On this day in 2013, Tippi and I ran a DAR State Forest Marathon in 6:10:00.  This was my 50th completed marathon, and Tippi's 17th and final marathon finish.  She ran some decent distances after this one, for a couple years, but nothing over 20-miles.

We began in Goshen, at the Daughter's of American Revolution State Forest, and ran out to Bullet Reservation, and back.  Had a nice stop along the way at Chapel Ledge and Chapel Falls.

Tippi looking off Chapel Ledge.

Tippi on Chapel Ledge.

Chapel Falls.

Chapel Falls.

Tippi cooling off in a pool at Chapel Falls.

Course.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #26 for 2019...  "The Abombinable Man", Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö's 1971 continuation of the Martin Beck series.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime Edition Cover

Music 2019...

Effort #44,  The fourth piece from the July 21st, 2019  "Heat of the Day Session" by the Dark Heart Duo, "The Song of the Ruthless is Silenced".

Despite it being a cold, damp morning, I wanted to get in a decent 2-hr run close to home.  I picked the Metacomet, and would use the Phelps Road to Rising Corner to Route 57 section.

Ended the day by 11:00 a.m. with no rain;  it was very comfortable running, but any stoppage brought in the cold and dampness.  I just kept moving.

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.