Thursday, September 3, 2020
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
"High Points" along the trails I've visited during August, 2020.
- Coye Hill, Nipmuck Trail
- Turkey Hill, Nipmuck Trail
- Mile of Ledges, Tunxis Trail
- Hemenway Lookout, Tunxis Trail
- Johnnycake Mountain, Tunxis Trail
- Garrett Mountain, Tunxis Trail
- Housatonic Overlook, Herrick Preserve
- Amy's Lookout, Herrick Preserve
- West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, West Suffield, CT
- Copper/Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Granby, CT
- Schaghticoke Mountain Overlook, Appalachian Trail
- Ten Mile Hill, Appalachian Trail
Monday, August 31, 2020
Music 2020...
Effort #36, "Dock of the Bay"... a result of extra time in the basement, waiting out the pandemic.
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Watchin' the tide roll away;
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Wastin' time.
And, Marathon History today...
Metacomet Trail Marathon - August 31st, 2019
West Suffield, East Granby, Bloomfield & Simsbury, CT
West Suffield, East Granby, Bloomfield & Simsbury, CT
Today would be the day I would try my first Marathon distance run since 2014. I am not as fit as I would have liked, as I am carrying 15 or so extra pounds. I haven't really done any racing in many years, so running hard hasn't happened either. It has been a struggle health-wise at times, with constant issues related to the bouts with Lyme Disease, as well as the entire repair from the brain tumor surgery. Basically, I have grown tired of trying to get into "perfect" shape to attempt this distance, as it's dawned on me that "perfect" shape may never materialize. So, today is the day to suffer if need be.
The original route was the Granville State Forest to Satan's Kingdom using Granville, MDC Forest Roads, and the Tunxis Trail that I had worked out through exploration and mapping during the past few years. But, that would need two vehicles or a shuttle, and Wuzzam wasn't recovered from the McLean distance last Saturday. While DL offered to shuttle, I decided to run the Metacomet Marathon that Wuzzam completed with me in 2012.
This would be the fourth Metacomet Marathon I would attempt. Earlier versions were:
April - 2006, with Tippi. From Sunrise Park all the way through Penwood completely, and back. This is actually much further than 26-miles, more in the 28 or 29-mile range.
August - 2008, with Tippi. From Phelps Road in Suffield, north to Robinson State Park and back for the first 16-miles, and then from Phelps south to Route 20 and back for 10-miles more.
June - 2012, with Wuzzam, and Tippi for the first 10-miles. This would be the same route as today's scheduled route. Park at Route 20 in East Granby, run north to Phelps in West Suffield and back for the first 10-miles, and then head 7-miles south into Penwood to do a 2 to 2.5-mile loop before heading back to Route 20 for the last 7-miles, with a grand total of right at 26+.
I got an early enough start, after my one aid-stash at miles 14.5 & 22. 8:50 a.m. I was running along on my way. Completed the first 10-miles averaging 4.3 mph on the hilly, rocky trail. All in all, I felt pretty good at that point.
The Hatchet Hill section into Tariffville and the Farmington River became a bit tougher, and by the time I was climbing up toward the Bartlett Chimney around 15-miles, I was feeling a little worn. Recovery was achieved, and as I approached the Penwood section I was shuffling along pretty well again.
The Metacomet once in Penwood, through to the Pinnacle, is harsh. Mostly climbing on rocks, with a few lengths of trail to actually run well. I run this section often enough, and I am able to run it, but that is due to starting at this point, not beginning it at 17-miles. Today, this section was taken at a fast hiking pace rather than truly running form.
Once on the bottom of the Pinnacle, I feel as though I really charged through the lower section of Penwood back to Wintonbury Road. My time dipped to an average of 4.1-mph through 22-miles.
The two final legs, from the Farmington River and over Hatchet Hill, was extremely difficult. For this final 4-miles, I ended up dipping to a 3.9-mph average for the day. I was still able to jog reasonably well on the more level sections, but the uphills were pushing my heart-rate to a place I wasn't comfortable.
To finish was awesome. I wasn't sure I had the mental determination to tackle the suffering that a marathon in the woods presents. I proved to myself that toughness isn't an issue at this point. My legs were in great shape, I did not have any trouble on the later downhills, even the steep ones. I am very satisfied with my overall conditioning regarding leg strength. Even the late uphills, it was more the cardio than the leg muscles. Limited long trail racing over the past 5-years reared it's head today.
Final thought is I am very satisfied. In perspective, during the 2012 version on the same route, I had a final total time of 7:01:00. Today, I ended up at 6:56:00 total, 6:41:00 moving time. I believe the 2012 run was a much hotter day, as my memory tells me that. I also think the "stopped" time would have been greater for the older run, but I don't have any data proving that. So, all in all, a real good run that I can build on.
This was my 55th completed marathon lifetime.
This was my 55th completed marathon lifetime.
Mile One and Nine, Peak/Copper Mountain
Mile Five, Phelps - Suffield Land Conservancy Property
Mile Eleven, enormous Oak
Mile Thirteen and a half, overlook at T-Ville
Mile Fourteen & Twenty-Two, Farmington River
Mile Fourteen & Twenty-Two, Farmington River
Mile Sixteen & Twenty, Ledge after Bartlett Chimney
Mile Eighteen+ at base of rock stairs to Pinnacle
Sunday, August 30, 2020
August 30th, 2020 - Nipmuck Trail
Bigelow Hollow to Gurleyville Grist Mill Marathon
Time to Marathon:
Bigelow Hollow to the Gurleyville Grist Mill, through Union, Eastford, Ashford, Willington and Mansfield, Connecticut.
Shuttled cars with Wuzzam, he and the Old Goat would be starting five or six miles away from me. I hoped to catch them by mile 22 or 23. This did not happen.
I felt really good until around 17 or 18-miles. From that point on, I slowed from a 4.5 mph average to a overall 4.3 mph. Ended up running 6:03:00, with another 5 or so minutes of stopped time to fill up water. Wuzzam and Karl finished about 7 or 8 minutes before me, doing around 20-miles. I hit right at 26.2-gps measured miles.... this was marathon #60 all-time for me.
Nipmuck Trail
Saturday, August 29, 2020
SAVOY OBSERVATIONS
{Originally Written 08/05/98}
I have practiced what Jim Beeez calls "noticing" in Savoy State Forest over the last several years while sharing in monthly backpacking/camping trips with Dusty (my dog). Once a month, month after month, for a couple days, we head into the woods and live out of my backpack.
Early this July found us seated resting our lazy bodies on the outcropping of rocks along the southeast shore of North Pond, away from the swimmers, just as dark was settling in. Eight feet below in the shallow waters, I observed two beaver swimming circles, rubbing noses, getting closer and closer to me and my partner. Suddenly, WHAACK!! The larger of the two slams his tail into the water causing us to hop off our butts a few inches - busted!! The busy ones spotted us. While I tried to slow my suddenly accelerated heart beat, Dusty just sort of looked at me with his head tilted to the left confused (his eyesight isn’t what it once was). The two beaver continued their courtship in the fine cold waters below us, occasionally submerging and resurfacing with something chewy in their mouths. Then, WHAACK!! Another warning to us that we were a little too close for Mr. & Mrs. Eager Beaver’s comfort. When the third WHAACK!! arose from the water, we knew it was time to go and check out the night sky from the tent.
If you enjoy star gazing, then a night at Savoy State Forest seems in order. From the camping area at South Pond, if you pace your way into the open fields in the middle of the facility, you have a breathtaking view of the stars that will leave you reaching out to grab at the milky way, it appears that close. Better yet, stroll down to South Pond’s swimming area and see the stars reflected back at you in the water, almost as if it were a mirror and not liquid. Then turn in for a peaceful quiet cold night with the sounds of crickets, frogs and the early morning arrival of song birds to help waken you from that restful sleep.
Thursday, August 27, 2020
On this day, I've finished two marathons...
In 2008, Tippi and I finished Metacomet II, which began at Phelps Road in Suffield, and covered north to Route 57 and south to Route 20. Running time of 5:32:00. This was my 39th and Tippi's 13th completed marathon.
In 2009, Wuzzam joined Tippi and I at Tunxis II (South), which meant we ran from Route 219 to Satan's Kingdom, and also north to Roberts Brook I believe. Our time was 6:04:44. This was my 44th and Tippi's 15th marathon.
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Monday, August 24, 2020
Sunday, August 23, 2020
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Drove to Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area to run on some of the Tunxis "Connectors".
Made my way out to Tory's Den, and repeated some of last week's run.
Enjoyed the "Mile of Ledges", "Bear's Den" and "Hemenway Lookout" over 11.4-miles of running.
Ravine, Cliffs, Ledges and Rocks
Ravine, Cliffs, Ledges and Rocks
Ravine, Cliffs, Ledges and Rocks
Turtle Effigy
Bear's Den
Bear's Den
Bear's Den
Bear's Den
Mile of Ledges
Mile of Ledges
Mile of Ledges
Mile of Ledges
Old Bridge/Dam Stonework
Mile of Ledges
Mile of Ledges
Friday, August 21, 2020
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