We are in the third day of upper 90's for temperature, and this was the first morning where the night didn't seem to cool things off at all.  It looks as though the next 5-days might be similar.

I didn't feel like driving too far, so I settled on McLean Refuge.  I thought it would be slightly cooler in the woods, but I'm not sure it was.  I felt decent for the first 2-miles, but I ended with 6.4-miles for the day, so a chunk of the running was a struggle.

On the positive side, it really can't get much hotter, and today was pretty humid as well.  Once things cool back off, I should feel fantastic while running.  Another positive was this was my fifth week in a row of 30-miles of running.  That is something to feel good about, especially considering the pieces of March and April I had.  I am building consistency.

It wasn't too hot for this guy today

Stony Hill

An early trip to the Daughter's of American Revolution (DAR) State Forest in Goshen, Massachusetts to verify at least one trail I haven't been on.  The run began on a great note as a small fox crossed the road just as I started jogging.

I was able to locate the "new" trail fairly easily, and rambled through two that I haven't been on in a while.  All told, despite the warmth, I managed 10-miles on my legs.

At the end of my route, I re-visited the Lah-Zee Trail, which I first explored on December 3rd, 2017.  Still a good connector, but at the end of running 10-miles, the rocky section in the middle wasn't fun.

As I exited the trail onto the paved road, I was met by a pair of adult geese with four of their young.  They were not going to budge, so I made the wide path around them.  

Pool off Wing Hill Road

Impressive Stonewall running west on the Oak Hill Connector

Impressive Stonewall running east on the Oak Hill Connector

DAR's Balanced Rock

DAR's Balanced Rock

DAR's Balanced Rock

DAR's Balanced Rock

Beech Tree as expression of thoughts, along the Long Trail

Mass of Fern along Moose Run

Firetower at Moore Hill

Geese at my finish

Places to be as well

Also, on this day in 2006, I completed my 33rd marathon, Tunxis II.  This was the second time in 5-weeks that I marathoned along the Tunxis Trail...  this time, I used the southern portion down to Satan's Kingdom.  My time was 6:06:30, and I had Tippi along for company.  It was her 9th completed marathon.

Tippi on top of  Indian Council Caves, along the Tunxis.

 

Somewhat hot today, but I got out early enough that it wasn't a burden.  Rolled through the 8-mile run along the Metacomet, from Phelps Road to Copper Mountain, and back.  I was very slow, but comfortable.  It just wasn't a day for running too hard, I guess.

I was able to grab photos of the leaves from what I believed was a Chestnut Oak (which are plentiful along the ridge).  The leaves confirmed what I thought was a Chestnut Oak, was.

Chestnut Oak Leaf

Chestnut Oak

Chestnut Oak Leaf on ground

Old Metacomet Trail button (on a Chestnut Oak)

George A. Harmon Woodlot (Suffield Land Conservancy Property) 

I have always been a active reader, from childhood.  Somewhere back in the 1980's, I bought a paperback book published by Black Lizard.  I was intrigued by the cover art, and the small description of the author (it was a Jim Thompson novel).  The story really grabbed me, and a week later I went to the bookstore and bought another, by Thompson again.  The routine repeated itself every week or two, and Black Lizard kept putting out a few additional books every three or four months.

I discovered Charles Willeford, David Goodis, Fredric Brown, Charles Williams, James Cain, Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and others.  But while some got close, for me, none of them were equal to Thomson.

I've read most of the Black Lizard published books I bought back then.  I continued buying as things came out, but at some point toward 2000 it just seemed like the releases overwhelmed me.  For years, my collection has been boxed up in storage, but I've recently re-entered the world of Black Lizard / Vintage Crime here in 2018!

The most recent book completed, was David Goodis "Shoot the Piano Player".  This book was originally published in 1956.  Just like in a Thompson story, you know there most likely won't be a happy ending.  I enjoyed it, and plan on continuing to explore the depths of the down and out, Black Lizard style.

Between the normal workday, and the monthly board meeting, I managed 3.6-miles through McLean Refuge.  Spotted three deer along the run, they didn't bolt off right away, but just watched me.

Another awesome night (low temps and low humidity).  Took a 3-mile jog along Main Street in the dark, and I actually had some "kick" in my step.

Music 2018...

Effort #26, The Ramones "I Just Want to Have Something to Do".  Solo, 2018.

"... Hanging out all by myself, Cause I don't want to be with anybody else."

K2, who is another fantastic running partner of mine, and I enjoyed a couple hours on the Metacomet today.  I completed 7.1-miles on a cool yet humid morning.

South from Peak / Copper Mtn

USGS Marker on Peak / Copper Mtn

View south from one of many lookouts on the Metacomet Trail

I have been very fortunate to have a dedicated human running partner for over twenty-years.  Wuzzam is a great sport, and will tackle anything, anytime.  We both seem to get more out of "running" than "just running".  The forest, the routes, the landscape, it all has to mean something...  and to us it often does.

Today, despite calls for rain and a good chance of exploring, Wuzzam joined me for a one-way re-enactment of the old "Lost in Hampden" runs by K. Simons, circa 1999 and 2000.

We would challenge nine climbs, as follows:

1. Hampden Overlook
2. Goat Rock
3. Minnechoag Mountain
4. Hill 880' (Bald Mtn, Hampden)
5. Pine Mountain
6. Rattlesnake Hill
7. Perkins Mountain
8. The Pinnacle
9. Bald Mountain (Somers)

After hitting some tough climbs in the prior two-weeks at Mohawk Trail and Hawley / Dubuque, today seemed to be comfortable.  We really enjoyed the trails in Hampden Memorial Park, saw the stone chair in Garrish Park, passed through the VFW and over the Scantic River, climbed the north end of Minnechoag, managed our way over and down 880' and Pine, found our way over and down the fern covered Rattlesnake HIll, visited Camp Ayapo including Hurd's Lake and Perkins, visited the Stevenson Woodlands, managed steps up to the Pinnacle through to Bald on the "Old" Shenipsit Trail, and finally down the road to Bald Mountain Pond.

A fantastic day for my friend and I.  12.3-miles.

View east from Hampden Overlook

Wuzzam at Goat Rock, Minnechoag behind

Signage for Goat Rock

Peak of Pine Mountain, looking east

Ferns on the northwest side of Rattlesnake Hill

Wuzzam on Perkins peak

Tall Stonewall north of "the Pinnacle"

Old Shenipsit Trail Marker (the new trail is further east)

On this day in 2012, Wuzzam and I completed a Metacomet Marathon, with a time of 7:00:00.  Tippi ran the first section with us, from Route 20 to Phelps Road, and back (about 10.5-miles).  Weather report was that heating up was very possible - so the DL grabbed Tippi early.  This was my 46th marathon completed.

Our Route for the Marathon Distance.

4-mile run in Tunxis, exploring the Pell Road area one more time.  Oddly enough, there is a good connector from the Route 20 parking area over to Hurricane Brook Road, that I just never bothered looking at before.

Metacomet Trail, from Phelps Road south for a total of 3.7-miles.

Twenty-years ago today....  On this day in 1998, my Pop and I completed the 1st Greylock Centennial Marathon in Adams, Massachusetts.  Our time was 6:55:38.  This was a very difficult course, with 5 lengthy climbs.  This was my 19th marathon completed, and my dad's first.

Busy and lengthy work days have made it difficult to get out to the trail so far this week, but tonight I at least jogged 3-miles along Main Street.

"...In 2018, the New England National Scenic Trail will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails System Act with a Hike 50 challenge. This year we join with the other 29 National Scenic and Historic Trails in celebrating this milestone."

I was sent this notification via email, and the Hike 50 Challenge seemed like it would be a rewarding opportunity, so I signed up.

"...The rules of the challenge are simple! Anyone who hikes 50 miles on the NET during the 2018 calendar year will receive a special edition 50th anniversary New England Trail patch."

I completed my 50-miles on the Metacomet, which wasn't very difficult as I visit it a few times a week year round anyhow.  I completed my miles from January 1st through early April, with most of the visits to West Suffield.  This was a really neat way to motivate me toward a trail I sometimes think I am too familiar with.

Music 2018...

Effort #25, Neil Young's "Helpless".  Alone with the guitar, early 2018.

"... Throwing Shadows on Our Eyes."

Managed 3.5-miles along the Metacomet Trail this morning, after picking up donuts for my folks at Mrs. Murphy's in Southwick.  Plans for the day include a cookout in Adams, and celebrating Father's Day with my Pop.

White Pine stand near my turn-a-round spot