Thanksgiving week brought a few midweek twists from the usual:
Monday: 8
Started off the week the way I have for at least the past five years the morning after Rhody: a sunrise run and final policing of the course. As has been the norm since Mandy and Tammy have been the sweepers, the course is left nearly spotless. Picked up only two flags and two pink directional arrows. I thought we were no longer using the latter?
Tuesday: 0
Swapped Monday for Tuesday as my rest day. Headed up to TF Green Airport at Noon to pick up Mark, returning for the first time from college since August. Good thing we went out to lunch and caught up, because once we got home, he was home for all of 10 minutes before heading out with his friends 'til 3AM. Reminds me of the Harry Chapin verse from "Cat's in the Cradle":
Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man, I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head, and he said with a smile
"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later; can I have them please?"
Wednesday: 5
Road run on the Clamdigger course. Out and back from the old Westerly Town Beach. Easy pace; figured I'd get in a road run prior to tomorrow's run.
Thursday: 8
Thanksgiving Day. Pie Run. Write-up coming shortly.
Second day in a row of running roads. This was the first time in 11 weeks, since late summer, that I had run roads more than once in a week. Actually really enjoyable. More to follow.
Friday: 8
Rainy run in Carolina North with Matthew and Aaron. Really enjoyed the single-track trails Laurel Trail and Pony Express, but the downside is I didn't realize we were running in circles. Tried to emulate a run we found from Chris Garvin, but ran into a chain across the trail trying to get out to 112, and turned around. Whatever the name of the trail headed east across the stream starting from the gravel road (Meadowbrook Road) near the intersection of Jerue Trail, that one was fun as well. Should learn these trails better.
Was surprised to see two hunters with guns out in the rain. They didn't seem friendly at all.
Saturday: 13
Tillinghast and Wickaboxet group run of 6. Now this one was a lot of fun. Very rural West Greenwich. Jonny led this group run starting out heading into Wickaboxet with some serious climbs. A mix of hills, fields, pine forests, and twisty single-track. We hit most of the trails, except some red trails to the south off Plain Meeting House Road that we'll come back for another time.
Bonus: Jonathan Short got in his longest run ever (13 miles).
Sunday: 6
Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme, CT. Trail run with Matthew through meadows, rocks, and along the beach. One of the final trails we ran was a twisty fun single-track through gnarly mountain laurel. Ran at sunrise, as needed to get back home to bring Mark to the airport.
Weekly Mileage: 49
Weekly Synopsis: Really good post-Rhody running week. Had four days off for a long Thanksgiving weekend and each of the four days involved running new trails or roads. While it was depressing Sunday evening that the long weekend was over and it's back to work, the next three weeks are interspersed with holiday events, Mark will be home again in just two weeks, and I have the last two weeks of the year off. A lot to look forward to. One race remains for 2016, and the rest should be fun runs and long runs.
Monday: 8
Started off the week the way I have for at least the past five years the morning after Rhody: a sunrise run and final policing of the course. As has been the norm since Mandy and Tammy have been the sweepers, the course is left nearly spotless. Picked up only two flags and two pink directional arrows. I thought we were no longer using the latter?
Tuesday: 0
Swapped Monday for Tuesday as my rest day. Headed up to TF Green Airport at Noon to pick up Mark, returning for the first time from college since August. Good thing we went out to lunch and caught up, because once we got home, he was home for all of 10 minutes before heading out with his friends 'til 3AM. Reminds me of the Harry Chapin verse from "Cat's in the Cradle":
Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man, I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head, and he said with a smile
"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later; can I have them please?"
Wednesday: 5
Road run on the Clamdigger course. Out and back from the old Westerly Town Beach. Easy pace; figured I'd get in a road run prior to tomorrow's run.
Thursday: 8
Thanksgiving Day. Pie Run. Write-up coming shortly.
Second day in a row of running roads. This was the first time in 11 weeks, since late summer, that I had run roads more than once in a week. Actually really enjoyable. More to follow.
Friday: 8
Rainy run in Carolina North with Matthew and Aaron. Really enjoyed the single-track trails Laurel Trail and Pony Express, but the downside is I didn't realize we were running in circles. Tried to emulate a run we found from Chris Garvin, but ran into a chain across the trail trying to get out to 112, and turned around. Whatever the name of the trail headed east across the stream starting from the gravel road (Meadowbrook Road) near the intersection of Jerue Trail, that one was fun as well. Should learn these trails better.
Was surprised to see two hunters with guns out in the rain. They didn't seem friendly at all.
Saturday: 13
Tillinghast and Wickaboxet group run of 6. Now this one was a lot of fun. Very rural West Greenwich. Jonny led this group run starting out heading into Wickaboxet with some serious climbs. A mix of hills, fields, pine forests, and twisty single-track. We hit most of the trails, except some red trails to the south off Plain Meeting House Road that we'll come back for another time.
Bonus: Jonathan Short got in his longest run ever (13 miles).
Sunday: 6
Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme, CT. Trail run with Matthew through meadows, rocks, and along the beach. One of the final trails we ran was a twisty fun single-track through gnarly mountain laurel. Ran at sunrise, as needed to get back home to bring Mark to the airport.
Weekly Mileage: 49
Weekly Synopsis: Really good post-Rhody running week. Had four days off for a long Thanksgiving weekend and each of the four days involved running new trails or roads. While it was depressing Sunday evening that the long weekend was over and it's back to work, the next three weeks are interspersed with holiday events, Mark will be home again in just two weeks, and I have the last two weeks of the year off. A lot to look forward to. One race remains for 2016, and the rest should be fun runs and long runs.
The Harry Chapin excerpt was depressing. As someone closer to the first few verses of the song, I'm trying my best to avoid playing the part of the dad and hoping that my kids will avoid playing their parts later on in life. Wishful thinking, I know.
ReplyDeleteDidn't mean to depress you, but agreed [sigh]. Given Mark's social butterfly standing and remembering my own proclivity to avoid my parents as a late teen and hang out late with friends, I anticipated this and dealt with it better.
DeleteIt's the final verse ("I've long since retired and my son's moved away") that I fret about more (i.e., the very real possibility that Mark will end up living in FL or CA and I won't see him often).
OK, back to happier thoughts, eh? He'll be home again next week for a whole month and I love the holiday season.
3 a.m.? Are you kidding me? Must be a boy thing, I'd of been skinned alive strolling in at 3 a.m. I can hear and see my father's reprimands now. It is good he keeps up his local friendships, that will pull him 'home'.
ReplyDeleteI'll place bets on the pink arrows being Kathy Robbins.
I had a curfew at age 16, but don't think I had one by the time I was 18. I believe I just had to give the 'rents the courtesy of letting them know who I was going out with and whether I was spending the night or coming home.
Delete