Training Log Archive: cmorse

A pleasant ramble on a section of the Natchaug Trail I hadn't been on before. A bit of recon for a possible Nipmuck Marathon relocation for the future. The current staging area on Perry Hill has major limitations and the race has gotten to the point where entry has to be limited, primarily to folks that have completed it in the past. There are a lot more folks out there that would like to run it, but are precluded from doing so by venue limitations. So Nipmuck Dave and I are considering some options for better venues which would keep most of the race on the current course, but also allow us to accomodate more runners. Running a segment on the Natchaug is one possibility.



I know a few folks that wander through my log have run Nipmuck in the past - so I'd like to pose the question to you - would you rather it stay small (under 200 runners), traverse the classic course and be viewed as exclusionary, or would minor changes to allow a larger field, less 'exclusivity' and more exposure be ok with you? We don't want to change the character of the run itself - so it would remain almost exclusively on single track - Blue Blazed Nipmuck or Natchaug trails when feasible. Leave me a note....



Legs & pelvis a bit achy, so took it easy - running solo allowed me to run when I felt like it, and power walk when I didn't with no compunction to maintain pace with faster runners. Not as long as I was originally planning but still very enjoyable - many stops to admire the river, watch squirrels etc. Need to do more of this - good for the soul...



No snow in the woods and the trails damp but not muddy in most places, even by the river. A little bit of remnant ice and some squishy spots near small streams trickling down to the brook, but nothing that couldn't be avoided with a quick hop.



Came across the first Symplocarpos foetidus blooms of the season coming up - always a good sign of things to come. Here's hoping my visit to the Lyme doc this week gets me back to prime health quickly....

C • Nipmuck 6

Afternoon walk to the lake with Jackson who wanted to get a bike ride in (somewhere other than the driveway).

Event: Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Marathon and 50k
 

Looks like my third zero in 4 days. Only had 4 zeros in February total and none in January. This sucks....

Shenipsit w/ Bruce - running down from the summit to 83 on the road fairly briskly, taking it easy on the climb back up - walking the steeper bits.

I only did two, Bruce continued on for a third - but my hips/muscles are bugging me the past couple of weeks - I'm pretty sure my Lyme is back again... damn...

C • We need to get in a Norther... 7

Not sure where I'm going to squeeze anything resembling training in today. Maybe a short road run later tonight after Ellen gets home - but the odds of me going out the door at 9pm or later are pretty slim.. sigh.. so much for trying to squeeze a run in every day in March...

The usual pre-dawn run on Hopkins Road - 30F, hazy moonlight just past full. Full crew (Mark, Scott, Bruce and myself) for the weekly jaunts up and down the hill. My glutes and hip joints have been bugging me a little after doing these so I opted to cut it one short at 3 repeats. I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities to get the extra road miles in this month.

Splits - 19:20, 20:35 & 19:25 - I had fallen off the back on the 2nd one and on the third one was really cranking down the hill to catch back up with the others - then predictably got spit out the back again going back up the hill.

Finished up my three as dawn was breaking - absolutely gorgeous crimson sunrise and the sounds of the spring birds in the air. Spring is coming in fast.

Driving in to work after the run I was thinking I may see if I can go the full month of March getting some sort of run in every day. Had a few zeros in February, but January was pretty consistent though many days were bike or exercises. Its only the 2nd though, so only time will tell but it gives me an incentive to get out the door.

Quick afternoon trail run on the maze of swamps and trails across the street. Warmed up (3) for about 10 minutes, then began pushing the pace (4). Feeling good cruising along avoiding mud, ice and other obstacles in a mostly low swampy area. Lots of new trails cut back here (big ATV use area) and came up a rise and noted a housing development??? Looked around me and realized the horizon behind me was brighter than the horizon in front of me. Damn - I'd been running east! Looked at the watch and realized I had about 10-12 minutes to get home before Hayden's bus came and now unsure of how far I had to go I let off at a full-out, level 5 sprint directly across country toward the brighter horizon and hoped I hit the power lines and/or shenipsit lake road before the bus did. Managed to get back with about 4 minutes to spare. Too close for my comfort.

Estimated distance based on how fast I think I was running.