5.2-miles on the Kent/Mather Loop before a dental cleaning.
Friday, October 23, 2020
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Sometime in October of 2002 - 2003, Tippi completed her first "Marathon" along the Mt Riga Plateau; it would also be my 26th. We had the "Bandit" along for the adventure.
Our time was recorded as 5:38:00 over 24.7-miles. I recall the end of the run taking forever once we descended Frissell and headed back to Mt. Washington State Forest Headquarters, as we might have diverted from the most direct track.
Intersection prior to Brace.
I believe this is the top of Brace Mountain.
The Bandit climbing Round Mountain.
The Bandit at the peak of Round Mountain.
The Bandit climbing Mt Frissell.
The Bandit climbing Frissell.
At the Tri-State Marker (NY, MA, CT).
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Sunday, October 18, 2020
October 18, 1992 - Lowell, Massachusetts
Today I completed my first marathon, at the Baystate Marathon, in Lowell, Massachusetts. I ran 3:35:00 for the 26.2-miles (two loops). My folks drove out to see me finish, which was really cool.
Saturday, October 17, 2020
Four years ago today we said goodbye to Tippi. She was a rescue we were blessed with for well over 16-years. She was my trail partner for somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 miles (we didn't keep track), traveling together in the car all over Connecticut, New York, Vermont and Western Massachusetts to run in the woods we both loved so much. Together we finished 17 marathons. She could run all day, season didn't really matter.
Often, as DL and I drive home from Adams back to Connecticut, she will ask as we pass large forested areas "... did you and Tippi ever run through there?" The answer is almost always "Yes". We connected huge tracts of land in northwestern Massachusetts, the Valley, and much of north-central and western Connecticut.
Friday, October 16, 2020
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
We would start running in the opposite direction of the bikes, beginning at the St. Mark's Church parking area (we hoped to start running on an hour but we found out the church bells haven't been active for many years). We immediately crossed the Burkeville Covered Bridge and we were soon into Conway State Forest.
- Cricket Hill
- Joe Herrick Gulf
- Smith Hill
- Bullitt Reservation
- Chapel Falls & Ledge/Pony Cliffs
- Moore Hill and the Firetower
Monday, October 12, 2020
Today is Indigenous Peoples' Day!
I visited the "Old" High School track again (last time September 18th) and ran four Yasso 800's.
I completed each 800 as follows:
- 3:52
- 3:42
- 3:45
- 3:48
I felt like it was a bit "easier" than the prior time. I hope to gain some consistency with these, maybe every seven to ten days if I can get a bit lucky. Completed my work with 3.5-miles.
Sunday, October 11, 2020
I was awoken at 12:43 a.m. to respond to an emergency call from work, which thankfully turned out to be nothing of significance. But, it was well beyond 2:00 a.m. before I was able to get back to sleep, and any plans I had for Sunday were going to be changed.
Once I did manage to get up, I took a 6.1-mile run on the Metacomet here in West Suffield. Just didn't have it today, I was slow and sluggish.
In the afternoon, DL and I took a nice 70-mile drive to view the changing foliage, to Winsted and then Route 8 to New Boston, before heading home on Route 57. Nice drive, and an enjoyable afternoon.
Saturday, October 10, 2020
Back to the Appalachian Trail to tie-up last weekend's section.
Last Saturday I ended on the old forest road south of East Mountain, so I would begin to the east right at the convergence of where Route 183/57 joins Route 23 in Great Barrington and trek south to this turn-around point. I estimated the total miles to be around 8.
What I was most interested in during this section would be Ice Gulch, a rocky crevice about at the half-way point of my run. It didn't disappoint, as it was incredible and the hemlocks certainly made it magical.
A nice bonus throughout the adventure was the balanced, or perched, rocks I came across. Always fascinating to stumble upon one (or more) of these.
I skirted East Mountain, stayed a bit south of Warner Mountain, and did not see the re-entry of the old forest road south of Warner, which shows up on the old topo maps in two locations. I turned back once I hit last week's ending point, right at 4-miles.
Finished the day with 8.1-miles, and feeling like Ice Gulch should be visited again.
In the evening, DL and I walked to the First Church of Christ's "Meeting House Hill" to watch the firework display commemorating the 350th Anniversary of Suffield.