Old Mountain Field 5K week, 12-15 to 12-21

The last race of the year, the Old Mountain 5K (twisty!), and one that was a snowy sufferfest last year...and the first in the Winter trail series!  Game on!  I've said in previous posts that I'm weighting my 2015 race schedule heavily on the trail end, and that continues to be true.  I'm even thinking about skipping the CT50 to focus on trail races closer to home, including the Traprock 50K...which figures into the Grand Tree Trail Series.  Turns out, I ran 4 of the races in 2014 and ended up 65th out of 446 runners!  I bet I could do better this year...so there's that.

Monday, 12-15 - 4.6 Miles (Road/Trail) - Westerly Roads/Moore Woodlands.  I was driving through town after karate class, and saw a small preserve that I didn't know about, so of course I drove back to the parking lot at the school and ran over to check it out.  Fun, easy trails, and a nice diversion from the roads to get there.  I almost expected a crossover trail to the Mistuxet property, it was so close, have to ask the Gazelle about that...

Tuesday, 12-16 - 6.5 Miles (Trail) - Narragansett Trail, Lantern Hill to Wyassup Lake with Mike B. - Mike B.?  Trails?  And it was his idea???  Yes, yes, and yes...dropped a car at one end and drove to Lantern Hill, and ran the entire stretch of trail I oversee for the CFPA...hadn't run the whole thing in a while, so it was good to take mental notes about spots that need some attention...great views today from every part of the trail - the high overlooks...

"How did this happen?"

Top of Lantern

...and low points near Yawbux Brook, where we found a lot of activity from the local beaver population:

Beaver!

When in Rome...

Trees down everywhere!

"Alright, which one of you little bastards did this???"

Looks like they gave up on this one...it is a pretty damn big tree though.

Perfect running day, temps around 40 and zero wind, overcast and only one sketchy encounter with a big unleashed dog (Mike said all he was thinking at the time was "Garvin.Garvin.Garvin."), who came up the hill from his house through the woods to meet us, so I guess we were making too much noise?  Either way, we're gonna have to extend the route next time up to Route 49, or at least add on the extra 3.5 miles from Wyassup to my house, to make it an even 10.  Great day!

Wednesday, 12-17 - 0 Miles.

Thursday, 12-18 - 0 Miles.

Friday, 12-19 - 0 Miles.

Saturday, 12-20 - 0 Miles.  Hmmm...two dawn to dusk workdays and two family obligation days equals 4 zero days...at least my legs will be fresh for OMF?

Sunday, 12-21 - 6 Miles (Trail) - Old Mountain Field 5k (and Warmup). - Well?  I PR'd on the course, although it wasn't quite the time I had in mind.  That said, I had a great time at this opening race to the South County 4th Season Trail Race series!

I left plenty early for the race.  Having made plans with friends (and fellow WTAC-ers) Faith and Joe to run the course as a warmup, I arrived with plenty of time to chat with some Turtles, some WTAC crew and other assorted riff-raff...keep in mind, the weather was perfect.  Last year there was snow on the ground and single digit wind chills before the race.  This year?  Overcast, no wind, and 35-ish degrees...I was almost regretting my choice of tights, until race director Mike G. mentioned the briars...

The warmup loop went well, a cruisy spin around the course.  We got back 10 minutes before showtime, BS'd for a bit and then the race started.  It's a mad dash around a ballfield to reach the single-track trail before as many people as possible.  I got onto the trail and settled in behind a pack of runners, and only passed a few in the first mile.  In the second mile, when we reached the first "hill," I passed about 5 or 6 people (I love hills).  I was fortunate that I knew exactly where I was on the course, a huge benefit to previewing the course before a race.  On the last uphill, I passed one more runner and took off, and finished solidly.  My numbers don't really reflect it, but I felt good, was never feeling distressed, and I finished well.  Totally had more gas in the tank.  As a last race for 2014, I loved it.  Mike and his crew put on a great race, and it's awesome to see so many local friends and runners enjoying some winter trail action!

After the race I met Don, Steve and Wilson for lunch at the Mews Tavern, and what a great way to cap off an awesome season of races.  Even saw some Turtles on my way out!!!  Great conversation, beer and food.  I'll do a race tally (I keep all my bibs in chronological order, and a spreadsheet of them on the computer...I'm a geek like that.) with my end-of-year wrap-up...but I'm still chasing a couple of stats, which I hope to snag before 12/31.

Low miles this week due to work/family obligations, but I'm hopeful about the next two...have to get some epic shit done before the New Year!  Then set, and chase, new goals...