Whiteface intervals

On a hot and humid morning, Stash and I did a good uphill session with three repeats between 6:30-7:30. Then in the afternoon I did a short easy jogging warmup, before I jumped on the exercise bike for 75 minutes.

While on the bike, I watched the replay of the Olympic women's MTB cross country event … yahoo USA got the silver medal.

Video … The Life Of Alf Engen … legendary skier

vimeo.com/906432480

Skiers trying to remain injury free while running in the summer

https://fasterskier.com/2024/07/running-from-injury/

Slides on Wright Peak

Another good week of training, and it was fun to see old friends (Pam and Barry Breeman, Barkley, Jess, and Larry) up for the school and camp board meeting.

I logged just over 16 hours, with 171k (139k bike and 32k run), and 3000' vertical. I also did two sessions of PT stretches and one strength workout.

The Olympics

So far, I have watched the opening ceremonies, a women's soccer game against, Zambia, and the men's basketball game against Serbia … a great way to spend time on the exercise bike!

Ghosts Of Glencoe

This novel is a page-turner!

A novel with vivid descriptions of the Adirondack wilderness, engaging characters, and a fictional, but charming portrayal of small boarding school. This novel brings to mind an actual school and camp I know and love.

A browse through my library …

Yielded this gem published in 1938; it is a classic despite how much climbing and the alps have changed since then. It is filled with superb black and white photos. It is a great overview and introduction to this diverse group of mountains that stretch all the way across Europe. Moreover, Irving was a master at Winchester College and a well known climber - who introduced Mallory to the sport - and while his hard climbing days were behind him when he wrote this book, he still had much sensible stuff to say about the sport.

From the introduction:
"In a few days after writing this note I hope to be in the Alps once more. What I climb when I get there has ceased to matter. It is good for youth to measure its strength with great mountains and it is good for age to know its physical limitations. The Alps can give to the young who climb them and to the old who look at them the knowledge of things which belong unto their peace."

Something for all Fossils to remember!

Nice trail run into Marcy Dam



Another legendary figure - Joss Naylor - passes on at 88

Joss Naylor lived in Wasdale Head, and did most of his running in the Lake District. 

https://www.irunfar.com/joss-naylor-memorial

BREAKING THE RECORD … skiing 3,000,000’ uphill vert in a year

https://www.skimag.com/adventure/noah-dines-2-million-vertical-feet/

Legendary extreme skier passes on

https://planetski.eu/2024/07/16/godfather-of-extreme-skiing-passes-on/

The good weather continues and a great sunset

The mostly cool and breezy weather continues, and it certainly must have been welcomed by all the competitors in the 25th Lake Placid Ironman.

Last week, l felt recharged, and was able to increase my volume back to its more normal weekly load. I logged 17.5 hours of exercise, with 210k (189k bike and 21k run), and 2575' vertical. I also managed three PT stretch sessions and two strength workouts.

For next week, I will try for a comparable amount of hours, trim the bike total, and then up my running by about 10k.

Adirondack Rail Trail

This week I have done two 25k out and back rides on this beautiful trail; I am hoping to do another ride on it tomorrow when Ironman traffic starts to subside.

Another nice day

Riding 25k - out and back - on the rail trail in the morning; in the afternoon an exercise bike warmup/cooldown, and an MVH hike with Stash.

A good day of training

The goal this week is two-fold: increase volume and resume strength training in earnest.

I started with a warmup jog with Stash, and then a long exercise bike ride while watching the Tour du France. The afternoon included a warmup/cooldown on the exercise bike and a good strength PT workout … just over three hours of exercise.

Another ode to an approach shoe

My current favs, are also from La Sportiva.  

In 2019, after I used a pair of well worn Salomon running shoes to guide the Cordillera Huayhuash and the Tour du Mont Blanc, I was stuck hobbling around Chamonix in just flapping, delaminated shoes, but I finally found a pair of La Sportivas on sale in Snell's. They were a great fit and 60% off, but when I asked the salesperson to let me try on the other shoe, she said she had to get them out of the store window.  Well, instead of being bright red, this left shoe was a sun bleached pink … who cares what they look like when they let me climb, hike, and run as well as they do!

Here is another person's story from the Adventure Journal.

https://www.adventure-journal.com/2024/05/the-best-approach-shoes-ive-ever-owned/

Operation Electric Avenue on the grand gendarme

https://youtu.be/3dnmWSv3kL8?si=CWZfAG96vP9dut_h

Forgot to mention …

Some great birthday books, so I am all set for the rest of the summer with multiple page turners. Including items on my kindle … Rick Ridgeway's new book (from Lucy) and a Bosch murder mystery (from Jon and Amanda).

This being Monday - my rest day - in addition to a few chores, I usually review my training log.

It was another recovery week, with a good Prouty, which was my longest bike ride ever (67k). I logged 13 hours of exercise, with 198k (192k bike and 6k run), and just under 4000' vertical. I also did two PT stretch sessions, one strength workout, and I feel ready to up the volume.

Prouty Update

A good time was had by all. It was great to re-connect with college buddies: Ted, Dick, Alex, LC, and Mark.

I'll qualify this a bit, given that Ted had a mechanical issue on our warmup (picture) and a flat tire a couple of miles before the finish. Dick had his day spoiled when his bike computer gave him the disappointing news that his "hundred miler" was a few miles short, so while we were changing clothes, he spent ten minutes doing laps around the parking lot.

Others will share better pictures than this, but I look forward to next year's ride, and to sharing stories afterwards at Molly's bar and grill. Finally, not having consumed enough post-race calories after my 67k ride, just as I crossed the state line into Vermont, I pulled over to get a large chocolate milkshake, to fuel my journey home.

Re-reading a stunning classic … Starlight and Storm

My days of hoping to climb one of the six classic north faces of the Alps are behind me. I no longer own a copy, having passed along this classic of mountaineering literature to the next generation of climbers, but hankering to read it I turned to the internet archive of books. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS … ITS A MUST!

Heading out to the Prouty later this afternoon

Spending the night in Manchester New Hampshire with Ted and Gayle. My goal is to do two laps of the 20 mile loop (possibly three).  Hopefully it won't rain, or if it does, it will be a light drizzle. Riding my heavy mountain bike, while my true spoke-head buddies, will be on their light, snazzy, Italian machines. 

1957 BLAST FROM THE PAST

Yesterday I turned 72, and my sister Jody sent me this jewel as a present … mom in the convertible along with me and Jody at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire.

Max VO2 … male or female it’s a good reminder

Of just how important this measure is, even as you move into those sunset years.

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/new-study-womens-vo2-max/

New skimo gear coming this Fall

https://skimo.co/preview

Magical sunset

The hot and humid temperatures continue. Focusing on biking this week - rode 22k on the rail trail today - to get ready for the big Prouty ride. Still, keeping the hours modest so I can recover fully from "the big previous month."

It Was A Good Recovery Week

Still feeling a bit tired from the big Sierra volume, and the tough travel, but I think I struck a good balance last week. 

I logged just over 12 hours, on 141k (129k bike and 12k run), and just under 2000' vertical.  This week will be another recovery week with the exception of a long ride on Saturday at the Prouty.

Paris 2024: stage 39 as olympic torch relay is in chamonix

A spectacular short video, as the olympic torch relay skis, climbs, slack lines and paraglides around the Aiguille du Midi.

https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/alpinism/olympic-flame-lights-up-aiguille-du-midi-mont-blanc.html

Best summer books about endurance

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/2024-summer-reading-list-for-athletes/

Katie Schide: winner 2024 Western States 100 mile

A nice "get to know you" article.

https://run.outsideonline.com/trail/trail-racing/from-maine-to-mercantour-the-rise-of-trail-runnings-quiet-champion-katie-schide/

Great time with the grandkids

I made the three hour drive over to Trapp Family Lodge, while Selden took care of the dogs, sheep, geese, chickens, and farm chores. Jon, Amanda, Ami, Dave, and I had a great time walking the trails, hanging out at the pool, and especially for Dave, playing with the box of toy dinosaurs that I brought over from our basement.

The year’s first 2 training months are on track

The totals for the first two months of the 2025 training year are looking good. Given the data, projections are for a total volume of 738 hours, 245,000' vertical, and at least 72 strength sessions … all close to my ultimate goals for the year.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: late 1970s “winter hike” up Mount Washington

Well, it was a January winter day, but one of the warmest on record. I was the Harvard Cabin caretaker in Huntington Ravine, and a couple of visiting college buddies and I took a quick trip up Lions Head to the summit. 

Back on the farm

By Monday evening I had been home for 72 hours; with two decent night's sleeps, I was feeling fully human, and not wandering around like a zombie.

A followup from Alpinist #75

This is the other essay that Katie Ives alluded to, in my previous post about the many stories of Mont Blanc.

https://alpinist.com/features/running-waters/

The Many Stories Of Mont Blanc

https://americanalpineclub.org/news/2024/6/26/the-climb-that-inspired-the-novel-that-inspired-the-climbs-the-many-stories-of-the-brenva-face-of-mont-blanc

Shifting into recovery mode

For the next ten days the focus will be on recovery; then either I will do the Whiteface VK sky race or the Prouty long bike ride.

This past month - leading up to my trip and then the time in the Sierras - was a heavy volume for a septuagenarian. During that month I managed just over 63 hours, while  logging 22,125' vertical. 

Given the massive amount of travel, it makes sense to take the foot of the gas. 

BLAST FROM THE PAST … my first skimo setup

From issue #1 of Alpine/Nordic: The Journal Of Unconventional Skiing. It was published by Alpine Research Inc in 1981, by the folks making Ramer bindings. I am not sure, but this may be the first, and only issue, published.

My first ski mountaineering setup - 1979 to 1981 - working for Colorado Outward Bound was a pair of Rossi Strato alpine skis, mounted with Ramer bindings, used with leather Galibier double boots. (In fact, I still have the skins that I used with this setup, and they do double duty, as backups for my pomoca race skins on my Dynafit PDG race skis.)

A 26 hour travel day

Mark dropped me off at the Reno-Tahoe airport, after a late lunch at a Mexican restaurant.  Three planes; a dismal presidential debate; the upgrade to first class; a heroic pickup in Albany by Selden who fought a monumental Northway traffic jam, and the arrival at our farm with an excited and bounding Stash.

Bone tired and weary, not yet on east coast time; I woke up to the start of the Western States 100 mile race.  Very weird to watch the athletes heading up the trail that I had been jogging on, just 30 hours ago. 

Jessie Diggins and the Broken Arrow

https://fasterskier.com/2024/06/jessie-diggins-agrees-yes-that-was-stupid/

Reviewing Sierra stats at the airport

In my 14 active days, and two travel/rest days out west I logged: 100k run/hiking, 28 hours of exercise, and a bit over 12,000' vertical.

Now if I can only find a TV with the debate on at the Reno airport!

Day 16: Last run on the old Western States Trail

Heading to the Reno Airport, and presumably, will watch the debate before my flight. A wonderful trip … reconnecting with old buddies, great hikes, decent race, and as always, the Sierras are spectacular.

More VK memories

The race photos have just been posted … In the pain cave 250m from the finish.

Sierras day 15: pole creek canyon

An early morning run, with a cool temperature, a shady dirt road, and a couple of easy recovery days behind me … makes for an excellent outing!

Remembering the technical sections of the Broken Arrow VK

The final section of this VK gut buster, is equipped VIA FERRATA style, as it involves third class scrambling, with substantial exposure, all while my pulse was rocketing at around 160 bpm. I have done a fair number of these type races, but this was the one with the most technical "running."  

Take a look at the short video course preview …. https://www.facebook.com/brokenarrowskyrace/videos/2024-broken-arrow-skyrace-vk-course-previewhere-is-an-insight-into-the-course-co/3645818169000559/

Sierras Day 14: Flat tire followed by an easy hike

Changing the truck tire was a bitch. The hike was nice, and it brought you within a 100 meters of a nice snow patch to practice on. I also found an intrusion of white quartz, much like at crystal crag. I took a sample, but it was diminutive compared to the one I carried out a decade ago for my Fossil Cabin.

Then the rains came, and we retreated to Lee Vining, and a gigantic dinner at Nicely's, which I finished with pecan pie a la mode. NOT AS GOOD AS SELDEN'S but pretty darn good.

SIERRAS DAY 13 … campsite for the next couple of days



SIERRAS DAY 12 … Saddlebag Lake at sundown

Back at Tioga Pass, camping at the lake, and snagging a campsite tomorrow.

Spectating the Broken Arrow 23k

Just after the race started at 8am, I hiked 5k and 2000' vertical, to watch the top men and women come off Squaw Peak, go down to Shirley Canyon, and come back up to the High Camp aid station. After, I took the tram down and managed to get to watch the top women finish. Then, I jogged 3k back to Mark's house and start packing for Tioga Pass.

The picture is of - Joyce - the Kenyan women who was leading at 18k, and was the eventual winner.

46k second place finisher

Jeff Mogavero from Missoula in a time of 4:11. A tough course with 9100' vertical, and two trips up the "stairway to heaven."

The podium was: David Sinclair, Jeff Mogavero, and Adam Peterman.

SIERRAS DAY 11 … feeling good after the race

I slept well, have only a slight soreness in hamstrings, and my energy feels good. So, that is all you can ask for after a race, regardless of your age.

My post-race cool down was a 30 minute trot to the aerial tram for a ride to the valley. It was a beautiful day, and I snapped lots of pictures!