7th Annual Woodford 3.3-Mile Snowshoe Race
December 28th, 2008 - Woodford State Park - Woodford, VT

"I Love Woodford" 3.3-Mile Snowshoe Race kicked off our 2009 Series;  I finished 12th out of 86. 

Another enjoyable day in Conway State Forest with Tippi.

Trail Running in Conway State Forest with Tippi.

Trail-Running in Dubuque, with Tips.  

Curly's Marathon
September 7th, 2008 - Pittsfield, MA

Curly's Marathon was held in Pittsfield State Forest, and it was a beautiful day to run.  I made the mistake of wearing old shoes rather than a new pair I had just purchased, and it was a very poor decision. 

The pain in my feet and lower legs was incredible for the last 6 or 8 miles, and I was lucky to finish in 5:54:36.  

This was my 40th completed marathon.  My dad ran the Half-Marathon option as well.

Metacomet Trail Marathon - August 27th, 2008
West Suffield, East Granby, CT & Southwick, Agawam, MA

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Tippi and finished Metacomet II, which began at Phelps Road in Suffield, and navigated north to Route 57, and then south to Route 20. 

Running time of 5:32:00.  This was my 39th and Tippi's 13th completed marathon.

  

A two-for-one (241) day with Tippi today.  

First, we stopped off to run behind Sanderson Academy and explored a very early edition of Ashfield Trails (without really knowing it).

Second, we made an attempt to explore the snowmobile trail from Tatro Road into the forest.

Both runs were true explorations, with us not really knowing where we would end up, or where we were going.  A great day.

Hallockville Pond - Mt Institute Marathon

July 18th, 2008 - Hawley, Massachusetts

I completed the Hallockville Pond - Mt Institute Marathon with Wuzzam and Tippi.  

The 25+ miles were completed in 5:29:07, and ended with a dip in Hallockville Pond.  

This was my 38th completed marathon and Tippi's 12th.

Tippi and I explored a nice long run through Hawley and into Charlemont, hitting the Berkshire East area, Mt Institute, Dodge Corner, and over to Forget Road.

Met up with the British Hillbilly at Cambridge's Middle East to have our mind's melted by the Warlocks and Black Angels...  unbelievable show!

Exploring and enjoying Holcomb Farm area with Tippi.

One more time in McLean, with Tippi.

Today's travels

Combo from the 24th & 26th

Another exploration in the McLean Game Refuge, this time leading into Simsbury and Canton, with Tips along for the run.

Exploring along the Weed & Broad Hill area of McLean with Tippi.

Full Map of our Tunxis Trail running during May of this year.

Combo of late May Tunxis Runs...

Rambled through Dubuque with Tippi for around 9-miles, came within ten-feet of a young black bear who bounced a few steps away and then just sat down and watched us move past.

Completing more of Tunxis, from Ratlum Road to Satan's Kingdom, with Tips.

Tunxis once more with Tippi, traveling from Route 219 through to Ratlum Road at Ski Sundown.

Took Tippi out to run the Metacomet from Robinson State Park to Rising Corner.

Combo Tunxis from May 18th & 20th -

Another visit to Tunxis State Forest with Tippi.  Met up with our course from two-days ago.

Tunxis with Tippi!

Ran with Tippi in DAR State Forest along the Moose Run Trail.

McLean Game Refuge with Tips.  Ran on the Eddy Loop and Weed Hill.

 

Back to Tunxis w/Tippi, continue our journey, picking up from Roberts Brook to Roaring Brook.

Took Tippi to Tunxis State Forest for a planned month of ongoing adventure.

This trip was an out-and-back from Route 20 to Roberts Brook.

Tunxis Trail Run with Tippi, from Route 20 to Roberts Brook and the old forest road short-cut back.

Tippi and I concluded our last snowshoe trip to Florida Mountain with this 9.5-mile effort from Bliss Road north into Readsboro, Vermont towards the top of Turner Hill Road.

Florida & Monroe snowmobile trails, I Snowshoe'd 5.5-miles from just behind Whitcomb Summit through the Fife Brook area to South & Hunt Hill Road area in Monroe State Forest.

Beginning of a week or so of exploring Florida Mountain and Monroe trails with Tippi.  

Most of this snowshoe run was extending the snowmobile routes from our property on Blackstone Road, seeing where things lead or connected to.  We managed 7.5-miles along this mapped route, from Turner Hill Road north into Readsboro, Vermont.

Took Tippi out again to snowshoe Ashfield, this time to connect Watson Spruce Corner Road to Peppermint Park over in Plainfield.  The snowmobile trail was simple to follow, and we ended with a nice, solid 4.8-miles on our feet.

Today would be a duel challenge, between snowshoe activities in Florida as well as Plainfield.

I had been meaning to snowshoe the loop around Whitcomb Summit, the Mohawk Trail, and our property on Blackstone Road.  Despite the extra effort doubling up would entail, Tippi was game.

Our end total for the day seemed to be 6.8-miles, broken down as follows:

5.0-miles on the Bruiser's - Chilton Loop (the Florida Mountain Section).  Excellent loop in cold, winter, conditions for the end of March!

We got in the car, and on our way back to Conecticut we stopped off in Plainfield to connect to our stopping point from our February 25th adventure.

We totaled another 1.8-miles on the Plainfield Out-and-Back.  Great day, great effort.

Northfield Mountain 4.7- Mile Snowshoe Race
Massachusetts State Championship

March 15th, 2008 - Northfield,  Massachusetts

Good friend DD organized again, and I managed an 8th of 27 racers.

I took Tippi out to Ashfield to connect more snowmobile trails to our "circled world".  We parked along Bear Swamp Road, ran in through the fields and ventured left at the first intersection, moving toward Peter Hill.

We kept moving east until hitting Lilliput Road before turning back.  At our prior intersection, we took the south option and stayed the course until crossing Bug Hill Road.  From there, our course charted west until hitting Watson Spruce Corner Road, which was our signal to turn around and get back to the car.

Finished with a tiresome 10.5-snowshoe miles, done in 2:30.

Snowshoeing again with Tippi, this time above Berkshire East on Labelle Road with the plan to connect to Middle Road in Hawley's Dubuque State Forest.

We covered an out-and-back total of 9.5-miles in 2:15.  Interestingly, we had company for the run with a shepherd mix throughout.

Snowshoeing with Tippi in Buckland.  

Explored for 6.1-miles from the corner of Labelle Road down along Cooley Brook, to  the crossing of Ruddock Brook and Dodge Corner Road, then to Shepard Brook and Road.

11th Annual Hawley Kiln "Notch" 5-Mile Snowshoe Races
March 2nd, 2008 - Dubuque State Forest - Hawley, MA

Another organizing effort, this time for a Notch version.  47 finishers in the race, I managed a 41st spot, and we ended the day with a trip to South Face Farm!

Snowshoe in Buckland on snowmobile trails with Tippi;  6-miles.

Hawley Kiln Notch Course Marking w/ Pop, PH, Farmer Tom and Tippi.  

The route covered 4.8-miles.

3-miles in incredibly deep snow (no snowmobile traffic as of my footprints) from Middle Road up to East Hawley Road in Dubuque, with Tippi.  Our effort for the three-miles took us 90-minutes in knee deep heavy snow.

Took Tippi out to Cummington, planning to get to Plainfield on the snowmobile trail.

We had a great day in the bright sunshine, covering 12.8-miles in 3:16:52.

3rd Hallockville Pond / Moody Spring 6-Mile Snowshoe Race
February 24th, 2008 - Dubuque State Forest - Hawley, MA

I directed another event in Hawley, with 36 finishers.  I went out early to mark and track, and finished in last spot.

Greylock Glen "Covered Bridge" 4-Mile Snowshoe Races
February 23rd, 2008 - Greylock Glen - Adams, MA

PH and I continued our directing efforts.  I crossed the line 35th out of 36 due to course flagging / marking ahead of the actual race.

Hallockville Pond "Apple Orchard" 3.7-Mile Snowshoe Race
February 17th, 2008 - Dubuque State Forest - Hawley, MA

I directed another event in Hawley, with 54 finishers.  I was credited with a 54th place, as I counted my course marking time for the totals.

5th Annual Camp Saratoga ~5-Mile Snowshoe Race

February 16th, 2008 - Wilton Wildlife Preserve - Wilton, NY

The Camp Saratoga 5-Mile Snowshoe Race at Wilton Wildlife Preserve was held by my very good friends JC & LC.  

This was the 100th official race on our series, all-time!

I ended up 9th out of 93 finishers.

3rd Frosty's Dash for the Cure 5km Snowshoe Race
February 10th, 2008 - Atkinson Country Club - Atkinson, NH

54 participants on day two of the New Hampshire Superbowl of Snowshoeing!

Sidehiller 4-Mile Snowshoe Race
February 9th, 2008 - U.S.S.S.A. Championship Qualifier 
Sandwich Fair Grounds -  Center Sandwich, NH

37 racers completed this series event.

9th Annual Saratoga Spa Winterfest 5km Snowshoe Race

February 3rd, 2008 - Saratoga Springs, NY

The ninth Saratoga Spa Winterfest 5km Snowshoe Race at Spa Park in Saratoga Springs, New York directed by my friends Laura and Jeff.  I finished 5th of 106 racers!

Annual Northfield Mountain 3.8-Mile Snowshoe Race

February 2nd, 2008 - Northfield,  Massachusetts

DD organized this wonderful event again, and the competition stayed difficult.  I managed to finish in 9th of 41 participants.

5th Annual Curly's Record Run
January 27th, 2008 - Pittsfield State Forest - Pittsfield, MA

Great day, 10th of 65 finishers.

Cobble Mountain 4.5-Mile Snowshoe Race
January 26th, 2008 - Gunstock Mt Resort - Gilford, NH

Our series expanded into New Hampshire once more...  45 participants.

South Pond "Counter-Clockwise 3.3-Mile Snowshoe Race
January 20th, 2008 - Florida & Savoy,  Massachusetts

Day two of directing duties, this time running the race "counter-clockwise" at Savoy Mountain State Forest... 

I managed 24th out of 30 participants.

North Pond "Clockwise" 3.3-Mile Snowshoe Race
January 19th, 2008 - Florida & Savoy,  Massachusetts

Race Directing duties at the tenth North & South Pond Shuffles at Savoy Mountain State Forest...  actually split over two consecutive days.  What was I thinking?

I managed 12th out of 60 participants.

4th Annual Brave the Blizzard 4-Mile Snowshoe  Race
January 6th, 2008 - Pine Bush Preserve - Guilderland, NY

Snow this season in Guilderland!  I had a pretty good day with 13th of 115.