Me, Myself, and I

Alternatively: Me, Madonna, and Hybrid… at the Seneca Creek 50K.

So, WAY back when, IGGY had started the theme of Spring 50Ks, and I expanded her theme by listing an exhaustive compilation of spring races, from Holiday Lake in February, all the way to Pineland Farms at the end of May. Seneca Creek seemed to fit our collective Bimble sensibilities due to the “low key” nature of the race, although several griped at the lack of shirts. Read more

A Beautiful Day in Colchester

On the drive up to the Colchester Half Marathon this weekend, I realized that I hadn’t run a road race in exactly a year–since last year’s Colchester.   In some respects, it is about as close to being a trail run as a non-trail run can be.  Lots of wildlife (mostly bovine) and several sections on narrow, muddy dirt roads–snow-covered this year–keep you entertained. Read more

Mission Accomplished…

And after a while it seemed just that… a mission. I am told the going was much better this year, but after the first slippery climb came the SNOW! Drifts that were deep enough to go beyond my waist. I tried to remain in the steps of those in front of me but could not decide if sinking to my own depth was worse or better than stepping into their depth. There was fun to be had out there along with the frozen feet. Read more

A lucky place

My Hellgate race this year was full of more personal ups and downs than the course itself, and considering the elevation changes on the course, that’s saying something (the race could just as easily be called Up and Over because it feels like Dave Horton simply drives you out into the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains and then weaves a trail roughly 65miles long, up and over every mountain between you and the finish line).  Read more

The View from a New Crew (HG100K)

On the one hand, my report has nothing to do with the race, after all, I didn’t even run it! On the other hand, it has everything to do with the race, since the race was my reason for being there. What a strange and wonderful experience it was. I have run races, I have spectated at races, but crewing is something entirely different from the other two Read more

Cold too hot to handle

This year’s Hellgate was the least enjoyable of the seven I have now completed. It was my slowest time but I am also glad to have completed it. The race director describes this event as ‘special’ and there is definitely something about it that makes it stand out. Over the years the trip to Virginia has built a number of traditions; the Thursday evening departure from Connecticut and overnight in Hamburg, PA. Breakfast and then a brief ‘pilgrimage’ to Cabela’s before heading south once more. Read more

Bounce Runs Like A Girl in Philly

All right, don’t get your panties all in a knot.  I know that most of you woman are faster than me, especially on the road.  Before you start emailing me or calling me, read my report and see why I ran like a girl. Read more

Hankering For Cheese in Philadelphia

Lil Rhody in memoriam

Little did I know when I woke up Sunday morning that I would find out one of my students had a brain aneurism and would not make it to see to Thanksgiving. Little did I know when I woke up on Sunday that a fellow music teacher had died of a heart attack. Little did I know that I would run the Lil Rhody Runaround in memoriam to these two fellow human beings. Read more

Stone Cat 50 Race Report 2009

As I was leaving my driveway on the Friday night before the Stone Cat 50 Miler, I said to Gretchen, lets zero the trip odometer on the car and really see where 50 miles is.  Running mostly in the trails, its hard to quantify that distance in my head.  You know, a lot of loops, out and backs, varied terrain, you get the picture. A couple of years back in Scranton,PA at the Steamtown Marathon, I drove to the start of that marathon to drive the route with Gretchen.  It was the first time I drove the route of a point to point marathon.  Wow, it was long.  I really got a sense of the distance we travel.  So, traveling up I-91 the odometer is clicking away.  We reach Hartford, we are not at 50 miles yet.  We turn onto I-84 East and head all the way to Manchester, near the Buckland Hills Mall, and the odometer finally hits 50 miles.  Holy ***t, this is far.  I know 50 miles is far, but “BLAM”, reality check. Read more

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