On this day in 1993,  I completed the Bridgeport Marathon in ~3:32:00.  

This was my second completed marathon, and I remember it being more difficult than the first.

3.3-miles in Cowles Park, up to the ridge and back.

Music 2019...

Effort #47,  The seventh piece from the July 21st, 2019  "Heat of the Day Session" by the Dark Heart Duo, "Dream".

3-miles along the Farmington Greenway Canal Path from Route 20 north.

Old News...  Sometime in October of 2002 - 2003, Tippi completed her first "Marathon" along the Mt Riga Plateau; it would also be my 24th.  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.

Maybe on top of Alander?

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).

5.8-miles along the Mohawk Trail in Cornwall, finishing up from Dean's Ravine, over Barrack Mountain, a visit to Lookout Point, and ending at Housatonic Regional School and the intersection with the Appalachian Trail.

Here are my accomplishments for September 2019 (I almost forgot them!).

September 2019 High Points:

• West Ledge, McLean Refuge, Simsbury, CT
• North Pack, 2276', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• Middle Pack, 1968', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• Pack Monadnock, 2290', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• Holt Peak, 2045', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• Temple Mountain, 2045', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• Burton Peak, 1985', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• Barrett Mountain, 1841', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• New Ipswich, 1860', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• Stony Top, 1744', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• Pratt Mountain, 1811', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• Nutting Hill, 1621', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• Mount Watatic, 1831', Wapack Trail, NH/MA
• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Simsbury, CT
• Barrack Mountain, Mohawk Trail, Cornwall, CT
• Music Mountain, Mohawk Trail, Cornwall, CT
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, West Suffield, CT
• Judges Hill, Notchview Reservation, Windsor, MA
• Pond Hill, Mohawk Trail, Cornwall, CT
• Nick's Hill, Metacomet Ridge, West Suffield, CT

3-mile run in Cowles Park after work.

Late afternoon run along the West Suffield Bike Path (Farmington Valley Greenway / Farmington Canal Heritage Trail) for 3.4-miles.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #27 for 2019...  "Dead and Gone",   Andrew Vachss Burke novel published in 2000.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime Edition Cover

Music 2019...

Effort #46,  The sixth piece from the July 21st, 2019  "Heat of the Day Session" by the Dark Heart Duo, "Getting There".

Peoples State Forest run for 5.8-miles just before the rain.

Pop's 80th Birthday Party!

and...

3.8-mile run from Greylock Glen visiting Pecks Falls and Moser Farm Loop.

Pecks Falls

White Birch Stand

View south

View of Mt Greylock

Stonewall along the Moser Farm Loop

Way-Back Machine - 

... On this day in 1992, I completed my first marathon, Bay State, in Lowell, Massachusetts.  I ran 3:35:00 and my parents drove out to watch me finish.

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

Three 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.