On this day...

Tunxis Trail Marathon II - June 30th, 2006
Barkhamsted & New Hartford, Connecticut

Today I completed my 35th marathon, Tunxis II. 

This was the second time in 5-weeks that I marathoned along the Tunxis Trail...  this time, I used the southern portion down to Satan's Kingdom. 

My time was 6:06:30, and I had Tippi along for company.  It was her 9th completed marathon.

Tippi on top of  Indian Council Caves, along the Tunxis.

 

We have reached the 1/2 Way Point of 2021, Week 26 is finished.

I ended the 26th Week with 791.8-miles.  My Goal for this year is 1350.  Considering "equal" weeks of mileage, I estimated a Goal of 663-miles at this point in time.

This means I have been continuing on a slightly "better" pace of miles-per-week than intended.  Much of this can be attributed to the need to work 7-Days On, 7-Days Off from January through May (COVID Restrictions).  Regardless, I am currently roughly 129-Miles "ahead" of pace.

If I can continue to do my thing, and avoid injury or stoppage, I have an opportunity to hit my goal.

The 2021 Suffield Summer 5km Series at Bruce Park kicked off tonight.

I showed up, since much of the fitness battle is just that, "Showing Up".  The difficult part was the temperature was in the middle to high '90's at race time, with brutal humidity.

I had attended two of these sessions back in 2019 (no events during 2020's COVID Restriction Season).

I had managed times of 28:04 & 27:32 during 2019.

For tonight's run, I was hoping to:

• Run a steady pace
• Not drop due to the heat
• Be smart and not get hurt

I began, by later on reviewing the video of the start, not in last place but roughly about 9th from the rear.  Honestly, the heat had me worried.

I stuck to a steady pace, feeling just about uncomfortable but not to the point of wanting to quit.  When I got to the finish of the first loop (the route has changed slightly, it is now only two equal loops) I believe the timer shouted 13:19.  That seemed about right for how I was feeling.  The question was, how much could I hang on for Loop Two?

The answer was fairly well.  I finished exactly at 27:00 for a 8:41 pace per mile.  Nothing exciting, but considering how long it has been since I went at race-pace (two years) and the extreme heat and humidity, I was plenty satisfied.  Plus, I didn't pull anything.

Tunxis State Forest, with K2 and Wuzzam.

Plan was to run from Route 20 for an hour, and return in an hour fifteen.

We made it to Roberts Brook right at an hour, and 3.8-miles.

Total trip on schedule, and 7.6-miles on our legs for this humid morning.

3.4-mile run around the Bridge-Main-Kent-Wisteria-Dylan-Bridge loop.

Late morning drive to Clinton, Massachusetts to visit our niece.

4.4-miles on the Southwick - Suffield Bike Path (Farmington Canal Heritage Trail).

It was a great day to continue on my Massachusetts Appalachian Trail Adventure.  Low temperature as well as low humidity, and the bugs didn't seem to be out either.

My last visit on June 10th had me turning at a brook crossing in the Town of Washington.  Today, I parked on Blotz Road with intentions of traveling to Grange Hall Road.  This would allow me to run through Washington, Hinsdale and Dalton today.

I climbed Warner Hill and Tully Mountain, and actually went a bit past Grange Hall Road to the Barton Brook crossing before turning back, finishing with 11.1-miles.

Looking at Saddleball and Greylock from Warner Hill

Beautiful morning, sixty-degrees and no humidity (or bugs).  

Took another route up Sodom Mountain, this time completing 5-miles. 

Two great discoveries today...

• another balanced / perched rock
• so far, the quickest route to the "top" I've found

Turned around at the rock outlook just north of the cell-tower.

Many new paths again today for the database.

Later on, my appointment with the ortho doc revealed a fracture in my wrist.

Balanced Rock

Off the Ledges, with Cooley Pond in distance

Off the Ledges, with Cooley Pond in distance

Penwood Pinnacle & Heublein Tower in the distance

On this day in 2012, Wuzzam and I completed a Metacomet Marathon, with a time of 7:00:00.  

Tippi ran the first section with us, from Route 20 to Phelps Road, and back (about 10.5-miles). 

Weather report was that heating up was very possible - so DL grabbed Tippi early.  

This was my 48th marathon completed.

Our Route for the Marathon Distance.

First part of the day was picking out and purchasing a new dining room table & chairs combo. 

With the rain present throughout, I thought I'd take a hike on Sodom Mountain, climbing up the old forest road from Route 57.  I followed it up to the gas-line crossing, which was about a mile.  

Felt good, so I continued on a bit of single-track, which looped around itself multiple times before reconnecting.  Good use of my time, as I had not been on this single-track before.  

Ended the day with 4.5-miles.

Granby Land Trust to explore the Mary Edwards Mountain Property and the Godard Preserve.

Completed 5.5-miles in brutal humidity;  or at least it felt that way.

Top of East Hill

Balanced Rock on south sider East Hill

Mary's Rock

... And on this day in 1998, my Pop and I completed the 1st Greylock Centennial Marathon in Adams, Massachusetts.  Our time was 6:55:38.  This was a very difficult course, with 5 lengthy climbs.  This was my 21st marathon completed, and my dad's first.

Granville to attempt a connection to the Phelon Forest from Blandford Road.

Ended with 8.1-miles, with good connections to Phelon, North Lane, and Wendy's Road from Friday's run.

Various side trails yet to explore, and a nice small waterfall along the way.

Visited Sodom Mountain and the Granville Gorge today.  

Found a good spot to cross the brook at the Gorge to enter the trail network below Drake Mountain.  This was a great "find", and means that I can avoid a bushwhack to go from Sodom to Drake Mountain across Munn Brook.

Then to Sodom Mountain, to explore another route "up".  Excellent route that exited onto the old forest road across the top, and then re-entered back to the intersection.  Much of the route tread is decent shape, the only drawback to this trail is the steepness of the initial climb.

Ended the day with 4.6-miles, with a bonus of a nice balanced rock about a mile up.

Afterward, drove to Adams to visit the folks, including a Father's Day lunch of Fish and Chips I carried from the Williamburg Snack Bar, and donuts from Mrs. Murphy's.  Pretty wonderful day.

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock

Out to Granville after work, totaled 5.4-miles on Wendy Road and some surrounding spots.

 

It looks like our bird-feeders will be on-hold for a while, as we had a visitor with two cubs today.

3-miles at the end of work. 

"High Points" along the trails I've visited during May, 2021...

• Sodom Mountain, Southwick-Granville, MA
• Saddle Ball Mountain, Mt Greylock Reservation, Appalachian Trail, Massashusetts
• Kitchen Brook Ravine Climb, Mt Greylock Reservation, Appalachian Trail, Massashusetts
• Drake Mountain, Southwick / Granville, Massachusetts
• Becket Mountain, Appalachian Trail, Massashusetts
• Walling Mountain, Appalachian Trail, Massashusetts
• Pine Mountain, Tunxis Trail, Connecticut
• Baldy Mountain, Appalachian Trail, Massashusetts

Music 2021...

Effort #15,  "Heart of Gold"...  Reverend King with a recording of Neil Young's classic.

Back to Shenipsit and the Bald Mountain Pond area to run with Wuzzam.  This time, we were planning on 7 - 10 miles to see if his knees handle that ok.

We stuck to many of the soft, single track mountain-bike trails as much as possible.  We did intersect the Blue Blazed Shenipsit Trail (which was really badly grown in with fern on the section we navigated) and stuck with that over Balanced Rock Hill.

From there, we headed toward The Pinnacle on opened-up motorcycle path.  Climbed to the northern intersection of the Pinnacle at "Twin Birch", and rambled back south toward Bald Mountain.

By the finish, we had totaled 8.1-miles for the day.

I returned to Granville to tie some tracks up from yesterday.

There is an abundance of trails, old roads, forest roads, right of ways and motorcycle path - and it will take some time to piece it together so I can understand (see it all in my head).

Absolutely beautiful morning, the light rain had finished and it was still very cool with dropping humidity.

I rambled on through the route I had hoped to, completing 9.6-miles with a second half at a speed of over 5-mph (great for me).  Dozens of additional side-trails revealed themselves today, which will certainly increase my need to continue visiting this area.

Visited Granville to gain more understanding of the network of trails, old roads, forest roads and right of ways. 

Did well to get back around to the car - the amount of trails are staggering, especially faint or obscure variations of trails (motorcycle routes).

I ended up losing my gps signal when my batteries died, luckily I had a replacement set in my pack.

It was then that I used the "Go To" function, which I have only relied on a handful of times, to get myself oriented and finally back to the parking area.  All in all, very helpful day for understanding these woods.  I got a great 7.1-miles on my legs.

Drove out to County Road in the Town of Washington to pick up the Appalachian Trail where I had last left off at this location, back on May 18th.

Rambled out to the brook at 5.6-miles or so, and returned to total up 11.55-miles.

Excellent temperatures, low to mid '70's for the duration.  Only 43 miles from home.  Other than the quick climb in each direction of Bald Top, much of this section is merely rolling.  Great day.

Entry Point today

Swamp at West Branch Road Crossing

Bent Tree Limb

"...A Wizard Should Know Better"

Brook at Turnaround Point

Large Rock Slab

Large Rock Slab

Large Rock Slab

This has been a Great Marathon Day in my History!  

Two completed marathons on this day in my past!

In 2001, I completed my 25th marathon at Nipmuck, in 4:27:17.  

This was a 35th place, and my 5th completed Nipmuck.

Then, on this day in 2012, Wuzzam, Tippi and I completed a Tunxis Marathon in 6:26:10.  

This was my 47th Marathon, and Tippi's 16th.

3-miles at the end of work. 

What Played in Ed's Head -- Music listened to for the time-period  May 1st through 31st, 2021:

A great marathon day in my history!  Two throwbacks today...

On this day in 1998, I completed the my 4th Nipmuck marathon in 4:28:33, a 41st placement.  This was my 20th finished marathon.

Also on this day, in 2009, I completed my 7th Nipmuck Marathon in 4:37:03 (a fantastic 19th place).  This was my 42nd marathon overall.

Out to Shenipsit State Forest to meet Wuzzam, to see if his aching knees are repaired.

Also on this day in 2010, I ran the Nipmuck Marathon for the 8th time.  It was my 46th marathon completed, with a time of 5:07:28.  This was good for 34th place overall.

To the Granville Reservoir area once again, to attempt to find some additional single-track and possibly explore some of the old forest roads.

All went well, except the heat and humidity were difficult.  I did some actual walking on the steep sections, found my way to some pretty cool spots, made some connections and did find some single-track.

Finished with 7.2-miles and additional questions and thoughts regarding the network of trails in this area.

On this day in 1994 I completed my 3rd marathon - Nipmuck.  It was my first Nipmuck Marathon completed, and my time was 4:02:00, good enough for 23rd place.

Also, on this day in 2005, I completed my 27th marathon - also Nipmuck, with a time of 4:48:13.  This was good for 29th place.

More exploring Sodom Mountain, this time late afternoon once work ended.  Somehow, I avoided any rain, which was a blessing.

Explored some on the bottom, from the April 19th track for a bit.  Hit the remnants of an old path that is still followable but a bit grown in, until I joined "good trail" that I had previously been on toward the top.

Once past the cell tower, I took an optional trail I hadn't tried before, and managed to get to the ravine crossing from April 19th once again.  Tried to stay south, although at times it didn't seem it, but persisted and I actually arrived at the top of Sodom Mountain Road.  

Ran down the road to Loomis, and seemed to fly back to the car on pavement, finishing with a surprising 8.1-miles.

3.1-miles along Main Street & North Main prior to work. 

From the archives....

I completed my 11th marathon on this day in 1996 at Nipmuck.  I ran a 3:56:50 in the race, which was good for 15th place.

Old News Department...

On this day in 1997 I completed my 15th marathon - Nipmuck.  It was the 3rd time I completed Nipmuck, and my time was 4:31:44, good enough for 42nd place.

Also, on this day in 2013, I completed my 51st marathon - Hawley Berkshire East.  I had Wuzzam with me for this one, which was a real beast.  We had a total time on feet of 7:45:15, which was the longest either of have ever been on our feet moving through the forest.  It was most likely more than a marathon distance.  By several miles...  (or more).