FIVE-THIRTY AM HUDSON SPRINGS

We're on a roll...Nick V. & I have been meeting regularly early a.m. to get in our weekday runs. It's working, knowing I have to meet someone helps me get up. Just get my butt out of bed at 4:45am, paint some paste on my teeth, stumble through the dark rooms to find all my gear and out the door by 5:10 AM.

We met at Vertical Runner in Hudson and ran a six mile loop through town & Hudson Springs Park.
The park consists of two miles of trail around a 50 acre lake. Wildlife, including ducks, geese, fox, deer, heron, owls and hawks.

This morning we met with Dr. Steve, who is a cardiologist at one of the area hospitals. If your going to run with a doctor run with a heart doctor....Just in case...Right?

Thanks Guys, See you next Wednesday AM. If you find yourself up a 4am with nothing to do, come join us for a run.

Call Farm Run

Stow Township

Most of us only get a small glimpse of Stow OH when we travel Rt. 59. I met Nick V. at his house in Stow for our 5am run. Nick lives in a neighborhood that was once farmed corn, rye and wheat. Call farm was one of the earliest homesteads in Stow, Ohio. Its history goes back nearly 200 years. The land has been primarily under the sole ownership of the Call family.

We headed out on a 6 mile run through Nick's Neighborhood. Once we ran out of Call Farm Development, we traveled back in time to the scene (& smells)of farmlands. Although it was was broken up from time to time with an apartment building or a car buzzing passed us. For the most part the scene was beautiful. The temperature was in the 50's, the sun was on the rise, the cool air created a foggy mist over the grassy field.

We even came across a rooster waking up a farm. I said to Nick this morning, "The hardest part about running in the early mornings is putting your shoes on."

(Fort Minor, "Remember The Name")

"For those of you who want to know what were all about...10% Luck, 20% Skill, 15% Concentrated power of will, 5% pleasure, 50% PAIN, and a 100% reason to remeber the name...

BUCKEYE TRAIL 50K BT 50K Familiarization Run Oak Grove to Pine Lane

As you can see everyone is happy to here this morning.

.2 miles into the run, 15 miles to go....

I finished the 15 mile run in about 3:05 (my garmin was low on batteries so I have to guess).

39 miles for the week.

Summer Time Trail Running In NEO

It's Friday...I've been teaching 4 year old kids at our Vacation Bible School. So my refuge from these wonderful precious monsters is a nice group run.

Thursday I ran 5:30am with Nick V. and we were honored with "Carriage Trail" Rob (Rob's favorite trail is the carriage trail). We met at HPL and ran 6 mile South on the towpath. GUYS NEXT WEEK IT'S 8 MILES...

Thursday Evening was Jamie Carr's BT50K Training Run. Jaite trailhead to Boston Store 10ish Miles. Doppler Radar didn't have to show us we were going to get wet and maybe get hit by a tree falling along the blue blaze.

Here we are waiting for Brett Hines& Arron Hawk. The longer we wait the closer the dark clouds rolled in. (Rose your hair may get wet)

Running into the storm
FUN IN THE MUD

Boston Store break...Back to Jaite
Rose won the cleanest leg award. You can pick up your prize at Vertical RunnerHeading out towards Snowville Rd. just before the rain.
I didn't get a picture, but on the way back Susan & I were following Brett back on the grassy trail to the parking lot. Brett made some type of wrong turn and led us into a patch of tall prickers and weeds. Susan worried about lime disease & ticks I was worried about snakes & badgers at my feet. We finally got to the road just passed the parking lot.
So lets recap Tues 5:30am HPL 6miles
Thursday 5:30am HPL 6miles
Thursday Evening Jaite 10+ Miles
Sat AM will be 8 miles on the roads from home (I may change and run Glenn's, Gorge & Highbridge).
Sunday's plan is the BT50K Training Oakgrove to Pine Lane 20+

A weekend in the woods

Friday I was going to take the day off. Jen & the kids were heading to Crystal Lake (across from Silver Lake Country Club). I had the great idea of running there to meet them for a day at the beach. Great idea I got in an extra 5 miles.

Sat 6AM I met Brett, Melissa & Kelly, and a bunch of others...at Boston Store for a 16 miler North towards Ottawa. Melissa & Kelly are training for BT50K and BR100. Brett is training for BT50K and another race I have to think about talking him into running.

Brett caught Fueling with PURE FUEL BLUE BLAZE ORGANIC ENERGY BAR Sunday 5:45AM Another meeting at Boston Store I had to get an early run in and head back home for other obligations. 5:45am I met with Nick V., and Melissa. Our plan was to run to brand Wine and get back to meet the 7am BT50K training group that was planned to run Pine Lane. While standing in the parking lot we met Tod & Dannie from Indiana (A town near Huff 50K). They planned to run down the towpath and was looking at the map to find a trail to run. I talked them into joining us for our run. Dannie needed to 14miles and Todd wanted a few more extra. Perect!!! Todd is training for the Pike's Peak Marathon in August and Dannie is planning to run Detroit Marathon this year.I was hoping someone would fall, it always makes a good trail blog when you have shots of falling trailingrunners. We made it back to Boston Store at 7am. The group was ready to go. We got everyone together and headed out to Pine Lane. 13 mile day.

TODD & DANNIE GREAT RUNNING WITH YOU TWO GOOD LUCK IN YOUR UP COMING RACES. IF YOUR EVER IN THE AREA AGAIN EMAIL ME TO FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE RUNNING. chefbill@playingwithknivesandfire.com

NICK V. & I ARE MEETING TUESDAY 5:30 AM AT HPL PARKING LOT TO RUN TOWPATH (SOUTH TOWARDS MUSTILL STORE).

THURSDAY RUN X 2

I've set aside Thursdays for double run day. A 5:30am run on the towpath and soon along the Akron Marathon route, then a second 6:00pm run with Jamie Carr's BT50K training group. So far so go. I'm not sluggish or tired during or after the second run and I feel fine on Fridays. I am not running this years BT50K, I'm in charge of BT POST RACE GRUB. I do plan on running some other 50K this year not sure which one. (ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS ON WHICH 50K I SHOULD RUN LEAVE A COMMENT OR EMAIL ME) Jamie Carr Fueling before heading out from Jaite. Here's our group heading out for the BT50K training run.Rose had a crash on the trail. Ouch.We ran a total of 8.64 miles

Jen & Elisabeth blazing down the trail.

What a great run see everyone next week.

WHAT ARE YOU TRAINING FOR???

6/9 to 6/15

I didn't plan 46 miles this passed week, it just happened. Especially if you go back to Monday evening, I headed out to what I want to be an eight mile run turned into a thunderstorm two mile run.
Wed PM was a Silver Lake 7 mile run.

Thursday I had an opportunity to run twice in one day. I ran with Nick V. at our 5:30am HPL 6 miler, then I met the BT50K group for a Thursday PM trail run.

Friday I was greeted with 6 great words...CAN WE TAKE THE KIDS TODAY? Grandma & Grandpa came over to take the kids out. This gave me an opportunity to run during the day. It was very Hot & Humid. I headed to Boston Store the plan was 5 mile Brandywine loop run. I ended up with 7 miles. I ran into a couple looking at the CVP map at the closed Standford Rd. They wanted to get back to Brandywine, I pointed them in the right direction. Then I forgot to detour up the hill and ended up back at brandywine myself. I turn around and headed back.
My legs were heavy, I had a hard time trying to run fast. I gave up on the run fast to just run and enjoy the scenery.

Sat. AM I met up with Nick V. at 6AM from lock 29. We started with a six mile out & back on the towpath then a nine mile loop on the roads. The Major Rd to Oak Hill, back to Riverview Rd. Instead of staying on Riverview we hopped back on the towpath

Today for Dad's Day my plan is to hang out with the kids no running planned.