Still suffering with a bothersome left ankle, so  not much to report as far as activity goes.

I have begun to read a new book, by Glenn Kreisberg, "Spirits in Stone... the Secrets of Megalithic America".

Bothersome left ankle; no run but yes to some yard work!

Bothersome left ankle;  no run.

Music 2018...

Effort #17, Motorcycle Preacher Man.  My partner in the Road Warriors for Christ delivers an original composition.

TEMPTATION

(Originally written October 1st, 2000)

"...Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness."

Hebrews 3:8

It was one of the few perfect days for a trail race this season.  The air was dry, cool and bright.  A recurring light breeze tickled my face whenever it was needed most.  Everyone out on the Breakneck course appeared glad to be there.

It made my decision at mile ten or so a simple one.  I had recently been passed easily by a team of two running in unison fast and steady.  

"Wasn't there a third?" I asked, as I had thought I noticed another member with them originally.

"There was… ", came the reply, along with some laughter.

The cockiness in the answer bothered me.

Minutes later, I knew the difficult right turn off a wide logging road was approaching.  I could sense these two were about to jog past this single-track trail without notice.  The temptation was strong to let them go, allowing them to end up in never never land.  I watched them climbing beyond the turn as I approached it myself, still feeling tempted to let them go…

When I was finally at the turn, I gave a simple shout to the wanderers.  They came back and preceded to pass me again.  I was thanked, and it made me happy that I called back the two faster fellows.

Fighting the lure of allowing the speedsters to go off course was tougher than running the entire race.  I feel fortunate that I was able to avoid this temptation.  Allowing fellow racers to go off course within my sight would have failed me.  I certainly can see the parallels between making a simple decision in a trail race, and everyday life decisions.  I was taught once that if you can get in a habit of doing all the little things, then the big things aren't as much a chore.  

Calling the men back was one of those little things.  Applying this lesson to the rest of my life is the important piece to the puzzle.  I believe that I did the right thing; and I aspire and strive to get to a point someday where no decision is needed.  I need to progress to a level where the right decision is done without thought, automated.  Until then, I imagine I will continue to feel little tricks of temptation occasionally, and hopefully I will be able to continue to choose the correct path.

As for the outcome of Breakneck 2000, I may have finished behind the two hurried runners in the standings; but in my personal race the outcome had me ending a winner on this day.

{October 1, 2000}

Wuzzam and I were back in the Hills of Hampden, doing the Simon's Skyline 7.7-mile loop for the 3rd consecutive week.  Temperature was right at, or just barely above 50-degrees, with some sun but not too much.  The flat sections (what there are of them) were very wet and slippery due to Monday's snow and rain.

I felt pretty strong for the run, even with the bad footing, and completed this week's attempt at 1:34:42.  I believe Wuzzam was 1:30 faster as well, so we did just fine.

Taking 15-minutes off last week's time was much better than I expected.  I felt I could get under 1:40:00, but I also felt that it would be a challenge and difficult.  The sections of running were very good today, but the while the climb up 880' was a bit easier, Pine is still very, very hard (and slow).

I had a return to my eye doctor, to check on the recovery from Shingles, as well as have my first ever eye exam.  

There was very good news on both items, as the right eye is irritated more than any lingering effects of having Shingles in that location; and as far as the eye exam went, I was given an "outstanding" grade on my eyes and vision.  It looks like eye glasses are still a bit off for me, doc wants to see me back in 2-years.

Music 2018...

Effort #16, On Some Faraway Beach.  Roughed in version of a Brian Eno dream set to music.

Music 2023...

Planned for an early start to beat the rain, and since it's been since last November that I ran "in" Penwood State Forest, I had my choice.  Parked at Wintonbury Road and began the tough climb to the ridge heading south, sticking to the blue blazed Metacomet (or New England) Trail.  

Made it to Gale Pond and the main parking area for Penwood, and it made me think about 2014 when I volunteered as a CFPA Ridgerunner at this location.  Once out of the parking area I took the alternate route (it is Yellow & Orange throughout) back north.  Noticed on my GPS that I had averaged 3.4 mph for the section to Gale Pond, which is on the slow side.  Made up some speed on the way back, the Yellow/ Orange trail is "smoother" and less rocky than the Metacomet, and completed the 6.5-miles in 1:34 (a 4.1 mph average).  I was very satisfied with my 1st run at Penwood for 2018!

As a bonus, this ended up being my first 30-mile week for running miles in 2018.  Interestingly, this was the same point last year for this mark (15th week of the year).  I am hopeful that I can continue being healthy, fit and strong going forward.

View south toward Talcott Mountain from the Pinnacle

View south off the alternate path

Old weathered trees

Also, on this day in 1996, I was fortunate to run the 100th Boston Marathon. It was my 10th marathon completed, in a time of 3:24:14.

Possibly the nicest day of the year so far.  I thought McLean would be fun, and I rambled through 7.9-miles at a comfortable pace.  There were an abundance of people enjoying the woods, many with their dogs, which makes me happy.

Start / Finish at Canton Road parking area

Back to the Skyline Loop including some of Hamden's Hills today, with temperatures climbing into the '70's.  Wuzzam was ready, and I fitted him with Tippi's old radio/gps collar so that I could "see" his progress on my Garmin Astro 320 (actually, this was in case he wandered at a turn, I'd be able to see it).

I guess that I was so worried about Wuzzam that I missed a turn at around 6/10 of a mile and put an additional 3/10 on the run.  Other than that, we did really well, and Wuzzam found his way.  I cut briars around mile 6, which will be a big benefit as the year moves on, and we hopefully continue working on this course.

The climb up Pine is really a brute;  I took the more "right" path this time, and it looks to be a little longer and no easier.  At the end of the day, I had run 1:49 for 8-miles, which was a huge improvement from last week's 2:10 for 7.7-miles.  I'll take it.

From the little spur on 880, looking east

Metacomet Trail from Route 20 to the Boy Scout Camping area, 2-miles out from the trail-head.  I did not get rained on, and I managed four good miles on my legs.  All in all, a great afternoon.

Looking south toward the Heublein Tower

SOLITUDE, HEMLOCK AND A FRIEND

(Originally written April 26th, 2000)

Mountain Road splits the rocky Metacomet Trail in two at the top of West Suffield, with the majority of people following the path south towards the cliffs and views of Old Newgate Prison.  I usually choose the closed down section heading north to the Massachusetts border; the once continuous trail now regulated to dead-ending in the back of someone's yard.

There are plenty of options for trails close to my home, so why do I keep following this same path day after day, week after week, year after year?  This is a question I am sure many of us ask ourselves as we plod along a familiar trail over and over.  I don’t think the answer is a simple one, or even one single answer.  At least it isn't a single answer for me.

I guess that few others travel this route make it appealing to me.  The "other side" has a lot of traffic; hikers and mountain bikers have discovered its attraction.  I like the solitude of the woods, the quiet.  It is nice to be alone, and this short section of trail allows that.

I also choose this path because it holds a section of hemlock, a dark cavernous stand of trees that have so far avoided being cut like many of the others in Connecticut.  The way they deflect the sunlight from reaching the forest floor intrigues me.  The soft needles at their base lining the trail cushions each step.  Their size places me back decades for the brief moment I race through their natural hallway in the forest.  By the time I arrive each day at this section about a mile and a quarter into the trail, I have usually emptied my mind and daydreaming starts, my favorite moment of any run.  It is what I try to capture on each outing.

Another more intimate reason for enjoying this path is it helps me remember a friend.  It was here, along this section of path, from 1993 to 1998 I would run into Nick walking his labs, anywhere from a few dogs to a dozen.  3 or 4 times a week, 52 weeks a year, close to 5 years worth.  There were plenty of days when we just said a quick "hello", and passed each other.  There also were days when I would stop running and finish the miles hiking and talking with him.  Over time we became friends, two guys taking their dogs out into the woods each day.  I like to think that we shared some of the same reasons for sticking to that route.

Nick passed away unexpectedly in late summer of 1998, but every once in a while I bump into one of his sons walking the dogs along the trail.  It makes me smile to see one of his family members looping around the mountain over the same 3.5 miles he did thousands of times.  A real hit of sunshine, regardless of the weather.  Mostly though I don’t see anyone, but I know that Nick is still walking that ridgeline every day.  It is something I can feel.  He is still alive in the dirt, the trees, and the quiet sounds of the forest.  He left an imprint in that section of forest, at least on one person.  I continue to travel alone along the same path I had for a couple years shared with a friend, paying my respect.

Seasons change, I change, even the woods here change due to logging.  The routine for me hasn’t changed yet, though.  I have my reasons for looping along the abandoned Metacomet Trail on Mountain Road, West Suffield.  My choice comes down to solitude, to hemlock, and to a friend gone.  One is welcomed, one is trying to survive, and one is missed.

{04/26/00}

Music 2018...

Effort #15, Cotton Crown.  Going back to Fort Worth, Texas in 1988 with the Reverend as The Road Warriors for Christ.  A quiet Sonic Youth interpretation.

Out to the Metacomet after work, Phelps north for 3.6-miles.