If I only had a heart

I have a heart. Of course we all assume we have one because the pulse tells us that one beats inside, but I now know I have one because I’ve seen it. Not literally in the flesh so to speak, but via an ultrasound monitor that produced images as it contracted and expanded while pushing blood around my body. “Here is a view from below, and here we’re looking diagonally down to see that the valves inside the chambers are opening and closing without regurgitation.” Read more

My Little Death Race

So this past weekend, I journeyed North again to take part in the Pittsfield Death Race. Not your typical race, this involved little to no running while pushing you to your physical and mental limits as you struggle to complete the various physical challenges. The race directors, Joe and Andy, spend the entire year devising the hellish tasks and delight in the pain and anguish emanating from the racers. Read more

Cramming for Cranmore

Much work needed to be done to get my butt up to this race.  Saturdays workload at the store presented me with a 10 hour work schedule. Not to mention a 2 hour lawn mowing job for my neighbor afterwards. But somehow with the thought of someone I know running a 100 miler I managed to suck up to the physical labor.  By midnight I was eventually off and driving for the next four hours until I had to rest. I pulled over at the lake at the base of Mt. Chocoura and napped in the parking lot for a little while. Read more

Bimblers on a Roll

This was a very busy weekend for Bimblers, with races and other various and sundry endurance events taking place in multiple states, both near and far. The weekend’s premier event was, of course, Mr. Bimble’s performance at The Western States Endurance Run, but there were other Bimblers keeping busy as well Read more

Mt Greylock Race

I don’t see what the big deal is? Everyone thinks Greylock is hard because of the hills. I only counted one significant hill the entire race! True, the hill was three miles long and most people would call it a mountain but let’s not overreact. Read more

Gazelle across the water – Bermuda Trip May 2009

Sailing has been an important part of my life over the past 30 years. Growing up, the family sailboat and weekly sailboat outings each Sunday were a constant each summer. I learned boat handling, navigation, and sailboat racing on the LI sound. Through the years, our family has had various boats including: a 19 foot ODay Mariner, 26 foot ODay, C&C 29, Beneteau 31, and a Beneteau 36. Originally we sailed in Ossning, NY and Mamaroneck, NY and most recently up in Milford, CT. We have cruised to different harbors on the Sound and to Block Island. We have done various races mostly day races but some longer overnight races including the Around LI Regatta. These days I sail mostly out of Milford and enjoy the Thursday night races around the cans Read more

Twilight Trail Run

I couldn’t resist returning to the Twilight Trail Run (7.4 miles) near Groton on 5/29, since it was my first-ever trail race last year. (And, admittedly, I was tempted by the raffle, which—last year—boasted a kayak as a grand prize and so many donated awards that almost everyone patient enough to brave the cold rain was rewarded). I hoped to beat last year’s time and maybe win more than a Mystic-area car wash coupon book this time around! Read more

No matter if you’re fast or slow

At what sport can you have your cake and eat it? The answer is trail running, only for ‘cake’, read apple pie and for ‘your’, read Shellygirl, who at the Nipmuck Trail Marathon yesterday maintained a consistent streak (not literally) and won her age group. Not only that, she placed 3rd lady finisher overall. Some would say her running was pure talent, Lefty however, might suggest it was because he caught her just before the second turnaround and fired up her competitive instinct! At the finish line she was just ahead, did the faster runner win, or did chivalry play a part? Read more

Pineland Farms 50k

I will start out by giving high fives to all whom put together the race today..  For organizing 3 races at once, all were done efficiently and without confusion.  Live music, BBQ, and Ipswich on tap, were  just a few the events following the 25k, 50k, and 50 miler races.  It was great to catch up with members of the Trail Monsters, some of whom I ran a great majority of VT100 with last year.   Now to the race… Read more

The Washington Diaries

A report from the 10k Washington Trail Race in Durham on Memorial Day…. It was a road race with every kind of hill you could possibly imagine or hope for like short, steep climbs, long difficult gradual climbs, one right out of the gate, undulating hills that kept on giving and even some great varieties of Downhills (not to be confused with the Bimbler known as DH herself!)
I arrived early as advised – but not early enough and I had to park at Perk on Main (crepes to die for) and then walk all the way to the High School through the parade crowds to get myself registered for the race. Read more

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