Things are heating up! Week of 5-23 to 5-29

There's more than one meaning that can be attached to that proclamation.  It's gonna be very warm this week, climbing into the 80+ degree mark by Wednesday, and possibly the 90-degree mark by Friday.  It's also the last full week before I get my shit together for Ithaca, where I now start making a checklist of things to pack (dropbag, salt tabs, Tailwind, extra shoes, etc.).  I'm seriously not organized like BLS is, and that is undisputed, but little things like getting an oil change this week is one less thing I have to scramble for next week.  I'm so excited for this trip.  The race will be awesome, but it's the total experience that I've been waiting to do for the past three years.  And now, there are friends who are going to be there as well!  No more showing up solo at one of these, not knowing a soul.  It goes a long way having a friendly face (or faces) at an event like this, as I'm sure you'd agree...

Monday - 3 Miles - Bluff Head Pit Stop.  Realized that our new jobsite in Wallingford is 5 minutes from Sleeping Giant State Park, but also passes numerous awesome trail systems, including the extensive trails at Bluff Head.  Stopped off there on the way home and did a double up to the Bluff and back.  Great climbs, almost 900' in 3 miles, and fantastic views from the Bluff, where I'd only been once before, during my first Ultra, the Bimbler's Bluff 50k.  I enjoyed the views today just a bit more!

Cliffside on the Mattabesett

Spectacular view...

More trail goodness

Not sayin' nothing!

Tuesday-Thursday - 0 Miles.  Demolition day in Wallingford was good cross-training, and smashing a 400-lb. cast iron tub and hauling out the pieces was good weight training.  That was Tuesday and Wednesday.  Thursday I power washed the house.  And it was hot.  So a forced taper of sorts!

Friday - 3 Miles (Bike???) - Local roads.  Oh yeah, I have a bike!  Haven't ridden it since the 2013 Crabman, so I filled the tires, and did a quick spin to see if it still worked.  Yup!

Saturday - 5 Miles - Erisman/Babcock/Henne Preserve out/back with Jim.  Ever since the Avalonia Land Trust acquired three contiguous properties right up the street from me, I've been waiting for them to connect them all with trails...and now they are!  Had a great time with Jim, hot day, and we cruised the whole thing.  5 miles total with only one street crossing, and although the woods are quickly becoming overgrown, I emerged with a minimal amount of blood.  Some technical sections, but very runnable and accessible.  Babcock Ridge is a short, steep climb that merited its own Strava segment, so I made one.  26% grade, 88' climb in 1/10 mile, fun!  I might also make a route for the whole thing for training.  It's right up the street!

Just passed 60,000' of vertical gain for the year, and before the end of May!  My TOTAL last year was 68,402'...think I'm gonna double that by the end of the year!!!  Sweet!  Onward and upward :)

Sunday - 0 Miles.  Yup, family obligations won the weekend.  An impromptu hosting of Memorial Day at our place for 20+ menat getting the house ship-shape, mowing and trimming, and stripping/staining the deck, along with putting new deck furniture together...so there you go!  Forced taper continues.