8th Annual Woodford 3.3-Mile Snowshoe Race
"... The Run for the Dough"
December 27th, 2009 - Woodford State Park - Woodford, VT

"I Love Woodford" 3.3-Mile Snowshoe Race kicked off our 2010 Series;  I missed this one. 

Phelps north with Tippi, used snowshoes but very little snow.  Cut it short with 2.5-miles.

Stony Brook Park snowshoe with Tips, just 2.5-miles.

4-mile snowshoe from Sunrise Park with Tippi.

Another trip to snowshoe at DAR State Forest, this time with Tippi and K2.  5-miles.

Back to DAR with Tippi to get a solid 4.5-miles of snowshoeing in.

7.2-miles of snowshoe run with Tippi at the DAR State Forest in Goshen, Mass.

Decent snowshoeing conditions along the snowmobile roads in Hawley / Dubuque.  6.1-miles with Tippo for the day.

Took a try at snowshoing the bike path at Congamond with Tippi.  Poor, icy conditions so we called it a day at 2.5-miles.

We climbed Greylock to the summit, using the Gould Trail.  Wonderful Adventure!

JC & Tips at the Gould Trailhead

Tips at the stream crossing

JC & Tips at the Gould Hollow Tree

JC & Tips at the Gould Hollow Tree

JC climbing the Gould Trail

Getting close to the top

Thoreau Quote

AT Marker

View of Adams

War Memorial

War Memorial

Looking out the Cabin at the Pond

Curly's Marathon II
September 20th, 2009 - Pittsfield, MA

I completed my 45th marathon today, the 2nd Curly's Marathon. 

After feeling as though I was demolished at this event in 2008, I had a goal of finishing under 5-hours this time around.  In 2008, the event took me 5:54:36.  This would be a challenge, and something I do not usually stress myself with (having a "goal" time).

The day was tremendous, and I felt great.  Somehow though, in the first 5 or 6 miles, I missed a turn.  I ran a ways before I turned around.  By the time I re-entered the correct course, I was at the very back of the race.  After several minutes, I caught my (at the time) 70-year old father.  This was not great, but I felt so fantastically good that I wasn't really bothered by it.

A few miles later I caught Wuzzam, and we ran along the top and Berry Pond together.  I pushed decently down the Turner Trail, lost Wuzzam but got to half-way just after 2:30:00.  All I needed to do was run the same time for the second loop - yes, I would be tired, but I wouldn't have to run the extra mile or more.

I can still recall getting back to the top and knowing I would really have to push down the entire Turner Trail.  I did, and finished under my 5-hour goal with a 4:59:27.  I felt really, really good on this day.  I have no idea how far I went out of my way on that first loop - but judging where I came back out on the course and who I was behind at that point, it was meaningful minutes.  Keeping a positive attitude through it really helped, and I felt blessed.

Tunxis Trail Marathon South - August 27th, 2009
Barkhamsted & New Hartford, Connecticut

Wuzzam joined Tippi and I at Tunxis II (South), which meant we ran from Route 219 to Satan's Kingdom, and also north to Roberts Brook I believe. 

Our time was 6:04:44.  This was my 44nd and Tippi's 15th marathon.

Tippi and I ran along the Robert Frost Trail from Cranberry Pond in the Mount Toby Reservation to Wendell State Forest.

Robert Frost Marathon - July 24th, 2009

Amherst & Sunderland, Massachusetts

Tippi and I explored the Robert Frost Trail through Sunderland and Amherst (I think).  It was a day after a really hard rain, so the brooks and streams were really roaring.  We ended up losing a bunch of time "off trail" around Eastman Brook.

We parked at Amethyst Brook and did a bit south, then north to the foot of Bull Hill.  Outstanding area that I would like to return to.

This was my 43rd completed marathon and Tippi's 14th.  The run took us 6:03:58 to finish.

A return to Pilfershire to attempt a connection, which ran out last effort.

A run along the Robert Frost Trail from Amethyst Brook in Amherst, to Atkins Reservoir for Tips and I.

Tippi and I continued running in Mount Toby Reservation including Roaring Mountain and Mt. Toby.

I wandered about Simsbury's Lost Village of Pilfershire, with my trusty dog following faithfully.

Running in Mount Toby Reservation with Tips, including Bull Hill and Mt. Toby, along the Robert Frost Trail.

Another venture at Holcomb Farm and McLean Game Refuge.  This time, to the Pine Cone and an obscure trail to a horse rescue facility (update: 2019...   I wonder if the trail still exist?).

Tippi and I did some exploring at Enders State Forest.

Holcomb Farm Trails to McLean Game Refuge...

A run from the Mount Greylock Visitor Center in Lanesborough to Greylock Road in New Ashford.

Tippi and I rambled along the South Taconic Trail from the Catamount Ski Area on Route 23 to above Bash Bish Falls.

Sunset Rock

Stream along the trail

View from the South Taconic Trail

View from the South Taconic Trail

View from the South Taconic Trail

View from the South Taconic Trail

Tippi above Bash Bish Falls

View from the South Taconic Trail

Top of Bash Bish Falls

Bash Bish Falls

Tippi and I completed a circuit around the Peoples State Forest Loop.  There is a race held on most of this course each year since the early 2000's.  The first time I ran the race was 2005, and my Pop ran it that year also.

Tips above the Falls

Tippi at the Top of Falls

Looking off the peak

Farmington River flowing through the Valley

View off the Ledge

Tippi nearing the summit

Looking southwest off the summit

View of the Farmington, northwest

Massive split boulders at the height of land

Nipmuck Trail Marathon

June 7th, 2009 - Ashford, Connecticut

Completed my 7th Nipmuck Marathon today, as well as my 42nd overall marathon.

I finished in a respectable 4:37:03, good for 19th place overall.

McLean Game Refuge & Holcomb Farm Marathon

May 30th, 2009 - Granby & Simsbury, Connecticut

Wuzzam and I completed a McClean Reservation Marathon in roughly five hours.   

This was my 41st marathon completed.  I recall it being a fairly easy day for us.

Tippi and I explored the "Dry Hill Loop" of Conway State Forest...

Tips & I rambled around People's State Forest in Barkhamstead, CT along Elliot Bronson Trail.

Tippi and I explored the downtown Conway's snowmobile trails...

Drove to Bridgeport and Harbor Yard Arena for the Music as a Weapon IV Tour with a young JC.

The Line-Up as I recall was four bands, but the online concert history list eight.  All I can  think is that there may have been an afternoon matinee with some of the opening bands?

What we viewed and heard was:

• Killswitch Engage
• Crooked X
• Lacuna Coil
• Disturbed

The crowd was young and rowdy, with a lot of alcohol and drug usage causing issues.

I still remember that there was a local Church Group working the concession stand, and the woman was in disbelief when I ordered a couple of coca cola.  She exclaimed "You don't want alcohol?"

People were vomiting and laying passed out throughout the stands.  It was something.

The other four bands listed on the concert guide history site were:

• Suicide Silence
• Bury Your Dead
• Chimaira
• Spineshank

Tippi and I explored the Pine Hill area towards downtown Conway. 

Tippi and I explored the Mt Owens to Poland Gate area snowmobile trails of Conway...

 Attended the Brian Jonestown Massacre / Astroid #4 concert at Pearl Street in Northampton.

Williamsburg Snowmobile Trails!