Over the weekend guess what arrived in the mail from "The Friends of Northwest Park"?  

My credentials for completing the 2023 NWP Trail Hike Challenge

2023 Unsupported Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #22

Bear Hole Reservoir Race Course 11.25 km (7- miles)

Back to Bear Hole to run the legal 7-mile route in low thirties for temperature.

Despite some tired legs from running "hard" the previous two-days, I made an attempt at pushing.

• Mile 1 - 5.1 avg
• Mile 2 - 5.1 avg
• Mile 3 - 4.9 avg
• Mile 4 - 4.7 avg
• Mile 5 - 4.7 avg
• Mile 6 - 4.8 avg
• Mile 7 - 5.0 avg

Completed in 1:24:00, which made me pretty happy.  

The first two-miles are pretty flat and open enough to get a good cushion.  

From 2 to 3 can be improved on as well.  

The Metacomet / NET section is going to be slow, as it is rocky with difficult footing, and there is half the climb (700' total) in that section as well.

Once done with the Metacomet, there is a nice section, probably close to a mile, where the steam can be picked up.  

And then, there is mile 5 - 6 where there are three or four short climbs that really can take the gas out of you.

From there, the last mile or slightly under can be whalloped if one is feeling pretty good with something left in the tank (legs).

2023 Unsupported Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #21

Whiting Street Reservoir 11.25 km (7- miles)

Drove to Easthampton with K2 to run the Whiting Street Reservoir at the base of Mt Tom.

The route included some of the New England Trail (Metacomet) and including the section out to the circle 'round the pond, one lap looked to be about 3.5-miles.

I went around twice, averaged 5 mph, and finished with 7.1-miles. 

2023 Unsupported Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #20

Bear Hole Reservoir 6.8 km (4.2-miles)

Kept to the lower portion and wider trails today, ran somewhat hard throughout.

Averaged 6.3-miles per hour, finishing the 4.2-miles in 39:29.

Drove to my sister's place for Thanksgiving.  Stopped at Notchview Reservation in Windsor, MA on the drive out to Western Mass  for a run to break up the drive.

Seems as though there is a much larger network of trails in Notchview from what I remember, with some of the paths made wider for the ski activities.

Slogged my way to the top of Judges Hill (from both directions), finished with 4-miles and roughly 700' of climb in the somewhat cold, snowy forest of Notchview.

3-mile run to the Soccer Bubble and back, at the conclusion of the work day. 

Began a short (hopefully) protocol of  Doxycycline for Lyme Disease threat (embedded tick).

Northern Nipmuck Trail Marathon

November 20th, 2005 - Union & Ashford, Connecticut

Completed my 32nd marathon distance run on this day in 2005.  Designated the "Northern Nipmuck Trail Marathon", with Wuzzam, Summer, and Tippi (6th completed marathon).  

My finish time was recorded as 6:28:18.  Looking at this, I think it was much further than 26 miles.

2023 Unsupported "Non" Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #19

Penwood State Forest 6.4-Miler

Adding Elevation to the Work will be necessary to jump-start my running fitness.

Today, I visited Penwood to tackle the 6.4-mile route from Wintonbury Road south on the Blue Blazed Metacomet Trail (800' climb) and back on the Yellow Path (500' climb).

Finished the 6.4-miles in 1:29:30 for an average of 4.3 mph.  With 1300' of gain, and difficult rocks and oak leaves throughout the journey, I am pleased with the effort.

2023 Unsupported "Non" Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #18

McLean Refuge "3-Peaks" 8.2-Miler

Weather Report mentioned the rain cleaning out between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., and they got it completely correct today.

K2 and I rambled in McLean with a window of two-hours, and we both made it back to the car slightly ahead of time - with no rain and wonderful sunny sky for the duration of our exercise.

I don't know if the temperature reached 60-degrees, but it was at least into the fifties and very sunny, so it felt great.

I decided at some point to hit three peaks today:

• Stony Hill
• East Barndoor Hill
• West Barndoor Hill

At the end, I had slightly over 1200' of climb, which was pleasing.

Completed the 8.2-miles in 1:45:30 for an average of about 4.6 mph.

2023 Unsupported "Non" Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #17

Cowles Park "Upland" 3.5-Miler

Pretty good day in Cowles, it was busy at 2:30 p.m. due to sunny skies and 60-degree weather.

Cowles Park Ramble #3

3.5-Mile Trail Run in 39:05 (5.2 mph).

Early shift at work followed by DL & I driving back to Plymouth to assist TC.

"Non" Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #26 for 2023...

"The Witcher:  The Last Wish" written by Andrzej Sapkowski, first published in 1993 (Polish) and in 2007 (English).  It is considered the 1st installment of "The Witcher" fantasy series.

The Witcher was preceded by 1992's Sword of Destiny, but is officially considered the first entry in the series and Sword of Destiny the second. The collection contains seven short stories interspersed with a continuing frame story: Geralt of Rivia, after having been injured in battle, rests in a temple. During that time he has flashbacks to recent events in his life, with each flashback forming a short story.

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period October 1st through October 31st, 2023:

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #25 for 2023...

"Two Trains Running" written by Andrew Vachss, first published in 2005.