To the Boroughhhhhhhhhh and back

On Saturday I ran 8 before 8 out and back from my house – typical early morning run – no excitement

Sunday 14 (father’s day) - After my run last week to my old neighborhood in Ashaway, RI  (Juniper Drive), I decided I needed to plan another long run to someplace cool. So after my wife and I had dinner in the borough on Saturday night, I thought how cool to run to the borough. I started at 5:30 so I could avoid traffic on Pequot trail (the sighting of the woodchuck last week). The run to the borough was eventful free – very little traffic that early. When I came over the train bridge into the borough the sun was just coming up and it was very airy quite. No one was out, no traffic, no trains and no one walking dogs. I had the entire borough to myself. When I ran by Noah’s restaurant – I could smell the bacon – that just cruel. I ran all the way down to the end of Water Street where the little beach is and did a loop in the dirt parking lot. Wow - what a view of Long Island NY and Watch Hill, RI – with the sun coming up and the water com – another Forrest Gump moment. The entire time in the Borough I never came across a living soul or a vehicle, I had the place to myself. Up over the bridge and back to Pawcatuck. The sun is up now and in my face on the way back – forgot to where my sunglasses. This sucked as I had to pay attention to traffic. On the way back I had a big hill to climb – the one on Elmridge Road by the golf course. I was thinking about this the entire time on the way back, plus that bacon. This was a fun run and having the Borough all to myself was the best – one of my favorite places to run in the summer. Now – where to go next week, Westerly Beach, Greenhaven loop, North Stonington……………..  ??  

Run for the memories

Sunday 12.4 - see Strava for actual course

Started from my house in Pawcatuck, CT to Juniper Drive, Ashaway, RI – this is the place that I grew up. Start time was 5:30ish to elude traffic on busy route 2 in Pawcatuck down to White Rock (side note – they finally fixed the road in White Road, newly paved road – nice) up to Boom Bridge road over the bridge and into Ashaway – no traffic at all – just cows looking at me funny. Up the hill in front of Ashaway Free Library onto Route 3, took a right onto Egypt Street - again, no traffic. Once on Egypt Street the memories began to come back – who lived where and OMG that house needs work. Took a left onto the famous Juniper Drive (we thought we were famous). Started to remember all the good times as a kid we had on this street – nothing but good memories. Started to come up to the house I was raised in – thought to myself, wonder if I can stop in and see what’s in the refrigerator, who’s been sleeping in my room. Can I use the bathroom??? The house was built in mid 60’s, ranch style – man did it need work – wait until I tell my father.  Juniper Drive is shaped like the letter P (just backwards) so while remembering all the good times, and who lived where and where are they now, I forgot I was running and back onto Egypt Street. Ended up running on Route 3 until I took the right where Ashaway Elementary School was on. WOW, funny how everything has changed. I Ended up running through Potter Hill (up that F-ing hill) Jeff, 5kTom, Jonny and Muddy know that hill - back onto Boom Bridge road, than into White Rock and back home.

Summary – this was a really enjoyable run, very little traffic but the RUN down memory lane was worth it. I forgot just how much FUN it was living in Ashaway with no cable TV, internet and cell phones…….. What would my kids do with themselves??????

This week – starting with Saturday’s race

First let be begin by apologizing to Mike Crutchley who was hosting the first Narragansett Trail 5K located in North Stonington – unfortunately, I’m not ready to RACE on trails as of yet as I’m recovering for knee surgery (wonder how long I can use this as a excuse - hmmmm).

Saturday - 3.1 Pawcatuck Lions 5K - I’ve been running this race now 4 out of the 5 years it has been hosted (something like that) by a colleague and neighbor, plus it’s just a 5k run from the house. I usually bike down to CC’s but not on this day – too many things going on. This was the hottest that I can remember for this race and with very little shade on the route, I knew this was going to be a tough race – not ready for PR yet. This is my favorite running weather – hotter the better. Not sure why, maybe it’s because everyone else complains it HOT – shut up and run. Went for a warm-up run with senior and junior gazelle. After the gun went off about 100 yards from the start, there was a minor car mishap that we had to maneuver around. The crowd went right, I followed Jeff and went left right in the middle of it. Thought about doing the Hollywood slide on the car hood, that would have been cool but it was hot out and I probably would have stuck to the hood of the car – JULIE thought, now that would have been cool. Ran with junior gazelle for the first mile when at the turn around thought about taking water but ended up just going around the cone and thanking the volunteers for volunteering (I do that at all races). The entire time on the way back all I could think about was that water. Ended up in coming in 5^th, second in age group AGAIN – can’t wait until senior moves up in age group. What’s the life expectancy of a gazelle?

Jana Walker Sports Photography

Sunday – 10.7 + some dancing in the streets / I was not running the BRR (Back Road Ramble) this year as this is a trail race plus the course was not marked very well last year – I would still be out in Burlingame somewhere if it wasn’t for a camper telling me he happened to see a gazelle run this way. So I decided to go for a long run. Started from my house for a run to Barn Island boat launch parking lot. Remember in Forrest Gump when he runs coast to coast and runs up to the light house and turns around. Well I ran to the boat launch onto the dock that they have (thought about jumping in) and turn around. On the way back about 2 miles to go – I was on Pequot Trail ROAD not trail going from South Anguilla to North Anguilla road (about 2 tenths on this very busy road) when I came upon a woodchuck that was 2 feet from me (never seeing it) when he/she decided to hiss at me – well, at this time I decided to do my best Michael Jackson impression dancing in the middle of the road saying the lords name in vain along with other bad words that start with S and F…My heart rate was off the chart as I turn left and headed home. Told Julie the story – she still laughing, why I bother, I don’t know.

Monday – 45 minutes or around 6m / when I woke up it was still raining so I ran the parking garage at work. Around and around and around and around and around (ok I’ll stop) I went.

Memorial Day Weekend

This just in

http://www.theday.com/article/20130528/ENT18/305289991

Article from New London Day – about Mike C and his trail - nice job Mike

Friday - little over 4 miles with the 4:45 club (first of the year for me, renewing my membership). Woke up to pouring rain and thought what the hell I’m I doing. By the time I pick up Jeff and we arrived at Tom5k house the rain stop. Good run and the rain held off. Later that day I went on a school field trip with my daughter – fell asleep on the bus, wonder why.

Saturday - North Stonington Education Foundation 5K

Rain, wind and cold but I like this race. Started out in the back as I was not sure how I was going to feel. The gun went off with a little hitch and racing instincts takes over passing the kids that all go out fast – EXCEPT little gazelle junior (Matthew). Settled in few second behind him in 6^th place with a kid on my back. At the turn around gazelle senior (can’t wait until next year when he will be a senior, turning 50) was in the lead with the hunt on. Shaping up to be a good finish, unfortunately I faded on the hills on the way back as I still have not gain stamina from being out for 8 weeks. So my battle/race was the kid behind me who was on my back the entire time until the last ½ mile when I decide it was time to go. Finish strong in 6^th place. The senior won so I was able to take first in age group along with other WTAC members. Did a cool down with both senior and junior gazelles – Mathew never stop talking, it may have been raining, cold and miserable but you would have never notice that coming from him on the cool down – until a late finisher happen to see us talking and having a good time and she yelled out – show offs – what the #$%& - really, that made senior angry.

Sunday – 33 mile bike ride with gazelle and Tom5k Met up with them behind CC’s in Pawcatuck. They ask me to put together a 30 miler. So we went to Mystic were we stop for a coffee and into the borough for a quick loop and back to River Road. Very windy ride but good company and a good pace. Both Tom and Jeff are reading for TRI season as they smoked the hills – waited for me – than I smoked the down hills with gazelle in the hunt right behind me – funny how you can actually hear someone on a bike right behind you – very cool sound.

Monday – Bearathon 5k in Mystic / This race supports the sophomore and senior class at Stonington and with one in high school and another going soon – I have to support – so twist my arm to do a road race. Ran a warm up with Mike C. This race is anther out and back on Mason Island, twisting and turning into cul-de-sacs. The thing I like with this race is you get to see the field multiple times, good cheering and giving high 5’s on the way. Took 10^th overall and ran a good time as this was the fastest I have run since surgery. No pain later in the day and all felt good – until WE showed up at my house and had to cut the lawn and wash the cars…………I hate WE like I hate winter. I have to meet this WE person someday.

Summary – great 4 days of running, racing and riding. Looking forward to the hot and humid weather later

In the week – bring it.

Photo by Jana Walker Sport Photography / NSEF5k

Weekly Log 19-May to 25-May

Monday – 5 mile run from work, feeling it this morning with that ride from yesterday.

Sunday – Bike down to gazelle’s (6m) to meet up with Tom5K and gazelle for a ride through Charlestown beach area then up to Burlingame and back to Dunns corners (28m). This was the route Tom5K help train gazelle for Boston. The bike down to gazelle was all downhill – easy / bike home was uphill and not fun plus the traffic through downtown Westerly. This was the second ride of the year and with the new clip-on bike shoes. I struggled on the hills, not sure if I should have eaten something before this ride of just out of shape. The last climb of the day – up Burdickville Road (biggest hill of the day). They had to wait for me at the intersection of Route 91. When I stopped at the intersection I forgot – to clip out – when I realized what I just did I knew I was going to fall – funny how you know you’re going to crash but you don’t know the outcome. Fell to my right on to grass – all was fine – hurt ego but everyone falls at least once or twice with clip-on’s. Told the wife this story – hasn’t stop laughing yet. I hate being the subject of her enjoyment. With the bike down and back from gazelle’s plus the ride - ended up doing 40m total – the was by far the most ever I have been on the bike. Good company plus the scenic ride in early morning made for a challenging workout.

Weekly Log 12-May to 18-May

Sunday - Mothers Day - pulled a double

6.3 Run - Went out for a run early morning in the light rain down to Wilcox Park back up route 2 – not bad, very little traffic and no one in the park. Nice run as everything is in bloom and green.

Bike 13 - In the afternoon when the sun came out it was time to try the bike. This was first ride of the year, plus first time I had a chance to try my new bike shoes. I was old school and had cages so this was quite the experience trying to get on the bike. Sucks walking in these shoes – sounds like a horse walking on asphalt. Rode down to my favorite place, Greenhaven - roads were very busy with traffic. Usually when I ride this route no one’s on the road because I go out very early, so I had to pay attention to my surroundings on this ride. Struggled little bit on hills but still fun to get out and ride. No time for a swim, but I did get wet from washing the cars.

Monday: Just over 6 miles, usual route from work, little chilly this morning. Legs were hurting from the double yesterday.

University of Connecticut, Avery Point – Gorton CT

Seeing that the days are getting longer and it’s not winter I thought I would share some pictures where I run so early in the morning on week days.

I run from Pfizer south gate down along the water of the Thames River to the University of Connecticut, Avery Point. Once I enter into the property I like to take the trail along the water, cliffs and rocks. At this time of year with the sun coming up you can see Montauk/Fisher Island, NY. No one but the UCONN security guards are around – I have the place to myself. I than run to a section called Juniper Point, this is just a street with a small turnaround but when you add Avery and Juniper Points you can see 5 light houses.

The first picture below is an aerial view. Notice the trail along the water, cliffs and rocks. In addition, on the left side of the picture you will notice a road that turns around that almost goes out to the water. This is where I do my speed work – this turnaround is 200m according to MapMyRun.com and has a small hill so it makes for a little challenge. I run at 5:00am, so I can run down the middle of these roads with no traffic. Depending on wind, weather and how I’m feeling I run in either direction along with going down other streets – summary, I have options.

 

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