Just a dusting

Behind Trader Joe's

Ambitions

On or before June 24th, I will weigh 139 pounds. I will run 3.5 miles in 45 minutes or less. I will skate 407 miles.

Why these oddly specific ambitions?

Long-time readers know that I reached 139 pounds (BMI = 22) in my office weight-loss group in 2008. It's time to get back there. June 24th brings this year's Boston edition of the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge. Unimpressive as it seems, a running time of 45 minutes puts me well ahead of the slowest runners from my company. And finally, 407 more miles of skating brings my lifetime recorded total to eleven thousand miles. Sometime in 2011 I'll hit 12,500 miles: half-way around the world.

Low Season

Skating west from Lexington Center today I made it past some spotty ice short of Merriam Street, but had to turn around short of the Lexington DPW. Eastbound was passable until I met widespread ice 60 or 70 yards east of Woburn Street. In each location the ice is thin but deeply shaded, so it'll melt when the air is warm. A cold, sunny day won't do it.

Today: 2.8 miles.

Clearing the trail

An article in Sunday's Globe (On winter’s path, beginning to see their way clear) surprised me -- I hadn't thought the trail was clear enough for skating, only for walkers and adventurous cyclists. But yesterday brought warm rain and now the trail is wide open for anyone who doesn't mind the chilly breeze.

What's it like?

Looking up and down the trail from Bow Street in Lexington today, I saw a surprising amount of pavement. Plenty of snow and ice, too. With a chance of snow forecast for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I don't expect to see much pavement on the trail for a while.

This week: 0 miles. This year: 0 miles.

That Wasn't There Yesterday

New fencing on the east side of Woburn Street

New landscaping at Hancock Avenue

Possibly the Last Ring Post Posting

Even after hundreds of trips up and down the trail, a previously unseen relic of railroad days catches my eye. Yesterday I spotted a ring post lurking in the trees and brush. It's on the inbound side along the horse farm in Lexington, nearly opposite the boardwalk entrance to Parker Meadow.

Another Ring Post

Landscapers have opened up the end of Hancock Avenue at the trail, removing trees, brush, and a rusty old barrier made of rails.

Hancock Avenue today

Hancock Avenue one year ago.