Another late in the afternoon run at Bear Hole.  I, and my legs, felt pretty good considering the completed Granville - Kingdom Marathon one week ago today.

I wasn't quite as fast as the first "speed" attempt here on May 7th (6.4 mph average).  This time I manged the 5.5-miles in 53:23, an average of 6.2 mph.

Additionally, on this day in 2005, I completed my 26th marathon (and Tippi's 2nd) at the Mount Greyklock Marathon '05 version {AKA Molitori 50th Birthday Bash & Annual Celibacy Run}.  

Total time of 6:47:02.  Five out of twelve starters completed the full 26.2-miles.  

Full story and results available in pdf.

Just before dark, a easy 3-miles on Main Street.

3-miles on the Metacomet Trail, from Phelps Road south.

Music 2020...

Effort #21,  "Spirits Awaken"...  Part of the End of Chemo Sessions, by the Dark Heart Duo on August 30th, 2019.

Another visit to Tunxis, completed 3-miles.

A visit to Tunxis State Forest to run along some of the forest roads, and connector paths.  A nice easy 3.8-miles mid-day.

Drove north to drop off some supplies at my folks for the later afternoon and early evening.  Wonderful to see them in person, first time in several months.  And yes, we did wear mask, practiced distancing, etc.

3-mile run on the Metacomet, heading north from Phelps.  Just wanted to keep the legs loose.

Granville - Kingdom Marathon - May 14th, 2020
Granville State Forest & Tunxis State Forest

With very little thought I decided to tackle the Granville State Forest to Satan's Kingdom Marathon today.  DL was willing to shuttle my car to the finish at Satan's Kingdom, and then drive me to the start at Granville State Forest along the Hubbard River.

I felt really good for the first twenty-miles, and pretty good from that point to the finish.  I power-hiked the ups from the Route 219 crossing at 19-miles, and jogged all the flats and  downhill.

Beautiful day, temperatures ranged from the fifties to start (about 9:10 a.m.) and just about seventy toward the end at 3:00 p.m.

The run measured out on the gps at 25.78-miles, and I completed the effort in 5:54 moving time, and 6:04 total time (a few stops to refuel water drops and photos).  This was my 59th completed marathon all-time.

The total climb according to Google Earth was 4702', with a net descent of 5389'.  The majority of the elevation loss was in the first 2 and last 2 miles.

Elevation Profile

Hubbard River

Black Bear Crossing - Valley Brook

Tunxis State Forest

Roberts Brook

Indian Council Caves Summit

Lake McDonough

Lake McDonough

Sign in Log at the 1st Ratlum Peak

Old Camp Pond, a favorite of Sam & Tippi

Roadside Memorial to a friend and neighbor, lost to an underage, intoxicated, speeding driver.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #21 for 2020...  "All Shot Up", Harlem Cycle #5 from Chester Himes.  Published in 1960, it continues the saga of Coffin Ed and Gravedigger Jones.

Cover

Alt Cover 

Alt Cover 

Music 2020...

Effort #20,  "Better Left Unsaid"...  Dark Heart Duo during the End of Chemo Sessions, August 30th, 2019.

Phelps Road to run the Metacomet late afternoon - 3.5-miles heading north.

Another later in the day trip to Mattatuck Trail to head south.  

The first section, from Flat Rock Road to Hardscrabble Road is roughly 3.7-miles, and about a mile of it is very slow going due to traversing through a boulder field on the side of a slope, just after crossing the West Branch of the Shepaug River.

Later on, just before Hardscrabble Road, it gets a bit slow moving again hopping rocks around the Sanders Hill Brook crossing.

Things were a bit easier after crossing Hardscrabble, and after a bit of climbing I made a turn-a-round point once I began my descent, heading back to finish with 9.6-miles.

This is a very nice section of trail, not the easiest footing in parts, but it mostly rambles on the west side of the Upper Shepaug Reservoir for its majority.

I hope to get back to finish the last 3 or so miles I left off at some point soon.

Signage on Flat Rock Road

It was cold for May 9th

West Branch Shepaug River

Sanders Hill Brook

Signage on Hardscrabble Road

View of the Upper Shepaug Reservoir

Along the West Branch of the Shepaug

Along the West Branch of the Shepaug

Phelps Road to run the Metacomet after work - 3.7-miles heading south.

A late afternoon run in Bear Hole, fairly pushing it at a 6.4 mph average once it was over.  Somehow I missed an intended turn, and finished with 5.5-miles.