Trailfest – still on!

Training:

Training is going well. I ran every day last week which was big (BIG) for me. It is good to get back into running shape. It’s so easy to lose it. I ran my favorite 10 mile loop from Winant into Swope in Concord with so many hills, rocks and root.

This is now week 2 of 28.

The big test this week is going longer. I’m excited to have today off and get in a 40 mile week!

I didn’t get to bike at all last week. The snow, rain and wind prevented that. Plus, my mountain bike was in the shop after the chain broke on my ride last week. I brought it in for a full tune up so it was gone most of the week. I’m excited to road and mountain bike this week; and the weather forecast looks good!

Happy Monday!

April 19, 2020May 13, 2020

Thoughts on Hope

There are moments I think we all feel hopeless about the future, and that nothing exciting will ever happen again. I know I felt that way almost every day this week. I start down the path of negative thinking and my mind spirals.

This morning on a hike with my dog this happened and I couldn’t shake it.

I hiked from the usual start on the Winant Trail and randomly took one of the many spur trails and ended up on a windy, back and forth trail that I’d never been on. It was one of those trails perfect for mountain biking because it helps you practice sharp turns and zig zagging up a hill.

I only saw one other person and his dog during the early hike. The sun was shining and it seriously was a perfect day but my mind was not so perfect.

Towards the end of the hike back to my car Winnie disappeared for the longest amount of time. She loves chasing squirrels or digging in the dirt. Ten minutes later she appeared on the trail after searching up and down calling her name. She was out of breath, tongue hanging to the side and dirt all around her snout. I was so mad but at least she came back. I got back to the car and drove home in an even more foul mood.

When I’m in a bad mood like this I write; and today I wrote while sitting in my sunroom trying to get rid of my dark thoughts. I started writing about how I feel pessimistic about the future.

But then I began thinking about last year. 2019 was such a game changer for me. I started dating again and just when I thought I’d never meet anyone I met someone. I started to really liking my job. I trained for 28 weeks for an A race. Nothing about all these things was perfect but thinking about how they came into my life – many by chance, by taking a risk, by changing my attitude – changed me in such positive ways.

As I sit and write I remember how everything – everything – can change on a dime.

I’ve had the same morning routine for five weeks: get up, open the curtains, walk the dog, drink coffee. Thirty five days in row. I want and need a change. I think about how one little event or action can change it all: a phone call, an email, a text, a random conversation. Everything can change in an instant. And these random acts can change your thoughts, your mood, your happiness and the future. That’s what I want to remember.

As I write about this hope, I decide that I will try to be the one who gives it to someone else instead of expecting it all myself. So that is what I’m going to do today. I’m going to call, text, send an email.

This is what writing does for me. It helps me process what is going on in my head and change it around. The simple act of pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) makes me more hopeful. Thanks for reading.

April 16, 2020May 13, 2020

Andrea Bocelli

I watched Andrea Bocelli’s performance from Italy last week and this song just broke my heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0l5dGiaXCo

Then I remembered one of my favorite songs he sang with Sarah Brightman.

This song also pulled at my heartstrings.

After I started listening to Time To Say Goodbye I found another Bocelli song I liked, and this song led to another song , which led to this song which was the last song I heard from my playlist while running this morning:

The Prayer with Andrea singing with Celine Dion

These lyrics are so relevant today:

“I pray you’ll be our eyes, and watch us where we go. And help us to be wise in times when we don’t know. Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way. Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace, to a place where we’ll be safe.

We dream a world without violence, a world of justice and faith.

Everyone gives a hand to his neighbours, symbol of peace, of fraternity. We ask that life be kind and watch us from above. We hope each soul will find another soul to love.”

April 12, 2020April 12, 2020

2020 Reboot, New Training Plan

January started out pretty good. Training, Life, Work.

February was tough. Seasonal depression, cold, snow. Training was tough. Life was tough. Work was good. 1 out of 3 isn’t too bad.

March was okay. I adopted the perfect dog. The pandemic hit. I worked from home. Training was okay then the YMCA closed. I lost momentum for all the above reasons.

April was much like March: work from home, walk the dogs, run or bike when it didn’t rain. No training plan. Races canceled.

It’s time for a 2020 reboot. It’s time to get on a plan; to train for something.

I’m turning my A race to the Mid State Massive in Massachusetts in October.

This week’s training schedule.

While I still am registered for five other races, my most important goal in 2020 is to finish a 100 mile race. Okay, truth: and to finish an Ironman. Oh yes, another truth: to complete the 3-day stage race.

But if everything gets canceled, I’m still hoping, and will start training tomorrow, for the October 2020 100 mile race.

But hopefully these races happen: Rock Hopper Chocorua Race, White Mountain Tri, Ragged Mountain Stage Race, IM Mont Tremblant, Gunstock Trailfest.

I hope all these races happen.

I’m going to do what I told myself I was going to do in 2019. This was my Leadville 100 mantra that I had to start using at mile 20. It didn’t work in 2019 but I have a feeling it might just work in 2020.