2-mile "quick-walk" along Main Street (ankle tendon issue).

Music 2021...

Effort #22,  "Love is Blue” by Paul Mauriat...  as interpreted by RSC.

"Non" Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #19 for 2021...

"The Executioners", by John D. MacDonald, published in 1957.

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Sharing another video with "Tom Wessels".

 

Physical Therapy on the ankle and Achilles Tendon.

Music 2021...

Effort #21,  "Overture from “I Am Curious, Orange” by the Fall...  as RSC.

Kurious oranj

Kurious oranj

Yes, O yes

You're Bad News Girl

Bad News Girl

Hip hip hip hip hip

Bremen nacht

Frenz-uh

Dr Annabel Lies!

A wonderful Merry Christmas spent quietly at home with DL. 

Weekly Weigh In while involved with the 61-Day Challenge - 209.8 lbs.

(no running).

Physical Therapy on the ankle and achilles tendon.

Non-Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #18 for 2021...

"The Big Midweek: Life Inside The Fall", by Steve Hanley.

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Today winter begins for us, the date of the Winter Solstice. 

Physical Therapy on the left ankle & achilles tendon. 

Non-Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #17 for 2021...

"Eight Miles High: Folk-Rock's Flight from Haight-Ashbury to Woodstock", by Richie Unterberger.

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Non-Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #16 for 2021...

"Turn! Turn! Turn!: The '60s Folk-Rock Revolution", by Richie Unterberger.

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Drive to Hoosic Falls, New York to meet the folks for beef pickup.

Weekly Weigh In while involved with the 61-Day Challenge - 211.9 lbs.  

(no running).

Sharing a video "Mysterious Stone Sites".

 

Music 2021...

Effort #20,  "Are You Sleeping/ Frère Jacques"...  as RSC.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #15 for 2021...

"Black Wings has My Angel", by Elliot Chaze, published in 1953.

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Video "Take a Hike!  Roadside Ecology with Tom Wessels" from Concord, NH".

 

After yesterday's reveal that I would not be making my 1350-mile goal for 2021, I thought I would stick to some negativity and mention that I did not complete nor attempt a marathon this season.

This is disappointing, especially as the early portion of the year seemed as though I was in really good shape.  But, stuff happens.

The takeaway from this past year is to not rest, and get it while you can.  I kept thinking that I had plenty of time in the fall to marathon over-and-over again.  The plain truth was from mid-May on I had all sorts of odd injuries that kept me from longer running.

I plan on not waiting around so much going forward, that is for sure.

As my running miles have been difficult to accumulate due to the achilles-tendon and ankle-tendon issues, I believe it is time to wind things back and take a rest.

I am in the exact middle-year of a five-year plan to move from 1200 to 1500 miles per-year;  I wrote the schedule at the beginning of this season (January 14th, 2021).

I believe it would have been possible to grit things out, and keep going, but at the expense of 2022 starting on a bad foot/leg.  Right now, I am at 1239.7-miles for the year, so I have not done poorly.  The first half of the year was going fantastically.

The snags I hit were as follows:

• Fractured Wrist & Tendon/Ligament damage to left hand due to dog attack while running, May 11th.
• Badly fractured left big toe, July 13th.
• Left Ankle/Achilles Tendon issues, October 14th.
• Hours at work have been excessive.
• We have taken on the remodel of both of our bathrooms in November and December.

Taking the next couple weeks to rest, rehab and rebound for the start of 2022 seems like the best idea right now, physically and mentally.

Weekly Weigh In while involved with the 61-Day Challenge - 209.2 lbs.  

Holding steady despite the gummed up ankle and achilles tendon (limited running).

Music 2021...

Effort #19,  "The Needle and the Damage Done"...  Not finished yet with Neil Young classics, my friend the Rev. King remains diligent.

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period  November 1st through November 30th, 2021:

"High Points" along trails during November, 2021... 

• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, West Suffield, Connecticut
• Peak/Copper Mountain, Metacomet Ridge, West Suffield, CT
• Stony Hill, McLean Game Refuge, Granby, CT
• Drake Mountain, Southwick, MA
• Sodom Mountan, Southwick, MA
• Chaugham Peak, Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted, CT
• Saddle Ball Mountain, Mt Greylock Range, Adams, MA
• Mt. Greylock, Adams, MA

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

Satchel Paige

4-miles along the New England Trail from Phelps Road south (on Metacomet).

6-mile run in McLean Refuge at a decent speed for the first 3-miles, and slowing from that point with the ankle acting up.

Weekly Weigh In while involved with the 61-Day Challenge - 210.1 lbs.  

Not too bad as I went off the "Challenge" for the Thanksgiving Break (and a bit after).

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #14 for 2021...

"The The Wyncherly Woman", by Ross MacDonald, published in 1961.

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Sharing a video "Mysterious Stone Sites of the Hudson Valley".

 

My friend the Rev King sent me this wonderful picture from his first official wedding ceremony...

I like the new suit!

On this day in Marathon History...

  

McLean Game Refuge & Holcomb Farm Marathon

November 29th, 2019 - Granby & Simsbury, Connecticut

McLean Game Refuge & Holcomb Farm Marathon day in Granby and Simsbury, Connecticut.  

Not a lot of build-up for this, I was thinking an attempt at the Bullitt Reservation / DAR / Williamsburg Route, but two cars are necessary for that attempt and I had but one today.  I would be solo.

I got a good running start at just a little after 9:00 a.m., with two water plants plus the refill opportunity at my vehicle which was returned to around mile 8 or so.  

Rambled through McLean to the beginnings of the hills (Westledge, Pilfershire, West Mountain, Eddy, and Weed Hill) at 12.5-miles at 5.5-mph (which was an incredible pace for me).

Once the hills were finished, and I entered into Holcomb Farm Trails, I was still at 5-mph, which had me feeling really energized.  I was moving really well, running strong on everything other than the long steady climb up Westledge, the steepest portions of Eddy, and then the bushwhack type footing up Weed Hill.

Things slowed a bit through Holcomb, especially once crossing Simsbury Road.  The trail from there to the re-entry into McLean proper hasn't seen much traffic, had many leaves covering the roots, and I was beginning to tire.

I hung on to complete the 25.6-miles (gps measured, so this should be easily over 26.2) in 5:13:00.  Just dipped under 5 mph average to a 4.9.  Awesome performance on my third marathon of 2019, and 57th overall.

Out to Dismal  Brook with intentions of verifying I still knew the way to Sodom Mountain from the south.

Found the way easily, as well as some of the alternative trails out of Dismal.

Ended with a total of 6.5-miles, with the last two being on the road.

1.2-Mile Hike with JC & A.  Trip was to Granville, to locate a chunk of Chaga I had stumbled into back at the end of August.  Success, and we drank some tea once back home. 

3.4-Miles along the Bridge-Main-Kent-Wisteria-Dylan-Bridge Street Loop.

Weekly Weigh In while involved with the 61-Day Challenge - 209.2 lbs.

4.6-miles around town prior to the Thanksgiving Festivities.

Drive to see the folks early, with a return to meet up with our guest for Thanksgiving. 

Began PT on left ankle tendon as well.

Ceremonial Landscapes of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Presented at 2014 NEARA Conference.

 

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #13 for 2021...

"The Vengeance Man", by Dan J. Marlowe, published in 1966.

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6.3-miles exploring Old Messenger Road in Granby, as well as three Granby Land Trust Properties.

Granby to explore a bit, finished with 5.2-miles.

On this day in 2005...

Northern Nipmuck Trail Marathon

November 20th, 2005 - Union & Ashford, Connecticut

Completed my 32nd marathon distance run today at a Northern Nipmuck Trail Marathon, with Wuzzam, Summer, and Tippi (6th completed marathon).  My finish time was recorded as 6:28:18.  Looking at this, I think it was much further than 26 miles.

Weekly Weigh In while involved with the 61-Day Challenge - 206.4 lbs.

Visit the folks from morning to early afternoon, and then a return to the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts via Mt Greylock.

Completed 7.2-miles up the Cheshire Harbor, along the AT, down Rockwell Road to the Gould Trail.

View West toward Stony Ledge and Mt Prospect

Pond and Cabin along AT

Ragged Mountain and the Bellows Pipe

Cole Mountain with Cheshire Lake in background

Cole Mountain with Cheshire Lake in background

War Memorial Tower

Old Hollow Tree on the Gould Trail

"Forest Forensics with Tom Wessels", recorded July 28th, 2018, Mineral Hills, MA .

 

3.7-miles exploring Enders State Forest as well as the waterfall area.

J Evil photo from  11/18/2021

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #12 for 2021...

"The Snatchers", by Lionel White, published in 1953.

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 2021 Unsupported Trail Race Fall Challenge #7

Tunxis State Forest 18.4K Trail Run

K2 took the journey with me today, to Tunxis and the Barkhamsted Reservoir area.

Managed 11.4-miles, saw a massive deer and a very small bear cub.

2021 Unsupported Trail Race Fall Challenge #6

Granville Drake Mtn 12.25K Trail Run

Another run in Granville, checking yet one more trail/path.

Ended with 7.6-miles.

 3.4-miles on Main Street in the dark.

Weekly Weigh In while involved with the 61-Day Challenge - 207.3 lbs.

4-mile run along the Metacomet from Route 20 North to the Boy Scout Shelter, and back.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #11 for 2021...

"The Black Mass of Brother Springer", by Charles Willeford, published in 1958.

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What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period  October 1st through October 31st, 2021: