MHM -8/trails+ -- Sat. Oct. 2

Another week gone in no running, too much sitting, and too little sleep. And this morning busy on SPARK right through, finally getting clear (sort of) at about 3 p.m. Lovely day, cool but sunny and dry after a ton of rain, so off to see the canals. Out to geoHannum, then trail to state school and stretch there. Continue to Checkers and back on to rail trail, along as far as the underpass, then turn onto Jabish canal towards 21. Crew's been in to remove at least one beaver dam, and patch up bank where the quads drive across -- good to see. Such a beautiful day and season, feeling really good, not moving too fast (aiming for 7:45-8:00s), come out to 21 and go on over to the next part of the canal, along to the bridge, then over to follow trail to Ludlow St. Try a variant trail, but it seems to dead end, so double back and follow the route I used last time (same as I biked), and proceed nicely to Ludlow St, following it to 21, briefly until I get to OldSpfld, then plod along (feeling a bit tired now, but still good--only thing is right ball of foot bone pain came back, so I guess that's a long-term thing) to BHS, and through to CHCS, then cross 202 and enter trail to head past Wallace Pond and out eventually onto GeoHannum. A couple of quads approach from behind; I pull to the side but I'm not going to stop for them, so they decide not to pass, but follow me for a while -- this feels a bit odd, and I probably picked up speed a bit, but eventually there was a fork and they went the other way. Then up GeoHannum as far as the baseball field, where I stop to take off shoes, then continue (enjoying the chill bath of dew still on the front green) as far as Auggie's lawn -- stop clock to pet him and say hello. So, overall:

Time: 1:56:45
Distance: 14.7 miles
Pace: 7:57s

Comment: a bit further than I'd expected, but it felt great the whole way, and no speed involved. Sore a bit at the end, but hopefully not in a bad way. This week ahead, MUST get out even if only for 3-5 milers. . . And plan the trip to Delmar, too. Only a week to go !!!