Bumping, Barking and Body Clocks

Not a big fan of the EST.  Tried to go to sleep earlyish last night so as to get up and run w/ the crowd this am.  After tossing and turning for an hour or so to no avail I was just drifting off when the little one did some drifting of her own - drifted out of bed onto the floor.  A nice loud noise, a bit of a lump on the forehead - she slept right through it.  I want her ability to sleep.

She may have slept through it - but a nearby dog didn't.  It barked and barked and barked some more.  Then more of the same.    Please stop.  Bark, bark, bark, bark, bark.  Enough already.  Bark, bark, bark.  Went on for 1/2 hour or so.  Bark, bark, bark - you get the idea.   I realize as I get older if I don't get enough rest I get cranky.  If you add a barking dog to the mix - and I'm usually okay with dogs - that keeps me awake, Daddy is not a happy camper.

I decided about then to not bother waking up early to run w/ the crew.  Instead to wake up whenever and run either by myself or the first born.

The runners left at 7:30 ish, I got up shortly after, the rest of my family still sleeping (the kiddos never heard the dog) and after putzing around for a bit I geared up and hit the trail.  The plan from the night before was that most people were going to do a longer run.  So, I figured giving them a 40 minute headstart I may catch them by the end.  Didn't happen.  They ended up doing the same run as yesterday.

I did 7.2 miles.  Some good rolling hills involved including a couple of steep ones that were 1/3 to 1/2 mile long w/ about 300' of climbing involved for each.   Started on a trail, full of leaves (nice) - then was on some back (paved) roads for the majority of it.  Despite all the pavement it was a good run and brings the weekly total (for the third week in a row) to 35 miles.

The run cleared my head - not so cranky anymore.  Although if I see a dog around later, that might change. 

Kids are bored out of their minds.  I'm a little of the same.  There is only so much to talk to "Uncle Steve" or "Aunt Kathy" about when you only see them once every year or so.  So we may head into Williamsport later to see where they have the LLWS - not that any of my kids care about baseball.  Maybe we will find a Walmart.  It's nice to get away some times - but there is something about home.

A long Thanksgiving

The day started at the "Y" in Briargate for the annual Turkey trot.  We parked just down the road and walking through the parking lot my 2 girls got stopped by a TV crew for an interview.  They are so stinkin cute, but just as shy - they did the interview, but were so quiet.  After scouring the online archives of the news (Ch 13) - they didn't end up using the footage.  Oh well - they don't need the fame of being asked what their favorite part of Thansgiving was - although for what it's worth - one answered "green beans", the other said "apple sauce".

Did the (so called) 1K w/ my littlest - a comfortable 1/2 mile.  Then shortly after along with about 2800 of our closest friends I ran w/ my oldest daughter in the 5k - a great effort from her, maintained a steady pace throughout and did 27:3x.  #12 ran on ahead and he chip timed a 21:0x.  Great result for him.

Then we literally hauled off out of there, raced home, cleaned up, drove to the airport and flew to Philly.  After 3+ hours landed, jumped in a car and drove 3 1/2 plus hours to my wife's family reunion.  (near Williamsport).  Arrived at 1 am.  A very long day.

We are here for a few days.   There are some runners  amongst the Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and hangers on.  So at 7:30 we stumbled on to a trail.  My son and I gave everyone a couple minutes head start - then took off, uphill.  Our favorite.  Apparently no-one else likes hills like we do and we passed them in a couple of minutes.  Following a carefully drawn map - insert: a couple of lines on a napkin - we cruised 4 1/2 miles.  Some nice rolling terrain.  Was good to run w/ my son again.

Then on to the feast.  Need to run again tomorrow - feast was good.

Blodgett Peak

I did my best impression of an Aimless, possibly Headless, wandering Turkey, yesterday afternoon.  I've been wanting to get up Blodgett Peak for several weeks.  Not for training purposes, more so "just because".  Having never been up it before and not having much of an idea what to expect - I parked at the Trailhead, started the watch and away I went.

From the Trailhead

Faced w/ 2 initial options on how to start moving upward - a service road to some water tanks, or a small trail that initially started heading South (desired direction to the Summit is West).
I took the trail option.

Started out innocently enough

Followed that for a bit as it soon joined another trail, not a lot of directional signs to follow as other trails, turns and twists came and went.  Gradual climb, was able to slow jog most of it.  Took a few turns and my trail got narrower.

Nice steep slopes to traverse

After about 20 minutes, I figured out I was still heading too far South instead of West - so I needed to try to head more NorthWest.

This direction looked about right.

I resorted to hiking, following what sort of looked like someone or something had been there before.  That soon ran out and for the next 40 minutes or so I was left to blaze my own trail, traversing steep slopes, rocks, occasional snow spots, fallen trees, was half expecting to see a Mountain Lion.  Instead, lots of this terrain.

After traversing up / West and over / North of a couple of Ridges I saw the target.


Still a good hike to get up there.

No signs of any trails, but I kept hiking along - admittedly completely lost but not too concerned as I was sure I could figure out a way back down.  So, kept going up.


Not the way up to try

Finally, I came upon a small trail and jumped on it.....

Which lead to a huge boulder field that seemed like the way to the top.



Rock hopping

About 85 minutes after starting out I made it to the Summit.



Took a few photos before heading down.

Pikes Peak in the distance

Air Force Academy

Rampart Reservoir?

Heading down was a little slow through the boulder field, then below that was various tracks and trails through the gulley until finally came upon the actual trail.  Followed that all the way back to the car.  About a mile from the end I did get stopped in my tracks by this guy walking in front of me.


Yes Sir, you have the right of way

Made it back to the car, was pretty wiped out having not taken any water or food.  Was gone for almost 2 1/4 hours, yet only 4 1/2 miles, with just under 2500 vertical gain.

 A few scratches, a lesson learned - stick to the trails.  An awesome view from the Summit.  Overall - a good time.

Running with Cookies

For the first time in who knows how long - definitely several months - we didn't have any family activities, like kids soccer, to go to.  What a welcome relief and a chance to relax. 

Woke up Saturday morning expecting to see howling winds in full effect, but instead was low fog and no wind.  So, I got out for 8 miles and it ended up being a moderate tempo run - maintained 8:12 pace for the first 6 1/2 miles - the "big hill" to come up near home knocked me back a bit - but still was a good result.

While my son was in what we call "a book coma", and my oldest daughter and wife doing some sewing - my 6 yr old and I decided to make cookies.  Neither of us had really done it before, so we needed a little supervision - but after a while, as well as some misplaced flour - we made 3 dozen of the worlds best ever Chocolate Chip Cookies.   Should have taken photos - the saying of "a picture is worth a 1000 words" would not have done justice.  So we have a new saying - "the taste of cookies is worth a 1000 calories", or something.

Then I signed the 2 oldest kids and myself up for the YMCA Turkey Trot - I'll also run the 1K kids Fun Run w/ #6 prior to it.  So, after signing up - time to start training.  The plan - as always - is to run with the kids.  2 years ago, was w/ my son, last year, was w/ my oldest daughter.  This year will be the same.

So, we all bundled up - by now the wind had really started blowing and got to it.  We drove down the road to a neighbors house.  W/ the wife and youngest being cheerleaders - the 3 of us jumped out and started up our big hill - is a 130' climb, followed by a flat "ish" section to our house, then turn around and back to the start.  2 1/2 miles total distance, total climb of 170'.  On the way back I picked up the youngest and we ran about 1K back to the start.

We repeated this on Sunday, was less windy and a little faster for all of us.  We may do it again on Tuesday morning.  I really enjoy running w/ the kids - is fun and special to share a common activity.  Baking cookies, or devouring them as a family over the course of the weekend is also a fun, could become more common activity.

I also managed to get in 5 miles over at Spruce Mountain on Sunday as well.  So, 4 runs for the weekend, 3 dozen cookies (We didn't eat them all - yet), 2 naps, 0 soccer games played - although we did watch a few on the Tube.  All in all - was a good weekend.