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:

"Forest Forensics with Tom Wessels", recorded May 1st, 2021 in Cornwall, CT .

 

2021 Unsupported Trail Race Fall Challenge #5

New England Trail 13K Trail Run (8-Miles)

Managed the Metacomet from Phelps Road south to Peak Mountain, and back.

Out in 53:30, back in 50:00.

K2 got a solid 2-hours on his legs as well.

2021 Unsupported Trail Race Fall Challenge #4

Peoples State Forest 10K Trail Run (6.2-Miles)

After picking up a new "used" guitar in Winsted, I ran a modified Peoples State Forest race-course.

My version ended up at 10k, or 6.2-miles.

Lookout #1

Lookout #2

Split Rock Passage

And on this day in 1999...

Watery Hill 6-Hour Run

November 6, 1999 - Somewhere in MA or RI

I completed 30-miles during the Watery Hill Six-Hour Race today, with Johnny Bandit.  

I called it a day at 5:35:00.

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

Completed the enjoyable ramble just before darkness began to set in.

Weekly Weigh In while involved with the 61-Day Challenge - 210.6 lbs.

On this day in 2000...

Watery Hill 6-Hour Run

November 4, 2000 - Somewhere in MA or RI

I completed 33-miles during the Watery Hill Six-Hour Race today, with Johnny Bandit.  

I called it a day at 6:00:00.

We had a "little" visitor to our patio early this morning...

On this day in 1997...

Bash Bish Falls Marathon

November 2, 1997 - South Taconic Trail, MA & NY

The Old Goat, the Gullivers, and a few others rambled out to Bash Bish Falls to participate in a marathon along the South Taconic Trail.  

I managed 26-miles in 6:28:00, with the last few miles being in a driving rain.  

This was my 18th marathon.

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

• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, West Suffield, Connecticut
• Devil's Kitchen, Tunxis Trail, Burlington Region
• Mile of Ledges, Tunxis Trail, Burlington Region
• Hemenway Lookout, Tunxis Trail, Burlington Region
• Johnnycake Mountain, Tunxis Trail, Burlington Region
• Kelly Hill, Metacomet / New England Trail, Agawam, MA
• Provin Mountain, Metacomet / New England Trail, Agawam, MA
• Harts Pond Hill, Metacomet / New England Trail, Southwick, MA
• Nicks Hill, Metacomet Ridge, West Suffield, CT
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Ridge, West Suffield, CT
• Peak/Copper Mountain, Metacomet Ridge, West Suffield, CT
• Stony Hill, McLean Game Refuge, Granby, CT
• Sodom Mountan, Southwick, MA
• Phelon Forest Hill, Granville, MA
• Goff Ledges, Granville - Tolland, MA