Four-Day Boot Camp

(following my tracks up the gradual climb once more on north side of loop)
(ampersand-shaped icy opening from creek bridge)
(the ever present nuisance of snowshoeing)

Since Christmas & New Year's fall on the weekend my labor union decided to grant us a floating holiday for both. After passing it by Jen as to whether there might be any time during this four weeks before or after window I should pick, neither came up w/a date in particular. So, knowing that I've had cooking, decorating, shopping, and training in need of some attention I chose to take a long weekend recently. IT WAS FABULOUS!!! Very productive while leaving opportunity for a little R & R occasionally during this break too.

I must say, being a member of the Duluth Running Company Team here is quite a blessing. This group has reached out to find others in the community as well that I'm not sure I'd have discovered on my own. Having Gregg R on Friday and Henry E on Sunday helped make roughly an hour of running over the tundra each time easy . Under headlamp on Friday we thought the trail might need to be packed more but I found out while turning laps on snowshoes for 2 hours Saturday that equipment like that was excessive. My feet got pretty sore near the end. However, conditions were great on Thursday for this after snowfall in the morning and again later in the afternoon. Fortunately, the city didn't groom the ski trails yet which enabled me to snowshoe on them under the park lights. I completed a lap and a half of everything that is lit. Earlier, I got caught out while biking on the open roads up by Doe and McDonnell to name a couple when the clouds released the flakes. It was difficult making it home as that form of precip can feel like razorblades in the eyes. I repeated my pedal up Lester River Road the same time again the next day but hung a left on Strand to roll around poorly plowed gravel once more before taking an awesome descent on the upper half of Seven Bridges Road! In the spirit of Cyclocross Nationals that were happening out in Bend, OR this past weekend I cranked the 700 x 35s and much to my surprise, maintained traction.

My goal to be outside a lot was accomplished but I'm struggling quite a bit to find a protocol that gives me a feeling of consistency. Selective running efforts will certainly be instilled as frequent attempts on foot seem to leave junky residual pains.