"Unrelenting" - 2011 Wakely Dam Ultra Race Report

After cresting a steep climb around mile 19 Kevin and I saw a runner sitting in the middle of the trail on the downward side of the hill.  He was sitting up and leaning back slightly against a fallen tree limb.  When we asked if he had fallen or was hurt he turned his head slowly and looked back at us.  He did not speak. His eyes were glassy and he looked confused and uncertain of his whereabouts.  Finally he spoke. 

He said he was not hurt but had bonked hard and was very tired and nauseous.  I asked if he needed a drink but he said he still had half a Camelbak of Gatorade.  This led me to believe he was not drinking enough during the race and that his electrolytes were out of balance due to severe dehydration.  I gave him 2 S-caps to take now and a few more for later and told him to start drinking.  After sitting with him for about 10 minutes he was talking coherently and seemed in better spirits.   He said he would be OK and we could leave him now. He said would walk the remaining 14 miles to the finish. 

Welcome to the Wakely Dam Ultra!

Runners who enter the Northville-Placid trailhead on Haskell Road know there are only two ways to get to the finish at Wakely Dam.  Either you get there under your own power on your own two feet, or you take an expensive ride in a Search and Rescue helicopter.   You see, there are no aid stations with helpful volunteers filling your water bottle and handing you snacks.  There are no crossroads to be used as bailout points for the weary runner.  There are no pretty pink ribbons marking your way so you don't get lost. Understand this, there are no DNF's at the Wakely Dam Ultra because the only thing between you and the finish line are 32.6 miles of unrelenting wilderness.

Only one way out. 

Race day was hot and humid.  Not my kind of weather but at least the high for the day was "only" 90 degrees.  It was close to 100 on the drive to the Adirondacks the day before.  As I stood at the back of the pack waiting for the race to begin, one thing was clearly evident to me.  My CamelBak was way too heavy!  With three liters of Heed in the bladder, two 24 oz water bottles in the side pockets, several gels, PB&J crackers and two Cliff bars stowed for fuel, a medical kit, a blister kit, a space blanket and several other assorted items I thought indispensable (but were not), my pack weighed well over 20 pounds.  What the hell was I thinking?

The few, the brave, the crazy Wakely runners! (photo credit: Rob Jacob)

 

The first mile at Wakely is flat single-track and those who were actually racing this thing were quickly out of sight.  In fact, nearly all the 60 other runners were gone faster than a sailor's cash on shore leave.   No worries here.  Kevin and I weren't planning on racing for different reasons.  He was coming off a fast 30 miles of pacing at the VT 100 for a 21 hour finisher and I was just plain out of shape, running about 60 total miles in the past five weeks. We were just out for a long run in the woods......a bit longer than expected.

Don't get use to this. It won't last. (photo credit: Kevin Z)

The next eight miles or so involved a series of climbs taking us ever higher in elevation.  None of the climbs were extremely long or steep but there were plenty of them.  There were also many, many blowdowns on the course making it difficult to get into a good running rhythm.  This would be the theme for the day, constant changes in elevation and tree hopping with very little flat running until the final 4.5 miles of the race.  Kev and I decided early on to walk most of the uphills because that's what Bill H. would have wanted us to do. We missed you Bill!  And did I mention the bugs?  They were as unrelenting as the hills of the NPT. The deer flies were so bad Keven stopped and put on his mosquito net about two miles into the race. The boy got gear.

This is more like it. (photo credit: Rob Jacob)

If only all the blowdowns were this small. (photo credit: Rob Jacob)

The trail took a beating with heavy flooding this spring. (photo credit: Rob Jacob)

At mile five we saw one of the Wakely runners standing in the trail.  She asked if we were running in the race to which we responded in the affirmative.   She told us she was thinking about going back to the start.  She said she was fine physically but her head just wasn't into it.  Kevin and I went through the pros and cons of turning back vs. continuing forward and even welcomed her to join us if she wished.  In the end she decided to turn around while she was still close enough to the start.  Wakely Dam had claimed it's first casualty. 

I can't fault the woman for returning.  If you're having second thoughts about this race at five miles it's best to go back.  It doesn't get any easier the next 28.  Also, I can see how a woman running alone on the NPT could get wigged-out.  It's very isolated.  Hell, there were a few areas during the race where I would have felt a bit uneasy had I been alone.  I guess I'm not as tough as I look. Or am I? 

WFF?  This is one of the places that freaked me out. (photo credit Kevin Z)

Reaching the Jessup River at seven miles I decided to fill one of my water bottles and treat it with iodine.  While I was filling up, the two course sweeps that left 1/2 hour after the race started arrived at the river.  I can't remember their names but they were cool and we joked around while they filled their bottles too.  The water level was low enough so we could rock hop across without getting our feet wet. We weren't so lucky at some of the larger rivers later in the race.  Some of the bridges were washed out so wading across was the only option.  Soon the sweeps were out of sight and Kevin and I were on our own again.

The water wasn't always this low. (photo credit: Rob Jacob)

 

More climbing and more blowdowns to maneuver over, under and around and soon (OK, not really soon, more like eventually) we were running along the edge of Spruce Lake.  It was here where I heard a loon call out to me.  It said, " You people are carrying heavy packs in 90 degree weather and running 33 miles over rocks, roots, trees, mud and water, all the while getting eaten alive by deer flies and they call ME a loon?"  OK, Mr. Loon, I get your point.  After passing the second lean-to it was time to eat.  Kev gets cranky when he goes 30 minutes without food.  The man can eat!

Spruce Lake. (photo credit: Kevin Z)

We don't take these "races" too seriously.

I don't remember much about the miles between Spruce Lake and the West Canada Lakes. I do remember stepping off the foot bridge across the bog and sinking ankle deep in mud, nearly losing my shoe. There was a nice cooling breeze when we entered the clearing near the lake and I wanted to stop here to enjoy the beauty of this place. Unfortunately, there was this business of completing a race before darkness so it was time to move on. I felt great when we entered the old caretakers clearing on West Lake which meant we had reached the half way point. My sense of relief was short-lived.

I almost lost a shoe here. (photo credit Rob Jacob)

Cool breeze and beautiful views. (photo credit: Rob Jacob)

Bug man gets his groove on. (photo credit: Kevin Z)

Half way point! (photo credit: Kevin Z)

"Where did the trail go?"

Leaving the caretakers clearing the trail was re-routed due to beaver activity, or was it because of spring storms? I'm old and can't remember.  Anyway, the narrow trail was twisting and turning and badly overgrown.  Our pace slowed to a crawl.  Well, our pace was already at a crawl but it became a slower crawl when we entered this section. This re-route went on for about a mile (at least it felt that way to me) before the trail opened up again and running became a little easier.

Around mile 20 the course starts to lose elevation.  There's still plenty of climbing to be done the the descents are longer and the running gets somewhat easier over the next 10 miles.  Kevin and I didn't talk all that much during this time.  I think the constant ups and downs and climbing over blowdowns had finally worn us down. We alternated pace setting duties with Kevin leading when we wanted to move faster and me taking over when we needed to slow down and rest a while.  I'm good at slow.

At least we had ample warning.

The water level dropped a lot so the rope assist wasn't needed. 

 This was the deepest and widest water crossing. (photo credit: Kevin Z)

"You first." "No, you first!"

With 4.5 miles to the finish the trail dumps onto a grassy dirt road.  Kevin got his fourth wind here and really picked up the pace.  I had a difficult time staying close and would lose sight of him every time the trail would bend or turn.  This was good motivation for me so I continued to run hard to keep Kev from escaping.  The grassy road connected to a wide Vermont-like dirt road and Kevin said we were only one mile from the finish line.  I think he told a white lie in order to light a fire under my butt because that road felt way longer that one mile to me.

Kevin could have easily dropped me here but he stayed with me so we could cross the finish line together.  Kev would run a few steps ahead, turn back and yell at to me get a move on. Oh, and also to ask me to consider running the Vermont 100 next year.  Yeah, I'll have to get back to you on that one Kevin. When I looked back at my splits I saw the last two miles of the race were my fastest!  I was either dogging it for 31 miles or I have an incredible finishing kick!  Thanks KZ for getting these old bones to Wakely Dam.

I saw the finish line about the same time I heard the cheers of encouragement from Co-Race Directors extraordinaire, Kim and Doug who did an excellent job in their first year as Wakely RDs.  I sure ten year RD Jim H. feels his race was left in good hands.  I felt a sense of relief and accomplishment (and immense fatigue) when I crossed the finish line at Wakely Dam.  This race was more difficult than I thought it would be, and more amazing.

The Wakely Dam is what ultra running is all about.  Self-reliance, difficult terrain, hard effort, raw nature and personal victories.  Wakely Dam Ultra is unrelenting.

Note to readers:  Most of you know I like to take numerous quantities of pictures when I'm on these adventures.  This time I stowed my camera in my backpack where it was difficult to reach so I didn't get any photos.  My bad.   KZ was the cameraman on this adventure run and contributed to this post with his fine photographs. Also thanks to Rob Jacob, a multi-time Wakely finisher. I "borrowed" some of your pics.  

If you like flat, don't come here.

Wakely Thoughts And Motivation Lost

In four days I’ll be running 32.6 miles of the Northville-Placid Trail in one of the remotest areas in the Adirondack Wilderness. Having never been on the NPT previously I have no idea what to expect, other than getting bombarded by squadrons of persistent deer flies.

Wakely is a tough race. The finishing times over the years are evidence to the race’s difficulty. In Wakley’s 10 year history, only two runners have broken five hours in what is essentially a long 50K. The course record is “only” 4:54. I’m not certain what makes this race so hard. It has a fair amount of elevation gain but not a ridiculous amount. It has some very technical trails to slow you down but also some easier sections on old logging roads. I’m sure you lose some time filtering water and refilling water bottles in creeks and steams along the way but could that be much more than you would lose stopping at aid stations in a “civilized” race? I don’t have answers now, but I know they will come to me soon enough.

On another note, I’ve completely lost my motivation to run at the worse possible time. I knew it was bad, but I didn’t realize how bad it was until I looked back at my last five weeks of training. I’ve only run 12 times for a total of 64 miles and my longest run was only 10 miles! Not the best ultra training. My lack of desire came shortly after my 30 mile run on the Bay Circuit Trail in mid-June. I don’t think I was properly trained for that distance at that time and it took the wind out of my sails. Since then, I’m been waiting for a strong ocean wind to fill my mainsail. Perhaps a storm is brewing for Saturday?

Product Review - Injinji Lightweight No Show Toesock

I've been a fan of Injinji socks for a number of years so when I was asked to test their new lightweight, no-show performance series sock I was happy to accept. 

During much of my 40 years as a runner I've been prone to blistering.  Then I discovered Injinji socks and I've been nearly blister free since then.   In fact, I can only remember getting blisters twice in the past five years while wearing Injinji's and both times my feet were wet for several hours before the blistering occurred.  

So what makes Injinji's so special?

The obvious difference is in the design of the sock itself.  Injinji's fit the foot like a glove instead of a mitten like conventional socks.  This has two advantages.  First, it separates the toes so there is no skin-on-skin rubbing. This rubbing is a major cause of blistering between the toes.  Second, the individual toe design helps keep the foot cooler and reduces moisture buildup.  Moisture is also a major contributor in the development of blisters.  Lastly, Injinji socks are seamless and provide a custom-like fit.  The snug fit eliminates wrinkles which reduces your chances of blistering.

What I like most about the new Injinji's are their incredibly light weight.  When I wear them it almost feels like I am running sock-free.  Because the Injinji's are so thin you get a very good feel for the trail when coupled with a responsive trail shoe.   These no-shows are a perfect match for a pair of Vibram Five Fingers.  Road racers will also appreciate their lightness.   An added bonus is the fact that these sock dry much faster than most other socks.  This is key when running trails with water crossings as wet feet can eventually become blistered feet.

The only downside to running trails with the Injinji no-shows is your apt to pick up some trail debris because they ride so low on the ankle.  This can be overcome by wearing gaiters or getting the Injinji Lightweights in the mini-crew or full crew version.   I see no downside for road runners.

Give Injinji's a try and say goodbye to blisters.

injinji toesocks are available here at:

Wakely Dam Ultra Course Preview

With three weeks to go until the Damn Wakely Dam Ultra in New York's Adirondack Wilderness it was good to see Co-RD Doug conduct a recon mission to get an update on trail conditions.  Most of the North East experienced heavy rains this past spring and upper state New York had serious flooding in many areas. It was no surprise to me to see much of the trail wet and muddy.  The rivers and creeks were so swollen that some bridges were destroyed.  They wont be repaired for quite some time so the rivers will be crossed Rucky Chucky style on race day.  I cant wait!

Check out the course flyover below.  It makes 33 miles look like a very long way to run.

Damn Wakely Dam Ultra - Course Flyover from RDJim on Vimeo.

All photos below courtesy of RD Doug G.

One of the few drier sections.

This was more typical.

Looks more like a brook than a trail.

Wet and overgrown.

As if the mud wasn't bad enough there were several blowdowns to contend with.

This will certainly slow your pace.

Better bring a change of socks!

Fast moving water.

 

Foundation of bridge.

 

The rest of the bridge was swept down stream intact.

 

More photos from Doug's run can be found HERE.

 

It looks like Wakely 2011 will be a wet and wild run.  All I can say is I hope the trail doesn't dry up too much in the next three weeks.  What fun would that be?

Think rain!

Inov8 Roclite 295 - Product Review

Inov8 has updated their popular Roclite 295 model for 2011.  Gone are the dull gray and blue uppers and endurance rubber soles.  This year's shoe has a sharper black and lime green upper with the Inov-8 logo boldly displayed.  Not that fashion matters among trail runners.  It's function that counts and the 295 performs very well under a variety of terrain and surface conditions with it's new sticky rubber soles.

Let's start from the ground up.

The minimal heel-to-toe drop and low arch structure of the shoe keeps you low to the ground and less likley to roll an ankle. Although the sole is now made with sticky rubber it keeps the traditional Roclite lugs that work well on hard-pack, mud and other surfaces.  The sole grips well on muddy trails and over wet rock and roots but it will wear faster than the harder endurance rubber of other Roclite models.   The softer sticky rubber is also more flexible than the endurance sole and gives the runner a better feel for the trail.  This soft, flexible sole does come with a price besides less durability.  It does not provide enough protection on technical trails from sharp rocks and gnarly roots.  You will feel them through the sole which can become a problem after hours on the trail. 

The mesh upper has a tighter weave than previous models but it still drains well and should be more resistant to wear and tear than a looser mesh.  There isn't much structure to the upper which contributes to the shoe's light weight. But less structure means less support.  To help control lateral movement, Inov8 has developed the Met Cradle.  It's an upper webbing system positioned to cradle the forefoot and provide a secure foot hold.  It works to some degree but there is certainly more foot movement in the 295 when compared to the heavier, more structured upper of the Roclite 319. The toe box is generous in height and width and gives your piggies plenty of room.

In my opinion, the Roclite 295 is another winning shoe from Inov8.

Bay Circuit Trail Run, Sections 6 & 7 - Navigation Nightmare

This past Saturday I completed my 5th and longest run to date on the Bay Circuit Trail.  With warmer weather approaching and the expected increase in biting insect activity I was hoping to make it to the halfway point on the BCT.  By doing so I could take a break from the trail in July and August and return in the fall to complete the journey. I first had to finish up the last two miles of Section #5 on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail before continuing onto Sections 6 and 7. The total distance should have been around 28 miles but with all the detours I took by getting lost I ended the day with 30 miles.  I love bonus miles!

Overview of BCT Sections 6 & 7

Just enough changes to make it interesting.

The first four miles were not the most enjoyable for me. The first two were on the paved rail trail and the next two were on Route 27.  Pavement does a number on my plantar fascia and IT band but I managed to make it though this stretch without issue.  I did have a few distractions along the way to help past the time.  First, I saw a rabbit and a large flock of turkeys on the rail trail and then saw a big group of riders blasting down Route 225 in Westford.  Still, I was very happy when I made it to Nashoba Brook Conservation Area and saw dirt under my shoes.

The trails through Nashoba Brook were overgrown and appeared to be seldom used.  Even thought the weather has been dry lately the low-lying trail was very muddy or wet in spots.  This would not be a good place to run in early spring. I was also somewhat surprised at how technical the trails were in some areas.  Most of the trails I have run on the BCT previously have been fairly tame.  Trail marking in Acton was excellent and I never had to stop to check the map or trail guide.  That would change later in the run.

 Overgrown and narrow single-track trail.

 Crossing Nashoba Brook.

Wet, technical "trail." The mosquitoes were eating me alive in here.

Tranquil brook-side location.

Two interesting sites I came upon in this area were the location of a former pencil factory, complete with a history lesson on the progression of the pencil and a stone chamber dug into the side of a hill.  It appears the stone chamber was used to store ice in the winter and farm products such as root crops at other times.  The chamber was very cool and I would have explored deeper into it had I been carrying a headlamp or flashlight. 

 Location of former 19th century pencil factory.

Stone chamber just off the trail that I had to explore.

 "Is anyone home?"

As I was leaving Acton though a grassy meadow I was attacked by horse flies.  I moved quickly but could not avoid getting bitten a few times before crossing into Concord and into the Annursnac Hill Conservation Area. While there I looked for the World War II bunker in the woods.  I saw two vent pipes coming out of the ground so I assumed I was near it, or on it, but did not see any other evidence that it existed. I continued moving south, then east making my way to the Minuteman National Historical Park.  It amused me to think I've lived in Massachusetts for 56 years and never visited this park.  It took a crazy idea, like running 200 miles on the BCT to get me here!

Stopping at the vistors center gave me an opportunity to top of my Camelbak before checking out the rest of the park.  I didn't want to linger too long but did want to get a good look at the battle site of April 19, 1775.  There were many visitors at the park on this beautiful Saturday morning.  One or two may have looked at me in an unusual manner but it was understandable.  It's not every day you see a sweaty old man wearing a Camelbak and bandana with packets of Gu stuffed in his pockets and running around taking photos of everything that isn't' moving.  OK, time to move on.

A good place to take on fluid when the well is running dry. PS they also have restrooms!

The bridge where the battle was fought.

The Concord River, looking upstream.

Leaving the park I passed though Concord town center and headed south-east along a flat stretch of road before turning into the Hapgood-Wright Town Forest. After running a mile of trails it was back to pavement for a short distance before crossing a very busy Route 2. Lucky for me there was a traffic signal to stop the speeding cars and I was able to cross safely. This marked the end point for Section # 6 and also the halfway point for this long run.  I had made it 15 miles without a hitch but the wheels were about to fall off.

 Concord town center.

The home of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

 More muck in Hapgood-Wright Forest.

After crossing Rt 2 I entered Walden Pond State Reservation.  I circumnavigated the west and south rim of the pond, crossed a road and entered the woods on the other side.  The trail then entered a large field.  It was here where things began to get confusing.  I had a difficult time following the trail guide and lost the trail somewhere in the field. I ending up scaling a stone wall to make my way back to last know reference point.  From there I was able to locate a trail marker at the intersection of Route 126.  

Then my troubles began.

I misread the trail guide and thought I needed to go left and follow the perimeter of a large farm field until I saw an opening into the woods.  In fact, the guide was referring to the farm at the next intersection.  So I spent the next mile running around the farm looking for an opening that didn't exist before I realized my mistake.  The farm hands watching me all this time must have had a good chuckle!

Leaving the trails near Mt. Misery (how appropriate) I got confused again by looking at the south to north directions instead of the north to south directions.  I now believe it's more important to take an extra minute to fully read the guide before running off and wasting many more minutes by going in the wrong direction or missing key reference points.  Anyway, back to my misadventure.   It took me 20 minutes to cover the next 0.7 miles because I was never sure I was going in the right direction.  It turned out I was.

The next 4.5 miles was a mix of trail and roads that I covered without issue. Then I found myself standing at the edge of the nightmare known as Sedge Meadow.  Two miles of tall grass with several intersecting trails heading in all directions. And no trail markers!  I spent the next 30 minutes taking different trails that seemed to be heading in the direction I wanted but they always curved off in a different direction after a short distance.  I got tired of this trial and error approach and decided to just go in one direction and see where it would lead me.

It led me to the Wayland Country Club.

Waist high grass trail in Sedge Meadow. Got ticks?

Right or left?

I was happy to be out of the meadow and even happier when I spotted the clubhouse.  I had been out of water for a while and really needed a drink.  I settled for a ice cold Coke.  After guzzling half the bottle I made my way to a rendezvous point at the intersection of Routes 20 and 27 where I was meeting my rescue party.  All the mistakes I made along the way had put me behind schedule and I didn't want to miss my ride back home.  I cut my run short by a mile but still manged to bag 30 miles for the day.  Damn, I really wanted that 50K!

The good news is I've completed half of the Bay Circuit Trial with an estimated 103 mile covered so far.  My next run will take me south of the Mass Turpike and one step closer to the shores of Kingston.

Hey, it's summer!

More photos from my Sections 6 & 7 run can be found HERE.

Stats:
BCT Legs 6 & 7: 28 miles + 2 miles of "wandering'
Surface split: Roads 10.6 + 2.3 paved rail trail,  Trails 15.1 + 2 on grassy meadows
Elevation gain: 960 feet
Highest Point: Strawberry Hill, 327 feet
Start Point: Heart Pond, Chelmsford
End Point: Pelham Island Road, Weyland
Other towns: Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Lincoln,
Green spaces: Nashoba Brook, Spring Hill, Stoneymeade Cons. Land, Annursnac Hill Cons. Area, Hapgood-Wright Town Forest, Walden Pond State Reservation, Mt, Misery, Trout Brook, Castle Hill, Sedge Meadow and Cow Common
Hydration: 100 oz Heed, 50 oz water, 20 oz Coke
Fuel: Gu gel (4) PB&J crackers (12)
Footwear: Brooks Cascadia 5, Injinji socks
Total BCT Legs 1-7: 103 miles
Surface split: 63 trail & dirt road, 33 pavement, 7 paved rail trail.
Elevation gain legs 1-7: 4049 feet
Highest Point 424 feet
BCT remaining: 97 miles

Find Your Strength

I've always been fascinated with creative people.  They possess a gift that allows them to transform their thoughts, ideas and visions into something tangible for others to enjoy. I recently worked with a large group of creative people shooting a commercial for Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital's "Find Your Strength" program.  It was a very enjoyable, educational and exhausting experience.  I never realized the amount of time, effort and creative thought it took to make a 30 second spot for television.  I'd like to thank Monique, Vlad and all the hard working crew for a day I'll never forget.

Bay Circuit Trail Run, Sections 4 & 5 - Cushy Trails, City Streets And A Rail Trail Too!

Saturday morning was a perfect day for a long run.  The air was cool and the cloudless sky a deep blue.  Bill H. and I were off before 9 am to run the 4th and 5th sections of the Bay Circuit Trail.  Although I was looking forward to running the many trails in the AVIS network I was dreading the run through the streets of Lowell.  This section of the BCT from the Merrimack River to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is not finalized so we would have to negotiate the Lowell stretch on our own.  Al French had offered to help me obtain access to the Concord River Trail (currently not open to the public) so I could avoid some of the city streets.  Unfortunately, I decided to run section 5 at the last moment and Al would not have had enough notice to work out the details with the Park Service.

Sections 4 & 5 from Andover to Chelmsford.

The town of Andover has done an outstanding job preserving green spaces throughout the town.  They also keep the trails well marked and maintained.  This was the first time I have not lost the trail during my many miles on the BCT.  Well, almost anyway.  We did make a minor error in Doyle Link but it only added a short distance to the run.  This is what happens when I take the lead. Bill is a good navigator and he has saved my butt a few times during our past two runs.  I decided to follow him the rest of the way.

Running along an esker in Indian Ridge.

West Parish Meadow

Towering trees in Doyle Link.

Water crossing in Harold Rafton Reservation.

We actually saw a deer in Deer Jump though it did not jump.

The trails in AVIS are not technical and many or them are covered in soft duff making for easy and enjoyable running.  It was nice not having to look at my feet for a change!  We hop-scotched from one AVIS reservation to the next by running short sections of pavement before making it to the banks of the Merrimack River.  Here we were able to run an uninterrupted trail until reaching the town of Tewksbury.  In the winter you can continue along the river through a golf course but it's off limits during the other three seasons.  This meant we had to take a 2 mile detour around the golf course via the roads. Yuck! This was just a small preview of the torture to come.

Follow Bill along the Merrimack River.

Much of the trail is close to the river's edge.

If you know "The Rivah" you know exactly where I am!

After skirting around the golf course on the Tewksbury- Lowell line we were back on the river for another mile before hitting 4.5 miles of hell (aka pavement) in Lowell.  I mapped out a zigzag route thought the city trying to avoid the traffic of major roads.  We got a few strange looks from some people on these side streets.  Something told me they didn't see many runners in this part of town.   My feet were really getting sore from the beating they were taking on the road.  I was able to take my mind on the pain at least temporarily, when Bill noting our scenic surroundings quipped, "This the the only trail run where you can get your muffler changed if you wanted too."

Cool trolley car in Lowell.

Did you know Lowell is the mecca for long-distance runners?  All the cool cats hang out at the Ultra Lounge.

After what seemed like an eternity, we arrived at the start of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.  The trail is nearly seven miles long, but it is all paved. Thankfully, we had parked 2 miles shy of the end at Heart Pond. Still, there was no way my plantar fascia was going to survive another 4-5 miles of pavement.  I was able to avoid most of the pavement by running along the sides on a mix of dirt, stone and tall weeds. 

The beginning of the end.

The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

Shady rail trail.

I was beginning to feel tired after twenty miles and wasn't sure how many more we had to run.  All along I thought the rail trail was flat until Bill told me we were running uphill.  Sure enough the trail had a slight incline in this direction, and it was unrelenting.  I finally told Bill I needed to take a walking break.  After walking for a minute or two I was thinking to myself, " How am I going to get my legs moving again?"  I was beat.  Then, before we started running again, Bill pointed to the right.  When I looked up I saw the parking lot and Bill's car.  I was overjoyed!  What a pleasant surprise and 22 miles on the nose to boot.  Bill suggested I run the remaining miles of the rail trail and offered to wait for me to return.  I thanked him for the offer but declined.  I will save that for another day.

Uphill finish

Our final destination, Heart Pond

After a quick cool down in Heart Pond it was time to pack up and get a move on. Bill drove me back to Andover to pick up my truck and we departed for home.  Bill had the Red Sox game in mind.  I had my mind on a shower and nap.  Yeah, it's tough getting old, but it's better than the alternative.

Until next time...
Many more photos of the run can be seen HERE.

Stats:
BCT Legs 4 & 5: 22 miles
Surface split: 8.2 trails, 9.4 roads, 4.4 paved rail trail (some of paved rail trail can be avoided by running on soft shoulder).
Elevation gain: 935 feet
Highest Point 220 feet
Start Point: Lupine Road, Andover
End Point: Heart Pond, Chelmsford
Other towns: Tewsburry & Lowell
Green spaces: Doyle Link and Merrimack River Trails.  Indian Ridge, West Parish Meadow, Harold Rafton and Dear Jump Reservations.
Hydration: 100 oz Heed, 32 oz Gatorade
Fuel: Gu gel (2) PB&J crackers (12)
Footwear: Brooks Cascadia 5, Injinji socks
Total BCT Legs 1-5: 68.7 miles
Surface split: 41.4 trail & dirt road, 21.9 pavement, 4.4 paved rail trail.
Elevation gain legs 1-5: 3089 feet
Highest Point 424 feet
BCT remaining: 131.3 miles

Running In Red Rock Canyon

Last Sunday I took advantage of a drop from the previous days 90+ degree temperatures to run in the desert of Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas, Nevada. Red Rock Canyon is located 17 miles west of the adult playground and is in marked contrast to the neon, noise and crowed streets of the concrete jungle known as the Las Vegas strip.  


Arriving in late afternoon I didn't have time for a long run so I took the first trail I saw leaving the Visitors Center.  I decided a short out and back was the best course of action given my unfamiliarity with the area and the time of day.  The weather conditions were a bit unusual for this time of year.  The temperature was in the mid-sixties with strong wind and gusts up to 50 miles per hour.  At times it was sunny, but it was mostly cloudy during my run.  I even felt a few drops of rain but that lasted less than a minute.

This was the first time I ran trails west of the Mississippi and I really enjoyed the experience.  I would love to return here some day when I have more time to explore.  The Red Rock Fat Ass 50K in January would be a good way to start off 2012.  Then again, I need time to decompress after living the 24/7 lifestyle of Vegas if only for a few days.

You can view my photos of my Red Rock Canyon run HERE.

And that, I'm afraid, is all I can share about my trip to Vegas. ;-0