On this day in my marathon history, 30-years ago...

Bridgeport Marathon
October 31, 1993 - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Today I completed the Bridgeport Marathon in ~3:32:00.  This was my second completed marathon, and it was more difficult than the first.

November 1 - December 31, 2023 - Kick-off celebration October 30, 2023

The Trinity Health Of New England 61 Day Challenge is a healthy lifestyle initiative that includes education about healthy eating, physical activity, and positive behavioral changes. It encourages individuals and groups to participate and learn how to make smart choices and develop healthy behaviors.

New England 61 Day Challenge Pledge

Today, I pledge to participate in the New England 61 Day Challenge.

During this time, I will make my health a priority and focus on developing and nurturing my body, mind, and spirit.

I will strive to meet the challenge goals of no soda, no sweets, and no cigarettes.

I will remember that there will be bumps along the road, and I will stay focused on the entire 61-day period.

I pledge to learn and grow in knowledge and to make healthier decisions on a daily basis.

I will support my colleagues, friends, and family throughout the Challenge.

Finally, I will take what I learned during the Challenge and strive to maintain my new healthy habits.

****  Additional steps we will be working on are:

•           No Fast Food.
•           No Fried Food.
•           No Alcohol.
•           Exercise regularly.
•           Drink 64 ounces of water daily.
•           No Eating after 6:00 p.m. (Sunday through Thursday).

Travel in the rain to visit the folks.

Short Work-Shift at the end of the afternoon. 

K2 and I drove to Granville for a couple hours on the trail

I covered a few more of those already cataloged, verifying that they are still "active" and "passable".

It was just under 80-degrees when we finished at 11:30 a.m., and my legs were tired.

Ended the day with a decent effort of 7.1-miles.

It seemed like a great afternoon to connect Dismal Brook in North Granby, CT to Sodom Mountain in Southwick, MA.  The sky was clear, temperatures were in the mid-seventies, which for the end of October seemed excellent if not a bit too warm.

All went well up to the old main dirt path that once upon a time lead straight north to cross over Sodom Mountain Road.  It seems as though a great deal of improvements have been made to a number of forest roads or paths.  This distracted me, I couldn't help myself from exploring, and I ended up not making it to Sodom Mountain.

Finished with 5.3-miles and with the knowledge that there are a number of additional forest roads that appear well cleared as well as a few single-track trails possibly worth exploring.

2023 Unsupported "Non" Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #16

Cowles Park 3.5-Miler

Unlike the first attempt at this run, today was dry, sunny and very warm.  I didn't have a water bottle with me, which wasn't the end of the world but I could have used a sip or two through the effort today.

Dry ground with better footing was one factor in my increased speed today, but my willingness to make a better effort helped as well.  A pretty good run, made me wonder if I could get around 35 minutes on this course with some additional practice and a committed running schedule.

Cowles Park Ramble #2

3.5-Mile Trail Run in 37:50.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #23 for 2023...

"The Jugger" written by Donald Westlake writing as Richard Stark, first published in 1965,.

Book six of the "Parker" series.

From the Archives...

Mt Washington State Forest Marathon - October 2003

 Riga Plateau, South Taconic & Appalachian Trails, MA, NY & CT

Sometime in October of 2002 - 2003, Tippi completed her first "Marathon" along the Mt Riga Plateau; it would also be my 26th.  We had the "Bandit" along for the adventure. 

Our time was recorded as 5:38:00 over 24.7-miles.  I recall the end of the run taking forever once we descended Frissell and headed back to Mt. Washington State Forest Headquarters, as we might have diverted from the most direct track.

Maybe on top of Alander?

Intersection prior to Brace.

   
I believe this is the top of Brace Mountain.

The Bandit climbing Round Mountain.

The Bandit at the peak of Round Mountain.

The Bandit climbing Mt Frissell.

The Bandit climbing Frissell.

At the Tri-State Marker (NY, MA, CT).

"Non" Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #22 for 2023...

"Destination Morgue" written by James Ellroy, first published in 2004.

Trip to Adams to celebrate Pop's Birthday.

Short Work Shift afterward into evening.

2023 Unsupported "Non" Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #15

Cowles Park 3.5-Miler

Rain on and off all day, and I had a long afternoon and evening locked in at work.

I went to Cowles with an intention of running relatively short, and with a strong effort.

Granted, I haven't been running a bunch and the ground was pretty slippery from all the rain, so the strong effort wasn't particularly meaning "fast".

I stuck to a nice route, with only a small bit repeated.  Ended up being 3.5-miles.

Cowles Park Ramble #1

3.5-Mile Trail Run in 42:35.

"Non" Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #21 for 2023...

"A Dance at the Slaughter House" written by Lawrence Block, first published in 1991.

This is book nine of the Mathew Scudder Series.

Pop's 84th Birthday today!

From the Marathon Archives...

Bay State Marathon
October 18, 1992 - Lowell, Massachusetts

I completed my first marathon, at the Baystate Marathon, in Lowell, Massachusetts, on this day in 1992..  

I ran 3:35:00 for the 26.2-miles (two loops).  My folks drove out to see me finish, which was really cool.

In Memory...  Rest in Peace Tippi (August 2000 - October 17, 2016)

Seven years ago today we said goodbye to Tippi.  She was a rescue we were blessed with for well over 16-years. She was my trail partner for somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 miles (we didn't keep track), traveling together in the car all over Connecticut, New York, Vermont and Western Massachusetts to run in the woods we both loved so much.  Together we finished 17 marathons.  She could run all day, season didn't really matter.

Often, as DL and I drive home from Adams back to Connecticut, she will ask as we pass large forested areas "... did you and Tippi ever run through there?"  The answer is almost always "Yes".  We connected huge tracts of land in northwestern Massachusetts, the Valley, and much of north-central and western Connecticut.

I continue to think about Tippi everyday. Often on a hike or run, I come to a spot in the forest that helps me feel her presence.  The recent photograph below is one of those spots/times, along the Spruce Mountain Trail in Monroe, where my old dog's spirit overwhelmed me.

We love you Tips, rest easy girl.

Tippi, August 2000 - October 17th, 2016.

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period September 1st through September 30th, 2023:

Visit the Folks for a relaxing donut from Mrs. Murphy's and Coffee.

Short stint at work after just before dark.

Ran at the Holcomb Preserve in Granby for 4-miles.

Had to turn around at one point, the second largest Black Bear I have ever seen was about 50-feet away heading north and I didn't want to interrupt him.

Ended the afternoon with a short shift at work.

And from the Archives...

On this day in 1995 I completed the 2nd Hartford Marathon in 3:42:02.  

This was my 7th completed marathon.

Ran after work at East Granby Farms up on the Metacomet Ridge for 4.5-miles.

From the Archives...

Conway Covered Bridge Marathon - October 13th, 2012

Conway & Goshen, Massachusetts

Today, Wuzzam and I ran the Conway Covered Bridge Marathon.  We had Ned and his daughter's dog with us for the first 10-miles or so, and they were good company.

The idea for the run had been with me for a while, but what sealed it was Farmer Tom was doing a group trail ride through the woods from either Berkshire East or South Face, to the Covered Bridge in Conway.

We would start running in the opposite direction of the bikes, beginning at the St. Mark's Church parking area (we hoped to start running on an hour but we found out the church bells haven't been active for many years).  We immediately crossed the Burkeville Covered Bridge and we were soon into Conway State Forest.

Highlights of the run included:

• Cricket Hill
• Joe Herrick Gulf
• Smith Hill
• Bullitt Reservation
• Chapel Falls & Ledge/Pony Cliffs
• Moore Hill and the Firetower

We finished really strong, final time of 6:33:15.  This was my 50th completed marathon.

On the drive out to retrieve our two aid station drops, we ran into the mountain bike group crossing West Road exiting the DAR State Forest onto the Chapel Falls Trail toward Conway State Forest.

An excellent day!

"High Points" along trails during September 2023... 

Still Building up....

• Peak / Copper Mtn, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT
• West Suffield Mtn, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Northern Drake Mountain, Southwick, MA
• Terriffville Peak, Metacomet Trail, Tarriffville/Simsbury, CT
• Hatchet Hill, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT
• Warner Hill, Plainfield, MA

"Non" Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #20 for 2023...

"Hollywood Nocturnes" written by James Ellroy, first published in 1994.

Bands and Live Performances I've been a part of:

#9.

Primitives, PNA Birthday Party for RK.  Summer/Fall 1983.

Al Doe was installed as our lead singer, placing K on Bongos.  

We had to scuffle a little a bit as TB left for school, and I switched to Guitar with BP on Bass.

LA Drummed like her life depended on it.

We rocked hard this night, playing something like ten or twelve songs in roughly 18 minutes.

At the end, Van-Go joined us onstage for a jam.