A beautiful sunny day for the start of a little vacation.  Visited McLean Refuge for 6.2-miles of comfortable running.  The left calf-muscle is still tender, began aggravating me at about mile-5.

White Pine Crown at the Start

View of the Barndoor Hills from Stony Hill

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #8 for 2019.  Andrew Vachss 1994 entry, "Down in the Zero".

Music 2019...

Effort #14, "My Generation".  1984, Primitives, on Burlingame.

"...Not tryin' to cause a Big Sensation."

Out to beat the rain this morning, visited Rising Corner to explore the Metacomet North.  Ended with 3.6-miles of easy running.

Signage at Start

Memorial Stone

Bridge

View from Gas-Pipeline

Stonewall

The day began recovering from yesterday's rain.  Early morning was still grey, but the sun did come out and temperatures hit 60-degrees. I drove out to McClean with the goal of 10 - 14 miles out to Holcomb Farm, a big loop.

I managed 13.2-miles and didn't feel beat at any point.  My left lower calf muscle is giving me trouble this week, but at this point it doesn't seem serious. We'll see going forward.

Signage entering Holcomb Farm Trails

View from the pasture at Holcomb, looking at West Ledge, Weed and Broad Hills

Here are my accomplishments for March 2019.

March 2019 High Points:

• Mollison Hill, Goshen, MA
• Davis Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Grass Hill, Whately, MA
• Red Fox Pasture Hill, Plainfield, MA
• Paddy Hill, Ashfield, MA
• Soapstone Mountain, Ellington/Somers, CT
• Rowe Lot Hill, Savoy, MA
• Hank's Hill, Mansfield/Storrs, CT
• 50 Foot, Mansfield/Storrs, CT
• Nick's Hill, West Suffield, CT
• Harts Pond Hill, Agawam, MA

• I've continued on a good pace so far in 2019.  I've continued to work the "long run" plan, completing the following "long-runs" this year in March:
• 14.5
• 12.8
• 13.8
•   9.7
• 13.2

• I also have been able to stay a ahead of my mileage goals per week, with an end-of-year total of 1200-miles of running planned.  I am currently roughly 45-miles over my scheduled goal.

Music 2019...

Effort #13, "I Wanna Be Your Dog".  1984, Primitives, on Burlingame.

"Lay right down in my favorite place"

8:30 a.m. run along the Metacomet Trail from Phelps Road north, prior to work.  Wonderful morning, bright sunny sky, no wind and in the high twenties.  Managed an enjoyable 3.5-miles.

Nick's Hill

Nice early evening run along Main Street;  3-miles.

My pal Dusty in March of 1999...

Met up with Wuzzam and the Old Goat along the Nipmuck Trail in the Mansfield / Storrs area.  Without our knowing, a blast of snow had traveled through a day ago, just a band of "cold enough temperatures" to leave the trail very sloppy.  Much of Connecticut was spared with rain only, but where we were running had 3" or 4" of snow on the ground for much of the way.

We did our best, which was difficult running due to the many water crossings and slippery footing.  Ended up with 9.7-miles, and a few hours spent on trails I had never been on before.

I'll reserve judgement on this section of the Nipmuck until I revisit during a dryer season.  The area along the Fenton River is very scenic and beautiful, but much of the trail on the east side was very eroded and difficult to gain rhythm with.

Directional Signage on the Gasline Hill

Matching hat and gloves prior to 50-foot

Looking south off 50-foot

Hanks Hill Silk Mill Sign

Bent Tree Limb along the Fenton River

Visited McLean Game Refuge in mid-afternoon, figured I'd take a tour and check the trail condition.  Used the opportunity to further cement the Holcomb Farm Connector (and trails).  Ended with 5.3-miles, through some ice, mud and slop.

I think one good week or warm dry weather should tidy this area up regarding trail conditions.

Cold rain all day;  3-mile run along Main Street @ 8:00 p.m.

3.2-miles along Main Street @ 8 p.m.

There remains snow on the ground in western Massachusetts, so I managed to verify a few more trails that I haven't been on since 2013 & 2014.  

I used snowmobile trails, and connected Hawley Road, Chapel Road and Banas Road.  Along the way, I passed by Savoy's "Stations of the Cross", which have existed in the woods along Tilton Brook for many years as framed plaques along with wooden crosses.

Excellent running, only a little icy in spots.  Beautiful day in the forties with bright sun and blue sky.  Totaled up 6.1-miles for the day, which was less than I had originally wanted, but I had a bit of difficulty finding a good location to park.

On the way out of the forest, I stopped along Ingraham Cemetery on Loop Road for a few snapshots.