Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #8 for 2021...

"The Name of the Game Is Death", by Dan J. Marlowe, published in 1962.  

Cover Image (Black Lizard Vintage Crime Edition)

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Old Farmer Ed turned 82-years old today!  Happy Birthday Pop!

 Pop doing what he loves best

From July 2003

Marathon History...

Bay State Marathon
October 18, 1992 - Lowell, Massachusetts

On this day in 1992 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.

In Memory...  Rest in Peace Tippi (August 2000 - October 17, 2016)

Five 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.

I continue to think about Tippi everyday. Often on a hike or run, I come to a spot in the forest that helps me feel her presence.  The recent photograph below is one of those spots/times, along the Spruce Mountain Trail in Monroe, where my old dog's spirit overwhelmed me.

We love you Tips, rest easy girl.

Tippi, August 2000 - October 17th, 2016.

Exploring Granville and Tolland, Mass - trying to find the Goff Ledges among other things.

Trout Pond

Ledges

Ledges

Ledges

Perched Stone

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock

Granville exploring for 5.4-miles.

Swamp west of North Lane

View west in Phelon Forest

Weekly Weigh In while involved with the 61-Day Challenge - 210.6 lbs.

Old News...  From the Archives, this day in my Marathon History...

On this day in 1995 I completed the 2nd Hartford Marathon in 3:42:02.  

This was my 7th completed marathon.

From the Archives - Old Marathon News...

Conway Covered Bridge Marathon - October 13th, 2012

Conway & Goshen, Massachusetts

On this day in 2012, Wuzzam and I ran the Conway Covered Bridge Marathon.  We had Ned and his daughter's dog with us for the first 10-miles or so, and they were good company.

The idea for the run had been with me for a while, but what sealed it was Farmer Tom was doing a group trail ride through the woods from either Berkshire East or South Face, to the Covered Bridge in Conway.

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.

Highlights of the run included:

• Cricket Hill
• Joe Herrick Gulf
• Smith Hill
• Bullitt Reservation
• Chapel Falls & Ledge/Pony Cliffs
• Moore Hill and the Firetower

We finished really strong, final time of 6:33:15.  This was my 50th completed marathon.

On the drive out to retrieve our two aid station drops, we ran into the mountain bike group crossing West Road exiting the DAR State Forest onto the Chapel Falls Trail toward Conway State Forest.

An excellent day!

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #7 for 2021...

"Web of Murder", by Harry Whittington, published in 1958.  

Cover Image (Black Lizard Vintage Crime Edition)

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A bit more "tying together" at Sodom Mountain...   put some additional pieces together and completed 6.4-miles along the way.

 McLean Game Refuge with K2, finished with 5.5-miles.

2021 Unsupported Trail Race Fall Challenge #3

Tunxis Trail "Burlington Great Loop" 27K Trail Run (16.8-Miles)

I have hoped to make this awesome loop a yearly ritual, and today I made it happen for at least the second year running.  Excellent running weather, right in the low-sixties and overcast.  Only a few moments of bright sun throughout the entire time in the forest.

• The Wall

• Hemenway Lookout

• Mile of Ledges

• Bear's Den

• The Tory Cave

• State Trout Hatchery

• Devils Kitchen

I had run this on my own last November and finished in 3:38 with only a minute or two of stopped time, for a 4.7-mph average.  This time, I again managed a 3:38 moving but slightly more stopped time, for a 4.6-mph average.

The big difference was last year I completed through the "Mile of Ledges" averaging 4.5-mph, and this year I was down to 4.3-mph.  So, I ran the last 10 - 12 miles faster this time.

And, from the archives...

DAR to Bullitt Reservation Marathon
October 9th, 2013 - Goshen & Ashfield, Massachusetts

The DAR Marathon (Daughter's of the American Revolution).

Tippi and I ran a DAR State Forest Marathon today in 6:10:00.  This was my 52nd completed marathon, and Tippi's 17th.  

We began in Goshen, at the Daughter's of American Revolution State Forest, and ran out to Bullitt Reservation, and back.  We enjoyed views from Chapel Ledge and Chapel Falls.

Tippi looking off Chapel Ledge.

Tippi on Chapel Ledge.

Chapel Falls.

Chapel Falls.

Tippi cooling off in a pool at Chapel Falls.

Prior to my weekly COVID-19 Test and work, I managed 4-miles on the Metacomet from Route 20 North to the Boy Scout Camping area, and back. 

Weekly Weigh In while involved with the 61-Day Challenge - 214.6 lbs.

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period  September 1st through September 30th, 2021:

3-miles at the end of the workday, to the soccer bubble.