From the Marathon Archives...
Metacomet Trail Marathon - August 31st, 2019
West Suffield, East Granby, Bloomfield & Simsbury, CT
Today would be the day I would try my first Marathon distance run since 2014. I am not as fit as I would have liked, as I am carrying 15 or so extra pounds. I haven't really done any racing in many years, so running hard hasn't happened either. It has been a struggle health-wise at times, with constant issues related to the bouts with Lyme Disease, as well as the entire repair from the brain tumor surgery. Basically, I have grown tired of trying to get into "perfect" shape to attempt this distance, as it's dawned on me that "perfect" shape may never materialize. So, today is the day to suffer if need be.
The original route was the Granville State Forest to Satan's Kingdom using Granville, MDC Forest Roads, and the Tunxis Trail that I had worked out through exploration and mapping during the past few years. But, that would need two vehicles or a shuttle, and Wuzzam wasn't recovered from the McLean distance last Saturday. While DL offered to shuttle, I decided to run the Metacomet Marathon that Wuzzam completed with me in 2012.
This would be the fourth Metacomet Marathon I would attempt. Earlier versions were:
April - 2006, with Tippi. From Sunrise Park all the way through Penwood completely, and back. This is actually much further than 26-miles, more in the 28 or 29-mile range.
August - 2008, with Tippi. From Phelps Road in Suffield, north to Robinson State Park and back for the first 16-miles, and then from Phelps south to Route 20 and back for 10-miles more.
June - 2012, with Wuzzam, and Tippi for the first 10-miles. This would be the same route as today's scheduled route. Park at Route 20 in East Granby, run north to Phelps in West Suffield and back for the first 10-miles, and then head 7-miles south into Penwood to do a 2 to 2.5-mile loop before heading back to Route 20 for the last 7-miles, with a grand total of right at 26+.
I got an early enough start, after my one aid-stash at miles 14.5 & 22. 8:50 a.m. I was running along on my way. Completed the first 10-miles averaging 4.3 mph on the hilly, rocky trail. All in all, I felt pretty good at that point.
The Hatchet Hill section into Tariffville and the Farmington River became a bit tougher, and by the time I was climbing up toward the Bartlett Chimney around 15-miles, I was feeling a little worn. Recovery was achieved, and as I approached the Penwood section I was shuffling along pretty well again.
The Metacomet once in Penwood, through to the Pinnacle, is harsh. Mostly climbing on rocks, with a few lengths of trail to actually run well. I run this section often enough, and I am able to run it, but that is due to starting at this point, not beginning it at 17-miles. Today, this section was taken at a fast hiking pace rather than truly running form.
Once on the bottom of the Pinnacle, I feel as though I really charged through the lower section of Penwood back to Wintonbury Road. My time dipped to an average of 4.1-mph through 22-miles.
The two final legs, from the Farmington River and over Hatchet Hill, was extremely difficult. For this final 4-miles, I ended up dipping to a 3.9-mph average for the day. I was still able to jog reasonably well on the more level sections, but the uphills were pushing my heart-rate to a place I wasn't comfortable.
To finish was awesome. I wasn't sure I had the mental determination to tackle the suffering that a marathon in the woods presents. I proved to myself that toughness isn't an issue at this point. My legs were in great shape, I did not have any trouble on the later downhills, even the steep ones. I am very satisfied with my overall conditioning regarding leg strength. Even the late uphills, it was more the cardio than the leg muscles. Limited long trail racing over the past 5-years reared it's head today.
Final thought is I am very satisfied. In perspective, during the 2012 version on the same route, I had a final total time of 7:01:00. Today, I ended up at 6:56:00 total, 6:41:00 moving time. I believe the 2012 run was a much hotter day, as my memory tells me that. I also think the "stopped" time would have been greater for the older run, but I don't have any data proving that. So, all in all, a real good run that I can build on.
This was my 55th completed marathon lifetime.
Mile One and Nine, Peak/Copper Mountain
Mile Five, Phelps - Suffield Land Conservancy Property
Mile Eleven, enormous Oak
Mile Thirteen and a half, overlook at T-Ville
Mile Fourteen & Twenty-Two, Farmington River
Mile Fourteen & Twenty-Two, Farmington River
Mile Sixteen & Twenty, Ledge after Bartlett Chimney
Mile Eighteen+ at base of rock stairs to Pinnacle
