Suffield 5km Course #2 for 2023.

Very Hot, Humid and Sunny (~78-degrees @ 9:00 a.m.); 28:03.. 

Completed the 3.1-miles in 28:03, which considering the warmth of the day, I'll take.

1st loop in 13:46 and 2nd loop in 14:17.

Times for my Race Against Myself (plus official events) at this location:

• $2, 2023 - 28:03 (September 7th, 2023)
• #1, 2023 - 29:50 (August 26th, 2023)

___________________________________________

• #5, 2022 - 27:30 (October 1st, 2022)
• #4, 2022 - 26:07 (June 20th, 2022)  Official Event
• #3, 2022 - 25:28 (May 22nd, 2022)
• #2, 2022 - 25:20 (May 7th, 2022)
• #1, 2022 - 27:24 (April 8th, 2022)

___________________________________________

• #7, 2021 - 23:50 (October 30th, 2021)

• #6, 2021 - 24:34 (September 17th, 2021)

• #5, 2021 - 25:10 (September 3rd, 2021)

• #4, 2021 - 25:29 (August 27th, 2021)

• #3, 2021 - 26:48 (August 20th, 2021)

• #2, 2021 - 25:20 (July 9th, 2021)

• #1, 2021 - 27:00 (June 28th, 2021)  Official Event

___________________________________________

• #2, 2019 - 27:46 (July 9th, 2019)

• #1, 2019 - 28:04 (July 2nd, 2019)  Official Event

___________________________________________

A couple of Blast from the past, retelling from the Archives:  

Curly's Marathon was held in Pittsfield State Forest on this day in 2008, and it was a beautiful day to run.  I made the mistake of wearing old shoes rather than a new pair I had just purchased, and it was a very poor decision.  The pain in my feet and lower legs was incredible for the last 6 or 8 miles, and I was lucky to finish in 5:54:36.  

This was my 40th completed marathon.  My dad ran the Half-Marathon option as well.

Additionally, More from the Archives:  

Dunbar - Whitcomb - Jambs Marathon for Wuzzam and I on this day in 2014.

Wuzzam and I conquered Dunbar-Whitcomb-Jambs in 6:21:34.  This expanded from an old run the Bandit and I did on a few occasions, from Whitcomb Summit to Windsor Jambs.

This time, we began at Dunbar Brook in Monroe State Forest, and ventured out a new snowmobile trail to the windmills to Whitcomb Summit, over Crum Hill, over Flat Rock Hill and the old Viewing Platform for the Hoosac Tunnel, crossed the Cold River on an obscure grown in path, past Savoy Mountain State Forest at North Pond, past Bog Pond, over Lewis Hill and Borden Mountain, through Windsor Bush into Windsor State Forest and the Jambs.

Outstanding day with outstanding sunny weather.  This was my 54th completed marathon. 

The Journey South Has Begun

During August, the monarch super generation will emerge and start their migratory journey south. 

Monarch numbers reach their peak by fall migration. At no other time of year is the population as large as it is now. Monarchs produce four generations during the typical breeding season and the population grows with each new generation. By mid-month, the first members of the migratory generation will emerge in the north. These butterflies are the great-great-grandchildren of the monarchs that left overwintering sanctuaries along the coast of California in the United States and the Monarch Biosphere Reserve in central Mexico last spring. This generation has a long and challenging life ahead: they will migrate to their overwintering locations this fall, survive the winter, and return to their breeding territories in spring 2024. 

We haven't had as many Monarchs this season as normal, but we did have a visitor today!

“If the building's still standing when we've finished then we've failed.”

― Charles Gayle

Charles Gayle, a saxophonist extraordinaire, who came to prominence in the 1990s after decades of obscurity, dies aged 80.

In the very early nineties, I was listening to an abundance of "Free Jazz".  I came across a review of a musician that I was not familiar with (very few were at that time, evidently).  The record being reviewed was "Repent" by Charles Gayle.  It contained two pieces, the first being "Repent" at almost 24-minutes of un-interrupted genius.  That was the short song.  The lengthier composition was entitled "Jesus Christ and Scripture" clocking in at slightly over 50-minutes.  I was sold before hearing a single note, and once I actually heard the record, I became a fan and quickly purchased everything I could find  by Charles Gayle.

2023 Unsupported "Non" Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #12

Granville Reservoir 8 KM (5.0-Miler)

K2 joined me in Granville again.

I began thinking that a worthwhile goal for September through December would be to "field-check" all the trails I have cataloged and mapped in the Granville Reservoir Section around Drake Mountain.

Since I've named most of the obscure trails and paths I've explored, I will use that nomenclature.

Today, I rambled on the following:\

• Round-A-Bout Trail
• Little Perched Rock North Trail
• Turtle Effigy Trail
• Circle Trail
• Winchell Mtn Bike Trail (1st Section)

As I was checking my path of today against my historical routes, I used OpenStreetMap for the baselayer in ArcMap.  Low and Behold, someone has finally loaded up the Drake Mtn and Reservoir Area Trails into the public map.  I've avoided doing this, as it may really introduce the area to the masses, but what will be will be.

Completed 5.0-Miles in 1:17:05.

And, remembering a Musical Life....

Gary Wright, singer of Dream Weaver and Love is Alive, dies aged 80.

Like just about anyone who listened to FM Radio in the mid-70's, those two songs (Dream Weaver and Love is Alive) are etched into our collective mind's soundtrack.

I also really liked those Spooky Tooth albums, which group Gary Wright belonged to.

What I didn't know until reading his obituary was that he played many of the keyboard parts on George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" multi album set.

2023 Unsupported Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #11

Metacomet - New England Trial 10km (6.4-miles)

North to South, Beginning Phelps Road.

On a very hot and sunny mid-day I rambled out to the "Spine" from Phelps.

GPS recorded 3.18 miles in 49:00, registering 3.9 mph.

It got very warm on the way back, and I increased my pace hoping for a negative-split.  Stubbed the toe 5 times with two of those events leading to tumbles.

Completed the 6.36-miles in 1:33:00, a 4.1 mph average.

44 minutes on the return, including the two tumbles, was respectable.

2023 Unsupported Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #10

McLean Reservation 4.5-miles

I had time to get over to McLean Reservation before a short emergency shift at work to attempt a 4.5-mile run.

Hot and Sunny (~80-degrees); managed 52:50, running somewhat hard for the entire distance.  

Averaged 5.2 mph pace.

I am looking forward to the rust coming off.

• #1, 2023 - 52:20 (September 2nd, 2023)

___________________________________________

Run in Cowles Park after the workday was over;  managed 3.1-miles. 

Run around the Point after work;  3.2-miles. 

"Non" Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #19 for 2023...

"The New Centurions" written by Joseph Wambaugh, first published in 1971.

This was Wambaugh's first published novel.

And from the Archives...

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

Found an old map of Windsor State Forest (the Jambs) online, it reminded me that I had at one time thought of trying to find the obscure "west to east" trail that shows up crossing Ridge Road and heading toward what is labeled as Clear Brook Pool and Picnic Area.  I know that I also have some old maps in a file somewhere with "older" trails on them.

"Non" Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #18 for 2023...

"A Ticket to the Boneyard" written by Lawrence Block, first published in 1990.

This is book eight of the Mathew Scudder Series.

Traveled out to Heath to see if I oould locate the connection on the Burnt Hill Catamount Trail to Catamount State Forest at the 3-Town Boundary Marker.

I didn't have great hope as someone placed a sticker on the Kiosk Map on Flagg Hill Road Trailhead stating that the trail was "under construction" or something similar.

Regardless, once at the marker, I saw nothing heading in the Catamount State Forest direction, so I continued on the path that existed.  Followed it to roughly the 3 mile point, and decided to turn around (it was roughly an hour with the last bit very slow due to downed trees and difficulty finding the trail).

Finalized the miles at 5.6.  Mentally recorded two options for the future, that do exist (old forest roads that hopefully get me somewhere I want to go).  I will be back!

Roadside Effigy at near Gould Road, Route 2

Looking off the first lookout on the Burnt Hills Catamount Trail

Slab underneath that first lookout, extends hundreds of feet

**********

Also, from the archives...

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.

Suffield 5km Course #1 for 2023.

Hot and Sunny (~80-degrees); 29:50. 

First effort of 2023, not much running never mind 'hard" running to this point.  I was dreading this attempt.

Due to the lack of miles and lousy conditioning, I set a reasonable goal of under 36-minutes.  Coming in on the first loop in 14:50 had me encouraged.  I felt the effort, but I thought I could finish the second loop running and I would not have to resort to walking any of it.

The second loop wasn't much worse than the first one, I was only 10-seconds slower so my pace setting was ideal.

Completed the 3.1-miles in 29:50, which surprised me.  Nicer work than expected..

Times for my Race Against Myself (plus official events) at this location:

• #1, 2023 - 29:50 (August 26th, 2023)

___________________________________________

• #5, 2022 - 27:30 (October 1st, 2022)
• #4, 2022 - 26:07 (June 20th, 2022)  Official Event
• #3, 2022 - 25:28 (May 22nd, 2022)
• #2, 2022 - 25:20 (May 7th, 2022)
• #1, 2022 - 27:24 (April 8th, 2022)

___________________________________________

• #7, 2021 - 23:50 (October 30th, 2021)

• #6, 2021 - 24:34 (September 17th, 2021)

• #5, 2021 - 25:10 (September 3rd, 2021)

• #4, 2021 - 25:29 (August 27th, 2021)

• #3, 2021 - 26:48 (August 20th, 2021)

• #2, 2021 - 25:20 (July 9th, 2021)

• #1, 2021 - 27:00 (June 28th, 2021)  Official Event

___________________________________________

• #2, 2019 - 27:46 (July 9th, 2019)

• #1, 2019 - 28:04 (July 2nd, 2019)  Official Event

___________________________________________

Also - depsite missing it, today was Play Music on the Porch Day 2023.

The Primitives record release on Bandcamp.

The Primitives - Get Drunk and Party

3.4-miles in Granville with K2 exploring the Bad Luck Mountain area.