Music 2020...

Effort #22,  "Michael Row the Boat Ashore"...  recorded on August 30th, 2019 at the Dark Heart Mansion.  Part of the End of Chemo Sessions, Dark Heat Duo.

Another late afternoon run, this time in McLean.  4.5-miles in 53:23.

Another afternoon run, this time in Tunxis.  Took the logging road off Pine Mountain Road access, which I have been meaning to do for a long while.  It was worth exploring, and gives me a bit more knowledge of the forest trails network.  Ended with 7.3-miles.

Good tempo-run in Mclean during the late afternoon.  Managed a 5.5-mile effort.

Also, on this day in 2006, I completed a Tunxis Marathon in 5:41:50.  I had Johnny Bandit along for company, as well as Tippi.  It would be my 32nd marathon completed, and Tippi's 8th.

John Bandit rambling through the meadow

We rambled from Route 20 to Route 219 in East Hartland, Connecticut, and back for the first 19.5 miles.  We finished up with the Route 20 to Pell Road near the Massachusetts border for the final 6.5-miles. 

Small Waterfall on the northern section of Tunxis Trail

Old Notes:  Another great day;  started out 45 degrees at the 9:15 A.M. start time.  It reached a high of maybe 60 degrees during the day, with majority in the mid 50’s.  Sunny and blue sky entire time, occasional strong breeze every once and a while.  Started the run at 9:15 A.M.

Tippi taking a look down from the climb a mile from Pell Road

John and I both felt that it was the easiest marathon either of us had ever done.  We finished strong, running all but the very start of Trillium Hill from mile 24.5 onward.  I believe we could have easily gotten thru another hour on this day.  Plenty of water for Tippi, no problems with her other than the porcupine around mile 18.  We escaped from that ok. 

 The Pell Road TurnAround

  

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #22 for 2020...  "Recoil", from Big Jim Thompson, published 1953.

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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.

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