Fit the last bit of the McLean Marathon into place today, with a nice, comfortable loop of 12.7-miles.  It was 59-degrees at the 11:00 a.m. start, and just up to 69-degrees at the 2:00 p.m. finish.

As is, things look to add up to right at 25-miles on the gps - so most likely it is more than that.

 At the start of today's adventure, at Firetown Road 

At the Salmon Brook Crossing in Holcomb Farm

View of the western hills of McLean

Looking of the Eastern Barndoor Hill toward the Western option

3.6-miles along the Metacomet as well as the lower trails in Cowles Park.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #25 for 2019...  "The Lady in the Lake", Raymond Chandler's 1943 continuation of the Marlowe series.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime Edition Cover

First Edition Cover

Music 2019...

Effort #43,  The third piece from the July 21st, 2019  "Heat of the Day Session" by the Dark Heart Duo, "Heat of the Day Session Announcement".

3-mile run along the Metacomet from Phelps Road north.

Also on this day in 1994, I participated in the 1st Hartford Marathon, running a time of ~3:16:00.  I needed sub 3:10:00 to qualify for Boston, and completing the run "easily" at this pace gained me confidence for my official attempt the following May at Vermont City.  This was my 4th marathon.

On this day in 2012, I completed my 47th marathon, Nipmuck.  My time was 4:46:30, which was good for 28th place.  This was the 9th time I completed this event.

Pretty great day;  drove out to visit my folks, with donuts and coffee for them.  I spent a couple hours visiting and picking beans, broccoli, potatoes, carrots and apples for us.

Back in Connecticut, I ran along the Metacomet Ridge for 3.4-miles, Phelps Road south.  Managed to avoid stepping on a 4 or 5-foot snake (black racer or eastern rat snake) spread out on the trail (my foot missed the snake by about 6").

A really nice morning, no humidity, bugs at a minimum, and no heat.  It seemed like a good time to check the last segment of the McLean Marathon.

I began at the end, on Canton Road, and rambled out to Barndoor Hill Road, crossing Salmon Brook.  Took the horse-trail around the meadow into Holcomb Farm Trails, and then up into the Weed Hill area near Carpenter Falls.  Managed Weed Hill to Firetown Road, where I had parked for yesterday's run.

The legs were a bit tired by the end, at 11.4-miles.  Still not 100% recovered from the Wapack End-To-End.

More planning at McLean, this time from the 12-mile mark on Firetown Road up and down the Westledge Trail for 3.4-miles.

Music 2019...

Effort #42,  The second piece from the July 21st, 2019  "Heat of the Day Session" by the Dark Heart Duo, "Nothing Hidden from It's Heat".

In Memory...  Rest in Peace Dusty (August 28, 1986 - September 25, 2000).

"Dusty" at Old Sturbridge Village, 1998

DL brought Dusty home at Christmas 1986, when we lived at Old Mill Pond in Arlington, Texas.  He was a cocker-spaniel, and a really great dog.

Once we made the move to Connecticut in 1989, we began hiking and backpacking.  Dusty loved the trail, and camping out in a tent.  As a spaniel, he also loved water, and even in December's winters, if the water was open, he was going in.

We began running in Shenipsit State Forest around 1992, after building up with the years of hiking.  We ran on the Metacomet three or four days a week, right up to a week before his passing.

I have been extremely lucky with the dogs I've had.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of them.  As I still ramble through the woods, I encounter hints and reminders constantly.  Those first explorations throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts were with Dusty,.  Rest easy, boy.

After sticking around for the installation of a new electric service (panel) at home, I enjoyed a 3.6-mile run in McLean.

The planning stage for a McLean Marathon is coming further together;  now I have the first stage of 8.1-miles field checked, as well as the first 3.9-miles of the second stage.

And, on this day, I enjoyed a really special run and adventure in 2006.  It was my 34th completed marathon, and it was at Mount Greylock. 

The Greylock Marathon's always mean a bit more to me than others;  this one was especially memorable due to the company I had for the entire route, my dad and my great friend Paul H, as well as Tips on her 10th completed marathon.  We finished at 7:29:23, just beating some heavy rain.  An unbelievable day!

Greylock Finish, 2006 

Very warm today, just under 90-degrees.  Did a good amount of garden-work for DL early, basement organizing for the panel change on Tuesday, and then a 4.5-mile run in McLean all before 1:00 p.m.

The planning stage for a McLean Marathon is coming together;  so far I have the first stage of 8.1-miles field checked, as well as the first 2.5-miles of the second stage.  The plan is to try to use as little trail over again once through.  I believe I can get pretty close.

Recovery run in McLean, 3.9-miles of easy running in temperatures of high eighties.

Recovery day after yesterday's adventure at Wapack.  Mid-afternoon drive to visit my folks with DL.  Picked an abundance of yellow beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, broccoli and apples.  Made it a memorable trip with a stop at the Williamsburg Snack Bar for a lobster roll on the return home (second week in a row!).

Back in Time...

On this day in 1997 I completed my 15th marathon in 5:03:39.  This was my first attempt at Pisgah, and I have it listed as 29.3-miles.