Wachusett Mountain Race

Princeton, MA
Saturday, May 25, 2019

Truly a tale of two different races:  uphill on asphalt, downhill on [mostly] dirt roads.

This was the 3rd race (of 8) in the USATF-NE Mountain Series.  I knew full well ahead of time this would be a climb entirely on roads, but as you "need" to run 6 out of 8, and I'd already missed Pack Monadnock (#2) due to a conflict with my son Mark's college graduation, I can't just skip these races just because they don't line up as my ideal race.

Due to my own error, I got there much too early, two hours before race time.  One hour is my sweet spot for race arrival, unless it's a triathlon and I need more time for setup.  Registration wasn't even open yet, so after the two-hour drive up, I set my alarm and caught a few Zs, before picking up bib, and going for a warm-up.

There are actually plenty of trails here;
why are we running on a road instead?

Race up:  Caught up very briefly with Steve Brightman and Michael Narcisi at the start line, as well as a guy wearing a Stedman's jersey (Tim H?).  Otherwise, I didn't recognize anyone else in the race, although once the gun went off (can't remember if really a gun or not) I saw Dave Dunham right in front of me.  I started out about three rows back, but by 1/2 mile in, I was huffing and puffing, and could no longer hang with the pack I was in, and started the long and disappointing process of being passed by many.  The first mile was a constant climb, with a 400' gain, and I was so relieved when in the start of the second mile, it actually leveled off for a good 1/4 mile so.  Not long, but just enough to recover a little bit before continuing the climb.

Quiet road was closed to traffic for the race.
This is about 1/4 mile in on the race.

The final 1.5 mile ascent was just a constant climb, and I was getting slower and slower:  Mile 1 8:03, Mile 2 8:16, Mile 3 9:05 (ouch!).  In the final mile when I just wanted to be done, two runners around me were unintentionally annoying me.  The first was a guy in purple that caught up to me and while I'm panting loudly like a dinosaur, he wants to have a conversation with me.  The second was a guy seemingly just behind me and catching me, and this guy was repeatedly coughing loudly but unable to hack up the furballs in his throat.  So happy to reach the top, where you ran around the top of a ski lift, and started back down.

Finishing the ascent in hazy sunshine.  Halfway done, with the worst part out of the way.

3 Mile ascent results:  24:37.  32nd out of 366, 9th in age group.  Not pretty.  Full 3-Mile results here.

Race down:  I immediately went past Purple (he did yell some encouragement to me), and fortunately by now I was out of sound range for Furball (or he stopped at summit; I don't know).  This was "easy" now with relatively steep downhills and played to my strength.  There was one mile downhill on asphalt (5:26), and two miles on a dirt road (5:27 and 5:46).  The final mile featured a cruel, but short, 50' climb, before resuming the descent.  I was feeling really good passing a number of people; nine in fact.

Done.  Finished.  Wobbly legs.

Final 10K (up and down) results:  43:28.  20th out of 310, 5th in age group (of 57).  Full 10K results.

Caught my breath and talked to Steve Brightman a bit before ambling back to the registration area where food was setup.  The food was packaged food, and the oranges were uncut, so I took a pass and kept going and headed home.  Not a great race for me and not an especially fun one, but two down in the mountain series, 4 to go.

When I take a look at my competitors I know and that are reasonably near me,
my downhill splits (4-6) look very respectable.
But boy, I have a long ways to go on uphill racing.

Weekly Log 20-May to 26-May-2019: Mileage Bounce Back

Miscellaneous ramblings:

• Last weekend at the Beaks 5K, I was on my cool-down when a mid-pack runner on his way to finish yelled to me, "You're just showing off!".  Um, no, I'm on a cool down.  Up until that point, I was feeling energized running the course in reverse seeing runners finishing and cheering them on, and then I abruptly dropped off the course and ran a different street lest I offend more runners.  Hopefully he was in the minority with his feelings against me.
• With my brief trip to Tennessee this past week, I've now been to 37 states.  I never thought seriously about it before, and it's just a count of man-made political subdivisions, but I wonder if I should add "visit all 50 states" to my bucket list, now that I'm within striking distance?  On the other hand, there's probably a reason I haven't visited the remaining 13, as I don't have strong desires to visit states like MS, AR, KS, and NE, although hiking or skiing in Idaho would probably be pretty sweet.
• Question on local church billboard:
• Answer:  Um, because I like RI better?

Monday:  12
Nashville, Tennessee!  First time here.  Only here for a single day on business, as arrived late Sunday night and will depart early Tuesday morning.  I roughly mapped out my running route using searches from the 'Net and Strava, and despite being tired and not getting enough sleep, made sure to set my alarm for 5:40am as who know when if ever I'll have the chance to run in Tennessee again.

On the pedestrian bridge looking back at downtown Nashville
where I started from, across the Cumberland River.

After running out of downtown, I ran on a nondescript bike path
through an industrial area, but it was better than I expected and
did feature physical barriers from the road.

After about three miles, I arrived at a park.
Is the second direction on sign above for me?

Quiet road through park.

Start of Shelby Bottoms Greenway.  As I stopped to get my bearing,
Tony (in above pic) asked if I'd run with him for a few miles.
He was from St Louis, and also here on business.  I have no idea even
what business he's in; that's the great thing about running- it transcends
work, geographic, and other barriers; we talked only about running.
------------------
Ending up running with him for the next 8+ miles, and it helped
the run go by quickly.  Our pace dropped to about 6:30/mile,
and when I said I wasn't looking to go that fast, he said, "I was
just following your lead.".  Oh.

Revolutionary War era Fort Nashborough

The last few miles I was really feeling it.  It wasn't that hot at about 67 degrees, but throw in 85% humidity and I was just dripping sweat and ready for the run to finish.

Meanwhile, in the lobby back at the hotel we were staying and where the
one day business event was held.
This was my first time ever staying at an art museum hotel,
and it's just not my thing.  I remember I had to take an Art Appreciation
course way back in my Bachelor Degree curriculum, and what I learned out of
it is that I don't have appreciate art.

Dark weird hallway of the hotel, just outside my room.
I wasn't the only attendee that commented unfavorably on the
dark eerie corridors.  Seemed like a corridor out of a horror flick.

Sorry for being boring and a "plain Jane", but can't we just get "normal" soap?
It was rum bar soap, peppermint shampoo, and cilantro body lotion.

This is just wrong.  This snake was wriggling
as a video projection every time you entered the
elevator.  I'm not anti-snakes, but it was odd.
One of the hotel employees told me it freaked her
out, and she always looked at the floor when in the
elevator.

I was actually just fine with the "flock of
teal penguins" that was seemingly everywhere
throughout the hotel.

This was the only other art piece I actually
liked, as it wasn't interpretive or abstract art, and I like foxes and snow.
--------
Otherwise, can't we just stay in a normal mainstream
hotel?

Tuesday:  6
Got off the direct flight from Nashville to Providence (flew Sun Country Airlines, a carrier new to RI) just before Noon.  Despite the short 2.5 hour flight and wide seat I had, my body was just so stiff.  Pulled off at Big River to run my usual:  Lego (one of my favorite trails through the pines), cross over New London Turnpike, and then if I don't get horribly lost, some portion of Deadshed and Foster's Folly.  After about two miles, my legs finally started responding and I got into the run.

Wednesday:  6
Early morning (6am) at Grills Westerly.  Ran into Sheilia and her dogs, and talked briefly, and later on my way back, I heard owners calling unsuccessfully to call their dog who was by now in a near full sprint towards me.  They yelled "she's friendly", but we've all heard that one before, and fortunately as she got closer and I saw she was a yellow lab, bring it on.  Definitely very, very friendly.  Just wagging her tail and wanted to say hello.  Beautiful dog.

What do you do when you come to a flooded, muddy section of trail like this,
with no way around it? Why of course you just forge right through it!
Hosed down my muddy, smelly shoes pretty good when I got back home.

Thursday:  9
AM:  6 mile loop from Arcadia Y, Richmond.  Penultimate Back Road Ramble ("BRR") race committee meeting.  I had planned for a longer run, but was so stiff and creaky like the Tin Man.  When I started running, even my shoulder was making odd popping noises and was very sore.  I didn't get off a flight this time; what gives?  Passing virus?  Old age?

PM:  3 miles easy at Kelley's Pace Fun Run, Mystic.  Went there to pick up gift certificates donated by Kelley's Pace to be used as BRR prizes, so ended up staying to n the Fun Run.  Ran with Steve Servidio and caught up with him, as well as several other runners post-run.

Friday:  0
Unplanned zero, and it's my own fault for not getting out there early and just magically hoping for an opening later in the day that never materializes.

Saturday:  8
Wachusett Mountain Race.  Separate race report coming shortly.

On way back home, I stopped at Stonington Stop & Shop to pick up a few things.  As I was coming out of the store, a washed up older woman with a raspy masculine voice barked out at me, "Got a light?".  I didn't catch what she was saying at first until I saw the unlit cigarette in her mouth.  "Um, no, I don't."  She made the same query of the next customer right behind me, and when he also answered "No", she responded loudly, "Nobody does!  This is f%$ked up.  You're all a bunch of f%$king dirtbags!". 

We're dirtbags, because we're not loser smokers like you, and it's our obligation to carry around "a light" to support your filthy habit?!  Even trying to see both sides, what am I missing here?  Was tempted to turn around and respond, but clearly there would be no upshot in engaging the degenerate.

Sunday:  9
Fun trail run at Burlingame, including B-game north, Sammy C's, and North Camp.  Ran all but the last 1/4 mile without seeing a soul and other than high humidity was really enjoying myself up to that final 1/4 mile. 

The bad:  Of course there was a price to pay for having the trails to myself for nearly 9 miles.  I spied a couple hiking towards me, and as I did, I thought I saw panic in the woman's eyes as she and her male partner saw me coming and immediately turned around and lunged quickly to grab their unleashed German Shepherd by the collar.  Uh-oh, this can't be good.  (There was a second unleashed dog, but he/she was old and complacent.)   Sure enough, as I went by, the dog was pulling away from them and towards me all while barking ferociously and repeatedly at me, scaring the be-Jesus out of me as I feared it might escape their grip and I would become its prey.  And what did either of the owners say?  Sorry?  Good morning?  Enjoy your run?  No, of course not, they said nothing, and just looked at me, like it was my fault for interrupting their hike.  Ugh.  I'll admit a phobia of German Shepherds, as I was mauled by one that only got off me when the owner kicked it in the ribs, and I ended up in the hospital emergency room, but even without such a phobia, how does any other runner, hiker, or biker deserve this?  End of rant.

The good:  I was upset about the dog encounter as I left, and told myself I'm going to move on, and enjoy a nice iced coffee from Dave's Coffee.  Five minutes later I get out of my car at Dave's, and find myself awash in a sea of out-of-state plates.  Ugh; it's tourist season opening, as it's Memorial Day weekend.  I debated just leaving, but for some reason, decided to get in the long line stretching outside and past the Galapagos store entrance.  I had only been in line for about a minute or so, when serendipitously Dave himself (the owner and repeat sponsor of Li'l Rhody) came up to me in line, and asked, "Hi Jeff, are you just having your usual?", to which I said yes and he walked away and came back a minute later, asked me to step out of line, and handed me a refreshing iced coffee.  Dave, thank you not only for reaching out to me, but also for implicitly reminding me that there is much good in humanity.  The next person in line, who was not offered such service, said to me, "It much be nice being a local here".  Yeah, maybe, but don't forget I'm supporting various local businesses year 'round while you're back in New York or wherever you hail from.

Weekly mileage:  50!

Weekly synopsis:  Not that fifty is something miraculous to write home about, but after the last five weeks in a row sub-fifty, I'm happy.  I still think I need to figure out my fall distance running plans and sign up to keep myself motivated.

Weekly highlight:  I suppose it should be Wachusett Mountain Race, because it's a mountain race after-all, but no.  Weekly highlight was my virgin run in Tennessee.

Weekly lowlight:  Trying hard to move past today's dog encounter, I would say it was just how creaky my body was on multiple occasions this week.  Really hope it's not one more symptom to become the "new norm" of aging, and rather just something that passes.  Only time will tell if this is mere wishful thinking on my part.

Weekly Log 13-May to 19-May-2019: Low Motivation Week

Miscellaneous Rambling:

• This past weekend 187 of 195 countries ratified a new accord aimed at reducing plastics pollution.  The United States was not one of them and argued against it.  I'm staying out of the political muck, but it's disappointing to see one more agreement good for the global environment, which we pulled out of or failed to ratify.  It's OK, because we're the greatest country in the world, and we don't need the rest of the world anyway.  (World's largest debtor nation, world's largest exporter of plastics waste, etc.)  Getting harder for me to be bullish on the US of A, and concerned with the mess we're leaving to our children.  End of rant.

  

  Plastics waste ending up in waterways.  Isn't this nice?

• On the radio this week, I heard a talk show host reading through the top 10 rock genre songs played at funerals in the UK.  I can kind of understand "Stairway to Heaven" being at the top, with its slow ballads and "heaven" being in the title, despite a verse in the song, "There's still time to change the road you're on.".  Um, are you sure about that?
• Continuing down that same list, I was surprised and literally laughed out loud when I heard that #8 on the list is AC/DC's "Highway to Hell"!  Can you imagine blasting that out at a funeral?  Maybe I should request that in advance for mine?

Monday:  0
Planned day off.

Tuesday:  6
Hampton Beach, NH.  Took the day off to head up to UNH to pick up Matthew, having just finished up his freshman year.  Got up there early, as I didn't want to just drive up, turn around, and drive home.  Stopped at Hampton Beach to run, same as the day we dropped him last summer.  However, this time instead of a busy beach and warm weather, the place was largely deserted, very few shops open, no one on the beach, 42 degrees, drizzly, and breezy.  Going into the wind was tough.  Last two miles with the wind I pushed it a little more and ended up with final two splits of 5:53 and 5:45.

This appears to be a functioning payphone
(inside a Panera in Lisbon, CT, on way home).
----------
Question 1:  When is the last time you saw a functioning payphone?
Question 2:  When is the last time you actually used a payphone?

Wednesday:  7 run, 16 ride
Run:  West Thompson Lake, CT, on way home from working in Wellesley.  Last time I was here it was 32 degrees and with my feet soaked, I was pretty cold and aborted my planned 'round the lake run.  Today it was warm and 60 degrees, so I could try again.  I inadvertently got off the main marked trail west of the lake a few times and was very appreciative of a couple of kindly mountain bikers that repeatedly set me straight.  The marked trails east of the lake were easier for me to follow, so I went after and took one CR there.

I unintentionally startled this family when I was rounding the dam
on south side of lake, near the start of my run.

Odd markers, but well marked.

Intersections were well marked as well.
(Haze from my cracked camera phone lens on left is annoying me.)

 

Fun, scenic, single-track along the lake.

Ride:  Got home and Matthew was ready for a ride.  He even got the bikes ready, including mine.  Sounds good.  Soon after starting, I dropped the chain.  Struggled to catch up to Matthew.  I felt I was working pretty hard.  On Ocean View Highway on way back, I flatted.  Ugh.  Fixed it and continued on.  I only had one spare tube, so hopefully this will last.  (It did.)  Saw Keith running towards us in Misquamicut; why was he on the sidewalk?  Legs really wobbly after this.

Thursday:  0
Hadn't planned to take a zero.  Just zero motivation = zero running.

Friday:  4
Easy morning run in Champlin pre-work.

Saturday:  7
Sneaks for Beaks 5K, AKA Clarence Beeks 5K.  Misquamicut.

First time running the Beaks 5K.

Phonetically reminds me of Clarence Beeks
(Remember the sleazy security guy that frames Winthorpe in "Trading Places"?).

With a price of $37 pre-reg for a local 5K, I wasn't planning on running this.  When we got an e-mail that WTAC members could register for $20 and I didn't have anything specific planned, sure, why not?  After an initial kerfuffle with beach parking fees, we drove further down to Wuskenau ("new" town beach), parked for free, and walked back.  Being a small race, check-in was simple and quick.  Went out for a 2-mile warm-up, as it seems I need a longer and longer warm-up these days before the aging legs are ready to go.

Race out:  Lined up in the front row.  For a local race, it was odd that I knew only the RD, Jim Hahn, as he had run in our Clamdigger, and fellow WTAC members Georgia and Claire.  There were a few fast looking runners, and when the "gun" went off (actually, when a timing company woman shouted "Go!"), I quickly settled into 3rd place for the "out" section of the out-and-back.  Before the west end of Atlantic Ave, I passed the guy in second.  There was a slight headwind, but nothing terrible.  Mile 1 split 5:58.  On Ocean View Highway, I was reeling in the leader (Michael D, age 30, from MA).

Race start near Misquamicut State Beach

Race back:  Right at the turn-around cone, despite being one of my pet peeves in races, I passed Michael and never looked back.  Mile 2 split 6:01.  I just assumed he was right behind me, but in fact he was slowing to a 6:34 final mile while I was picking it up slightly to a 5:54.

"Real" finishing photo
taken by Jana

"Fake" finishing photo
from timing company Racewire.
(I say "fake" because they took this after my cool-down,
when they asked me to run across the finishing line.  I didn't really
finish so relaxing and carefree!)

Final results:  19:44, 1st out of 83, 1st in age group.  Full results here.

It had been a long time since I had won a race outright, but I don't go to races to win them, and I don't think 54-year-olds should be winning races.  I would've been happier if there were some good competition that maybe would've pushed me harder, while I still placed well or won my age group.

I chuckled at this exchange on the 2nd place finisher's Strava post.  Sorry?

Post-race party at the Andrea on the beach

Awards included a metal, mug, subscription to NE Runner magazine,
and a $35 gift certificate to the Andrea beachside restaurant!

Sunday:  29 ride

Weekly mileage:  25 run, 45 ride

Weekly synopsis:  I should probably put "25 run" into extra-small font to hide the embarrassment, but at least I get partial redemption for getting out the bike two days.  Having said that, I am feeling low motivation this past week, or two, or even three, and am feeling I might benefit from picking a fall marathon and then setting a summer training plan.

Weekly highlight:  West Thompson Lake run.  Neat place to run, and I had fun exploring the new (to me) single-track trails.

Weekly lowlight:  My lethargy.  Again.

Weekly Log 6-May to 12-May

Miscellaneous ramblings:

• Last week during my travels to Texas, I don't know why, but before going into the giant body X-ray machine at the airport, when a TSA agent asked me if I had anything in my pockets, I answered, "Yes, lint.".  To which he retorted, "You'll have to step out of line, sir, and take that out.".  Note to self:  never do that again, even though I was telling the truth, as TSA agents have zero sense of humor.
• Saturday afternoon (after having mowed my lawn that morning), when I ran into my neighbor (the state cop) he said, "Next time when you mow your lawn, do you think you could do it even earlier in the morning?".  Huh?  Ah, sarcasm.  I put on a condescending tone when I asked him if I woke his lazy a$$ up, and he said he was up, but his teenage son said to him, "Really, does he [me] have to mow his lawn at 6:30am?!".  Ah, now I get it.  (For the record, I mowed it at 8:30am, not 6:30am, but even if had been 10:30am, it probably would have had the same effect for a 9th grade boy.)
• I was rejected from running in the London Marathon, but Rhino Liz got in?!  That hurts.

Monday:  0

Tuesday:  8
Finally got my lazy carcass out of bed in the morning, and even got a workout in.  'Round the pond run, with descending ladders from 5 minutes hard taking off a minute each time, with half recovery time.

Wednesday:  6
New Haven.  Working in the city for the day, I was treated to a city run.  The first 1/4 mile was frankly scary to me, dodging pedestrians, bikes, signs, and cars, but after that, we turned off onto a bike path for an out-and-back.  Unintended progression run from 7:07 down to 6:17.

I always think of New Haven as being pretty crappy,
but it's not bad in the downtown area where I worked for the day and
most likely will be visiting more often for an upcoming
software replacement project. 

Neat statue on the actual site where the mutinous
prisoners from the slave ship Amistad were imprisoned
until former president John Quincy Adams
arguing before the Supreme Court finally secured their freedom.
There were three panels to this statue; I stopped and read every word.

Thursday: 10
Noon:  4 miles in Burlingame campground trails.  Squeezed this one at lunch before a 1pm meeting.

Afternoon:  6 miles in another section Burlingame:  Sammy C's, Lenny Lane, Vin Gormley.  Ran into the Badger group biking near Buckeye Brook Road.  Heard them before I saw them.  ("Hi Mr Walker", "Hi Jeff")  Very polite.

Friday:  5
North End at lunch.  Walked from work through Wilcox Park to the Y, and went out for an easy-paced run.  Came back, caught up with other colleagues at the Y, showered, changed, and had a leisurely lunch at home before returning to work.

I really have to remember never to take that for granted, as leisurely mid-day run and coming home for lunch is nothing that I could ever have done on a regular basis with my crazy stressful job at Fidelity in a busy city.  The career itself at Fidelity was more varied and more rewarding overall and I went to a lot of interesting places in the world on the "company dime", but I definitely earned my keep, including numerous holidays, 2am calls that could go on for hours while logging into my computer half-asleep, and bringing my laptop and Crackberry on vacation.

Today in my biweekly 1:1 meeting with my boss, she asked me if I felt I was getting enough work/life balance recently.  My instinctive reaction was that I laughed at her question; probably not a good reaction, but then I explained myself relative to my previous job demands, and since she also came from a larger firm where you constantly had to prove yourself to keep your job, she understood.  She asked if I was OK with the travel lately and working across different subdivisions of our firm.  I told her I loved it and the variety kept my mind sharper.  Going to Austin for three days last week, New Haven one day this week, and Wellesley one day next week is just fine.  Getting stuck in India for two consecutive weeks and still having to come to the office each day to lead meetings when I was sick as a dog from unsanitary food conditions, not so much.

Saturday:  10
Just going to keep this one positive, as honestly missing the ferry to Block Island and subsequently Shad Bloom Trail Race which I was signed up for, pretty much ruined most of my day.  While I hadn't anticipated being held up in traffic for a road race (turns out it was the "South County Health Centennial 5K", my failure was not adding in a sufficient contingency buffer.  I own this.

Ran in Burlingame on way home, as running is always a good outlet for negative emotions.  Warm, sweaty.  Temps in mid 60s with bright midday sun; I'm certainly not acclimated.

Sunday:  7
Cold rain run on local roads.  Unintentional progression run as I was soaked, cold, and just wanted to be done.

Weekly mileage:  45

Weekly synopsis:  Better than previous three weeks, and getting closer to my goal of 50.

Weekly highlight:  Running with my competitive New Haven based colleague.

Weekly lowlight:  Obviously the disappointment of missing Shad Bloom.  Moving on.

Weekly Log 29-Apr to 5-May: Running Southern Style

Miscellaneous ramblings:

• It is amazing how much safety technology has advanced in cars in just the past few years.  None of our 11+ year old cars even have a backup camera, but our basic economy rental car had that, blind spot monitoring, collision warning, lane drift warning, and it even yelled at me when I took my hands off the steering wheel while driving.  How did it know that?  The rental car company must've put someone inside the car that we didn't see.
• I had the honor of being in the same room this week as General, Secretary of State, and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, as he gave a powerful keynote speech in Texas.  He spoke of his humble beginnings as a poor black child of immigrant parents, growing up in Harlem.  Back when he was growing up in the '30s and '40s, not many blacks rose to notable positions.  One of his funniest lines was when he and his friends learned that the nation had its first ever black bus driver, and their reaction to the driver was "Whatever you do, don't crash that thing or they'll be saying, 'See, they can't even drive a bus'!"
• At Mark's University of South Florida commencement, the last one for the current USF president after a 19-year tenure, she remarked that she had the distinct privilege of granting degrees to 210,000 very disturbing individuals.  She seemed oblivious to this until the audience laughed loudly, and she corrected disturbing to deserving.

Monday:  0

Full stretching and workout, using my PT-supplied exercises.  Day off from running.

Tuesday:  13

Yes, I'm in the Lone Star Republic.

Lady Bird Lake.  First ever visit to Austin, TX.  Here for a business conference for a couple of days.  Arrived early afternoon to 82 degree weather.  Despite the heat, decided to go for a run as this would be my largest block of free time here.

Mapped out a run on the 10-mile dirt trail loop around the “lake” as it is called, although it’s really a section of the Colorado River that was dammed.  Between the short trip from my hotel to the “lake” and back, and a couple of missed turns, 10 miles became 13.  I took it easy in the heat, and made copious amounts of stops at water fountains, or as we say in RI, “bubblers”.  Despite being a weekday afternoon, there were lots of walkers, runners, and dogs on the trail.  No mean dogs at all today; they must’ve all stayed home.

Much of the trail loop looked this.

Each time I found dirt single-track spurs, they went nowhere.

Lots of bridges and boardwalks built into the trail.
(There was no haze at all; the gray cloudiness on the left of many of my
pics now are after I cracked the phone camera lens falling hard on roots in MA
a few weeks back.  Yes, I have a case on it.  I'm pretty hard
on my phones, so I'll likely never buy an expensive one.)

Interesting fowl along the trail.

Loved the wildflower section of the trail.

So you already know I'm in Texas.
But honestly, if you didn't know where I was,
and I asked you where you thought I took this picture,
would you guess Texas?  I certainly wouldn't have.

I really wanted to join this guy in the river to cool off, but I was still a good
5-6 miles away from my hotel here.

Thank God (or if he didn't put these out here, thank whoever did)
for these water fountains along the trail.  

Reminded me so much of my son Mark's dog Brady.  He's returning
to shore after fetching his tennis ball.

As I arrived back at the hotel dehydrated, an angel appeared in the form of a hotel employee and came right up to me with an iced cold bottle of water.  That was drained before I reached my hotel room.

Wednesday:  10

I had set my alarm to 6am to give plenty of time for a run, shower, and breakfast before 8am conference start.  I had my route planned out, and my running gear laid out next to the bed and ready to go.  What I had NOT planned on was waking up at 6am and finding it pitch black!  Found sunrise isn’t until 6:48am, so slept a little more and left in the pre-dawn at 6:30am.

6am from my hotel room (hotel pool at 4 o'clock in pic).
This isn't a place I'm familiar with, and I didn't bring my headlamp,
so I'll stay put a little bit longer.

Start of the Shoal Creek Trail,
about a mile from the hotel.

Quite urban here, and concrete, but at least you don't have
to cross any roads

They really did a great job going around buildings,
under roads, etc.

After a few miles, you finally get away from concrete and asphalt.

What this?
The sign explains some type of artwork made of sticks.
Cool.  I'm not an artsy kind of person at all, but if you can make
something with sticks or Lincoln Logs, I'm in.

There was enough light for the portions above ground (99.9+ percent of the run), but for the short subterranean sections in tunnels, it was rather dark.  So much so, that in one of the tunnels, I nearly tripped over the body of a homeless person sleeping.

With my head down, I completely missed a huge sign saying
the trail was closed here and rerouted due to damage.  Duh.  Pay attention!

The re-route across the creek.

Well, that explains why so many dogs are off-leash around here.
It's allowed and apparently encouraged.  Again, I had zero dog
problems here, and encountered dozens.  Maybe Texas dogs have to prove their obedience
and manners before going out on the trails?

Music to my ears!

Now the trail is getting interesting!

Cool cliff formation on the left of trail, with a
sharp drop down to the river / creek on the right

A long day of conference sessions and pre-arranged meetings ensued, and I was beat when we wrapped up in early evening.  I was glad there were no plans that evening, and after a quick bite to

eat at a hole-in-the-wall barbeque place, I relaxed on my own.

Swam about 1/2 mile here after dinner, and before retiring for the evening.
Plenty of packed bars with conference goers, but I opted to be anti-social
and just have some down time.

Thursday:  5

I was really looking forward to the conference Fun Run.  In past years when the conference was held in Chicago, I always got to meet and run with some faster runners from around the country and talk about all things running, big races or marathons we've collectively recently run, injuries, pacing, whatever.  All good stuff.

Got to the Fun Run check-in about 15 minutes before scheduled start of Wave 1, only to be informed they had just started.  But isn't the start at 7am, and it's 6:45 now?  Ugh.  So disappointed.  Did I get it wrong?  They said if I hurried, I'd catch the runners as they just started.  Off I go. 

About a mile in, I did catch the back-packers, but these guys (and gals) are actually talking about the conference!  Double ugh.  You have the rest of the conference to talk about the conference details; this event is to talk about running.  To each his own.  I continued past the chatty runners and completely missed the turn to go across the river and come back.  When I arrived at the finish and explained that I missed the turn and ran nearly 5 miles instead of 5K, I was told, "Congratulations!  And we have a nice water bottle for your accomplishment!".  Triple Ugh.  Another faster-looking runner finished up (the right way) about the same time as he also missed the start, but he took it in much better stride, so I guess I need to calm down.

If you publish that the start time is 7am, don't start at 6:45am!!!  Argh.

Was handed a decent water bottle and cold water at the
finish line.  Drank the water; inconspicuously left the water bottle behind at the
conference, rather than add to my overstuffed luggage
and restart another inane water bottle collection hobby.

Friday:  0 run, 2 hike
With flight delays out Austin and then Dallas due to thunderstorms, I didn’t arrive into Tampa airport until about 1am (where Jana had arrived from RI a few hours earlier), and then by the time getting luggage and rental car, it was close to 2:30am before getting to the hotel.  We had about 4.5 hours of sleep to ensure enough time to have breakfast and make Mark’s college graduation, so unfortunately running in the morning wasn’t a viable option for me. 

USF graduate Mark with his mother and his fat father.
Somebody tell that old guy to smile.

Seems like just yesterday (in fact three years ago) that he graduated
Westerly High School.  (With my Mom, and Matthew to far right)

Middle school graduation.

Elementary school graduation

Post-graduation the temperature was 86 degrees and very humid, so running was out today.  Instead, Mark dropped Brady with us for the afternoon, and we went to two different parks, where we walked, not ran.  We had plenty of downtime with water breaks and an ice cream stop.

Reunion with Brady!
Do you think Mark would notice if we didn't return him?

   

It was hard to get him to come up on this tree.

Lettuce Lake Park.
Fun with Brady!

Everybody is hot now.  Jana (left) bought a collapsible dog water
bowl similar to what Tommy 5K uses.
(I mean for his dogs; I don't think Tommy 5K drinks out of it personally,
but who knows.)

After rejuvenating with ice cream and iced coffee,
we were onto the next park:  Trout Creek Park.
Mark did leave Brady's tennis balls with us, but he was just as happy to play
fetching a stick.

Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse,
Mark's choice for a post-graduation celebratory dinner.

A very happy Mark, with lots of carved meat on his own
plate.  Mark once prepared a note to whatever childhood social group
was preparing a dinner, advising that he was allergic to all vegetables.
His eating habits have not changed.

Saturday:  7

Trout Creek Park, Thonotosassa, FL.  It looked pretty interesting here yesterday during the very short hike, and I knew we had barely scratched the surface of trails here, so I came back solo, unfortunately sans Brady for a run.  I could've run longer, but I was a hot sweaty mess and was getting lost.

Cool flora to run through

OK, but which way if you're running?

Fun, non-technical single-track.

Neat mountain-bike signs and trail names.

Sunday:  5

Originally our connecting flight was supposed to depart Charlotte at 10:xx pm, but
it got repeatedly delayed 5 times due to weather.  We eventually landed at TF Green
at 3:20am, pretty sure the latest I've ever landed.  Got home and to bed at 4:30am,
and slept until 11am Sunday!  (Felt like my son Mark's waking and sleeping hours)

After wasting half the day, finally got out there late afternoon.  Went for a solo run in Grills Westerly, and despite the steady rain and 51 degrees, was surprised to see a couple out there hiking, albeit with umbrellas.  There must've been a lot of rain that fell in RI while I was gone, as water on the trails at places was probably the deepest I've ever seen it.  One section on the yellow trail was knee deep.

Wrapping up the night and weekend at Margaritas,
with their special event for Cinco de Mayo.
At one point a waitress came around and asked if
we wanted shots.  Shots?!  On the eve of a work day?  I don't think I've
had a shot of anything in decades.  The last time with tequila shots didn't
end well.
-------------------
I looked around and saw that I was bringing the average age
of patrons WAY UP.  Oh, now I get it.  Um, no thanks to the
shots, I'll just have a warm milk.  And maybe a side of Metamucil.
Or prune juice.  On most nights, Margaritas has a wide swath of ages in their patrons.
Not tonight.  I felt like my grandparents at that moment.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  

Weekly mileage:  41

Weekly synopsis:  Better than the last two weeks, but still not the mileage I was looking for.  50 is where I want to be.  Overall, a fun week with lots of runs in new places. 

Weekly highlight:   For running, the 13-mile gravel trail loop in Austin, TX.  Yes, it was hot, but I took it easy and was under no time constraints.  For walking, Lettuce Lake Park in Tampa; it's always fun to spend time with Brady.

Weekly lowlight:  The conference fun run.  I know, get over it, and I am, but was looking forward to catching up with other runners, and it was just disappointing.