"Non Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #32 for 2024...

"Even the Wicked" by Lawrence Block, published in 1996.

Matthew Scudder #13.

Contract Day #35.

Began PT for left Big Toe.

Shift @ JMH early.

New Year's Eve at the ICC.

"Non Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #31 for 2024...

"The Green Eagle Score" by Richard Stark published in 1967.

Parker #10.

DL and I Met Up with Annie and Betsy for L in the middle of CT. 

Drove out to Williamstown to visit my Mom.

Wonderful visit, lots of laughs and great memories!

Raining off and on all day but I managed a rewarding hike in Penwood on alternate trails.

3-miles without getting soaking wet!

Cowles Park with K2 and J Evil.

8.2-miles of a loop including Cowles, T-Ville, Laurel Hill, Wilcox area and Farmington River basin. 

"Non Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #30 for 2024...

"Baptism of Fire" (Polish original title: Chrzest ognia).

The Witcher Book 5 / The Witcher Saga Novels Book 3.

Written by Andrzej Sapkowski in 1996 (2014 English).

Shift at JMH mid-day.

Eye Exam Early, Yearly Check-In.  Passed for another year with no need for glasses!

Contractor Shift #62. 

Shift at JMH mid-day.

Quite Christmas with DL and TC.

Early Run at Cowles Park / T-Ville for 3.2-Miles (had the forest to myself). 

"Non Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #29 for 2024...

"Time of Contempt (The Witcher Book 4 / The Witcher Saga Novels Book 2)".

Written by Andrzej Sapkowski in 1995 (2013 English).

Shift at JMH mid-day.

5.2-miles in Cowles Park, around 20-degrees and sunny. 

Drove to Williamstown to travel with my Mother to my sister's home for an early Christmas Lunch.

Excellent day! 

2024 Unsupported Trail Race "Unofficial Challenge"

Winter Solstice 13.20 km (8.2-miles)

Back to Bear Hole with J Evil & K2 to celebrate the Winter Solstice.

It was cold at our start, just under 30 degrees, but sunny.  It didn't really get any warmer, but the sun was clouded over mid-run and it grew noticeably colder.

Ended with a strong 8.2-miles.

Wilcox Park for 2.4-miles.  Black Bear sighting, Mother and Two Cubs. 

"Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #28 for 2024...

"No Beast So Fierce" by Edward Bunker, published 1973.

Consulting Shift #61 early.

Shift at JMH mid-day.

ICC with DLV for dinner and music late. 

Doctor Appointment (Podiatry).

2-mile walk late afternoon. 

1st lesson at EGSC for Tai Chi.

Shift at JMH early. 

Mclean Game Refuge, finding the old foundations in Pilfishire, 2.5-miles.

Bear Hole for a total of 3.4-miles.

Drive to Williamstown to visit my Mom.  Excellent Visit!

"High Points" along trails during November 2024... 

Not Much this month!

• Phelon Forest Area, Granville, MA
• North Drake, Granville, MA
• Metacomet Ridge, Cowles Park, East Granby, CT

Shift at JMH early. 

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period November 1st through November 30th, 2024:

Contractor Day #60 (DOL).

"Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #27 for 2024...

"The Man Who Smiles" by Henning Mankell, published 1994, 4th in his acclaimed Wallander series.

Swedish:  Mannen som log

The English translation by Laurie Thompson was published in 2005.

Contracting work, DMR's.

Corolla in for Service as well. 

Wishbone Ash at Iron Horse with DL.

Shift at TA/JMH. 

Visit my Mom in Williamstown for Lunch.

4-miles on the Mohican Multi-Use Trail at Springs Village in Williamstown after. 

8-miles at Bear Hole with K2 and J Evil.

Up on the Metacomet Ridge west of Bear Hole and rambled in the couple inches of snow for a while before shooting down the side of the ridge back to Ashley Reservoir and back to Bear Hole.

4.9-miles at McLean Game Refuge.

Trip to Perkarski's with DL, and a stop at Captain Jack's in Easthampton on the way home.

4.5-miles at Robinson State Park.

Shift at JMH early. 

First actual snow of the season, very beautiful.

Financial Meeting mid-day.  All appears well.

Contractor Day #59.. 

Stopped at Bear Hole for 4-miles.

Drove to Williamstown to visit my Mom. 

3.5-Miles at Cowles.

Long Shift at JMH. 

Bear Hole at High Noon, 6.8-miles. 

Met up with K2 and J Evil for a journey at Bear Hole, hopefully working off some turkey.

Cold, roughly 30-degrees but very sunny with no breeze and brilliant blue sky.  Great weather for a longish run through the forest.

Finished my day with 10.4-miles, with the "A-Team" grabbing 10km. 

It was a "below freezing morning", so I waited a bit for a run in Granville.

Rambled around Drake Mountain and the lower Reservoirs for 10.0-Miles at 4.1-mph pace.

I felt pretty darn good throughout the adventure, not bad considering there was right around 2000' of ascent throughout the route. 

Drove out to Williamstown to pick up my Mom, headed to a "day-late Thanksgiving" at my sisters with Pop as well.

And 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.

Quiet Thanksgiving with DL and TC. 

Granville Trail Run, 6.5-Miles. 

Visit to our Financial Planner for Thanksgiving celebration.

Contractor Day #58.

Granville Trail Run - 4.7-Miles. 

Granville Trail Run - 11.6-Miles with K2 & J Evil.

Visit with Mom and Pop in Williamstown for Lunch, with a short walk at the Spruces Park before driving home to Connecticut. 

3-Miles in Bear Hole.  East of Morgan Road but south of I-90.  Not worth re-visiting anytime soon.

"High Points" along trails during October 2024... 

Lots of exploring but minimal actual "Peaks" this month!

• Phelon Forest Area, Granville, MA
• Holden Hill Area, Granville, MA
• Ireland Trip 
• "An Chonair"
• "Ceann Sleibhe"

The Conor Pass or Connor Pass (Irish: An Chonair, 'the way or path') is one of the highest mountain passes in Ireland served by an asphalted road. It is on the R560 road on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry.

Slea Head (Irish: Ceann Sléibhe) is a promontory on the westernmost part of the Dingle Peninsula, in southwest County Kerry, Ireland. It can be reached by the R559 road, with the nearest villages being Ballyickeen and Coumeenoole. The headland itself, together with the larger part of Mount Eagle's southern slopes, is formed from steeply dipping beds of the pebbly sandstones and conglomerates of the Slea Head Formation, dating from the Devonian period and traditionally referred to as old red sandstone.

To Slea Head's northwest is Dunmore Head, the westernmost point of Ireland. Slea Head is a well-known landmark and viewpoint, with a full view of the Blasket Islands. On 11 March 1982, the Spanish container ship, Ranga, was wrecked at Dunmore Head, close to Slea Head after losing power in a storm.

The Slea Head Drive is one of the Dingle Peninsula's most scenic routes. En route are several landmarks such as Ventry Beach, a pre-historic fort and beehive huts, the Dingle Famine Cottage, views of the Blasket Islands, Coumenole Beach and Gallarus Oratory. The loop road returns towards Dingle.

3.8-Miles at Northwest Park with K2. 

Contractor Day #57..

And from the Marathon Archives...

Northern Nipmuck Trail Marathon

November 20th, 2005 - Union & Ashford, Connecticut

Completed my 32nd marathon distance run on this day in 2005.  Designated the "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.

3.7-miles at Robinson State Forest.

3.8-Miles at Cowles, Upland Route. 

Granville Trail Running - 8.8-Miles w/ K2 & J Evil.

Visit with my Mom and Pop in Williamstown (Lunch). 

Running at McLean Game Refuge for 10.4-Miles.

3.7-miles at Robinson State Forest.

4-miles at Robinson State Forest.

Contractor Day #56.

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period October 1st through October 31st, 2024:

Shift at JMH.