Running
2025 Surf the Murph
2025 Surf the Murph
Well as much as my legs weren’t ready for Surf the Murph it was a really great race and I had a great time out there. I had no expectations as it ended up being my longest run of the year and longest trail run of my life as well. Also, great to catch up with my friend Joeybefore and after. I think he is excited for me to keep taking on more trail runs as we discussed earlier this year on his “Running Behind” podcast.
Joey and I before the race
The finisher medal for all races with the distance on the back. Enjoy how it is a log.
Early run today as I wanted to get this done before an early morning and the day gets away from me. Lets just hope I feel better than this on Saturday otherwise it is going to be a long run that morning as today my whole body felt tired. Maybe I should have had a coffee first. 😄
I really don’t like running on a treadmill but the day got away from me work wise. Not to mention it rained all day and it was a cold rain so I did run on a treadmill against my own will. The only positive is I did it while my daughter was at swimming practice so I could watch while running.
Was able to get a run in today and felt good after Saturday. It ended up being slightly more difficult to get the “millage” in as the trail I was going to take was closed about .3 miles in so I had to explore the areas in loops as I was short on time and didn’t want to drive somewhere else.
As always I took this as a suggestion only to find active work equipment building a bridge across where a path once was.
Nice trail on a fall day.
Found some single tracks to run along to add some miles
2025 Trout Brook 10 Miler Trail Run
2025 Trout Brook 10 Miler Trail Run
Another year in the books for the Trout Brook (not quite) 10 mile Trail run at Willow River State Park. Now that I have done it 3 times I think I can confirm that it is not a true 10 miles but that was OK as now it played to my advantage on what could have been that last 2 miles I knew in my head it was only 1.8 miles left 🤣.
It was a great day for the race again with the starting temps that morning at around 33°F but once running and by the end I didn’t even notice the cold. This is such a fun event and time of year as it has always been great running weather and really it has some really nice scenery along the route. Though I might be the very few people that stop along the way to take pictures in a “race.” However, how can you pass a waterfall and not take a picture? Or once climbing to the top of a stair tower why would you not run extra by turning the wrong direction on the course to get to the overlook?
My goal for this race, or run was to really use it as training for what I am still hoping will be another trail race of longer distance next weekend. So I didn’t want to kill myself and make my legs to angry at me from this run. I just need to not get caught up chasing people and run at my own pace. To help with this there was two really steep parts one hill and one set of stairs and I walked both of them. Oddly enough, even walking up both of these and getting passed on both I caught all of those people later in the race as they were dying on the back half of the race. I did find it interesting that my time this year was only 1 minute slower than last year where I was actually giving it a little more effort (or I thought). Also, I did take the time to chat with a couple people for about 3 miles of the route which helped me stay a little more in check with my pace as I might have otherwise started to pick up speed on the flatter sections.
Overall, my legs were not too worse for the wear and the rest of the day I spent powerwashing the deck so I think with Sunday as a rest day I am hoping I will be good to go come next weekend (if I remember to sign up). 🫠
Willow Falls
Picture from the top of the stairs, the waterfall is underneath this overhang and this is not really on the running route.
Picture looking back towards Willow River and where the waterfall was but you can’t see it.
Picture before the start of the run looking out at Little Falls Lake
Almost didn’t get this in today but found a quick break in meetings to squeeze this run in. It was a little bit warmer out by the time I did this but still a nice fall day and the run felt good too. Probably faster than I should have been but I was racing the clock.
I wanted to say, well another year and last min registration as that is exactly what it is again but this is starting to become my regular routine signing up for The Trout Brook race the week of the event. This year I will be solo and my reasons for signing up are very simple that I wanted to run 10 miles this Saturday for maybe other plans not flushed out yet. So I am really going to try too not “race” this and use it as a normal long run.
The weather was just too good to pass up getting a run in today after a busy day of meetings, odd projects and running the kids around. I had some time so I took it as what better way to spend a nice cool evening.
Wow the weather was just amazing today so as I rounded back to my house I decided to add another mile to my run. I hope this time fall sticks around! 😄
Against my better judgement I went on this run today. I knew it was going to be hot (cooler tomorrow) and I was tired. However, there was a slight underline plan to walk and run at points to see how I could handle that. Overall went well but wish I could have slowed the pace a little. T-shirt
Even getting this run done a little earlier today it still felt warm with the cooler temps. However, I did decided to go longer than planned as I am not sure what the weekend will hold and I am just shooting for miles now.
The stars aligned this morning and I had cloud cover and an hour free to get out for a run. Tried to keep this run at an easy workout just to get miles and after the past two days I felt good and was faster than I was thinking.
Decided to try to get some miles in tonight during my youngest volleyball practice. The trail started to get a little dark but thankfully I wasn’t on it for too long.
From the time I started this run till the end the temperature rose almost 20°F. Glad I got it done and had the trail to myself with a little speed in there.
Last run in Portland today before heading home. At least it wasn’t raining but it was very humid out today as I made my typical trek into the Back Cove.
Last minute I decided to do a short run today in the fog and mist. It wasn’t all that bad out but I was short on time before the day started. Maybe tomorrow I will try to get a longer run in before flying home.
Glad to get this run in today circling around the city of Portland, ME peninsula. I found a trail on the far side that I had never been on before and it reminded me that maybe my ankles are still a little beat up from the hiking this weekend.
Can’t believe I haven’t run for 5 days now but I figured the rest day was good after all the hiking over the weekend. Glad to get out there again the legs were feeling OK but I didn’t push it either. Also, you can’t beat the views this morning either.