Friday, April 29, 2011

Day 149 - Fun hike

Tonight I asked my youngest daughter to go for a hike and look for salamanders and she said "yes" woohoo! We got some old sneakers on so we could get muddy and play in the running water - all my sneakers are mud ready so I didn't have to look to far. One thing I said to her if we go I am going to do what I have been doing for the last couple of years - carry her to the top and she said yes. I only do it about once a year - not every time we go for a hike. I was excited because I don't know how many more years I can do this. She is 55lbs plus my back pack, camera, phone, water and some candy I think it was closer to 60lbs. We drove up to the parking lot. She wore the pack on her back, started the watch, hopped on my back, locked my arms around her legs and we were off. My breathing was fine the whole time to the top which is about 1.45 miles from the gate to the last pole at the top. We stayed on the road that I use for hill repeats. She did ask to walk a couple times but she said it was ok to keep going. Once at the top we stopped the watch and gave a high five to each other. Just this little hike we really worked as a team and it was a lot of fun and her feet never touched the ground - yes I am very proud of this hike. From there we went over to check the view out at Pulpit Rock. I thought she would of wanted to go back down the road but she wanted to go on the AT which is a little longer. On our way down we saw a salamander and in another 100 yards we saw a porcupine. It was right in the middle of the trail. We had to detour around and make our own trial because it was not moving. After we made it around I said lets run for a little. Once we crossed the bridge we kick out 3 deer and they took off running to the other side of the road. One more salamander sighting on the way back to the car and we were done for the night. It was a great night on the trail with my little one. 15 days and 5 hours to go.

4-28-2011 - 1.45 miles - 26:13 - hike with extra weight
4-28-2011 - 2.50 miles - 1:04 - hike

The view from Pulpit Rock

The view from Pulpit Rock

The view from Pulpit Rock

Salamander

Salamander

Porcupine


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Day 148 - Easy pace

Tonight I met my friend Donny for a trail run. We started at the Hamburg Reservoir parking lot. The run led us up to the AT and hopped on the blue trail down to the Blue Rocks campground. There was only one family that was camping. We power hiked up the yellow to the AT. We skipped the Pinnacle view tonight and headed back to Pulpit Rock. It was very cloudy and looked like it was going to rain but it never did. We ran down the road to the parking lot. Nice easy pace tonight and getting more time in the heat was great.

4-27-2011 - 7.50 miles - 2:00 - run/hike


Cloudy view from Pulpit Rock

Cloudy view from Pulpit Rock

Day 147 - Fast hike

Tonight I went for a fast hike on my usual 5 mile loop. I pushed it right from the start and if felt good the whole time without running a step. With the change in temps I need to get some heat training in with what time I have left.

4-26-2011 - 5 miles - 1:09 - hike


Hamburg Reservoir

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Day 146 - Loon

Tonight I was planning on doing 15 miles. When I was out for about 5 or 6 miles I saw - what I was told - is a loon. I thought it was a big fish at first until I looked closer and its head popped out of the water. I watched it for about 10 min. The water was so clear you could watch it swim everywhere. Once I got moving again I thought I was going to cut it short and call it a night. After I made it home I got another mile and half with the girls while they rode their bikes. The heat is here just in time for the taper.

4-25-2011 - 9 miles - 1:40 - run




Day 145 - Easter runs

Today was a busy day but I did get my running in. I ran from my house and did a loop up around Pulpit Rock and back home for my first run. My second run after lunch I ran from my wife’s parent’s house on the road up to Pulpit Rock and back home. A great day with family.

4-24-2011 - 8.2 miles - 1.:30 - run
4-24-2011 - 15 miles - 2:30 - run

Monday, April 25, 2011

Day 144 - No run day

No running today! I went down to Reading to watch the Mt. Penn Mudfest 15k trail run.