Blogtoberfest (Needs more black boxes, fewer gray boxes)

Strava fans will understand the statement in parentheses.  I'm going to restore some semblance of order eventually, with this blog, my running and life in general...but for now, I'll give a short recap of the month's events thus far, which ain't a whole lot, but I can say has been "quality over quantity," and for that I'm happy.  I've also managed to stay strictly to trails!  Best time of year for it, as the colors on the roadside might be great, but they're jaw-droppingly incredible from the woods.

10/3 - Cat's Tail Trail Marathon, Phoenicia NY - 9 Miles.  In mid-30's wind chills, rain and fog, Soaked and shivering, I opted to drop out at the mile 9 aid station, where an awesome up-and-coming ultra runner named Jenny gave me a lift back to my truck.  My teeth were chattering, I went back to the hotel and took a hot shower, bundled up and drove my ass home.  On a positive note (if one can be found), I did manage to snag 3K of elevation gain?

10/6 - Metacomet Trail, East Granby CT - 3.5 Miles.  I've been dying to check this section of trail out!  I pass it every day on my way to the jobsite a mile away, and the cliffs it passes over are really dramatic from below.  Great climb, outstanding views, and it's a popular place, as there are almost always cars parked next to the trailhead.

Look!  There's a house!  Down there!

Valley view.  Soon, I'll be running on the other side of the valley!

Metacomet blazes

Sweet!

10/7 - Chapel Farm Preserve, East Haddam, CT - 2 Miles.  On my way to Devil's Hopyard, I noticed a small sign and trailhead at the turn off the main road.  In checking it out, I realized it's very small, but with some really fun trails, and looks like they're going to join it with a larger parcel across the Eight Mile River, which would be awesome.

Liked it...

10/10 - Run For the Pumpkins Trail 5k, Bradford RI - 8+ Miles.  Jeff had spearheaded the effort to make this former road race a trail event, and its success surpassed any of our expectations.  Met the WTAC crew early for course marking, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect:  clear skies, crisp autumn air, and clear trails.  Chatted with friends during registration.  With the course marked, I ran a short warmup with friend and WTAC cohort Beth, and gave her a course recon.  First mile, gradual uphill.  Second mile, twisty singletrack in pine forest.  Last mile, almost all downhill and FAST.  The race?  I was cruising until we hit the woods, then picked up the pace.  Was able to pass quite a few runners and finished 40th.  After the race, Jonny and I ran the course and collected the flags, signs, ghosts and pumpkins from the course.  Pumpkins are heavy.  Great day!

Me and George.  Seagull/Turtle frenemies!

10/12 - McLean Game Refuge, East Granby CT - 3 Miles.  Heard about this place from the homeowner of the jobsite we're at, and as it was a few miles away, I decided to check it out.  Awesome trails.  Really great scenery, and it's a 4400 acre preserve!  I did the red to blue loop, and branched out onto some unmarked stuff, and finished up with a peppy cruise back to my truck.  Found out later that this place has had runners harassed by bears multiple times!  Yikes!  Haven't seen one yet though, but they're out there...

Wonderland, with trails!

Sweet...

Foliage display

Ducks!

10/15 - Saw a Frickin' Bear!  East Granby, CT - 0 Miles.  A mile from our jobsite and within sight of the aforementioned section of Metacomet Trail, a rounded a curve to come across a very large black bear crossing the road.  I fumbled with my phone, and was able to snap a few pictures as he/she meandered into the woods.  When it cruised into an adjoining yard and began to harass some loose chickens, I snagged a few more shots and went on my way.  The bear was 20 feet from me, easily 400 pounds, and my hands were shaking.  Awesome encounter from the safety of my truck.  On the trail?  Not so much...

Boog!

10/16 - Talcott Mountain/Heublin Tower, Simsbury CT - 2.4 Miles.  Was wanting to check this place out for a while, but was worried about getting screwed by Hartford traffic going home.  Today was the day.  Cool air, breezy and fantastic views!  And lots of people!  I ran to the top, took some pictures along the way, and ran a pretty fast descent (8th OA on Strava of 78).  Great place, and totally worthy of much more exploration.  And Penwood State Park is right across the street!  Win-win!

Earlier in the day in Canton.  Stopped the truck for this.

Need to photoshop myself out of this...

View from the deck of the tower

cliffside...

10/17 - Avalonia/DPNC Trails, Mystic - 7.3 Miles.  Crisp air, falling leaves and a cruisy run through these trails, which are fairly flat but just technical enough to make things interesting...

10/21 - Airline Trail, Colchester - 4 Miles.  Hadn't ever been on this "Rails to Trails" offering, but what fun!  Lots of people out running, biking, etc. and the trail runs right past a commuter lot off the highway.  I turned it into a progression run, and was quite happy to be out there!

Very straight, and pretty cool

Nice bridges!

Big 'ol hornet's nest (inactive) above an unmarked trail :)

10/23 - Shenipsit Trail, Southern Terminus, Meshomasic State Forest - 3 Miles.  The Meshomasic is the oldest state forest in CT and all of New England, the first parcels being purchased in 1903.  It's also where the Shenipsit Trail begins, and runs 41 miles to within a few miles of the Mass.  border.  After negotiating the Hartford traffic, I got off Route 2 and cruised a few miles out to the forest.  I parked at the trailhead, and made the immediate sharp climb to the Great Hill ridge, where I was rewarded with this view:

CT River in the distance below

Great Hill Pond

Panoramic!

Continued on along some badly marked trails, stopping every so often to make sure I was still on track, and enjoyed a cool respite from the highway and its soul-sucking properties.  I hear there's a section of this trail that runs under Route 2, I have to find that next!

See the blaze?  Didn't think so...

10/24 - 4+ Miles.  3 Lantern Hill miles, and a short dog jog.

10/25 - 8 Miles.  Mystic trail/road mixer.  Good morning to opt out of driving 3+ hours to New Hampshire for a race, and stay close to home for some miles.

10/26 - 3 hour surf session, Matunuck.  An impromptu day off and swell showing on the buoys meant getting in the water!  Surfed waist-plus glassy waves with four other people for hours, and loved every minute of it...

10/27 - 2 Miles.  Short trail inspection.  Got an email from the CFPA that a section of my trail was "impassable" due to recent clearcutting???  After work I raced down to the trailhead and ran the section in question, and sure enough, two sections had been bulldozed, and the trail wiped clean.  We're still trying to verify the landowners, and what the plan is there.  Not good.

10/29 - 3.3 Miles.  Traprock ridge run, Meriden.  Chauncey Peak in Giuffrida Park is a new gem for me now.  The latest jobsite is 2 miles from this place, where the Mattabesett Trail travels through.  Big climb to the ridge, windy and sketchy as Hell.  Super fun!

10/31 - 18 Miles.  Pacing Nicole on her last long run before Philly, Narragansett.  She did awesome!  When Nicole put out the request for friends to join her on her last long run, I happily volunteered.  I was there for her during her first marathon training schedule, and was ready to help out again.  Beth and her friend Patti came out for the first chilly 8 miles, then it was just me and Nicole, chatting away and having a great run!  We even ran part of the Resolution 5k course (trails and beach) to mix things up.  Great day with a good friend, and she's gonna do awesome in Philly!!!

So that's the October lowdown.  Started out shitty, and ended with a great long run with friends, which renewed my running faith, if you will.  I look forward to November!