Beautiful sunny day, around 70-degrees or so.... 3-mile run along Main Street to loosen up.

Began physical therapy for the left ankle...  hoping for the best and quickly at that.

Continuing to track my "peaks", or at least "high points" along the trails I cover.

April's High Points:

• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Bartlett Tower Hill, Tariffville, CT
• Pinnacle, Penwood State Forest, Bloomfield, CT
• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Rattlesnake Hill, Somers, CT
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• Copper - Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Granby, CT
• Hart's Pond Hill, Agawam, MA

March's High Points:

• Hatchet Hill, Granby, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Perkins Mountain, Somers, CT
• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Rattlesnake Hill, Somers, CT
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT

February's High Points:

• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Goat Rock and Lookout Point, Hampden, MA
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge, Suffield, CT
• Hill 880', Hampden, MA
• Pine Mountain, Hampden, MA
• Perkins Mountain, Somers, CT
• West Ridge, DAR State Forest, Goshen, MA
• Walnut Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Copper - Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Granby, CT
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Merritts Hill, Williamsburg, MA

January's High Points:

• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Bald Mountain, Shenipsit State Forest
• The Pinnacle, Shenipsit State Forest
• "Balanced Rock Hill",  Shenipsit State Forest
• "Bent Birch Hill", Shenipsit State Forest

Back out to McLean due to smoother running surface compared to most of the trails in the area.  My ankle is about the same as it has been, even after the run yesterday, so that is encouraging.  

Waited to just afternoon to avoid the on-and-off rain this morning, and managed a decent 6.7-miles at 5.5-mph.  

The left ankle is still not right, but with my physical therapy beginning on Monday, and nine-days off of running, it was time to do something.  I went to McLean on a sunny, seventy-degree day, and avoided large hills.

The Bad News is that the ankle is still very stiff and tender.  The Good News is that it didn't seem to make anything worse than if I didn't run at all.  I imagine that is a start.

4.3-miles at a comfortable 5.5-mph pace.

On this day in 2006, I completed a Metacomet Marathon with my dog Tippi;  it was just us.  By 2005, most of my running turned toward exploring and mapping routes through the forest of Western Massachusetts and North Central Connecticut, with an emphasis on picking out ways to connect big tracks of land, and turn them into runs of marathon length.

Tips taking a look toward the quarry in West Suffield, Connecticut.

This run began in Sunrise Park, Suffeld, Connecticut and flowed south through Penwood State Forest in Bloomfield and Simsbury, Connecticut.  We spent 6:27:00 completing a little over 28-miles or so.  This was my 31st marathon completed, and Tippi's 7th.
 

Hueblin Tower in the distance; we would be turning around just prior to it.

Notes:  A great day;  started out 50 degrees at the 9:45 A.M. start time.  I believe it reached 70 degrees during the day, with most of it in the mid to upper 60’s.  Sunny and blue sky entire time, with a bit of a nice breeze every once and a while.

Tippi taking a look back off a ledge.

Much of the route is a ridge trail, with weather beaten trees still standing.

Tippi at the finish, ready to eat and rest.

  

 The Route we managed in April of 2006.

MAGIC MOMENTS

(Originally written October 1st, 2000)

Magical moments during trail races happen less than often for me.  During simple training runs, the magic flows like water from a faucet.  Usually not at races though.  The one exception is the Dunbar Brook Trail Race, luckily allowing this ever slowing trail runner to live in the past, once a year, every year.

No matter how unhurried I have been running up to this point, Monroe State Forest helps lift the weight from my shoulders and allows me to run like I once did, years ago.  Well, it at least affords the appearance that I am attaining that speed.  Over nine years of participating at this event, I have never had a "bad day" here.

I imagine that there are reasons why I am "lucky" at Monroe that I haven't thought of.  It might just be coincidence, or me being more lenient on what constitutes a "good day" this far into the trail-racing season.  Something I can point to, though, are the following positives.

Peak Foliage.  The Columbus Day weekend is just incredibly beautiful in western Massachusetts, and that intensifies along the Mohawk Trail.  Peak Foliage abounds.  Glances upward from the path reveal unmatched splendor in the form of colors that appear surreal.  The splattering of red mixed within the more abundant yellow-orange is so incredible decorating the trees that it would appear more in place within a painting, not nature.  

Time of year.  The coolness of the air temperature is a relief from the typical heat and humidity double feature normally present for our events.  It is refreshing to gulp in a big chunk of air towards your lungs and actually have the lightness and crispness of cold air fill up both compartments fully.  More oxygen into your lungs means more oxygen into your bloodstream, which means more oxygen to your brain, so you feel better.  And when we feel better, we run better.

This combination of fall color and cooler air temperature make autumn ideal for a "fast" race.  One for the eyes, and the other for the heart/lung combo.  Both are suited for the mind.  Which leads me towards ~

Daydreaming. With the abundant colors hanging from nearly every tree in the forest, it's easy for me to lose track of running.  I believe it helps if you can keep your mind occupied on something other than running, while running.  I usually like to let my thoughts drift wherever they want to go.  If I can attain this drifting state, then fatigue usually leaves me alone during these stretches. The golden yellow orange hue that burns into the back of my mind from the surrounding leaves tint everything towards a feeling of being outside myself.  It is almost like watching a movie of someone else running.  It allows for the fall color scheme to end up taking my breath away, and not the effort of running.

Terrain.  The Monroe State Forest contours lead me into a rhythm that is beneficial to maintaining a steady pace, and this helps give the appearance of a "good" run.  The first five and a half miles or so is basically uphill, and if you maintain a slow steady beat up the climb to Spruce Peak you can find yourself topped out and feeling great before you know it.  The simple "step in front of the next" effort it takes us all to climb this extended piece of landscape really simplifies the act of running.  One foot falls and the next rises slowly off the back to re-take the lead of the last footfall and over and over again basically at the same time and distance intervals, almost hypnotizing me to the point of forgetting this is an effort.  An assembly line for my two feet.

Negative Splits.  Once you make the top of the climb, the remaining 5 miles or so is downhill, and runnable.  This means the second half of the event is hopefully going to be faster than the opening half.  Think of all the races you have been in; how many can also offer this option?  Finishing up the last half of a race with a negative split has to make you feel good, regardless of your ending time.  Playing tricks with your mind is good while trail running and racing.  Nothing tricks my mind more when trailrunning than a faster / easier second half of a course, especially if the whole section is runnable.  Monroe allows each of us a quicker return trip home from Spruce Peak, building our momentum like an avalanche flowing down a mountain.  

Closure.  For many years, Monroe / Dunbar Brook was the finale of the trail racing season in New England.  While the season extends a bit further now, as events have expanded and been added, for many of us Monroe / Dunbar Brook is still the "end".  We may even participate at another event afterward, but our racing season ends once we cross the finish between the pines along the Deerfield River.  Knowing that many people are "wrapping it up" after this one contributes to a little quicker pace.  People seem so joyful at this event, trying to capture some of that past glory called "speed", it just rubs off.  It appears we all want to "go out" with a "bang".

It could be argued that there is nothing any "more" special about this race than others.  But as I howl across the short open sections under the buzzing power lines, it feels different to me.  I imagine leaving a wake of dust, crumpled leaves and fellow participants behind.  I silently call loudly ahead to those I trail, never actually catching any.  My inner shouts of emphasis are heard throughout the valley below.  The joy rings true, it doesn’t ever matter where I finish.  I feel vindicated, a trail runner for another season.  I have explored another magic moment at Monroe.

{October 19, 2000}

Music 2018...

Effort #18, Another Day, a Galaxy 500 cover.  Just me and the guitar, trying my best.

I caught this video online featuring Mr. Kreisberg which is pretty interesting...

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.