I closed out my December entry, and wanted to tack on the first few days of January here and eliminate the need for a separate post. Those first three days, though, were chock full of fun! It's been nice having this downtime, although I'm pretty sure work will kick back in with a vengeance here shortly...
Friday, 1-1 - Buttonwoods 5k - 21:41 - #23 of 97. Happy New Year! Bob Jackman had set up a new race in the Warwick City Park (where the 6hr Ultra is held) called the Buttonwoods 5k, and of course I signed up immediately. Perfect weather for it, and I gave it a good effort, almost catching TNT runner Dave S. in the process...tons of friends at this race! I may have known 1/3 of the participants...great race shirt, and a fun event to put on the calendar next year to start things off right!
Saturday, 1-2 - 4.5 Miles - 3+ Mile Perry Wood Preserve run with Jim, 1.3 Mile dog jog. Took Jim to the nearby Perry Preserve, and we ran the marked/unmarked trails there, which border the old Randall's Ordinary property which is currently being renovated. Took the dog for a run later that afternoon!
Sunday, 1-3 - 4 Miles - Warmup, and Resolution 5k (or as I referred to it, the "Sandblaster 5k"). 24:15 - #56 of 170. I try not to schedule 2 races on a weekend. Normally. But race 1 was Bob's new race, and race 2 is part of the 4th Season Trail Race series, which I haven't missed for three years now. Windy? Yup, just a little bit. I picked up Colburn and we drove to 'Gansett, noting the swaying trees along Route 1. After we arrived and got checked in, Colburn started his race early as he always does, and after I got changed up, I ran a short warmup into the wind and blowing sand at the beginning of the course. Eureka! I had a pair of Milwaukee safety glasses in the truck, and decided to wear them during the race. Great call!
The race starts and I was sort of cruising, not really racing, but gradually increased my pace and passed several runners. I felt pretty good, and in spite of the soul-sucking wind, I finished well (and beat Paul Gray. Isn't that all that matters?). Skipped the cooldown run, as I was already chilled to the bone, and changed into warm clothes. Great day and fun second race in the series, and huge turnout by the club! We must have had 25 people there.
Monday, 1-4 - 3+ Miles - Lord's Point, Stonington. Stopped in Mystic to run part of the Knox Family parcel. The trails there have an easement through a farm, and I was turned back by several unhappy horses, whose lunch I interrupted. I decided to run through Lord's Point after that, and although it was cold, it wasn't brutal.
Tuesday, 1-5 - 4 Miles - Knox Preserve, and Merritt Family Forest. Wanted to check out the Knox Preserve, as it was one of the only Avalonia parcels I hadn't run, and was right on the water. Because that's what we do in single-digit wind chills around here, find a breezy spot along the water to run! It's really small (16 acres), but the trails are nice and I looped it several times. After that, I wanted to check out a piece of the Groton X-Town trail system, the Merritt Family Forest, which is the only trail in that system I haven't run. Great trails, clearly marked, and I'm gonna put together a run of the entire X-Town trail soon. Beebe/Moore/Merritt/Mortimer/Haley/Bluff Point. Should be an adventure!
Wednesday, 1-6 - 0.
Thursday, 1-7 - 3.3 Miles - Mt. Higby, Meriden. Our new jobsite is right up the street from a commuter lot which just happens to have a trail connector that joins the Mattabesett Trail, a blue blazed trail and part of the New England Trail. A short, very steep ascent leads to fantastic view of the valley, and while I didn't have time to do both the "camel's humps" of this part of the trail, I did manage to get a few very technical miles and 600'+ of vertical. Good spot!
Friday, 1-8 - 0.
Saturday, 1-9 - 4 Miles local. 1.5 trail with Henry, 2.5 road from the house with some half-assed speedwork thrown in. Lazy morning with the girls, trip to the farmer's market and Beer'd (Dogs and Boats, and Hobbit Juice!), and I was left with the option of running the dog and then running until dark on roads to get miles in, or cutting a longish run short in favor of something long tomorrow. Plan B it is!
Sunday - 3+ Miles - Champlin Soaker, Westerly. Weather being what it is, I managed to settle on Champlin trails for a run. Warm out, almost 60 degrees and light rain, with a breeze a blowin' from the southeast. I was really enjoying this run, in spite of some recent clearcutting in the preserve, and I was damp, muddy, and about a mile from my truck when it started to pour. Like really pour. I'm cool with that too! But when the thunder and lightning kicked in, I double-timed it back to the truck. At least three of the lightning strikes were close enough to make me duck for cover. Yikes!
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