Ice Age Coming, Ice Age Coming

Time: 75:00
Distance: 11 mi.

Okay, so it's more like winter is coming, but I'm listening to Radiohead's Idioteque while I'm writing this, and it fits well enough. It is going to take a bit to get used to cold weather running again, which I haven't done for any substantial period of time in two years. I waited to clear out my sinuses and throat and for the temperature to go up a few degrees and before heading out in the early afternoon. The run took me up North Valley to the power line entrance to Amethyst Brook. I followed the trail in through the main intersection of trails and explored in the section that has been largely torn up with logging. Part of it was similar to running up a partly-frozen river bed. Instead of heading straight back through Echo Hill when I got to the base of the conservation area, I ran behind Fort River, down South East street and through Wentworth Farm, which is surprisingly only about 5 minutes longer. My hamstring was a bit tight starting around 60 minutes, so I should probably give it some more attention. The cold persists, but I didn't feel as bad as I was going to.

I listened to Only By The Night all the way through before putting on the more uptempo (and somewhat more abrasive) Ghostland Observatory album Paparazzi Lightning.

North Valley, Amethyst Loop

Time: 60:00
Distance: 8.5 mi.
Map (approximate)

Morning run that I wasn't particularly excited for as I headed out the door. It was a bit chilly, though we really haven't had any truly cold days yet, so I can't really complain. To try to get the good buzz going (and turn my brain off), I took a page out of Keith's book and queued up some DJs on the iPod. I listened to Simian Mobile Disco's Attack Decay Sustain Release straight through, which did the trick for the most part. While some of the songs are a little abrasive (e.g. It's The Beat), others (such as I Believe (SMD Space Dub), Clock) make me want to own the roads. Plus, all of this stuff reminds me of one of the most fun concert experiences I've ever had with Ian and Brian at last year's SXSW in Austin.

It's hard to judge the distance of some of these runs that go through the Echo Hill or Amethyst trails. The half mile I timed on Old Farm Road had me at 6:30 pace, but obviously some of the hilly trail sections were slower.

Echo Hill, Amethyst Brook

Time: 60:00
Distance: 8.5 mi.

Headed out for no particular distance, just starting to get back in the routine (though I finished right at 60 minutes). Headed through the Echo Hill trails to Amethyst Brook and ran back on South Valley and Harkness. Hamstring and right plantar pretty tight on this chilly morning.

I did some post-run hamstring strengthening and stretching exercises which will be part of the regular schedule until this thing starts feeling more normal.

Echo Hill, Amethyst Brook

Time: 52:30
Distance: 7.5 mi.


The view from my bedroom window this morning

I return to New England to find it already deep in true autumn. Seriously jetlagged and having been awake for a good portion of the night, I got out relatively early with no particular intended distance. I wanted to be on the trails, so I headed into Echo Hill and did a short loop in Amethyst Brook. My legs feel like Jell-O and my right hamstring was tight and sore throughout the run.

Amethyst Brook, Wildwood Cemetery

Time: 64:00
Distance: 9 mi.


This is an old map

Easy afternoon run with the Amherst High School guys. They have a meet tomorrow, but nothing too competitive so the top guys are "training through." We ran down to the main entrance of Amethyst Brook and took the trails to North East Street. From there we ran back up Strong with a detour through the Wildwood Cemetary. I did a few field loops while they did a few "green monster" hills, and I finished up with 6 strides barefoot around the football field.

Oh, and I got stung by a bee.

Amethyst Brook

Time: 63:50
Distance: 9.5 mi.

Finally back in Amherst, but I wasn't feeling great in the morning, so I put the run off until the afternoon. I seem to have developed a bit of a cold, and I was still feeling it in the afternoon but really needed a run today. While my sinuses were clogged and I have a bit of a sore throat, my legs felt great. It was a beautiful day in the trails of Echo Hill and Amethyst Brook.

Amethyst Brook

Time: 39:30
Distance: 5.5 mi.

Easy run with Paul Norton, a 2007 ARHS grad who now runs for Brandeis. We met at the main to the trails just as Gould was going by and we went with him to the North East Street entrance. From there we took the trails back through.

I was thinking of doubling, but decided against it to make sure I was good for Sunday. I am still a little worried about the tendonitis in my knee.

South By North East

Time: 81:40
Distance: 12 mi.

I was feeling beat again in the morning so I put this run off to the afternoon, and considered taking the day off entirely. Once I got going I felt okay and it was very nice out, particularly in the woods.

This is a pretty good loop that goes from South East St. (via the bike path) to North East St., past Strong St. through Amethyst Brook near Mt. Orient, and back through the Echo Hill trails. Depending on exactly which trails in Echo Hill and Amethyst I take this could be +/- 5 minutes. This time I missed the trail I was looking for near the beginning, but still made it down fine. There are a lot more trails in this area since they've been logging.

Puffer's Pond-Mt. Orient Loop

Time: 88:00
Distance: 13 mi.


The view towards Amherst from the outlook on Mt. Orient

I'm still fighting through the jetlag a bit, so I've avoided running in the morning when it has been taking me a little while to wake up. Whenever I'm not highly motivated I tend to need to find some trails to get myself going. The ABC trail that leads to the Robert Frost Trail in this section is very nice, especially as it gets towards Atkins Reservoir and heads into Amethyst Brook. I was trying to do a loop, rather than going out and back like I did the last time I was out there. I knew that I was getting in over the 60-70 minutes I was shooting for, but I knew the trail connected somewhere around the west side of Mt. Orient. I so I kept heading out. Once I found it I headed back over the top of the mountain and then back most of the way that I had come. It is hard to judge pace out there... on the steep technical stuff it is hard to go too fast, on the downhills it is easy to fly.

I didn't get out there until a little after 7pm, so I was racing the sunlight a little bit on my way back in. Unlike what would've happened in Alaska, the sun won and I had to cut onto the road for the last little bit where I could see where I was going. Total on the soft surface was at least 12 miles.

Mt. Orient

Time: 66:50
Distance: 9 mi.

Afternoon run from Nick's house on the classic Mt. Orient loop through Amethyst Brook. Taylor and John came with me and Nick brought two friends from Chicago. This is some of the best running I've done anywhere.

Harkness, Amethyst Brook, Echo Hill

Time: 68:40
Distance: 10 mi.


Entrance to Amethyst Brook

Morning run with John Tyson. I met him at his house and we ran out Harkness and over to Amethyst, mosty avoiding the trails that were fairly muddy from last night's run. The trails in Amethyst Brook weren't too bad, though, and we did a short loop without heading up Mount Orient at all. We came back directly through Echo Hill and Old Farm Road. I added on about 2 minutes at the end to make sure I hit 10 miles.

My hip and glute were stiff, but not quite as sore as yesterday.

North Amherst, Amethyst Brook

Time: 70:16
Distance: 10 mi.

Ian, John and I met Coach Gould at the high school in the afternoon for a run in North Amherst. We headed out on the Juravich trails, and some UMass trails out to Amethyst Brook, and then back on a section of the Robert Frost trail and Northeast Street. I felt pretty good and it was nice to catch up with Gould.

Amethyst Loop

Time: 69:23
Distance: 10 mi.

Easy afternoon run with Ian and John Tyson. We met at Ian's house and then headed into the Echo Hill trails to Amethyst Brook. Coming back we hit the trails off of Harkness. Nice evening. I added on the loop around Woodlot, Wildflower and Teaberry to get it up to close to 70 mins.

Amethyst Loop

Time: 68:00
Distance: 10 mi.

A slightly extended Amethyst Loop with Ian. I ran to his house first and then we took the trails near Harkness to get into Echo Hill. Beautiful morning for a run. My quads, hamstrings and calves were all sore by the end of the run... probably a good sign as they get used to running again.

Amethyst Loop

Time: 62:50
Distance: 9 mi.
Map


The base of the steep trail, complete with dead car

Easy run on the best loop through Amethyst Brook. Distance is approximate, based on guessing pace on technical trails and location of the trails on a map. Pretty happy with this run, though I've been anxious during a number of my runs recently... just need to relax.

Echo Hill, Amethyst Brook

Time: 60:20
Distance: 9 mi.



Nice morning run in Amherst. What a great place to run... went out on the Robert Frost Trail through Echo Hill to Amethyst Brook (~20 min) then headed north-ish on the Amethyst Brook trails for a little bit before winding my way back and heading back the way I came. Amazing how much I remember these trails despite not having run them much in the last few years. Won't have a long run this week, but will double this afternoon. That will work out fine if I end up racing in Belchertown tomorrow.