Some exploring on "unofficial" trails in Granby, off Donahue Road near the Belden Brook.

At the end of 2018, I began thinking about increasing my running mileage safely.

During the years 2017 & 2018 I completed 1055 and 1001 miles, respectively.  

It's been a long road back from the issues with Lyme Disease and a Brain Tumor.  These totals were a far cry from my best running years, but pretty awesome considering some of the yearly totals between 2010 and 2017.

I wanted to run more distance, and somehow manage to avoid injury.  

A few running friends mentioned that runner's were setting a goal of 2020 miles for the year 2020.  That would be way too much for me, especially when considering my injury history.

I decided, or hoped, to cover increases in running mileage over a five-year period, coving the years 2019 through 2023.  This would be my age 56 through 60 years.

If I was struggling with injuries, and basically getting to 1000-miles per year, I needed to be sensible.  I also knew that I wasn't going to get near 2020-miles in a single year anytime soon, or at all possibly.

I came up with the following plan, contingent on staying very healthy and not missing large gaps of running time:

• 2019 - Running at Age 56 up until December Birthdate - - 1200-miles
• 2020 - Running at Age 57 up until December Birthdate - - 1275-miles
• 2021 - Running at Age 58 up until December Birthdate - - 1350-miles
• 2022 - Running at Age 59 up until December Birthdate - - 1425-miles
• 2023 - Running at Age 60 up until December Birthdate - - 1500-miles

I couldn't increase too much too soon, I needed to ramp-up gradually over several years.  1500-miles seemed like a nice, round, goal.  Especially to do it during my age 60 running year.

So, here I am approaching the middle of the five-year plan.  I have accomplished the following for the first two-years:

• 2019 - 1200-Miles
• 2020 - 1300-Miles

While I had some difficulty in 2019 with injury, 2020 went much better.

Missed Time in 2019:

• most of 3.5 weeks when the basement flooded (January 24th - February 14th)
• pretty much 2 weeks with the calf muscle issue #1 (April 10th - April 24th)
• almost a full month with the calf muscle issue #2 (June 1st - early July)

Missed Time in 2020:

• Only 6-Miles during the week of February 10th thru 16th (Flu / Fever)
• Short 12.4-Miles during the week of February 17th thru 23rd (Flu, lingering symptoms)

All being said, I have Hope, and some confidence, that I can continue working my miles upward.

"High Points" along the trails I've visited during December, 2020.

• Stony Hill, McLean - Holcomb, Granby, CT
• The Pinnacle, Penwood State Park, Bloomfield, CT
• Hanks Hill, Nipmuck Trail, Mansfield, CT
• 50', Nipmuck Trail, Mansfield, CT
• Mary Edward Mountain Property, Grany, CT
• East Saddleback, Mary Edwards Mountain Property, Granby, CT

Music 2021...

Effort #02,  "Truth vs Fiction"...  opening piece from an extended play recorded for the 2020 Election.

Recorded in the basement studio, solo.  

Seth & Lucy Holcombe Preserve in Granby, looking for something that doesn't appear to be "there".

Completed 3.9-miles, explored some nice path going south, but my hopes for a northern route to the Dismal Swamp did not happen today.

Took a late, late morning run along the New England Trail, which in these parts is the Metacomet Trail.

I ran 6.9-miles from Route 20 to nearby the Farmington River, and back.  I did some exploring on newly built mountain bike trails through some of my journey today.

Giant Oak along the Metacomet Trail 

Looking north over Marsh Pond

A visit to the Granby Land Trust "Mary Edwards Mountain Property" and the "Godard Preserve".  

Stumbled upon some trails opposite Godard, and explored a bit along Belden Brook.

Ended up with 7.5-miles.

Looking south descending East Saddleback

Visited Granby Land Trust Properties today, I wanted to connect the Godard with Seth and Lucy Holcombe, as best I could.

Did a bit of bushwhacking from Godard to the Cossit Graveyard, past the East Branch Salmon Brook Gorge, and visited Crag Mountain.

5.7-miles with some road for the connection.

4.7-miles in Bear Hole Reservoir on a bright, sunny, forty-degree day.

Additionally, on this day in 1996 I participated in the annual "Fat Ass 50" in North Adams, Massachusetts.  

This event consisted of many loops on the road, on a cold, gray day, and I believe there was a pretty bad snowstorm on the drive home.  

I have a time listed of  5:32:35, and I think that was for 26.2 miles - not 50k.  

This was my 8th marathon completed.

3.4-miles on the Bridge, Main and Wisteria loop.

Music 2021...

Effort #01,  "Good Morning"...  Cover from the Dandy Warhols.  

All my angels appear
Before my window saying
"good morning"
In my good morning

This day in 1997... 

Looking back in time, I completed my 14th marathon on this day in 1997.  It was the Grupa Dupa held at the Talcott Mountain State Park, home of the Hueblin Tower.  I believe Tony Weisgram and Janice Kuhl were the organizers of this "Fat Ass 50" type event.  I recall it consisted of loops up and around the tower, but I do not recall how many.  It was 50k, and I recorded a time of 5:11:13.

Ran mid-morning in McLean, 6.3-miles.

5.5-miles running from home to work for a short shift. 

'20 has turned the corner to '21, and here's hoping all things can return to a more "normal" status.

After a fine treat of DL's homemade cinnamon buns for breakfast, I made it to Phelps & Mountain Road parking around 11:00 a.m.  Went north, with the idea of turning around at Route 57.

The run, and my body, felt great.  I have taken it easier over the past couple weeks seeing as I was going to finish 2020 roughly 50-miles over my set goal of 1250, and saw the opportunity to go easy a bit.

Ran with shorts, but a long-sleeve tech-wick top with a fleece vest, as it was 37-degrees and pretty much sunny.  Very good call on the layers, I was totally comfortable throughout the run.

Completed 9.6-miles at 5 mph pace.  A satisfying start to 2021.